129: Piezo2 Channel as a Target for Electroacupuncture in Vulvodynia: A Mouse Model Study

Topic: Basic Science
Subtopic: Pain category (ICD-11), Chronic primary visceral / pelvic pain, , , , , Neuroimmunology, , , ,

Background and Aims: Vulvodynia is a chronic condition causing persistent vulvar pain, significantly impairing women's quality of life. Electroacupuncture (EA) has demonstrated therapeutic potential in alleviating vulvodynia, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study provides a systematic evaluation of a vulvodynia mouse model, examining the effects of EA on vulvar pain. Our results reveal that EA significantly alleviates pain in the vulvar region. Furthermore, we identify the Piezo2 ion channel at the Sanyinjiao acupoint as a key target mediating the analgesic effects of EA. These findings suggest a novel mechanism for EA in treating vulvodynia, offering potential therapeutic insights for clinical application.

Methods: This study used a C57BL/6 vulvodynia mouse model to investigate the analgesic effect of electroacupuncture (EA) at Sanyinjiao. Mice were divided into control and treatment groups, with 2 Hz, 1 mA EA applied for 15 min daily for 7 days. Pain sensitivity and aversive behavior were measured via Von Frey and CPA tests. Inflammatory factors, Piezo2 expression, and immune cells were analyzed by RT‑PCR and flow cytometry. FM1‑43 combined with RNAscope revealed Piezo2 localization at the acupoint. Pharmacological inhibition with GsMTx4 further verified that Piezo2 mediates the analgesic effect of EA.

Results: Electroacupuncture (EA) significantly alleviated vulvar pain in the vulvodynia mouse model, as demonstrated by reduced mechanical sensitivity in the Von Frey test and decreased conditioned place aversion (CPA) scores. EA treatment also resulted in decreased inflammatory markers (IL-1β, IL-10, TNF-α, MCP-1) and reduced immune cell infiltration in the vulvar region. Piezo2 expression was significantly increased in the acupoint and vulvar regions, and pharmacological inhibition of Piezo2 using GsMTx4 diminished EA's analgesic effects, confirming the involvement of Piezo2 in mediating EA's therapeutic actions.

Conclusions: Our findings suggest that electroacupuncture at the Sanyinjiao acupoint effectively alleviates vulvar pain in a mouse model of vulvodynia. The Piezo2 ion channel in the acupoint region plays a crucial role in mediating EA’s analgesic effects. These results provide new insights into the mechanisms of EA in treating vulvodynia, highlighting Piezo2 as a potential therapeutic target for future clinical interventions.

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Presenting Author: Yujie Xu
Submitting Author: Yujie Xu

Senior Author: Hua Xu

IASP 2026 Global Year theme of Neuropathic Pain: Yes

• Hua Xu: PhD - Xinhua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine