The neuroprotective role of acupuncture and activation of the BDNF signaling pathway.


Author: Lin D1, De La Pena I2, Lin L3, Zhou SF4, Borlongan CV5, Cao C6.

Affiliation: 1College of acupuncture, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China. bluelike1@sina.com. 2Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. iked@health.usf.edu. 3College of acupuncture, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Minhou Shangjie, Fuzhou 350122, Fujian, China. linlili77fz@163.com. 4College of pharmacy, Department of pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. szhou@health.usf.edu. 5Department of Neurosurgery and Brain Repair, College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. cborlong@health.usf.edu. 6College of pharmacy, Department of pharmaceutical Sciences, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA. ccao@health.usf.edu.
Conference/Journal: Int J Mol Sci.
Date published: 2014 Feb 21
Other:
 Volume ID: 15   ,  Issue ID: 2   ,  Pages: 3234-52   ,  Special Notes: doi: 10.3390/ijms15023234   ,  Word Count: 133  
    

Recent studies have been conducted to examine the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture in many neurological disorders. Although the neuroprotective effects of acupuncture has been linked to changes in signaling pathways, accumulating evidence suggest the participation of endogenous biological mediators, such as the neurotrophin (NT) family of proteins, specifically, the brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Accordingly, acupuncture can inhibit neurodegeneration via expression and activation of BDNF. Moreover, recent studies have reported that acupuncture can increase ATP levels at local stimulated points. We have also demonstrated that acupuncture could activate monocytes and increase the expression of BDNF via the stimulation of ATP. The purpose of this article is to review the recent findings and ongoing studies on the neuroprotective roles of acupuncture and therapeutic implications of acupuncture-induced activation of BDNF and its signaling pathway.

PMID: 24566146