Abstract
As one of the conventional treatment methods, acupuncture is an indispensable component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Currently, acupuncture has been partly accepted throughout the world, but the mechanism of acupuncture is still unclear. Since the theory of the neuro-endocrine-immune network was put forward, new insights have been brought into the understanding of the mechanism of acupuncture. Studies have proven that acupuncture is a mechanical stimulus that can activate local cell functions and neuroreceptors. It also regulates the release of related biomolecules (peptide hormones, lipid hormones, neuromodulators and neurotransmitters, and other small and large biomolecules) in the microenvironment, where they can affect each other and further activate the neuroendocrine-immune network to achieve holistic regulation. Recently, growing efforts have been made in the research on the mechanism of acupuncture. Some researchers have transitioned from studying the mechanism of acupuncture as a single linear pathway to using systems approaches, including metabolomics, genomics, proteomics and biological pathway analysis. This review summarizes the research progress on the neuro-endocrine-immune network related mechanism of acupuncture and discusses its current challenges and future directions.
Highlights
Acupuncture, originating in China, can be traced back to more than 2500 years
Acetylcholine is the main neurotransmitter of the vagus nerve, which regulates the production of cytokines on a variety of immune cells by activating α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and promoting T cell development and/or differentiation [51]
Studies have confirmed that the immune regulatory network, which is mainly composed of IL-2, IFN and natural killer (NK) cells, plays a crucial role in enhancing and regulating the body’s immune function, which is inseparably intertwined with some pathological conditions such as tumorigenesis [96]
Summary
Acupuncture, originating in China, can be traced back to more than 2500 years It is one of the most time-honored treatment methods and an indispensable component of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Compared with Western medicine, acupuncture is a physical stimulus that restores normal function by adjusting the internal environment and rebuilding physiological homeostasis, instead of directly acting on the pathogen. Acupuncture is both holistic and bidirectional [2]. Several studies have reported that acupuncture can regulate the body’s function through adjusting the neuro-endocrine-immune network. In this article, we review the relevant studies on acupuncture’s effects on the neuro-endocrine-immune network to find evidence that acupuncture regulates the neuro-endocrine-immune network and reveal the mechanism underlying acupuncture
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