Electroacupuncture

Where the papers sit

11 papers from the last 6 months study electroacupuncture directly · updated from PubMed 10 Oct 2026

• Inflammation and Macrophage Polarization

  Inflammatory injury is increasingly framed as a target for shifting myeloid cells from M1-like toward M2-like states. Recurrent mechanisms include α7nAChR signaling, exosomal miR-217-5p, CMPK2/NLRP3 inflammasome inhibition, and enhanced autophagy. These pathways are associated with reduced neuroinflammation after cerebral hemorrhage or spinal injury, improved depressive-like behavior, and better intestinal barrier integrity in MAFLD. The evidence remains preclinical and spans distinct tissues, leaving the dominant pathway and clinical relevance unsettled.

  4 papers · 36.4%

• Ischemic Stroke Recovery

  Ischemic stroke research is moving beyond acute neuroprotection toward coordinated repair through neurogenesis, angiogenesis, and restoration of autophagy. Combination with neural stem-cell transplantation is paired with tsRNA-related regulation, while DNA methylation of the RhoGDIα axis provides another mechanism. ELAVL1/SIRT1 signaling and suppression of ER stress-induced apoptosis recur as targets linked to tissue preservation and functional recovery. The work remains largely animal-based, so durability and translation to patients remain open.

  4 papers · 36.4%

• Neuropathic Pain and Anxiety

  Pain relief is linked to suppressing glutamatergic activity in the spinoparabrachial pathway and reducing inflammatory signaling. Paclitaxel neuropathy and CFA pain models emphasize mechanical allodynia and lateral parabrachial nucleus circuits, while clinical work examines purinergic signaling and inflammatory markers. Anxiety-like behavior improves alongside analgesia in preclinical studies. The main unresolved issue is whether these circuit and immune effects translate into durable benefit for chronic pain.

  3 papers · 27.3%