Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine ›› 2025, Vol. 45 ›› Issue (6): 1273-1282.DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.20250314.001
• Original Articles • Previous Articles Next Articles
ZHANG Qiongshuai1, LI Yi1, CAO Fang2, ZHI Mujun2, WANG Le1, LIU Ruyao1, FENG Juanjuan1(
)
Received:2025-01-05
Accepted:2025-03-04
Online:2025-12-15
Published:2025-03-14
Contact:
FENG Juanjuan, Department of Rehabilitation, the First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450000, China. kffjj2008@sina.com, Telephone: +86-371-66278028
Supported by:ZHANG Qiongshuai, LI Yi, CAO Fang, ZHI Mujun, WANG Le, LIU Ruyao, FENG Juanjuan. Effect of acupuncture on brain microenvironment in rats with post-stroke limb spasticity based on single-cell transcriptome sequencing technology[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1273-1282.
Figure 1 Therapeutic effect of acupuncture in MCAO model rats A: TTC staining was used to assess the infarct area in the brains of each group; B: the Garcia score was used to evaluate neurological deficits in the rats; B1: Garcia score of 2 h after modeling; B2: Garcia score of 10 d after modeling; C: HE staining was used to observe brain morphology, showing damaged and disintegrated nerve cells (black arrows), damaged and shrunken hippocampal neurons (blue arrows), prominent vacuolar degeneration (green arrows), and inflammatory cell infiltration in the stroma (yellow arrows); D: Nissl staining was used to assess changes in Nissl bodies; E: TUNEL staining was used to evaluate neuronal damage; F: the proportion of apoptotic cells was quantified; G: ELISA was used to measure serum levels of IL-1β in rats; H: ELISA was used to measure serum levels of IL-6 in rats; I: ELISA was used to measure serum levels of TNF-α in rats; A1, C1, D1, E1, E5, E9: control group; A2, C2, D2, E2, E6, E10: sham group; A3, C3, D3, E3, E7, E11: model group; A4, C4, D4, E4, E8, E12: acupuncture group. Control group: rats were raised under normal conditions without additional treatment; Sham group: rats were subjected to a midline cervical incision, with only blood vessel dissection but no suture insertion. After successful operation, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Model group: rats were established as MCAO models. After successful modeling, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Acupuncture group: rats were established as MCAO models, and acupuncture treatment was administered 24 h later. MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion; TTC: 2,3,5-Triphenyltetrazolium Chloride; HE: hematoxylin-eosin; TUNEL: terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling; ELISA: enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; IL: interleukin; TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and are represented as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 8). Compared with the control group, aP < 0.01; compared with the sham group, bP < 0.01; compared with the model group, cP < 0.01.
Figure 2 scRNA-seq analysis of ischemic penumbra in rat brain A: UMAP plot showing 30 cell clusters; B: classification of cells into nine cell types based on annotation; C: proportions of each cell type in the four groups; D: UMAP plots comparing the Control and Sham groups; E: UMAP plots comparing the Sham and Model groups; F: UMAP plots comparing the Model and Acupuncture groups. Control group: rats were raised under normal conditions without additional treatment; Sham group: rats were subjected to a midline cervical incision, with only blood vessel dissection but no suture insertion. After successful operation, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Model group: rats were established as MCAO models. After successful modeling, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Acupuncture group: rats were established as MCAO models, and acupuncture treatment was administered 24 h later. UMAP: uniform manifold approximation and projection; MCAO: middle cerebral artery occlusion.
