Source: International Stem Cell Research

"Stroke", clinically known as "stroke", is the second leading cause of disability in adults worldwide. Due to its narrow treatment time window, only a small number of patients recover well, and most patients can be left with sequelae due to local permanent neuron loss and varying degrees of damage to brain nerve function, and cannot fully recover.

Acupuncture has a history of thousands of years in the treatment of stroke in China, but its sustainable improvement potential is limited, and there is an urgent need to combine with modern biomedical analysis theory to develop joint treatment programs to seek breakthrough progress in stroke treatment. In recent years, stem cells with self-renewal and multi-differentiation potential have been developed to improve the sequelae of stroke and reduce the rate of disability. At present, scholars have tried to combine stem cell therapy and acupuncture treatment, and achieved gratifying results, bringing a new dawn to stroke patients!

Stroke science

Stroke is a local brain dysfunction caused by acute cerebrovascular disease, which can be divided into two categories: ischemic stroke and hemorrhagic stroke.

1、Ischemic stroke

More common, accounting for about 87%, is caused by cerebrovascular stenosis or blood circulation obstruction, common including cerebral thrombosis, cerebral embolism and so on. At present, thrombolytic drug therapy and surgical treatment (such as mechanical thrombectomy) are the main clinical treatments, but both have strict time limits and cannot reverse nerve tissue damage and functional neuron loss, so most patients cannot completely recover nerve function.

2、Hemorrhagic stroke

It is mainly caused by hemorrhage in and around the brain, such as subarachnoid hemorrhage, thalamic hemorrhage, ventricle hemorrhage and so on. The main clinical treatment is hemostatic treatment and surgical treatment (such as craniotomy hematoma). None of these methods can regenerate neurons once they are damaged.

Why Stem cells can treat ischemic stroke?

The primary task in the early stage of ischemic stroke is to protect the cells in the area around the infarction from excitotoxicity and oxidative stress. Stem cells have the functions of regulating immune response, activating angiogenesis, neuroprotection and neuronutrition, and can promote the regeneration and recovery of lost cells to improve symptoms.

1、Immunomodulation

Mesenchymal stem cells can activate M2-type macrophages, produce anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10), and regulate the production of pro-inflammatory factors. And regulate the activity of immune cells (such as dendritic cells, B cells, T cells, NK cells, etc.) to play an immune regulatory role, so as to achieve the role of nerve protection.

2、Promote angiogenesis

After the acute stage of ischemic stroke, the reconstruction of blood flow in the necrotic area and penumbra is the key to restore brain function and promote nerve regeneration.

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells can secrete angiogenic growth factors, such as basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), etc., which can regulate immunity in the infarct area and downregulate the signaling pathway of VEGF (VEGF growth factor) -A and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9). It is beneficial to restore the integrity of the blood-brain barrier and promote the recovery of cerebrovascular function in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

3、Neuroprotection and neurotrophic function

In the later stage of ischemic stroke, gliosis and glial scar formation can be seen near the necrotizing infarct area, resulting in permanent nerve tissue loss and eventually a series of neurological dysfunction symptoms.

Studies have shown that mesenchymal stem cells have paracrine function, tolerance and adaptability to cerebral ischemia and hypoxic microenvironment, which makes them have great potential in the treatment of early ischemic stroke. It can also be activated by signaling factors secreted by the lesion area to promote nerve regeneration.

Why Acupuncture can treat ischemic Stroke?

Acupuncture is through the acupuncture of the body specific points, in order to play the role of dredging meridians, harmonizing the internal environment, reducing evil, and ultimately achieve the purpose of treating diseases or relieving symptoms.

Studies have shown that acupuncture can treat ischemic stroke, mainly due to its mechanism of rebuilding collateral circulation, neuroprotection, nerve regeneration, reducing inflammation, inhibiting oxidative stress, reducing apoptosis, regulating the integrity of the blood-brain barrier, promoting angiogenesis, adjusting cerebral blood flow, etc., and playing a therapeutic role.

The magical linkage between stem cells and acupuncture therapy

Stem cells work differently than acupuncture. Studies have shown that stem cells can improve ischemic stroke mainly through exogenous stimulation of cell activity and promoting nerve regeneration. Acupuncture and moxibustion mainly plays a therapeutic role through microenvironment regulation and activation of endogenous repair activity. Although it has a long history as a traditional Chinese medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion has limited therapeutic effect on some patients, and its development potential has a weak trend. Therefore, scholars are also constantly exploring new development paths, on the basis of retaining the advantages of traditional medicine, combined with regenerative medicine led by stem cells, in order to improve the symptoms of patients with ischemic stroke as much as possible, then compared with a single treatment, the combination of the two can collide what sparks? Let's listen to Xiaobian one by one.

1、Compensating effect

Stem cells can promote the recovery and reconstruction of neurovascular units and networks, and support the proliferation of endogenous activated neural stem cells.

Acupuncture can maintain the normal function of stem cells and stimulate stem cells to participate in nerve regeneration by regulating chemokines, increasing cerebral blood flow and regulating cell signal transduction pathways.

2、Enhancement effect

Stem cells produce neurotrophic and immunomodulatory factors through paracrine mechanisms, which may enhance the neuroprotective effect of acupuncture therapy.

Acupuncture can improve the survival rate of implanted cells, improve their migration and homing ability, and enhance the efficacy of stem cells in correcting ischemic stroke by increasing cerebral blood flow, regulating cerebral microenvironment, regulating the integrity of blood-brain barrier (BBB), weakening excitatory toxicity, and reducing inflammatory response.

3、Synergistic effect

The local microenvironment and immune response are one of the decisive factors affecting stem cell therapy. Acupuncture combined with stem cell therapy can activate endogenous neural stem cells and directly participate in the functional recovery of damaged brain tissue. It can also improve the microenvironment of nerve cells, such as neurotransmitters, growth factors, trophic proteins, etc., to provide a substrate for axon growth, promote synaptic formation and neurotransmitter release, and thus enhance synaptic transmission. In addition, it can also regulate the body's immunity, provide nutrition, and then cooperate with stem cells to rebuild neural networks, and promote stem cells to play a greater therapeutic effect.

Brief summary

Although the therapeutic mechanisms of stem cell therapy and acupuncture therapy are different, both have the advantage of multiple targets, and both can promote the recovery of ischemic stroke to a certain extent. On the basis of improving the survival rate and homing rate of implanted stem cells, the combined treatment of the two can cooperate and enhance their respective therapeutic effects, opening up a treatment path with Chinese characteristics, and benefiting more patients with ischemic stroke! If you are suffering from ischemic stroke and would like to seek help with this new treatment, you can contact the International Department of Stem Cell Research Medicine to find out more about the application in China and abroad.