Efficacy of electro-acupuncture at "Weizhong" (BL40) on macrophage polarization in rats with injured lumbar multifidus.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture in rats with bupivacaine-induced lumbar multifidus injury and its underlying regulatory mechanism on macrophage polarization. METHODS: A total of seventy-two Sprague-Dawley male rats were randomly divided into control, model, and electroacupuncture groups. Forty-eight rats categorized in model groups were injected 0.5% bupivacaine (BPVC) into the lumbar multifidus at the L4-L5 segment. Rats in the electroacupuncture groups received the intervention for 1, 2, 3 and 5 d, respectively. The degree of macrophage infiltration and change of M1/M2 polarization were observed based on hematoxylin and eosin staining, immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence to evaluate the anti-inflammatory effect of electroacupuncture. Meanwhile, exosomal miRNA-sequencing and bioinformatics analysis predicted the pathways and biological processes related to inflammatory response and macrophage polarization regulated by electroacupuncture intervention. RESULTS: < 0.001, respectively). Moreover, the results of sequencing and bioinformatic analysis suggested that exosomal miRNAs were involved in the EA regulating macrophage polarization. CONCLUSIONS: Electroacupuncture can promote macrophage polarization to reduce inflammation following lumbar multifidus muscular injury.
Source: PubMed
Authors: Tian Yuan, B U He, Wang Tieshan, Yang Dongliang, Zhang Wei, Liu Tong, Zhang Li, Huo Zejun
Institutions: Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Baotou Medical College, Cangzhou Medical College, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Peking University, Peking University Third Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4408956385