Effects of Acupuncture Modulation of Astrocytes on Neuropathic Pain

Abstract:
Neuropathic pain is pain caused by injury or disease involving the somatosensory system, and it is a common and frequent disease in clinical practice, which seriously affects the quality of life of patients. Astrocytes are the main component of glial cells in the central nervous system and are closely associated with neuronal cells and cerebral blood vessels. Activated astrocytes play an important role in the development and maintenance of neuropathic pain. Studies have found that acupuncture, astrocytes and neuropathic pain are closely related. Acupuncture may inhibit neuropathic pain by modulating astrocyte activation. Currently, astrocyte activation is mainly associated with changes in glial signaling pathways, changes in the expression of receptor and channel proteins, and the sustained production and excretion of various glialderived factors. Acupuncture achieves analgesia primarily by modulating signaling pathways and receptor proteins in astrocytes. This article reviews astrocytes, astrocytes and neuropathic pain, and acupuncture and astrocytes.