Electroacupuncture relieves irritable bowel syndrome by increasing expression of nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 in water-avoidance stress mice.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in mice through regulating nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain protein-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 6 (NLRP6). METHODS Water-avoidance stress (WAS) mice model was used to investigate the effects and the mechanism of EA. Abdominal withdrawal reflex test, open field test, and intestinal motility test were used to evaluate visceral sensitivity, anxiety, and intestinal motility in mice. The expressions of NLRP6, Mucin-2 (MUC2) and E-cadherin were determined using immunofluorescence and Western blotting assays. RESULTS EA significantly upregulated the expression of NLRP6 in the intestine of mice. Moreover, EA increased the expressions of MUC2 and E-cadherin in WAS mice. CONCLUSION Our study found that the relief of IBS symptoms by EA may involve the increase in the expression of NLRP6 in WAS mice.