Spinal cord injury (SCI) is a structural event with devastating consequences worldwide. Due to the limited intrinsic regenerative capacity of the spinal cord in adults, the neural restoration after SCI is difficult. Acupuncture is effective for SCI-induced neurologic deficits, and the potential mechanisms responsible for its effects involve neural protection by the inhibition of inflammation, oxidation, and apoptosis. Moreover, acupuncture promotes neural regeneration and axon sprouting by activating multiple cellular signal transduction pathways, such as the Wnt, Notch, and Rho/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathways. Several studies have demonstrated that the efficacy of combining acupuncture with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) transplantation is superior to either procedure alone. The advantage of the combined treatment is dependent on the ability of acupuncture to enhance the survival of MSCs, promote their differentiation into neurons, and facilitate targeted migration of MSCs to the spinal cord. Additionally, the differentiation of MSCs into neurons overcomes the problem of the shortage of endogenous neural stem cells (NSCs) in the acupuncture-treated SCI patients. Therefore, the combination of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation could become a novel and effective strategy for the treatment of SCI. Such a possibility needs to be verified by basic and clinical research.

中文翻译：

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针刺联合间充质干细胞移植对脊髓损伤后神经恢复的影响及机制：进展与展望

脊髓损伤 (SCI) 是一种结构性事件，在世界范围内具有破坏性后果。由于成人脊髓的内在再生能力有限，脊髓损伤后的神经恢复很困难。针灸对 SCI 引起的神经功能缺损有效，其作用的潜在机制涉及通过抑制炎症、氧化和细胞凋亡来保护神经。此外，针灸通过激活多种细胞信号转导通路，如 Wnt、Notch 和 Rho/Rho 激酶 (ROCK) 通路，促进神经再生和轴突萌发。多项研究表明，将针灸与间充质干细胞 (MSC) 移植相结合的疗效优于单独使用任何一种方法。联合治疗的优势在于针灸能够提高 MSCs 的存活率，促进其分化为神经元，并促进 MSCs 有针对性地向脊髓迁移。此外，MSCs 向神经元的分化克服了针灸治疗的 SCI 患者内源性神经干细胞 (NSCs) 短缺的问题。因此，针刺联合MSCs移植可能成为治疗SCI的一种新的有效策略。这种可能性需要通过基础研究和临床研究来验证。MSCs向神经元的分化克服了针灸治疗SCI患者内源性神经干细胞（NSCs）短缺的问题。因此，针刺联合MSCs移植可能成为治疗SCI的一种新的有效策略。这种可能性需要通过基础研究和临床研究来验证。MSCs向神经元的分化克服了针灸治疗SCI患者内源性神经干细胞（NSCs）短缺的问题。因此，针刺联合MSCs移植可能成为治疗SCI的一种新的有效策略。这种可能性需要通过基础研究和临床研究来验证。