Electroacupuncture reduces inflammatory pain by activating peripheral formyl peptide receptor 2, increasing anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 and antioxidant catalase activity.
Male mice received an injection of complete Freund's adjuvant into the paw to induce persistent inflammatory pain. Researchers assessed mechanical pain sensitivity, then administered electroacupuncture at leg acupuncture points over consecutive days. Before treatment, some animals received either a local formyl peptide receptor 2 blocker or saline. Paw tissue was subsequently analysed for inflammatory signalling molecules, antioxidant enzymes, oxidative damage markers, and immune-cell enzyme activity.
Electroacupuncture reduced pain sensitivity and increased paw levels of anti-inflammatory interleukin 10 and catalase activity. Blocking peripheral formyl peptide receptor 2 prevented both the pain-relieving effect and these biological changes, indicating that this receptor helps mediate electroacupuncture’s local anti-inflammatory and antioxidant actions. Electroacupuncture did not alter several other inflammatory molecules, antioxidant activity, oxidative damage measures, or immune-cell enzyme activity.
