OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of electro-acupuncture on Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) expressions in the liver of rats with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODSSD rat models of NAFLD induced by feeding high-fat diet for 5 weeks were subjected to early or late intervention with electro-acupuncture at the acupoints Zusanli, Fenglong and Sanyinjiao for 20 min once daily for 21 consecutive days. The changes in serum ALT, AST, TC, and TG levels were determined in the rats and hepatic expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB detected with quantitative fluorescence PCR and Western blotting after treatments.

RESULTSSerum ALT, AST, TC, and TG levels and TLR4 and NF-κB levels increased significantly after NAFLD onset (P<0.05), and were markedly reduced by interventions with electro-acupuncture (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONElectro-acupuncture at the acupoints Zusanli, Fenglong and Sanyinjiao can modify blood lipid and hepatic function to produce positive effect on NAFLD possibly by modifying lipid metabolism, lowering expressions of TLR4 and NF-κB in the liver, and reducing the impact of inflammation on NAFLD.