Electroacupuncture alleviates the transition from acute to chronic pain through the p38 MAPK/TNF-α signalling pathway in the spinal dorsal horn

Ying, Jiang; Zhou, Jie; Xu, Fangfang; Ren, Zeqin; Hu, Jun; Zhang, Cong; Ge, Kaiwen; Liu, Lanying

doi:10.1177/09645284211020766

Cited by 8 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Jin et al found that in pain sensitive priming (HP) models established by carrageenan and PEG2 (the transition model from acute pain to chronic pain), EA alleviated the transition from acute pain to chronic pain via the p38 MAPK/TNF-α signaling pathway in SCDH. 109 They found that EA at ST36 and Bl60 reduced the mechanical claw withdrawal threshold and p38 MAPK/TNF-α levels in the spinal dorsal horn of HP rats. Administration of U-46619 (selective p38 MAPK agonist) attenuated this effect.…”

Section: Signaling Moleculesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on inflammatory pain

Zhang,

Zhou,

Huo

et al. 2023

Mol Pain

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Acupuncture, as a traditional treatment, has been extensively used in China for thousands of years. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), acupuncture is recommended for the treatment of 77 diseases. And sixteen of these diseases are related to inflammatory pain. As a combination of traditional acupuncture and modern electrotherapy, electroacupuncture (EA) has satisfactory analgesic effects on various acute and chronic pain. Because of its good analgesic effects and no side effects, acupuncture has been widely accepted all over the world. Despite the increase in the number of studies, the mechanisms via which acupuncture exerts its analgesic effects have not been conclusively established. A literature review of related research is of great significance to elaborate on its mechanisms and to inform on further research directions. We elucidated on its mechanisms of action on inflammatory pain from two levels: peripheral and central. It includes the mechanisms of acupuncture in the periphery (immune cells and neurons, purinergic pathway, nociceptive ion channel, cannabinoid receptor and endogenous opioid peptide system) and central nervous system (TPRV1, glutamate and its receptors, glial cells, GABAergic interneurons and signaling molecules ). In this review, we collected relevant recent studies to systematically explain the mechanisms of acupuncture in treating inflammatory pain, with a view to providing direction for future applications of acupuncture in inflammatory pain and promoting clinical development.

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Section: Signaling Moleculesmentioning

confidence: 96%

Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on inflammatory pain

Zhang,

Zhou,

Huo

et al. 2023

Mol Pain

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“…Electroacupuncture (EA) reduced the expression of p38 MAPK and inhibited pain transmission in rat spinal cord dorsal horn ( Wei and Hsieh, 2020 ; Jin et al, 2021 ). PKA expression levels are elevated and involved in neuropathic pain by activating the p38 MAPK pathway to mediate apoptosis in spinal cord cells ( Deng et al, 2020 ).…”

Section: Acupuncture Mechanisms On Neuropathic Painmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system

Chen

Yang

et al. 2022

Front. Neurosci.

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Neuropathic pain, caused by a lesion or disease of the somatosensory system, is common and distressing. In view of the high human and economic burden, more effective treatment strategies were urgently needed. Acupuncture has been increasingly used as an adjuvant or complementary therapy for neuropathic pain. Although the therapeutic effects of acupuncture have been demonstrated in various high-quality randomized controlled trials, there is significant heterogeneity in the underlying mechanisms. This review aimed to summarize the potential mechanisms of acupuncture on neuropathic pain based on the somatosensory system, and guided for future both foundational and clinical studies. Here, we argued that acupuncture may have the potential to inhibit neuronal activity caused by neuropathic pain, through reducing the activation of pain-related ion channels and suppressing glial cells (including microglia and astrocytes) to release inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, amongst others. Meanwhile, acupuncture as a non-pharmacologic treatment, may have potential to activate descending pain control system via increasing the level of spinal or brain 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), norepinephrine (NE), and opioid peptides. And the types of endogenously opioid peptides was influenced by electroacupuncture-frequency. The cumulative evidence demonstrated that acupuncture provided an alternative or adjunctive therapy for neuropathic pain.

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“…Although TEAS can effectively alleviate acute postoperative pain, the mechanisms underlying this analgesic action of TEAS have not yet been fully elucidated. A previous study has found that electroacupuncture can alleviate acute pain through inflammation signaling pathway [ 12 ]. In addition, several studies reported that electroacupuncture relieved pain by increasing the expression of β -endorphin ( β -EP) [ 13 , 14 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Reduces Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Liu,

Zhang,

Zhang

et al. 2024

Pain Research and Management

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Objectives. This study aimed to determine the effects of perioperative transcutaneous electrical acupoint stimulation (TEAS) on postoperative pain management in patients undergoing thoracic surgery. Methods. In the prospective, randomized, controlled study, a total of 84 patients undergoing video‐assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) were randomly allocated to the TEAS group (Group T) or control group (Group C). Patients in the Group T received TEAS at Neiguan (PC6) and Hegu (LI4) acupoints for 30 min before anesthesia induction and 30 min after thoracoscopic surgery. Patients in the Group C received the same placement of electrodes but without electrical stimulation. The numeric rating scale (NRS) pain score, remifentanil consumption, demand for rescue analgesics and incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV), patient satisfaction, and the levels of plasma β‐endorphin (EP) and IL‐6 were recorded. Results. Patients in the Group T had significantly lower NRS pain scores at 6 h, 12 h, 24 h, and 48 h after surgery than those in the Group C. Compared with Group C, patients in Group T had lower remifentanil consumption during operation, lower demand for rescue analgesics and lower rate of PONV within 24 h after surgery. Patients in Group T also had lower IL‐6 content, higher β‐EP content and higher satisfaction degree than those in the Group C. Conclusions. Perioperative TEAS significantly decreased postoperative pain and rescued analgesia requirements and the incidence of PONV in patients undergoing thoracoscopic surgery, with a higher patient satisfaction. This trial is registered with ChiCTR2100051841.

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Electroacupuncture alleviates the transition from acute to chronic pain through the p38 MAPK/TNF-α signalling pathway in the spinal dorsal horn

Cited by 8 publications

References 33 publications

Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on inflammatory pain

Mechanisms of acupuncture–electroacupuncture on inflammatory pain

Potential mechanisms of acupuncture for neuropathic pain based on somatosensory system

Perioperative Transcutaneous Electrical Acupoint Stimulation Reduces Postoperative Pain in Patients Undergoing Thoracoscopic Surgery: A Randomized Controlled Trial

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