Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 19, 2026
The Sciatic Nerve Cuffing Model of Neuropathic Pain in Mice
Published on: July 16, 2014
Electroacupuncture alleviates paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy by reducing CCL2-mediated macrophage
Yuanyuan Li1, Ruoyao Xu1, Muyan Chen1
1Department of Neurobiology and Acupuncture Research, The Third Clinical Medical College, Key Laboratory of Acupuncture and Neurology of Zhejiang Province, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China.
Background:
Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is prevalent among patients receiving paclitaxel chemotherapy, which results in sensory abnormality as well as neuropathic pain. Conventional medications lack effectiveness on PIPN. Clinical trials identified beneficial effects of acupuncture on PIPN among patients receiving chemotherapy. Here we explored the mechanisms underlying how acupuncture might alleviate PIPN.
Methods:
A mouse model of PIPN was established by repeated paclitaxel application. Electroacupuncture (EA) was applied at ST36 and BL60 acupoints of model mice. Immunostaining, flow cytometry, behavioral assay, in vivo imaging were utilized for effects determination and mechanism exploration.
Results:
EA ameliorated mechanical and cold pain hypersensitivities, reduced sensory neuron damage and improved loss in intra-epidermal nerve fibers (IENFs) in model mice. Macrophages infiltration were detected in DRG and sciatic nerve of model mice, which was reduced by EA. EA affected M1-like pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration in DRG, whereas it did not affect M2-like macrophages. DRG neurons released chemoattractant CCL2 that recruited macrophages via CCR2 to DRG. EA reduced CCL2 overproduction by DRG neurons and reduced macrophage infiltration. Blocking CCR2 mimicked EA's anti-allodynic effect, whereas exogenously applying recombinant CCL2 reversed the ameliorative effect of EA on macrophage infiltration and abolished EA's anti-allodynia on model mice. EA ameliorated other signs of PIPN, including sensory neuron damage, sciatic nerve morphology impairment and IENFs loss. In mice inoculated with breast cancer cells, EA didn't affect paclitaxel-induced antitumor effect.
Conclusions:
These findings suggest EA alleviates PIPN by reducing CCL2/CCR2 mediated-pro-inflammatory macrophage infiltration into sensory ganglia as well as the sciatic nerve. Our study supports EA could be used as a potential non-pharmacological therapy for PIPN.
More Related Videos
08:16Partial Sciatic Nerve Ligation: A Mouse Model of Chronic Neuropathic Pain to Study the Antinociceptive Effect of Novel Therapies
Published on: October 6, 2022
08:20Author Spotlight: Unveiling the Therapeutic Effects of FSN Treatment – Bridging Research and Clinical Applications in Neuropathic Pain
Published on: June 30, 2023
Related Concept Videos
01:19Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Three Subfamilies of Ligand-gated Ion Channels
Ligand-gated ion channels fall into three subfamilies. The 'Cys-loop' includes the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, and 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors. The second one is the 'Pore-loop' channels that include the...
01:30Ligand-Gated Ion Channel Receptor: Gating Mechanism