Acupuncture Alleviates Neuroinflammation in Chronic Migraine by Modulating Lactobacillus and Its Metabolite Pathways

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Integrative Medicine

Background:

• Chronic migraine (CM) is a prevalent neurological disorder with limited treatment options.
• Acupuncture shows promise for CM, but its mechanisms are not fully understood.
• This study investigates acupuncture's effects on CM, focusing on the gut microbiota and metabolome.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the therapeutic effects of acupuncture on chronic migraine in a rat model.
• To elucidate the underlying mechanisms of acupuncture, particularly its impact on gut microbiota and host metabolism.
• To explore the synergistic effects of acupuncture and probiotics in managing CM.

Main Methods:

• A chronic migraine rat model was established using nitroglycerin.
• Acupuncture was applied to specific acupoints (GB8, GB34) daily for nine days.
• Gut microbiota and metabolites were analyzed using 16S rDNA sequencing and metabolomics, alongside behavioral and inflammatory assessments.

Main Results:

• Acupuncture significantly reduced pain hypersensitivity and central inflammation in CM rats.
• Acupuncture reversed CM-induced gut dysbiosis, notably affecting Akkermansia muciniphila and Lactobacillus species.
• Metabolomic analysis revealed correlations between Lactobacillus and specific metabolites, suggesting gut-brain axis modulation.

Conclusions:

• Acupuncture exerts antimigraine effects by modulating the gut microbiota-metabolite-inflammation axis.
• Restoring gut homeostasis through acupuncture and probiotics alleviates pain and neuroinflammation in CM.
• Findings provide mechanistic insights for acupuncture's efficacy and support clinical translation for migraine treatment.