Combining acupuncture and mesenchymal stem cell therapy offers promise as a treatment for inflammatory bowel disease

Figure 2 Schematic diagram of the synergistic mechanism between acupuncture and mesenchymal stem cells. Acupuncture can enhance the efficiency of exogenous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation, thereby promoting their more effective arrival at the damaged colonic site. Concurrently, acupuncture can also promote the release of endogenous MSCs and increase the expression of the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 receptor on MSCs. As the expression of stroma cell-derived factor 1 in the peripheral blood circulation increases, the stroma cell-derived factor 1/C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 pathway is activated, enhancing the homing ability of MSCs. Upon arrival near the damaged colonic tissue, MSCs improve intestinal injury through anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and repair mechanisms. In the process of acupuncture synergizing with MSCs, acupuncture can also directly influence changes in the local microenvironment of the injury. Therefore, the combination of acupuncture and MSC transplantation improves the symptoms of inflammatory bowel disease. MSCs: Mesenchymal stem cells; SDF-1: Stroma cell-derived factor 1; CXCR4: C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4.