Skip to main content
. 2024 May 29;17:495–516. doi: 10.2147/JAA.S462262

Table 2.

Formula and Mechanism of Acupuncture Therapy for Asthma in the Last 10 Years

NO Reference Model Acupoints Acupuncture Parameters Mechanism Effects
1 Yu, 202374 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 Once every other day Reduce p-p38MAPK Inhibit proliferation of ASMC
2 Tang, 202375 Mouse GV14, BL12, BL13 Once a day for 3 days Reduce IL-4, IL-13, MDA, oxidized GSH, and the non-heme Fe2+ level; downregulate the expression of ACSL4-15-LO1 Alleviate RL; relieve erastin-induced exacerbation of lung inflammation and lipid peroxidation in ferroptosis
3 Tang, 202276 Rat BL13; EX-B1; CV17 Catgut-embedding once Reduce p38MAPK, ICAM-1, and IL-4 Inflammatory cells are absent from blood vessels; eosinophils are decreasing
4 Teng, 202177 Mouse GV14; BL12; BL13 Catgut-embedding once Decrease IL-4, IL-13, and IgE in the BALF#; downregulate the expression of p-NF-κB p65 and IFN-γ increase The percentage of RL increases slower; the percentage of Cdyn decreases slower; the proliferation of ILC2s, leukocytes, eosinophils, lymphocytes, and neutrophils is inhibited
5 Yang, 202178 Human EX-B1; BL13; ST36; CV17 Catgut-embedding semimonthly Decrease IgA and IgE in the serum PEF, FEV1, MEF25%, MEF50%, MEF75%, and MEF25%–75% are higher than in the control group
6 Wang, 202279 Human LU9; LU7; LU5 Three times per week for 4 weeks N/A The scores of FEV1, PEF, Asthma control test, and Asthma Quality of Life Questionnaire increase
7 Zhao, 202151 Mouse GV14; BL13; ST36 Every other day for 13 days Downregulate the expression of proteins and mRNAs related to autophagy (ATG5, Beclin-1, p62, and LC3B) and endoplasmic reticulum stress (p-PERK, p-IRE-1, Grp78, and ATF6); increase in IFN-γ and decrease in IL-4, IL-17, and TGF-β in the BALF, lung tissue, and serum Inflammatory cells decrease; suppressed level of autophagy and endoplasmic reticulum stress; balance of Th1/Th2 and Treg/Th17; RL decrease
8 Qiao, 202180 Mouse BL13; LU1 Once daily for 2 weeks Reduce IgE and IL-4 and increase IFN-γ; upregulate the expression of PI3K, Foxp3, and ROR gammat Suppress inflammatory responses
9 Zheng, 202181 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 Once a day for 7 days Downregulate the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulate the expression of Fas Reduce eosinophils and enhance apoptosis of eosinophils
10 Tang, 202145 Mouse GV14; BL12; BL13 Retained for 20 min Reduce IgE, CCL5, CCL11, and IL-17A in BALF and IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in serum; downregulate the expression of SLC3A2 and ATP1A3; enhance the level of SOD and GSH, and lower the level of MDA Relieve RL and enhance Cdyn; decrease the inflammatory score, PAS+ epithelial cells, and eosinophils
11 Hu, 202046 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 Once a day for 7 days Downregulate the expression of CCL1, CCR8, and STAT6 Reduce inflammatory responses
12 Cheng, 202182 Human

  1. LU9; LU7; LU5; HT3; HT6; HT7

 Retained for 30 min N/A FEV1, PEF, The Self-rating Anxiety Scale, and Self-rating Depression Scale are improved
13 Yu, 202083 Human

