Warm acupuncture therapy alleviates neuronal apoptosis after spinal cord injury via inhibition of the ERK signaling pathway

This study explores the potential benefits of warm acupuncture (WA) in treating spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats. WA involves using acupuncture needles combined with moxibustion (burning moxa) to stimulate specific acupoints. The research focuses on how WA might affect neuronal apoptosis (programmed cell death of nerve cells) after SCI, specifically examining the role of the extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway, which is involved in cell growth, differentiation, and apoptosis. The study found that WA treatment improved motor function, reduced neuronal apoptosis, and decreased inflammation in rats with SCI. These effects were linked to the downregulation of the ERK signaling pathway, suggesting a possible mechanism for WA's therapeutic benefits.

• 1
  Warm acupuncture (WA) treatment significantly raised the Basso, Beattie & Bresnahan locomotor rating scale (BBB scale) of SCI rats from 7 to 14 days after SCI, indicating improved motor function.
• 2
  WA treatment significantly diminished apoptotic cells and preserved neurons in the injured spinal cord, suggesting a neuroprotective effect.
• 3
  WA treatment alleviated the production of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) in the spinal cord, indicating a reduction in inflammation.