The therapeutic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on inflammatory pain has been well recognized clinically, but the mechanism is unclear. Interleukin-10 (IL-10), which is produced by regulatory T (Treg) cell, is a key anti-inflammatory cytokine for relieving inflammatory pain. Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate whether EA could inhibit CFA-induced pain and attenuate inflammation progression by regulating the activation of immunocyte and inducing the expression of IL-10. In this study, mice were treated with EA (2/100 Hz, 2 mA) for five consecutive days after 1 day of CFA injection. The behavioral tests were measured and analyzed after the daily EA treatment; then, hind paw, spinal cord, and spleen tissues were prepared for assessment. The results showed that EA treatment significantly increased the mechanical threshold and thermal latency after CFA injection and boosted the expression of IL-10 in paw and spinal cord tissues. EA treatment promoted Treg cells; suppressed macrophage and neutrophils cells; reduced the expression of IL-1β, NLRP3, and TNF-α; and ultimately relieved inflammatory pain. The findings suggested that the analgesic and anti-inflammatory effect of EA treatment could be partially associated with suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines mediated by induction of IL-10.

电针（EA）对炎症性疼痛的治疗作用已被临床广泛认可，但其作用机制尚不明确。白细胞介素 10 (IL-10) 由调节性 T (Treg) 细胞产生，是缓解炎性疼痛的关键抗炎细胞因子。因此，本研究的目的是研究 EA 是否可以通过调节免疫细胞的活化和诱导 IL-10 的表达来抑制 CFA 引起的疼痛并减轻炎症进展。在这项研究中，小鼠在 CFA 注射 1 天后连续 5 天用 EA（2/100 Hz，2 mA）治疗。在每日电针治疗后测量和分析行为测试；然后，制备后爪、脊髓和脾组织进行评估。结果表明，EA 治疗显着增加了 CFA 注射后的机械阈值和热潜伏期，并提高了爪和脊髓组织中 IL-10 的表达。EA处理促进Treg细胞；抑制巨噬细胞和中性粒细胞；降低 IL-1β、NLRP3 和 TNF-α 的表达；并最终缓解炎症性疼痛。研究结果表明，电针治疗的镇痛和抗炎作用可能与抑制诱导 IL-10 介导的促炎细胞因子有关。