REVIEW article
Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.
Sec. Biomechanics
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fbioe.2025.1662525
This article is part of the Research TopicMechanical Forces in Health and Disease: A Mechanobiological PerspectiveView all 13 articles
Fibroblasts as Key Cellular Targets in Acupuncture Therapy: A Mechanistic Perspective
Provisionally accepted- 1Qinghai University, Xining, China
- 2Suzuka Iryo Kagaku Daigaku, Suzuka, Japan
- 3Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- 4Department of Medicine, The University of Chicago Chicago Center for Teaching and Learning, Chicago, United States
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Acupuncture, a central modality in traditional Chinese medicine, is widely recognized for its clinical efficacy. In recent years, mechanistic studies have shifted from a neurocentric to a broader perspective encompassing the local microenvironment and systemic integration. This review focuses on the pivotal role of fibroblasts in mediating the mechanotransduction processes triggered by acupuncture. We comprehensively summarize current research findings on the contributions of fibroblasts to the therapeutic outcomes of acupuncture and elucidate the multidimensional mechanisms underlying them, especially through mechanical sensing, cytoskeletal remodeling, and the secretion of bioactive molecules. Acupuncture-induced mechanical forces are transmitted via the collagen fiber network to local fibroblasts within the acupoint region, activating mechanosensors and initiating cytoskeletal reorganization and extracellular matrix remodeling. Fibroblasts, in turn, secrete adenosine, hyaluronic acid, inflammatory modulators, and matrix components to mediate analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects directly. Moreover, fibroblasts engage in crosstalk with mast cells and macrophages through chemokine signaling and collagen-mediated mechanical interactions, forming a cellular interaction network that underpins a structural immunity response initiated by acupuncture. This study proposes a mechanobiochemical coupling framework that highlights fibroblasts as key mechanical transducers and regulatory hubs for the therapeutic mechanisms of acupuncture.
Keywords: Acupuncture, fibroblast, Mechanotransduction, mechanical force, Fascia, Acupoint
Received: 09 Jul 2025; Accepted: 06 Oct 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Tu, Kawanokuchi, Takagi, Liu, Li, Li, Tu, Ma and Guo. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence:
Ning Ma, maning@suzuka-u.ac.jp
Yi Guo, guoyi_168@163.com
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