Electroacupuncture Ameliorating Cerebral I/R-Induced Inflammatory Response through the TLR/TRAF6/NF-κB Pathway

Background: The inflammatory response plays a crucial role in cerebral ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury and may offer a new therapeutic approach for stroke. Electroacupuncture has shown potential in treating cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Methodology: Male Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four groups: the sham group, middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) group, sham electroacupuncture (SEA) group, and electroacupuncture (EA) group. The SEA and EA groups received 30 min of treatment after 60 min of ischemia. Body weight was measured before and 24 h after the MCAO/R procedure. Neurological function and infarct volume were assessed 24 h after the MCAO/R procedure. Protein and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of TLR4, TLR9, TRAF6, and NF-κB were evaluated using western blot and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory markers was assessed using RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results: Compared with the MCAO/R group, the EA group exhibited improved neurological function, reduced infarct volume, and down-regulated expression of TLR4, TLR9, TRAF6, and NF-κB. Additionally, in the EA group, the mRNA and protein expression of proinflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β) were decreased, while the expression of the anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) was increased. Conclusions: Electroacupuncture exerts a neuroprotective effect on MCAO/R, potentially through the modulation of the TLR4, TLR9, TRAF6, and NF-κB pathways. This treatment may reduce the cerebral I/R-induced inflammatory response by influencing the TLR/TRAF/NF-κB signaling pathway.