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Advances in the mechanisms of electroacupuncture in the treatment of cerebral ischemia–reperfusion injury

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury (CIRI) is a critical pathological process that adversely affects neurological recovery and prognosis after reperfusion therapies for ischemic stroke, and effective targeted interventions remain limited. Accumulating experimental and clinical evidence indicates that electroacupuncture (EA), as a traditional Chinese medicine-based intervention with controllable stimulation parameters, can attenuate CIRI and improve neurological outcomes to a certain extent. Current studies suggest that the neuroprotective effects of EA involve integrated modulation of multiple pathological processes, including neuronal apoptosis, inflammatory responses, oxidative stress, blood-brain barrier disruption, angiogenesis, and synaptic plasticity, exhibiting characteristics of multi-target, multi-pathway, and dynamic regulation. Meanwhile, EA stimulation parameters, acupoint selection, and intervention timing play important roles in determining therapeutic efficacy. Based on an overview of the major pathological mechanisms of CIRI, this review systematically summarizes the key molecular pathways and parameter-related features underlying EA intervention, aiming to provide references for mechanistic integration and clinical application of EA in CIRI.

Source: Frontiers in Neuroscience

DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2026.1806298

Authors: Hong Yang, Zhan-Ze Ma, Jun Liu

Institutions: Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xinglin College of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine

Language: English

Topic: Acupuncture Treatment Research Studies

Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,801