Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Colonic Mucosal Barrier Damage and Inflammation in T2DM Rats by Regulating Enteric Glial Cells Activation in Colon Through the Wnt/β-Catenin/NF-κB Pathway.

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is frequently accompanied by injury to the intestinal mucosal barrier, with excessive activation of enteric glial cells (EGCs) being a critical factor impairing this dysfunction. This study explores how electroacupuncture (EA) affects inflammation and damage to the colonic mucosa barrier in T2DM rats, and whether EA modulates EGCs activation through the Wnt/β-catenin/NF-κB signaling pathway.

METHODS

Four rats' groups were used: Con, T2DM, EA, and EA + LGK974 (a Wnt/β-catenin inhibitor). Animal models in T2DM were triggered through diets heavy in fat, sugar, and streptozotocin (STZ) administration. Pishu (BL20), Tianshu (ST25), and Shangjuxu (ST37), and Weiwanxiashu (EX-B3) all received 6 weeks of EA. Tissue morphological, molecular, and metabolic alterations were evaluated by ELISA, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, Western Blotting, qPCR, immunostaining, and AB-PAS staining.

KEY

RESULTS

Electroacupuncture (EA) suppressed the excessive activation of EGCs, upregulated expression of Wnt3a, p-GSK3β, np-β-catenin, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 while downregulating NF-κB p65 and IκBα phosphorylation levels. Furthermore, EA reduced serum LPS levels, suppressed TNF-α and IL-6 levels, and enhanced tight junction protein expression. These effects were reversed by LGK974.

CONCLUSION & INFERENCES: Electroacupuncture (EA) ameliorates the integrity and functionality of the colonic mucosal barrier while mitigating inflammatory responses in T2DM by regulating excessive EGCs activation through activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, suppressing NF-κB signal transmission.