Electroacupuncture ameliorates tau-driven cognitive decline by modulating NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling in P301S mice.

Rong-Liang Zheng, X J Liu, Zhiyong Liao, Rui Wan, Gui-xing Qiu, M Z Li, Chih-Hsin Tang, Renping Zhou, Jae-Chul Song

Exp Neurol

Mar 31, 2026

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Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) progression is driven by a vicious cycle wherein pathological Tau hyperphosphorylation promotes microglial activation and NF-κB/NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, leading to excessive secretion of proinflammatory cytokines that reciprocally exacerbate Tau pathology. While pharmacological NLRP3 inhibitors hold therapeutic potential for AD, critical barriers-including poor blood-brain barrier penetration, suboptimal target selectivity, and safety concerns-persist. This study investigated whether electroacupuncture (EA), a non-pharmacological neuromodulatory approach, could disrupt this Tau-inflammasome cycle. Using P301S Tau transgenic mice, two EA regimens were tested at the GV20 (Baihui) acupoint: 6-month-old mice receiving a 1-month EA intervention, and 6-month-old mice undergoing a prolonged 3-month EA intervention. Cognitive function was evaluated via Y-maze, novel object recognition (NOR), and Morris water maze (MWM) tests, while corticospinal function was assessed using tail-suspension limb-clasping scoring. Hippocampal Tau pathology and inflammatory signaling were analyzed by Western blot and immunohistochemistry, targeting total Tau, phosphorylated Tau, NF-κB, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-18, TNF-α, and microglial morphology. Short-term (1-month) EA treatment significantly improved spatial working memory and recognition memory. Mechanistically, EA reduced p-Tau levels, suppressed NF-κB activation (decreased p-P65/P65 ratio), downregulated NLRP3 inflammasome components (NLRP3, cleaved caspase-1) and proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-18 and TNF-α), and mitigated microglial hyperactivation. Importantly, long-term (3-month) EA treatment persistently suppressed p-Tau accumulation and neuroinflammation, thereby consolidating cognitive benefits even in P301S mice with severe corticospinal dysfunction. These findings establish EA as a multi-targeted immunomodulatory strategy that attenuates Tau-driven neuroinflammation through the TNF-α/NF-κB/NLRP3 signaling axis, highlighting its potential as a safe, non-pharmacological adjunct or alternative therapy for AD and related tauopathies.