Electroacupuncture promotes BDNF-dependent neurogenesis via microglial reprogramming in a chronic stress model
Our findings demonstrate that EA exerts antidepressant effects by promoting a pro-neurogenic transformation of microglia. Mechanistically, these microglia enhance BDNF function via the PKA/MeCP2/BDNF pathway, thereby facilitating hippocampal neurogenesis and restoring synaptic plasticity, which collectively alleviate depressive symptoms.
Authors
- Ting Wei (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9008-0339)
- Fang Zeng (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4091-796X)
- Yanyan He (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-3199-2900)
- Lifan Zhang
- Yucai Luo
- Xuan Liu
- dan wang
- Lijuan Zhang
- Zhaoxuan He
Institutions
- Sichuan University (CN)
- Dongfang Electric Corporation (China) (CN)
- Chengdu University (CN)
- Science and Technology Department of Sichuan Province (CN)
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Chinese Medicine
- Published
- 2026-02-03
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1186/s13020-026-01334-y
- Primary Topic
- Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- China Postdoctoral Science Foundation
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Chengdu University