Figure 3 Verification of key differential genes A: WB detected the changes of S100a8 and LST1 contents. B: S100a8 contents; C: LST1 contents; D: mRNA levels of S100a8 were detected by qPCR; E: mRNA levels of LST1 were detected by qPCR. Control group: rats were raised under normal conditions without additional treatment; Sham group: rats were subjected to a midline cervical incision, with only blood vessel dissection but no suture insertion. after successful operation, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Model group: rats were established as MCAO models. After successful modeling, they received daily grasping and touching stimulation with the same intensity and duration as the acupuncture group; Acupuncture group: rats were established as MCAO models, and acupuncture treatment was administered 24 h later. LST1: leukocyte specific transcript 1; qPCR: quantitative polymerase chain reaction; WB: Western blot. Data were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance and are represented as the mean ± standard deviation (n = 8). Compared with the control group, aP < 0.01; compared with the sham group, bP < 0.01; compared with the Acupuncture group, cP < 0.01.
| 1. |
Li S, Francisco GE, Rymer WZ. A new definition of poststroke spasticity and the interference of spasticity with motor recovery from acute to chronic stages. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2021; 35:601.
DOI URL |
| 2. | Ghannadi S, Shariat A, Ansari NN, et al. The effect of dry needling on lower limb dysfunction in poststroke survivors. J Stroke Cerebrovasc Dis 2020; 29: 104814. |
| 3. | Xie L, Mao G, Xie Y, et al. Efficacy of Baishao Luoshi decoction on synaptic plasticity in rats with post stroke spasticity. J Tradit Chin Med 2023; 43: 295. |
| 4. | Gomez-Cuaresma L, Lucena-Anton D, Gonzalez-Medina G, Martin-Vega FJ, Galan-Mercant A, Luque-Moreno C. Effectiveness of stretching in post-stroke spasticity and range of motion: systematic review and Meta-analysis. J Pers Med 2021; 11: 1074. |
| 5. | Lim SM, Yoo J, Lee E, et al. Acupuncture for spasticity after stroke: a systematic review and Meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med 2015; 2015: 870398. |
| 6. |
Xue C, Jiang C, Zhu Y, et al. Effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for post-stroke spasticity: a systematic review and Meta-analysis. Front Neurol 2022; 13: 942597.
DOI URL |
| 7. | Zhang QS, Zhang Y, Ji GC, Xu XH, Wang YF, Song BL. Clinical observation on cluster acupuncture at scalp points combined with exercise therapy in treatment of limb spasm after stroke. Zhong Guo Zhen Jiu 2022; 42: 377. |
| 8. | Zhang HY, Zhao YJ, Zhang PJ, et al. Acupuncture ameliorates neurological function by suppressing microglia polarization and inflammatory response after cerebral ischemia in rats. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 2022; 47: 941. |
| 9. | Wang WB, Yang LF, He QS, et al. Mechanisms of electroacupuncture effects on acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury: possible association with upregulation of transforming growth factor beta 1. Neural Regen Res 2016; 11: 1099. |
| 10. |
Zhang Y, Mao X, Lin R, Li Z, Lin J. Electroacupuncture ameliorates cognitive impairment through inhibition of Ca2+-mediated neurotoxicity in a rat model of cerebral ischaemia-reperfusion injury. Acupunct Med 2018; 36: 401.
DOI PMID |
| 11. |
Xie C, Gao X, Luo Y, Pang Y, Li M. Electroacupuncture modulates stromal cell-derived factor-1α expression and mobilization of bone marrow endothelial progenitor cells in focal cerebral ischemia/reperfusion model rats. Brain Res 2016; 1648: 119.
DOI PMID |
| 12. |
Yoo J, Seo JJ, Eom JH, Hwang DY. Effects of stromal cell-derived factor 1α delivered at different phases of transient focal ischemia in rats. Neuroscience 2012; 209: 171.
DOI PMID |
| 13. |
Shi L, Sun Z, Su W, et al. Treg cell-derived osteopontin promotes microglia-mediated white matter repair after ischemic stroke. Immunity 2021; 54: 1527.
DOI PMID |
| 14. |
Nguyen TH, Vicidomini R, Choudhury SD, et al. scRNA-seq data from the larval Drosophila ventral cord provides a resource for studying motor systems function and development. Dev Cell 2024; 59: 1210.
