[Neuro-endocrine-immune network mechanism of acupuncture for post-stroke depression]

The nervous, endocrine and immune systems are interconnected through neurotransmitters, endocrine hormones and cytokines, forming a neuro-endocrine-immune (NEI) network that outputs effect information to target organs in a multi-level and multi-system manner. The effects of acupuncture can be amplified through the NEI network, causing local microenvironment responses at acupoints to treat post-stroke depression (PSD). This paper systematically elucidates the mechanisms of acupuncture treatment for PSD from three aspects: nervous, endocrine and immune, and reveals the potential mechanisms and biological pathways of acupuncture treatment for PSD from an overall perspective based on the NEI network, aiming to provide a reliable theoretical basis for fundamental research on acupuncture treatment for PSD.