Acupuncture therapy: A potential new strategy for immunosuppressive sepsis

Abstract

Sepsis is characterized by immune dysregulation that are responsible for an increase in secondary infections and mortality. Acupuncture is a potential alternative treatment for sepsis. In this comprehensive literature review, we found that acupuncture is beneficial in treating immune disorders associated with sepsis. Acupuncture can improve immune disorders associated with sepsis and regulate the functions of innate and adaptive immune cells. Specifically, acupuncture can reduce the number of neutrophils in sepsis, promote the polarization of macrophages towards M2-like macrophages, and alleviate inflammation by reducing the activation of microglia and astrocytes. Furthermore, acupuncture can increase the percentage of T cells and modulate the balance between T cell subsets. The immunomodulatory mechanism of acupuncture in sepsis may be attributed to the balance of the autonomic nervous system, including activation of the sympathetic-adrenal axis, vagal-cholinergic pathway, and vagal-adrenal axis. In addition, acupuncture can inhibit inflammation by preserving the integrity of the intestinal barrier and regulating the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Clinical studies have also demonstrated that acupuncture can enhance the number of peripheral natural killer (NK) cells and T cell subsets, as well as the expression of human leukocyte antigen DR (HLA-DR). Moreover, acupuncture can decrease the ratio of white blood cells to neutrophils and reduce the levels of inflammatory factors. Therefore, acupuncture has the potential to improve immune function in sepsis. Further investigation of its mechanism is expected to provide a scientific and reliable foundation for the application of acupuncture in sepsis treatment.