《自然》发表的“电针驱动迷走-肾上腺轴的神经解剖学机制”一文对针灸研究的意义

《自然》杂志于2021年10月刊登"电针驱动迷走-肾上腺轴的神经解剖学机制"一文,引起了针灸学术界的广泛关注和讨论。在前期工作的基础上,该研究证实PROKR2-Cre神经纤维在躯体不同部位和层次的差异性分布是电针低强度刺激"足三里"或"手三里"穴,通过"迷走-肾上腺轴"产生抗炎效应的关键。该研究成果是针灸基础科研领域的里程碑事件,是针灸学科与神经-免疫学科交叉相互碰撞融合的代表作,揭示了针刺起效的部分因素构成和穴位结构相对特异性的神经解剖学基础,对未来针灸科研模式的变革和针灸科研成果的转化具有一定指导意义,其研究思路、方法和结论值得针灸科研工作者学习和借鉴。

The significance of “A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal-adrenal axis” published in Nature for acupuncture research

October 2021, Nature published an original research article entitled A neuroanatomical basis for electroacupuncture to drive the vagal-adrenal axis, which draws great attention and arouses extensive discussion in the acupuncture field. Based on previous findings, this study demonstrates that the abundant innervation of PROKR2-Cre neurons in deep fascia tissues mediates the anti-inflammatory effect induced by low-intensity electroacupuncture stimulation at “Zusanli”(ST36) or “Shousanli”(LI10) via the “vagal-adrenal axis”. This study is one of milestones in the field of acupuncture basic research and represents a great achievement generated by multi-discipline integration of acupuncture and neuro-immunology. It reveals partial contributing factors involved in acupuncture's effect and the relative specificity of the neuroanatomical basis of acupoints in the context of immune modulation. This study is both very informative and instructive for the innovation and clinical translation of future acupuncture research. Acupuncture researchers are recommended to attach great importance to this study in terms of its research strategy, methods and findings.