Decoding the Therapeutic Effects of Acupuncture in Hemorrhagic Stroke Using Single-Cell RNA Sequencing

<h4>Background</h4>Acupuncture has been proposed as a therapeutic intervention for stroke recovery, yet the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly understood.<h4>Method</h4>In this study, we used a mouse model of hemorrhagic stroke induced by autologous blood injection to investigate the effects of acupuncture on post-stroke recovery at the cellular and molecular levels, utilizing single-cell RNA sequencing.<h4>Results</h4>Our findings revealed that acupuncture modulates the gene expression of microglia, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes, three major glial cell types, which may contribute to the improvement of stroke-induced phenotypes. Notably, we identified a potential role of the APOE-TREM2 signaling axis, with ligand-binding interactions enhancing microglia activation and promoting their neuroprotective functions. These findings also suggested that acupuncture may promote microglia-astrocyte interactions, leading to enhanced neuroinflammation resolution and tissue repair.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Our study provided new insights into the cellular mechanisms underlying acupuncture's therapeutic effects in stroke recovery and highlighted the potential of targeting glial cell-mediated pathways, including APOE-TREM2, as a strategy for improving post-stroke rehabilitation.