Electroacupuncture promotes resolution of inflammation by modulating SPMs via vagus nerve activation in LPS-induced ALI

Yan Huang; Shuan Dong; Yuan Zhang; Ye Zhang; Yan Guo; Jia Shi; Xiangyun Li; Shasha Liu; Yong Chen; Jianbo Yu

doi:10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113941

Electroacupuncture promotes resolution of inflammation by modulating SPMs via vagus nerve activation in LPS-induced ALI

Int Immunopharmacol. 2025 Jan 1:147:113941. doi: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113941. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Yan Huang¹, Shuan Dong¹, Yuan Zhang¹, Ye Zhang¹, Yan Guo², Jia Shi¹, Xiangyun Li¹, Shasha Liu¹, Yong Chen¹, Jianbo Yu³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China.
² Department of Anesthesiology, The Heji Affiliated Hospital of Changzhi Medical College, Changzhi Medical College, Shanxi, China.
³ Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Acute Abdomen Disease Associated Organ Injury and ITCWM Repair, Tianjin Nankai Hospital, Tianjin, China. Electronic address: 30717008@nankai.edu.cn.

PMID: 39746272
DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.113941

Abstract

During the process of acute lung injury (ALI) associated with sepsis, the α7nAChR in the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) plays a crucial role. However, the roles of electroacupuncture (EA) and specialized pro-resolving mediators (SPMs) in this context remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that EA activates CAP via α7nAChR, reducing lung permeability and inflammatory cytokine release. Our results highlighted lipoxin A4 (LXA4) as a crucial SPM in this process. EA was shown to enhance LXA4 synthesis and alleviate symptoms in patients with sepsis-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Studies using α7nAChR-deficient mice confirmed its essential role in LXA4 regulation. Macrophages in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) were identified as key contributors to the protective effects of LXA4, further supported by experiments involving pulmonary macrophage depletion. In summary, we discovered a novel anti-inflammatory pathway where EA activates α7nAChR, leading to increased LXA4 production and lung protection.

Keywords: Acute lung injury; Electroacupuncture; SPMs; Sepsis.