探讨针刺改善高血压心肌肥厚及心功能损害潜在机制的新思路

长期高血压可导致以心肌肥厚为特征的心室重塑,迄今现代医学尚无法完全阻滞高血压心肌肥厚(包括心肌细胞肥大和心肌组织纤维化)及心衰的发展进程。研究表明,针刺能够兴奋迷走神经,对抗交感神经过度的紧张性活动,有效地降低血压,并能够通过调节心肌细胞内钙信号相关蛋白改善心脏功能。上述研究结果为针刺治疗高血压-心肌肥厚-心衰发展进程提供了科学依据。本文通过系统梳理高血压-心肌肥厚及心脏功能损害的发生发展机制以及目前积累的针刺心血管效应研究,从调节自主神经、内分泌、细胞因子及细胞内钙信号相关通路等几个方面,对针刺改善高血压心肌肥厚及心功能损害的潜在机制提出新的研究思路。

Potential Mechanisms Underlying Acupuncture Regulation on Hypertensive Myocardial Hypertrophy and Cardiac Function Damage

Long-lasting hypertension results in ventricular remodeling characteristic of myocardial hypertrophy including myocyte hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis,apathological process failed to be blocked by the current biomedical means and could eventually lead to heart failure.It has been shown that acupuncture can excite the parasympathetic nerve to counter the overtonic activity of sympathetic nerve,elicit antihypertensive effect and produce cardioprotection via the regulation of calcium signaling-related proteins in myocytes,suggesting its potential role in the management of these disorders.In this paper,the authors review relevant studies and propose,with respect to the autonomic nerve,endocrine system,cytokines and intracellular calcium signaling pathways,several novel ideas concerning the treatment of hypertensive myocardial hypertrophy and cardiac malfunction by acupuncture.