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Decoding the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture in Hemorrhagic Stroke Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing
Chen Ruan1,2, Jia Du1,2, Wentao Zhang1
1Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University (College of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Clinical Medicine), Hangzhou, China.
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics
|December 9, 2025
Summary
Acupuncture may improve stroke recovery by modulating glial cell gene expression and promoting neuroprotection. This study highlights the APOE-TREM2 pathway and microglia-astrocyte interactions as key mechanisms for enhancing brain repair.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Molecular Biology
- Immunology
Background:
- Acupuncture is a proposed therapy for stroke recovery.
- Molecular mechanisms of acupuncture's efficacy in stroke are not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- Investigate acupuncture's effects on post-stroke recovery at cellular and molecular levels.
- Elucidate the mechanisms of acupuncture in a mouse model of hemorrhagic stroke.
Main Methods:
- Used a mouse model of hemorrhagic stroke.
- Applied single-cell RNA sequencing to analyze cellular and molecular changes.
- Investigated gene expression in glial cells (microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes).
Main Results:
- Acupuncture modulated gene expression in microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes.
- Identified the APOE-TREM2 signaling axis as crucial for microglia activation and neuroprotection.
- Observed enhanced microglia-astrocyte interactions promoting inflammation resolution and tissue repair.
Conclusions:
- Acupuncture influences glial cell pathways for stroke recovery.
- The APOE-TREM2 pathway is a potential therapeutic target for post-stroke rehabilitation.
- Targeting glial cell-mediated mechanisms offers a strategy for improving stroke outcomes.
