Electroacupuncture (EA) promotes angiogenesis and ameliorates dysregulated autophagy in ischemic stroke mice by...

To investigate the effects of electroacupuncture (EA) on post-ischemic angiogenesis and autophagy regulation after ischemic stroke, and to clarify the functional involvement of the ELAVL1/SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling axis.

A mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model was established and treated with EA. Genetic modulation of ELAVL1 or SIRT1 was performed to evaluate neurological deficits, infarct volume, angiogenesis-related indicators, and autophagy status. In parallel, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) were used to assess endothelial viability, migration, tube formation, pro-angiogenic factor secretion, and autophagy-related changes under different genetic conditions.

MCAO induced neurological impairment, reduced angiogenesis, and excessive autophagy. EA significantly improved neurological outcomes, reduced infarct volume, promoted angiogenesis, and alleviated excessive autophagy. In vivo, ELAVL1 silencing enhanced the pro-angiogenic effects of EA, whereas ELAVL1 overexpression attenuated these benefits. In OGD/R-treated HUVECs, ELAVL1 overexpression exacerbated endothelial dysfunction in association with enhanced autophagy, while ELAVL1 silencing suppressed excessive autophagy and improved endothelial viability, migration, and tube formation. SIRT1 knockdown attenuated the protective effects mediated by ELAVL1 silencing.

EA improves post-ischemic functional recovery and is associated with enhanced angiogenic responses and modulation of autophagy-related processes, potentially involving the ELAVL1/SIRT1/FOXO1 signaling axis. These findings support a regulatory relationship between EA treatment and this pathway, although the precise cellular mechanisms and dynamic regulation of autophagy require further investigation.