Glial cell: Role of the pain modulation in acupuncture analgesia

Abstract

The significance of glial cells in the nervous system, particularly in the modulation of pain, has increasingly gained prominence, thereby shifting the traditional neurobiological research paradigm that predominantly focused on neurons. Acupuncture treatment have been shown to influence the functionality of glial cells, enabling them to serve as modulators that significantly contribute to the inhibition of neurogenic inflammation, the restoration of synaptic homeostasis, and the enhancement of the pain modulation system. Furthermore, various molecules and their associated signaling pathways facilitate the biological effects of glial cells in the context of acupuncture-induced analgesia. Notably, P2X receptors (P2X3, P2X4, and P2X7), the MAPK pathway (including p38MAPK and ERK), and the JAK/STAT pathway within glial cells are implicated in the modulation of neuroinflammation and pain regulation through acupuncture. These elucidated mechanisms underscore the potential of acupuncture to modulate neuroimmune signaling for pain alleviation and suggest the prospect of developing more targeted and effective treatments for chronic pain in the future.