The Regulatory Effects of Electroacupuncture on the Intestinal Flora of Mice with Ulcerative Colitis

OBJECTIVE: The primary objective of this study was to investigate the modulation of intestinal flora composition in a murine model of ulcerative colitis (UC) through the application of electroacupuncture. This study also aimed to analyze the role of specific microbial taxa and to identify the key regulatory targets and pathways involved in this modulation. METHODS: A UC model was established in mice through the administration of a 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) solution. Subsequently, UC mice underwent electroacupuncture treatment, with mesalazine serving as a positive control. The electroacupuncture group received treatment at the bilateral "Shangjuxu" acupuncture points, while the mesalazine group was administered mesalazine at a dosage of 0.5 g/kg via gavage. Interventions were conducted from days 5 to 9 of the experimental period. The weight, disease activity index (DAI) scores, and colon lengths of the mice across all groups were compared. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was utilized to assess the morphological characteristics of colon tissue, thereby validating the efficacy of electroacupuncture in the UC model. Additionally, 16S rDNA high-throughput sequencing was employed to analyze alterations in the intestinal flora present in the feces of the UC model mice. RESULTS: Compared to the model group, the DAI scores of mice in the electroacupuncture group were significantly reduced on days 7 and 9 of the experiment (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). HE staining revealed a marked reduction in morphological disruption and inflammatory infiltration within the colon tissue of the electroacupuncture group relative to both the model and mesalazine groups. Results from linear discriminant analysis effect size and Wilcoxon rank-sum test demonstrated a significant increase in the abundance of genera, such as Roseburia, in the electroacupuncture group. Furthermore, the alpha diversity of the intestinal flora exhibited an increase. Predictions regarding intestinal microbial function indicated that pathways, such as RNA transport and glycerophospholipid metabolism, were significantly diminished in the model group compared to the control group (P < 0.05), while these pathways were significantly enhanced in the electroacupuncture group relative to the model group (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: Electroacupuncture effectively regulated both the structure and function of intestinal flora in UC mice. The genus Roseburia may serve as a critical therapeutic target for electroacupuncture in the modulation of intestinal flora in UC. Additionally, lipid metabolism and RNA transport may represent key pathways through which electroacupuncture exerts its regulatory effects on intestinal flora.