Effects of electroacupuncture on the activity and polarization phenotype of microglia in anterior cingulate cortex of rats with knee osteoarthritis accompanied by chronic pain and related negative emotions

Zhongguo Zhen Jiu. 2026 Apr 12;46(4):611-618. doi: 10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241216-0001. Epub 2025 Dec 22.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on the activity of microglia and polarization phenotype in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) of rats with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) with chronic pain and related negative emotions, and to explore the central nervous mechanism of EA in KOA with chronic pain and related negative emotions.

METHODS: Of 30 healthy male SD rats, 20 rats were randomly selected to duplicate the models of KOA with chronic pain and related negative emotions by injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the left knee joint, and they were randomized into a model group and an EA group after successfully modeling, 10 rats in each group. The remaining 10 rats were collected as a blank group. Started on day 15 of MIA injection, in the EA group, the electric stimulation was applied to the left "Yanglingquan" (GB34) and "Dubi" (ST35), with a disperse-dense wave, a frequency of 2 Hz/100 Hz, and a current of 2 mA. EA was operated for 15 min each time, once daily; and one course of intervention was composed of 5 times of EA and 2 courses were required. One day before MIA injection and on day 7, 14, 20 and 26 after injection, the thermal withdrawal latency (TWL), mechanical withdrawal threshold (MWT) and open field test were recorded separately. Using the Western blot method, the protein expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, and the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10 in ACC was detected. The positive expression of the microglial marker, ionized calcium-binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba-1) in ACC was detected using immunofluorescence single-labeling method. The co-expression of differential cluster (CD) 68 and Iba-1 (M1 polarization phenotype) as well as CD206 and Iba-1 (M2 polarization phenotype) in ACC was detected using immunofluorescence double-labeling method.

RESULTS: After intervention, compared with the blank group, TWL, MWT, the total distance traveled and the time spent in the center of open field test were reduced (P<0.01); the protein expression of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-10 and the positive expression of Iba-1 increased (P<0.05, P<0.01); the co-expression of CD68 and Iba-1 as well as CD206 and Iba-1 rose in the model group (P<0.01, P<0.05). When compared with the model group, TWL, MWT, the total distance traveled and the time spent in the center of open field test were elevated (P<0.01); the protein expression of TNF-α and IL-1β decreased (P<0.05), and that of IL-10 rose (P<0.05); the positive expression of Iba-1, and the co-expression of CD68 and Iba-1 were declined (P<0.01), and that of CD206 and Iba-1 increased in the EA group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION: EA at "Yanglingquan" (GB34) and "Dubi" (ST35) can attenuate pain and anxiety-like behaviors in the KOA rats with chronic pain and related negative emotions, and its underlying mechanism may be related to inhibiting microglia activity and promoting the polarization of activated microglia towards M2 phenotype in ACC.

PMID:41987449 | DOI:10.13703/j.0255-2930.20241216-0001