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Acupuncture reduces neuroinflammation and apoptosis, regulates peripheral immunity, and modulates T-cell subset distribution in vascular dementia rats
Xinliang Wang, Xiaoxi Liu, Wenyu Zhang, Shige Qi, Jinyan Li, Ruiyu Li, Jingxin Guo, Yifan Zhang et al.. Chinese Medicine, 2025-11-25
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Acupuncture ameliorated cognitive impairment in VD rats, reduced hippocampal neuronal damage and apoptosis, downregulated pro-apoptotic proteins (cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax), and upregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2. Furthermore, it suppressed microglial activation markers (Iba-1 and CD68), decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-17A), and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35) in the brain. Simultaneously, acupuncture modulated peripheral inflammatory cytokine profiles, increased CD3⁺ T cell and CD4⁺ T cell proportions, and reduced T-cell apoptosis in peripheral blood of VD rats. Acupuncture improved cognitive impairment in VD rats and suppressed neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis; these benefits may be mediated, at least partially, through modulation of peripheral immunity.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Wang, X., Liu, X., Zhang, W., Qi, S., Li, J., Li, R., et al. (2025). Acupuncture reduces neuroinflammation and apoptosis, regulates peripheral immunity, and modulates T-cell subset distribution in vascular dementia rats. Chinese Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01243-6
Vancouver
Wang X, Liu X, Zhang W, Qi S, Li J, Li R, et al. Acupuncture reduces neuroinflammation and apoptosis, regulates peripheral immunity, and modulates T-cell subset distribution in vascular dementia rats. Chinese Medicine. 2025. doi:10.1186/s13020-025-01243-6. PMID: 41291751.
BibTeX
@article{wang2025-41291751,
author = {Wang, Xinliang and Liu, Xiaoxi and Zhang, Wenyu and Qi, Shige and Li, Jinyan and Li, Ruiyu and Guo, Jingxin and Zhang, Yifan and others},
title = {{Acupuncture reduces neuroinflammation and apoptosis, regulates peripheral immunity, and modulates T-cell subset distribution in vascular dementia rats}},
journal = {Chinese Medicine},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s13020-025-01243-6},
pmid = {41291751},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-025-01243-6}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Acupuncture ameliorated cognitive impairment in VD rats, reduced hippocampal neuronal damage and apoptosis, downregulated pro-apoptotic proteins (cleaved-caspase 3 and Bax), and upregulated anti-apoptotic Bcl-2.
- Furthermore, it suppressed microglial activation markers (Iba-1 and CD68), decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-17A), and elevated anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4, IL-10, TGF-β, IL-35) in the brain.
- Simultaneously, acupuncture modulated peripheral inflammatory cytokine profiles, increased CD3⁺ T cell and CD4⁺ T cell proportions, and reduced T-cell apoptosis in peripheral blood of VD rats.
- Acupuncture improved cognitive impairment in VD rats and suppressed neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis; these benefits may be mediated, at least partially, through modulation of peripheral immunity.
Why it matters
In rats with vascular dementia, acupuncture improved cognitive impairment and reduced neuroinflammation and neuronal apoptosis, possibly through effects on peripheral immunity. This is animal research, so it does not establish that acupuncture treats dementia in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 31 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 32 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Chinese Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Chinese Medicine: journal h-index 87 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “rats”) — scores zero |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Xuezhu Zhang holds only 3 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Beijing University of Chinese Medicine: institution h-index 298 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41291751) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 31 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 31 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 32 out of 100. |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13020-025-01243-6
- PubMed: 41291751
- Original source →
- Free full text: Chinese Medicine →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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