Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Acupuncture in Improving Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Based on Vagus Nerve-Immune Interaction
YAN Wenxi
JIANG Tianyun
LIU Qun
ZHAO Yuxue
ZHAO Chunxiao
YU Xiaochun
GAO Junhong
XIN Juanjuan
Abstract：Diabetic cardiomyopathy(DCM)is a cardiac disorder characterized by palpitations,angina pectoris,and heart failure in the absence of other cardiovascular risk factors.The pathogenesis of DCM is highly complex,and the inflammatory immune response(IIR)caused by autonomic dysfunction is the core link in the development of DCM.In recent years,the neuro-immune interaction has become a research hotspot in the field of acupuncture treatment for immune-related disorders.Notably,there has been no systematic report on the research of acupuncture improving DCM through vagus nerve-mediated anti-inflammatory pathways.This paper systematically reviews the relationship between DCM and inflammatory immune responses,as well as the regulatory effects of acupuncture on related inflammatory cytokines in anti-inflammatory pathways,and it was initially revealed that acupuncture may activate the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway(CAIP)and/or vagus nerve-adrenal axis through the"vagus nerve-immune"interaction,balance the"inflammation-immune"homeostasis of the heart,thereby improving the myocardial inflammatory injury and fibrosis process of diabetic cardiomyopathy.It provides new therapeutic ideas and scientific support for the subsequent clinical application of acupuncture therapy in preventing and treating the occurrence and development of diabetic cardiomyopathy.
Keywords：Diabetic cardiomyopathyAcupunctureVagus nerveInflammatory immune responseCholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway
Publication Date：2026-03-28
Online Publishing Date：2026-03-31(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：5( 652-656 )