Electroacupuncture at GV20 and GV24 acupoints ameliorates migraine.

Electroacupuncture at GV20 and GV24 acupoints ameliorates migraine by blocking NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis via inhibiting the Piezo1 channel.

John Zeqi Luo, Lydia Feng, Weili Xu, Jian-ying Lang, L F Wang, Zheng Yan Zhao, Barbara Lang

Neurosci Lett

Mar 15, 2026

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Abstract

Migraine is a complex neuro-glio-vascular disorder, and electroacupuncture (EA) have been recommended as an alternative therapy for migraine. However, the mechanism of action of EA on GV20 (Baihui) and GV24 (Shenting) acupoints in treating migraine remains unclear. Thus, this study was performed to explore the potential mechanisms underlying the therapeutic influence of EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints in the migraine treatment. After therapeutic effects of EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints on migraine rat model established by dural electrical stimuli (DES) stimulation exploration, numerous approaches, such as qRT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and western blot, were applied to assess the expression of Piezo1 and pyroptosis-related proteins. Finally, Piezo1 activator (Yoda1) was used to confirm the involvement of Piezo1 channel in the treatment actions of EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints on migraine. The results showed that EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints forcefully alleviated the mechanical allodynia and central sensitization in rat model of migraine, also downregulated the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, containing TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β. In addition, EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints also changed the expression of Piezo1 and pyroptosis-related proteins in rat model of migraine. Interestingly, treatment with the Yoda1 could reverse the therapeutic influences of EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints in migraine rat model. Of note, the effect of EA stimulation at GV20 and GV24 acupoints on the expression of pyroptosis-related proteins could also be reverse by Yoda1 administration. This study emphasizes the EA efficacy at GV20 and GV24 acupoints on the migraine rat model established by DES stimulation, and proposes a mechanism involving inhibition of Piezo1 channel to block NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis in migraine.