DOI PMID |
| 15. |
Longa EZ, Weinstein PR, Carlson S, Cummins R. Reversible middle cerebral artery occlusion without craniectomy in rats. Stroke 1989; 20: 84.
DOI PMID |
| 16. | Wang Y, Tian M, Tan J, et al. Irisin ameliorates neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis through integrin αVβ5/AMPK signaling pathway after intracerebral hemorrhage in mice. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19: 82. |
| 17. | Percie DSN, Ahluwalia A, Alam S, et al. Reporting animal research: explanation and elaboration for the ARRIVE guidelines 2.0. PLoS Biol 2020; 18: e3000411. |
| 18. |
Hopkins AM, DeSimone E, Chwalek K, Kaplan DL. 3D in vitro modeling of the central nervous system. Prog Neurobiol 2015; 125: 1.
DOI PMID |
| 19. |
Hubert T, Grimal S, Carroll P, Fichard-Carroll A. Collagens in the developing and diseased nervous system. Cell Mol Life Sci 2009; 66: 1223.
DOI PMID |
| 20. |
Anlar B, Gunel-Ozcan A. Tenascin-R: role in the central nervous system. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2012; 44: 1385.
DOI PMID |
| 21. |
Fisher M, Feuerstein G, Howells DW, et al. Update of the stroke therapy academic industry roundtable preclinical recommendations. Stroke 2009; 40: 2244.
DOI PMID |
| 22. | Wang JH, Zhang TZ, Li XL, et al. Effect of scalp acupuncture stimulation on cerebral infarct volume and expression of IL-10, IL-6 and IL-1β in para-hippocampal gyrus in acute ischemic cerebrovascular disease rats. Zhen Ci Yan Jiu 2019; 44: 405. |
| 23. | de Sousa N, Pinho AG, Monteiro S, et al. Acute baclofen administration promotes functional recovery after spinal cord injury. Spine J 2023; 23: 379. |
| 24. |
Nguyen JN, Chauhan A. Bystanders or not? Microglia and lymphocytes in aging and stroke. Neural Regen Res 2023; 18: 1397.
DOI PMID |
| 25. |
Liu W, Wang X, Yang S, et al. Electroacupunctre improves motor impairment via inhibition of microglia-mediated neuroinflammation in the sensorimotor cortex after ischemic stroke. Life Sci 2016; 151: 313.
DOI URL |
| 26. |
Gelderblom M, Leypoldt F, Steinbach K, et al. Temporal and spatial dynamics of cerebral immune cell accumulation in stroke. Stroke 2009; 40: 1849.
DOI PMID |
| 27. | Hu X, Leak RK, Shi Y, et al. Microglial and macrophage polarization — new prospects for brain repair. Nat Rev Neurol 2015; 11: 56. |
| 28. | Peng XY, Yuan B, Tian T, et al. Effects of electro-scalp acupuncture on inflammatory response and microglial polarization in the ischemic cortex of rats with ischemic stroke. Zhong Guo Zhen Jiu 2023; 43: 1050. |
| 29. | Zhang SH, Wang YL, Zhang CX, et al. Effect of interactive dynamic scalp acupuncture on post-stroke cognitive function, depression, and anxiety: a multicenter, randomized, controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med 2022; 28: 106. |
| 30. | Sun X, Wang Y, Zhao Y, et al. Activation of the Epac/Rap 1 signaling pathway alleviates blood-brain barrier disruption and brain damage following cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 117: 110014. |
| 31. | Takahashi H, Asahina R, Fujioka M, et al. Ras-like Gem GTPase induced by Npas4 promotes activity-dependent neuronal tolerance for ischemic stroke. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118. |
| 32. |
Zhang X, Chen C, Ling C, et al. EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and Rab GTPases coordinate EGFR trafficking to regulate macrophage activation in sepsis. Cell Death Dis 2022; 13: 934.
