Acupuncture in Depression: Role of Astrocytes

Astrocytes are the most abundant and morphologically intricate glial cells in the central nervous system, playing diverse and crucial roles in maintaining homeostasis within this system. Increasing evidence suggests that dysfunction of astrocytes contributes to the pathophysiology of depression. As an adjunctive and integrative therapy, acupuncture presents certain advantages in alleviating the severity of depressive symptoms. In comparison to conventional pharmacotherapy, acupuncture is distinguished by its relatively rapid onset of action, minimal side effects, and compatibility with concurrent pharmacological treatments. Preclinical studies indicate that acupuncture can ameliorate both morphological and functional impairments observed in the depressed brain by targeting neurons and glia. Specifically, research has demonstrated that acupuncture reduces morphological atrophy in astrocytes while also mitigating their dysfunction in rat models of depression. This therapeutic effect may be partially mediated through the regulation of enzyme expression, cytokines, neurotrophic factors, and intracellular signaling pathways within these glial cells. This review focuses on preclinical research investigating the mechanisms through which acupuncture may aid in treating depression, with an emphasis on astrocyte modulation. Please cite this article as: Xu N, Huang T, Wang L. Acupuncture in depression treatment: Insights into astrocyte regulation. J Integr Med. 2025; Epub ahead of print.