Nervous system diseases, such as cerebrovascular diseases, spinal cord diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases, are characterized by high incidence, mortality, and intractability. The pathogenesis of nervous system diseases is complex, with neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation being the main features. Recent studies have increasingly emphasized the important role of neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms in the development of neurological diseases. Neuroimmunoendocrine dysfunction is a key mechanism in the development of various nervous system diseases, including stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and depression. In addition, neuroendocrine abnormalities are related to affective disorders, and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis plays an important role in the symptoms and recurrence of depression (1). Researchers are continuously investigating neurological diseases and actively pursuing innovative and effective treatments. Acupuncture is a traditional therapy that has been used to treat nervous system diseases such as stroke and depression for thousands of years, and its safety and efficacy have been widely recognized (2). In recent years, there has been increasing interest in the potential of acupuncture to modulate the neuroendocrine-immune system in neurological diseases. It has been demonstrated that acupuncture stimulates the neuroendocrine system and releases neurotransmitters and neuropeptides in the body (3). The neuroendocrine system indirectly affects the immune system by releasing neurotransmitters, hormones, and other substances that interact with immune organs and cells. However, further research is needed to fully understand the regulatory mechanism of the neuroimmunoendocrine system by acupuncture. Therefore, the main aim of this Research Topic is to explore and provide further evidence for the neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms underlying acupuncture treatment for nervous system diseases.
Research themes include “Neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms of acupuncture in the treatment of nervous system disorders“
Immune responses play an important role in the development of ischemic stroke (4). Kuang et al. conducted a comprehensive review of immune responses involving immune cells, cytokines, and immune organs after ischemic stroke. Based on an extensive literature review, this study analyzed the immunomodulatory effects of acupuncture on the central nervous system and peripheral immunity and the factors that affect its effectiveness. The complex process by which acupuncture treats ischemic stroke mainly involves restoring and maintaining the dynamic equilibrium of the immune system, rather than simply enhancing or suppressing the immune response.
Using appropriate animal experiments, Yu et al. comprehensively investigated the effects of acupuncture stimulation on local inflammatory responses and the interactions between the nervous and immune systems. The researchers found that acupuncture modulates the immune responses of various cell types, including endothelial cells, neutrophils, macrophages, fibroblasts, and mast cells, through local biological and mechanical changes. In addition, acupuncture may modulate the systemic inflammatory response by stimulating the vagus nervous system. The interactions between the nervous and immune systems serve as an important mechanism by which acupuncture exerts its modulatory effects on inflammatory processes.
Acupuncture can effectively improve limb dysfunction after acute stroke. Wang et al. discussed the dose-effect relationship between different acupuncture doses (frequency, needle retention time, treatment course) and clinical effects. Research has found that the optimal frequency of acupuncture is low frequency (1 time/2 days) and medium frequency (1 time/day), and the optimal course of acupuncture is short-term (< 14 days). The dose-response relationship between the optimal needle retention time and clinical effects needs to be confirmed through research.
Xingna Kaiqiao acupuncture is a technique developed by Academician Shi Xuemin and is often used in the rehabilitation of stroke patients (5). Tian et al. used multimodal MRI technology to investigate the core mechanism of the effectiveness of Xingna Kaiqiao acupuncture on limb dysfunction after ischemic stroke. This study aims to deepen our understanding of the brain mechanisms associated with the therapeutic effects of Xingna Kaiqiao acupuncture.
In conclusion, this study has delved deeper into the important discoveries made by researchers in the field of acupuncture, particularly the neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms of acupuncture in addressing neurological disorders. These findings provide valuable insights for researchers and healthcare professionals who wish to better understand the underlying mechanisms involved in the use of acupuncture in the treatment of neurological disorders, facilitating the refinement of acupuncture’s efficacy in managing various neurological disorders.
Author contributions
XC: writing – manuscript. HL: writing – manuscript. Z-JZ: writing – manuscript. CT: writing – review and editing. YH: writing – review and editing.
Funding
The authors declare that they received financial support for the research, writing, and/or publication of this paper. This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (81873359) and the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province (2022A1515011658 and 2023A1515012235).
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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keyword: Acupuncture, Neuroimmunoendocrine, Nervous system diseases, Mechanisms, Ischemic stroke
Quote: Cai X, Liu H, Zhang ZJ, Tang C, Huang Y (2024) Editorial: Neuroimmunoendocrine mechanisms of acupuncture in treating nervous system diseases. Front. New roll. 15:1449040. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1449040
received: June 14, 2024; approved: July 15, 2024;
release date: July 26, 2024.
Edited and reviewed by: Gordana Leposavić, University of Belgrade, Serbia
Copyright © 2024 Cai, Liu, Zhang, Tang and Huang. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). Use, distribution, or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author and copyright holder are credited and the original publication in this journal is cited in accordance with accepted scholarly practice. Any use, distribution, or reproduction not in accordance with these terms is not permitted.
*correspondence: Tang Chunzhi, jordan664@163.com; Huang Yong, nanfanglihuang@163.com
†These authors contributed equally to the work and are first authors.