DOI PMID |
| 33. |
Wang S, Song R, Wang Z, Jing Z, Wang S, Ma J. S100A8/A 9 in inflammation. Front Immunol 2018; 9: 1298.
DOI URL |
| 34. | Yan L, Bjork P, Butuc R, et al. Beneficial effects of quinoline-3-carboxamide (ABR-215757) on atherosclerotic plaque morphology in S100A12 transgenic ApoE null mice. Atherosclerosis 2013; 228: 69. |
| 35. |
Morrow DA, Wang Y, Croce K, et al. Myeloid-related protein 8/14 and the risk of cardiovascular death or myocardial infarction after an acute coronary syndrome in the pravastatin or atorvastatin evaluation and infection therapy: thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (PROVE IT-TIMI 22) trial. Am Heart J 2008; 155: 49.
DOI PMID |
| 36. |
Kraakman MJ, Lee MK, Al-Sharea A, et al. Neutrophil-derived S100 calcium-binding proteins A8/A9 promote reticulated thrombocytosis and atherogenesis in diabetes. J Clin Invest 2017; 127: 2133.
DOI PMID |
| 37. | Song R, Struhl K. S100A8/S100A 9 cytokine acts as a transcriptional coactivator during breast cellular transformation. Sci Adv 2021; 1: 7. |
| 38. |
Ganta VC, Choi M, Farber CR, Annex BH. Antiangiogenic VEGF(165)b regulates macrophage polarization via S100A8/ S100A9 in peripheral artery disease. Circulation 2019; 139: 226.
DOI URL |
| 39. |
Pickering TG, Hall JE, Appel LJ, et al. Recommendations for blood pressure measurement in humans: an AHA scientific statement from the Council on High Blood Pressure Research Professional and Public Education Subcommittee. J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich) 2005; 7: 102.
DOI URL |
| 40. |
Heidemann J, Kebschull M, Tepasse PR, Bettenworth D. Regulated expression of leukocyte-specific transcript (LST) 1 in human intestinal inflammation. Inflamm Res 2014; 63: 513.
DOI PMID |
| 41. |
Fabisik M, Tureckova J, Pavliuchenko N, et al. Regulation of inflammatory response by transmembrane adaptor protein LST1. Front Immunol 2021; 12: 618332.
DOI URL |
| [1] | WANG Ci, CAO Yawen, WANG Jiaying, CHEN Jixin, MA Xue, WANG Xianliang, MAO Jingyuan. Efficacy and safety of acupuncture for arrythmias: an overview of systematic reviews and Meta-analyses [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1178-1190. |
| [2] | SHOU Yin, JIANG Juntao, HU Jianlin, JI Wei, CHEN Chunyan, HU Li, MA Yuhang, ZHANG Bimeng. Electroacupuncture alleviates type 2 diabetes mellitus by promoting plasma-derived exosomal circular RNA of enhancer of zeste homolog 1 expression [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1228-1237. |
| [3] | LIU Jingxuan, MO Qian, LEI Guowu, JIA Yejuan, LI Aiying, JIA Chunsheng, PAN Lijia. Four-dimensional data independent acquisition proteomics and metabolomics reveal mechanisms of hydrogen-rich water at Zusanli (ST36) point against triple-negative breast cancer in mice [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1238-1253. |
| [4] | LYU Hequn, ZENG Chunli, ZHANG Hanrui, YANG Chen, SHEN Yan, PENG Yongjun. Effect of Xuanfei Tongqiao acupuncture on nasal inflammation in rats with allergic rhinitis: modulation of long non-coding RNA growth arrest-specific transcript 5 methylation modification [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1263-1272. |
| [5] | XU Yuqin, YUAN Jinjun, ZHU Yanxian, CHEN Chen, MA Xiaoming, JIANG Jiaona, HUANG Xingxian, LUO Wenshu, LIU Fan, YANG Zhuoxin, ZHOU Yumei. Observation of the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for postpartum depression [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(6): 1405-1413. |
