Evaluation of electroacupuncture acupoint selection's potential in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease: an investigation using a mouse gut microbiome and metabolomics model.

Electroacupuncture (EA) serves as an effective complementary therapy in the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) within traditional Chinese medicine, with the therapeutic efficacy significantly influenced by the selection of specific acupoints. However, the regulatory mechanisms by which certain acupoints exhibit therapeutic benefits in IBD remain poorly understood. The research project intends to explore the mechanisms of action and regulatory variations in the treatment of IBD by the points Dachangshu (BL25), Tianshu (ST25), and Shangjuxu (ST37). This study used a sodium dextran sulfate-induced IBD mouse model to assess the therapeutic efficacy of three acupoints by evaluating body weight, colon morphology, inflammatory cytokines, gut microbiota, and metabolites. The results indicate that electroacupuncture of these three acupoints did not significantly alter IL-1β levels, but all three acupoints reduced IL-6 levels, with the most significant reduction observed at the Dachangshu acupoint. Furthermore, electroacupuncture treatment improved the structural characteristics of intestinal tissue and slowed the rate of weight loss. In IBD mice, electroacupuncture of three acupoints was associated with significant alterations in the intestinal microbiota and metabolic pathways. The majority of the metabolic pathways involved by these three acupoints are related to lipid, amino acid, and energy metabolism. Additionally, different acupuncture stimulation points also exhibited their own unique metabolic characteristics. These findings provide preliminary correlative evidence for the clinical application of acupuncture point selection in the treatment of IBD.