Table 3.
Effects of the combination of acupuncture and MSC implantation on spinal cord injury and their mechanisms.
| Study | Intervention & acupuncture parameters | Control intervention | Effect indicators | Comparison of effects between groups | Mechanism index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [78] | MSCs (1 × 106 viable cells/mL), EA (Ex-B2; H1 = 2 Hz, H2 = 50 Hz, 20 minutes, 14 days), MSCs+EA | PBS group | Combined behavioral score↑ | BMSC+acupuncture > acupuncture > BMSC > PBS | Differentiation of BMSC into neuronal cells↑, NSE↑, GFAP↑ |
| [77] | MSCs (1 × 105 viable cells/mL)+EA (GV1, GV2, GV6, GV9; 60 Hz for 1.05 s and 2 Hz for 2.85 s, ≤1 mA, 20 minutes), MSCs+EA | Sham-control Op-control |
BBB locomotion test↑, differentiation of MSCs↑, regeneration of nerve fibers↑ | MSCs+EA > EA > MSCs > control | GFAP↓, CSPGs↓ |
| [81] | MSCs (5 × 105 cells/mL)+EA (T9, T11; 39 A/h, 20 Hz, 15 minutes, twice a day), MSCs+EA | Normal group | Functional deficits↑, axonal regeneration↑ | MSCs+EA > MSCs > EA > normal | GFAP↓, CSPGs↓, G-CSF↑, BDNF↑, VEGF↑, IL-6↑ |
| [83] | MSCs (1 × 105 cells/μL, 5 μL)+EA (GV1, GV2, GV6, GV9; 60 Hz for 1.05 s and 2 Hz for 2.85 s, once every other day, 7 weeks), MSCs+EA | Op-control | Axonal regeneration↑, partial locomotor functional↑ | MSCs+EA > MSCs > EA > Op-control | NT-3↑, cAMP level↑, 5-HT↑, CGRP-positive nerve fibers↑ |
| [85] | TrkC-MSCs (1 × 105 cells/μL, 5 μL)+EA (GV6, GV9; 60 Hz for 1.05 s and 2 Hz for 2.85 s, ≤1 mA, 20 minutes), MSCs+EA | PBS group | Remyelination↑, functional↑ | TrkC-MSCs+EA > MSCs+EA > TrkC-MSCs > MSCs | NT-3↑ |
| [84] | MSCs (1 × 105 cells/mL, 5 mL)+EA (GV9, GV6, GV2, GV1; 60 Hz for 1.05 s and 2 Hz for 2.85 s, 1 mA, 20 minutes); MSCs+EA | Normal group | BBB locomotion test↑ | MSCs+EA > EA > MSCs > Op-control | Endogenous NT-3↑, 5-HT-positive nerve fibers↑ |
Abbreviations: BMSCs: bone marrow stromal cells; PBS group: PBS injection in the injured area; Ex-B2: Jiaji; PBS: phosphate-buffered saline; GV1: Changqiang; GV2: Yaoshu; GV6: Jizhong; GV9: Zhiyang; MSCs: mesenchymal stem cells; Sham-control: received a laminectomy without spinal cord transection; Op-control: operated control received a spinal cord transection only without any treatments; GFAP: glial fibrillary acidic protein; BBB: Basso-Beattie-Bresnahan; CSPGs: chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans; normal group: normal rats; G-CSF: granulocyte colony-stimulating factor; BDNF: brain-derived neurotrophic factor; VEGF: vascular endothelial growth factor; IL-6: interleukin-6; NT-3: neurotrophin-3.