Electroacupuncture alleviates renal injury in hypertension by regulating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway via m6A methylation of SOCS1

Wen J, Dai Z, Wang Y, Yan H, Yue Y, Yao R, Ma K, Hou L, Ren Y, Zhang L · Histology and histopathology · 2026 May 28

Objective

To investigate how electroacupuncture modulates the Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 inflammatory pathway through suppressor of cytokine signaling 1 methylation in a salt-sensitive hypertensive rat model.

Conclusions

This study highlights electroacupuncture as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for hypertensive renal injury, with therapeutic effects largely mediated by epitranscriptomic regulation of the methyltransferase-like 3/suppressor of cytokine signaling 1-Janus kinase 2/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 signaling axis.

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Insights

Electroacupuncture may protect kidneys in salt-sensitive hypertension by reducing inflammatory signalling through reversible chemical marking of a key regulatory gene.

Researchers induced salt-sensitive hypertension and kidney injury in rats using a high-salt diet, then administered electroacupuncture at neck and lower-leg acupuncture points daily on weekdays for six weeks. After treatment, they used biological assays to assess kidney damage, inflammation, signalling activity, and chemical messenger ribonucleic acid modification affecting suppressor of cytokine signalling 1. The high-salt diet caused kidney injury alongside increased inflammatory activity and excessive activation of the Janus kinase 2 and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 pathway. Electroacupuncture’s protective effects were linked to reduced methyltransferase-like 3-driven messenger ribonucleic acid methylation of suppressor of cytokine signalling 1, thereby limiting inflammatory signalling.