Electroacupuncture Inhibits the Early Neuroinflammatory Cascade Triggered by TLR2 in the Prodromal Period of PD

To explore electroacupuncture (EA)'s effect and mechanism in alleviating prodromal Parkinson's disease (pPD) by targeting TLR2-mediated neuroinflammation.

Rat pPD models were established via striatal 10 μg/4 μL 6-OHDA injection. EA was applied at DU20, EX-HN3, LR2, and LR3 for 14 days. Behavioral tests, ELISA, immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to assess non-motor symptoms, DA/TH levels, TLR2 expression, microglial activation, TLR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway and pyroptosis.

6-OHDA induced 30-40% striatal DA reduction and typical pPD non-motor symptoms. EA significantly improved these symptoms, reduced TLR2 expression in key regions (substantia nigra, hippocampus, etc), inhibited M1 microglial activation (decreased CD86, increased CD206), and suppressed TLR2/NF-κB/NLRP3 pathway-related proteins, and inhibits microglial pyroptosis.

EA inhibited the neuroinflammation and microglial cell activation as well as pyroptosis mediated by TLR2, thereby alleviating the non-motor symptoms of PD. This provides a potential possibility for the intervention treatment of PD to prevent the progression of the disease.