發炎會導致周邊及中樞神經系統特性改變同時也會影響神經元和非神經元細胞，進而導致炎性疼痛。穴位注射（AI）已被廣泛用在緩解疼痛上。它是一種穴位刺激技術，利用源自中醫理論的經絡。 AI被認為是一種有效的治療方法，且與傳統的針灸方法相較通常認為具有更好的效果。跟傳統針灸一樣的是AI並沒有被報導有顯著的副作用及其發生率。然而AI的機制需要更多科學證據來證實以支持該理論及其治療發展。在此次的研究中，我們探討了AI對慢性發炎症性疼痛的影響。用弗氏佐劑（CFA）注射小鼠後爪以誘導慢性疼痛的病症。並分析了機械性及熱痛覺過敏的測量。結果表明AI處理和TRPV1基因缺失呈陽性趨勢。通過使TRPV1基因缺失研究了與瞬態感受器電位陽離子通道，子類V，成員1（TRPV1）機制相關的慢性疼痛。鈉離子電位通道（Navs）或TRPV1等傷害感受器的表達被AI顯著下調。總之，這些數據提供了AI誘導的鎮痛和抗炎特性的詳細分子機制。本次實驗的新發現可用於臨床實踐以達到緩解慢性疼痛和抑鬱症併發症
Inflammation causes changes of peripheral and central nervous system properties, affecting both neuronal and non-neuronal cells, resulting in inflammatory pain. Acupoint injection (AI) has been widely used for relieving pain. It is an acupoint-stimulating technique that utilizes anatomically based meridians derived from Chinese medicine theory. AI has been accepted as an effective treatment, and is thought to display superior results when compared to traditional acupuncture methods. Likewise, no significant incidence of side effects has been reported in this procedure. However, the mechanism of AI needs to be ratified by more scientific evidences in order to support the theory and its therapeutic development. In this study, we explored the effect of AI to relieve chronic inflammatory pain. Mice hindpaw was injected by complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA) to induce the condition of chronic pain. Measurements of mechanical and thermal hyperalgesia were analyzed. The results indicated a positive tendency to AI treatment and TRPV1 gene deletion. Chronic pain was investigated with relation to transient receptor potential V1 (TRPV1) mechanism through the use of TRPV1 gene deletion. The expression of nociceptors such as voltage-gated sodium channels (Navs) or TRPV1, was significantly down-regulated by AI. Taken together, these data provided a detailed molecular mechanism of AI-induced analgesia and anti-inflammatory properties. The novel finding may be utilized for clinical practice to treat chronic pain and depression comorbidity.