| [6] | WANG Yue, LIU Xingxing, GUO Yi, GUO Yongming, YUAN Gongming, ZHANG Yu, ZHENG Zhiyu, XU Yuan, LI Yuan. Characterization of acupuncture on central amino acid metabolism based on targeted neurotransmitter analysis in mice with inflammatory pain [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(5): 1019-1027. |
| [7] | GUO Jixing, JI Changchun, XIE Chaoju, RAO Xiang, SUN Zhangyin, XING Yu, ZHANG Rongni, QU Qiangqiang, DONG Youpeng, YANG Jinsheng. Various acupuncture therapies for managing nonspecific low back pain: a network Meta-analysis [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(5): 954-962. |
| [8] | ZHAO Ping, HE Xingbo, HAN Xudong, CHEN Xinyue, LI Zhanglong, SONG Jike, XING Wenjia, WU Jiangfeng, GUO Bin, BI Hongsheng. Mechanism of electroacupuncture involve in lens-induced myopia guinea pigs by inhibiting wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 796-805. |
| [9] | ZHENG Ruwen, DONG Xu, WANG Tianyi, FENG Liyuan, ZHANG Hongyan, HUO Hong, ZHANG Ying, ZHANG Qianshi, ZHU Xingyan, WANG Dongyan. Electroacupuncture versus conventional acupuncture of scalp motor area for post-stroke wrist dyskinesia and its effect on muscle function: a randomized, controlled clinical trial [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 852-859. |
| [10] | SONG Jianfei, QIN Zhengyuan, GU Xinlu, ZHANG Yan, LI Xingrui. Efficacy of acupuncture combined with upper limb rehabilitation robot-assisted training for neuroplasticity and functional recovery of patients with stroke: a prospective cohort study based on functional near-infrared spectroscopy technology [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 860-866. |
| [11] | Kanae Umemoto, SHAN Xiyao, Takuro Ishikawa, Tadashi Watsuji, Yasuharu Watanabe, Munekazu Naito. Novel insight into the site-specificity of Hegu (LI4): morphological, biomechanical, and histological analyses [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 867-872. |
| [12] | JIANG Jinglei, YU Tao, QIAN Yulin, WANG Meng. Understanding the role of microglia in Alzheimer's disease: insights into mechanisms, acupuncture, and potential therapeutic targets [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(4): 922-936. |
| [13] | CHEN Yuanchun, JING Jiaxing, LI Qingmin, ZHOU Xiaohong, JIN Xiaofei, GAO Weijuan, CHEN Xiangmei, YU Wentao. Exploring the mechanism of Shenhua tablet (肾华片) alleviating renal injury by regulating macrophage glycolysis via hypoxia-inducible factor-1α/ pyruvate kinase M2 signaling pathway in diabetic kidney disease mice [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(3): 528-537. |
| [14] | SUN Jiao, WANG Yueming, LYU Jian, LIU Xin, YUE Bingnan, LI Yinyin, LIU Jipeng, SUN Yize, LIU Qingguo, YAN Liu. Effect of electroacupuncture on hypertensive and sympathetic excitability mechanism mediated by the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus in spontaneous hypertensive rats [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(3): 586-596. |
| [15] | MIN Yu, ZHENG Meifeng, SUN Ju, PENG Zetong, CAO Zhixian, HUANG Xiaohua. Systematic acupuncture explains acupuncture at Baihui (GV20) and Fengchi (GB20) targeting the inflammatory response to regulate migraine [J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 45(3): 610-617. |
| Viewed | ||||||
|
Full text |
|
|||||
|
Abstract |
|
|||||
Sponsored by China Association of Chinese Medicine
& China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences
16 Nanxiaojie, Dongzhimen Nei, Beijing, China. 100700 Email: jtcmen@126.com
Copyright 2020 Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine. All rights reserved.