  1. LU9; LU7; LU5; HT3; HT6; HT7

 Three times a week N/A Improve the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR), and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)
14 He, 202184 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 Once a day for 7 times Downregulate the expression of FIZZ1, NOTCH1, and α-SMA Inhibit the differentiation of fibroblasts, reduce the proliferation of smooth muscle
15 Cui, 202143 Mouse GV14; BL12; BL13 Every other day for 2 weeks Reduce IL-5, IL-9, IL-13, IL-25, IL-33, and soluble IL-33 receptor (sST2) Relieve RL and enhance Cdyn; decrease the inflammatory score, PAS+ epithelial cells, and eosinophils; inhibit the proliferation of ILC2s
16 Zhou, 202085 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 Every other day for 13 days Upregulate the expression of MT-2, Akt1, and CaMK2β; induced phosphorylation of 14 proteins is upregulated, while that of 37 proteins is downregulated Relieve RL
17 Hua, 202050 Rat GV14; ST36; BL13 Retained for 20 min Downregulate IL-5 and GATA-3 and upregulate IFN-γ and T-bet Balance Th1/Th2; suppress inflammation responses
18 Chen, 202086 Rat GV14; BL12; BL13 30 min a day on every other day Increase cAMP/cGMP and substance P; downregulate vasoactive intestinal peptide, neurokinin A, and neurokinin B Alleviate neurogenic inflammation and hyperresponsiveness of the airway
19 S. Elsheikh, 201987 Human LU5; LU7; LU9; SP6; ST36; BL13; BL23; CV17; GV14 N/A N/A Relieve RL
20 Dong, 201952 Mouse GV14; BL12; BL13 Every other day for 4 weeks Upregulate T-bet, FOXP3+, and IL-10, and reduce IL-5, IL-13, IL-17A, and RAR-related orphan receptor gamma t (RORγt) Upregulate the cell numbers of CD4+ interferon gamma (IFN-γ)+, CD4+ Foxp3+, and CD4+ IL-17A+; balance CD4+ T cell subtypes
21 Nurwati, 201988 Mouse BL13; ST36 Three times a week for 6 weeks N/A Reduce neutrophils, eosinophils, and goblet cells; reduce thickness of the bronchioles
22 Liu, 201889 Mouse GV14; BL13; ST36 Once a day for three days Reduce TGF-β1 in BALF and downregulate the expression of Smads, type-I, and α-SMA Relieve RL
23 Dong, 201890 Mouse GV14; BL12; BL13 Every other day for 2 weeks Reduce TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-33; increase sST2 Relieve RL and enhance Cdyn; reduce the inflammatory responses, PAS+ epithelial cells, and CD4 +IL-17A+ (Th17) cells;
24 Han, 201891 Human LU6; EX-B1; BL13; LU10 Retained for 20 min Reduce NGF and MMP-9 Upregulate Th1/Th17; relieve FEV1, PEF, FEV1/FEV
25 Chen, 201792 Rat BL13; BL23 Retained for 30 min, once daily for 14 days Reduce IL-1β and IgE Reduce CD8+ T cells; relieve inflammatory responses
26 Yang, 201793,94 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once every two days, for seven times Downregulate the expression of Akt and p-Akt Relieve inflammatory responses
27 Xu, 201795 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Acupuncture for 15 min or 30 min N/A Inhibit ACh-induced contractile responses of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs)
28 Yang, 201796 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Retained for 20 min, once other day Downregulate the expression of PI3K Relieve RL and Cdyn
29 A. Dabbous, 201719 Human CV17; LU5; LU7; LU9; ST36; SP6; GV14; BL13; BL23; LI4 Laser acupuncture for 2 min per point; three sessions per week N/A Relieve FEV1 and FVC
30 Wei, 201797 Mouse GV14; BL13; BL12 Every other day for 4 weeks Reduce TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-5, and eotaxin; increase CORT and ACTH Relieve RL and inflammatory cells, enhance Cdyn
31 Wang, 201698 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Retained for 20 min Increase CORT Relieve RL and eosinophils
32 Yu,
201699,100 		Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once other day for 14 days Reduce TGF-β, c-fos; downregulate p-p38MAPK Reduce leukocytes and eosinophils; relieve RL
33 Dong, 201573 Mouse GV14, BL12, BL13, BL23 Three times a week for 6 weeks Reduce IL-17A, IL-4, and IL-5 in BALF and serum; increase IFN-γ and IL-10 Relieve RL and enhance Cdyn; lower inflammatory score
34 Wei, 201553 Mouse GV14; BL13; BL12 Every other day for 4 weeks Reduce IL-17A, IL-17F, IL-22, and IgE; suppress the expression of IL-17R, RORγt, p65, and NF-κB kinase-α (IKKα) Relieve RL and enhance Cdyn; reduce leukocytes, eosinophils, neutrophils, and CD4+IL-17A+ cell numbers, and increase CD4+Foxp3+ cell numbers in BALF
35 Ke, 2015101 Human BL13; CV17; LI4; GV14; ST40; LU1; LU6 Once a day for three days Reduce C-RP, Ig E, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α in the serum Relieve the syndrome of asthma
36 Li, 2014102 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once a day for 10 days Reduce TGF-β in the lung Decrease the thickness of the airway wall and smooth muscle
37 Tang, 2014103 Mouse GV14; BL13; BL12; EX-B1; BL23; BL20 Once a day for 7 days Reduce thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) and GATA; increase T-bet Decrease the thickness of the airway wall and smooth muscle
38 Ngai, 2013/ 2011104,105 Human BL13/LU7; LU9 N/A N/A Decrease the skin impedance and heart rate variability (LF/HF)/increase the skin impedance at LU7 and LU9
39 Fu, 2014/ 2013; Zhu, 2013; Tan, 201210,106–108 Human LU1, LU5, LU7; LI11, LI4, ST25; LU5, LU7, LI4, ST25 Every other day, three times a week for 12 weeks N/A Improve PEF, FEV1, MEF25%, MEF50%, and MEF75%
40 Wang, 2014109 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once every two days, for seven times Reduce p38MAPK Reduce eosinophils
41 Yang, 201371 Human GV14; BL13; BL12 Once every other day for 5 weeks Reduce secretory IgA (sIgA) and total IgA in the saliva and IgE in the serum Reduce CD3+, CD4+, CD8+, IL-2R+ T lymphocytes, and eosinophils
42 Cui/ Yang 2013110,111 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once a day for 7 days Reduce pan-Ras and c-fos/ reduce c-fos and p38MAPK Relieve the syndrome of asthma
43 Yin, 2010/ 2009112,113 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Five consecutive days Reduce Dusp1, S100A9, and MT-2 Relieve the syndrome of asthma
44 Chen, 2012114 Rat BL13, BL23, CV17; BL23; BL13, CV17 Catgut-embedding once N/A Relieve inflammatory responses
45 Wang, 2012115 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once two days for seven times Reduce Cav3.3 Relieve inflammatory responses
46 E.R. Carneiro, 2010116 Rat GV14, BL13, EX-B1, LU1, CV17, ST36, SP6 Every other day for 2 weeks Increase IL-1, IFN-γ, and IL-4; reduce NO, IL-10, and LTB4 Balance Thl/Th2
47 Yan, 2010117 Rat GV14; BL13; BL12 Once two days for seven times Increase surfactant protein-A in BALF Relieve the syndrome of asthma

Abbreviations: #BALF, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; RL, airway resistance; Cdyn, lung dynamic compliance.