Lyu Qin, Zhou Xin, Shi Liu-Qing, Chen Hai-Yang, Lu Mei, Ma Xian-De, Ren Lu
Graduate School, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China.
Department of Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang, China.
Front Behav Neurosci. 2023 Feb 16;17:1107265. doi: 10.3389/fnbeh.2023.1107265. eCollection 2023.
The incidence of major depressive disorder (MDD) is increasing all over the world. There is a great need for complementary or alternative therapies with high safety, few side effects, and precise efficacy to care for MDD. In China, acupuncture has significant laboratory data and clinical trials to demonstrate its antidepressant efficacy. However, there is no clear answer as to how it works. Exosomes are membranous vesicles that rely on cellular multivesicular bodies (MVBs) fused to the cell membrane for release into the extracellular matrix. Almost all cell types are capable of producing and releasing exosomes. As a result, exosomes contain complex RNAs and proteins from their relatives (Cells that secretes exosomes). They can cross biological barriers and participate in biological activities, such as cell migration, angiogenesis, and immune regulation. These properties have made them a popular research topic. Some experts have suggested that exosomes may serve as delivery vehicles for acupuncture to work. This presents both an opportunity and a new challenge for improving the protocols of acupuncture as a treatment for MDD. To better define the relationship between MDD, exosomes, and acupuncture, we reviewed the literature from the last few years. Inclusion criteria included randomized controlled trials and basic trials evaluating acupuncture in the treatment or prevention of MDD, the role of exosomes in the development and progression of MDD, and the role of exosomes in acupuncture. We believe that acupuncture may affect the distribution of exosomes , and exosomes may be a new carrier for acupuncture treatment of MDD in the future.
重度抑郁症（MDD）的发病率在全球范围内呈上升趋势。迫切需要安全度高、副作用少且疗效确切的补充或替代疗法来治疗MDD。在中国，针灸有大量实验室数据和临床试验证明其抗抑郁疗效。然而，其作用机制尚无明确答案。外泌体是一种膜性囊泡，依靠细胞多囊泡体（MVBs）与细胞膜融合释放到细胞外基质中。几乎所有细胞类型都能够产生和释放外泌体。因此，外泌体包含来自其母体（分泌外泌体的细胞）的复杂RNA和蛋白质。它们可以跨越生物屏障并参与细胞迁移、血管生成和免疫调节等生物活动。这些特性使其成为热门研究课题。一些专家认为外泌体可能是针灸发挥作用的载体。这为改进针灸治疗MDD的方案带来了机遇和新挑战。为了更好地明确MDD、外泌体与针灸之间的关系，我们回顾了过去几年的文献。纳入标准包括评估针灸治疗或预防MDD的随机对照试验和基础试验、外泌体在MDD发生发展中的作用以及外泌体在针灸中的作用。我们认为针灸可能会影响外泌体的分布，并且外泌体未来可能成为针灸治疗MDD的新载体。
