Yin Tong, Yuan Junyun, Liu Lu, Wang Yinxin, Lin Yuanfang, Ming Kangwen, Lv Hang
Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Department of Tuina, The Fourth Clinical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, China.
Front Psychiatry. 2025 Feb 6;15:1496201. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1496201. eCollection 2024.
Anxiety disorders are prevalent mental health conditions characterized by significant impairments in daily functioning and social interactions. Despite the effectiveness of pharmacological treatments, challenges such as medication resistance, adverse side effects, and the high rate of relapse necessitate the exploration of alternative therapies. Recently, electroacupuncture (EA) has garnered attention as a promising non-pharmacological intervention for anxiety disorders; however, the mechanisms by which EA exerts its anxiolytic effects remain poorly understood. This study aims to elucidate the role of microglial cells in anxiety, specifically examining how EA modulates microglial morphology and function within the basolateral amygdala (BLA) in the context of anxiety induced by social isolation.
Utilizing a mouse model of social isolation-induced anxiety, we evaluated anxiety-like behaviors through the Elevated Plus Maze (EPM) and Open Field Test (OFT). Additionally, biochemical analyses and immunofluorescence imaging were performed to assess the expression of NADPH oxidase 2 (NOX2), microglial activation markers, and levels of oxidative stress.
Our findings reveal that EA treatment significantly mitigates anxiety-like behaviors in mice, correlating with a reduction in NOX2 expression within BLA microglia and decreased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, EA was observed to restore normal microglial morphology, indicating its potential role in modulating microglial activity.
The results of this study suggest that EA exerts its anxiolytic effects through the modulation of oxidative stress and the activity of microglia in the BLA. These findings provide new insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of EA, highlighting the potential for non-pharmacological strategies in the management of anxiety disorders and paving the way for future research aimed at improving clinical outcomes for individuals suffering from anxiety.
焦虑症是常见的心理健康状况，其特征是日常功能和社交互动受到严重损害。尽管药物治疗有效，但诸如药物抵抗、不良副作用和高复发率等挑战使得有必要探索替代疗法。最近，电针作为一种有前景的焦虑症非药物干预方法受到了关注；然而，电针发挥抗焦虑作用的机制仍知之甚少。本研究旨在阐明小胶质细胞在焦虑中的作用，具体研究在社会隔离诱导的焦虑背景下，电针如何调节基底外侧杏仁核（BLA）内小胶质细胞的形态和功能。
利用社会隔离诱导焦虑的小鼠模型，我们通过高架十字迷宫（EPM）和旷场试验（OFT）评估焦虑样行为。此外，进行了生化分析和免疫荧光成像，以评估NADPH氧化酶2（NOX2）的表达、小胶质细胞激活标志物以及氧化应激水平。
我们的研究结果表明，电针治疗可显著减轻小鼠的焦虑样行为，这与BLA小胶质细胞内NOX2表达的降低以及活性氧（ROS）水平的降低相关。此外，观察到电针可恢复小胶质细胞的正常形态，表明其在调节小胶质细胞活性方面的潜在作用。
本研究结果表明，电针通过调节氧化应激和BLA中小胶质细胞的活性发挥抗焦虑作用。这些发现为电针治疗效果的细胞机制提供了新的见解，突出了非药物策略在焦虑症管理中的潜力，并为旨在改善焦虑症患者临床结局的未来研究铺平了道路。
