Electroacupuncture alleviates comorbid obesity and depression via the gut-brain axis: orchestrating SCFA-producing bacteria and hippocampal synaptic plasticity
Our findings suggest that EA ameliorates COMBD via a coordinated "Microbiota-Metabolism-Brain" axis. Specifically, EA creates a neuroprotective milieu by promoting beneficial SCFA-producing bacteria and regulating metabolic signals, which subsequently targets hippocampal Cd74 to restore synaptic plasticity. This study provides a novel mechanistic basis for the clinical application of EA in treating complex metabolic-mood comorbidities.
Authors
- Z Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6403-3667)
- Yaxin Zhang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3550-3164)
- Haoyuan Tan
- Ronghui Xian
- Peng Zhou
- Qianyi Wen
- Jingjing Liang
- Zeping Xie
- Wenbin Fu
- Yuxin Pang
- Luda Yan
Institutions
- Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (CN)
- Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Frontiers in Microbiology
- Published
- 2026-03-04
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2026.1772788
- Primary Topic
- Gut microbiota and health
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Natural Science Foundation of China
- Shenzhen Municipal Science and Technology Innovation Council