Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis
Abstract Background Previous studies of acupuncture for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have focused on lowering blood glucose and improving symptoms; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been systematically reviewed. Acupuncture can improve impaired glucose-lipid metabolism and...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
|
| Series: | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01634-7 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1850042906848526336 |
|---|---|
| author | Fang Luo Zhijun Ma Hanhan Chen Zhuoxuan Li Junjie Feng Chengguo Su Jun Zhu |
| author_facet | Fang Luo Zhijun Ma Hanhan Chen Zhuoxuan Li Junjie Feng Chengguo Su Jun Zhu |
| author_sort | Fang Luo |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Previous studies of acupuncture for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have focused on lowering blood glucose and improving symptoms; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been systematically reviewed. Acupuncture can improve impaired glucose-lipid metabolism and correct insulin resistance (IR) by modulating relevant pathway cytokines, which are both key process in T2DM pathogenesis. Objectives The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the efficacy of acupuncture in an animal model of T2DM. Methods Three researchers identified animal studies of acupuncture intervention in T2DM by searching nine databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Ovide Medline, BIOSIS Previews , Wan Fang, CNKI, and VIP. Literature that met the inclusion criteria was screened, required data were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0. Results A total of 31 studies with 619 animals were included—309 in the acupuncture group and 310 in the model group—all of which were male rodents. The mean quality score of the studies was 3.7, which indicated low quality. Meta-analysis showed that first acupuncture led to a significant reduction in body weight gain and hematological factors, and reduced food intake and water intake in T2DM animals. Second acupuncture significantly reduced blood glucose and serum insulin, increased insulin sensitivity, and decreased IR index in T2DM animals. Finally acupuncture had the following beneficial effects on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway: (1) insulin signaling pathway: Acupuncture can balance the phosphorylation levels of IRS-1 tyrosine 895 and IRS-1 serine/threonine 307 and promote the expression of all factors of the insulin signaling pathway, namely, IRS-1 mRNA, p-IRS-1, PI3K p85, PI3K mRNA, AKT, p-AKT, GLUT 4, and GLUT 4 mRNA—promoting glucose uptake, alleviating IR, and ameliorating impaired glucose metabolism. (2) Mitochondrial AMPK pathway: acupuncture significantly promoted AMPK, AMPK mRNA, p-AMPK, SIRT1, SIRT1 mRNA, PGC-1α, PGC-1α mRNA and NRF1, improved mitochondrial dysfunction, enhanced glucose metabolism, and alleviated T2DM symptoms. Conclusion Acupuncture can improve glucose-lipid metabolism, enhance insulin sensitivity, and correct IR, likely by promoting the expression of signaling factors in the insulin and mitochondrial AMPK pathways. These findings offer potential explanations for the mechanism of action and clinical effects of acupuncture in the treatment of T2DM. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-6d6d4ccd091447e8843641feef4fec72 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 1758-5996 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome |
| spelling | doaj-art-6d6d4ccd091447e8843641feef4fec722025-08-20T02:55:23ZengBMCDiabetology & Metabolic Syndrome1758-59962025-05-0117112710.1186/s13098-025-01634-7Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysisFang Luo0Zhijun Ma1Hanhan Chen2Zhuoxuan Li3Junjie Feng4Chengguo Su5Jun Zhu6School of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineSchool of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineCollege of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineSchool of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese MedicineAbstract Background Previous studies of acupuncture for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) have focused on lowering blood glucose and improving symptoms; however, the mechanisms underlying these effects have not been systematically reviewed. Acupuncture can improve impaired glucose-lipid metabolism and correct insulin resistance (IR) by modulating relevant pathway cytokines, which are both key process in T2DM pathogenesis. Objectives The aim of this study was to quantitatively assess the efficacy of acupuncture in an animal model of T2DM. Methods Three researchers identified animal studies of acupuncture intervention in T2DM by searching nine databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, Ovide Medline, BIOSIS Previews , Wan Fang, CNKI, and VIP. Literature that met the inclusion criteria was screened, required data were extracted, and meta-analysis was performed using RevMan 5.4 and Stata 17.0. Results A total of 31 studies with 619 animals were included—309 in the acupuncture group and 310 in the model group—all of which were male rodents. The mean quality score of the studies was 3.7, which indicated low quality. Meta-analysis showed that first acupuncture led to a significant reduction in body weight gain and hematological factors, and reduced food intake and water intake in T2DM animals. Second acupuncture significantly reduced blood glucose and serum insulin, increased insulin sensitivity, and decreased IR index in T2DM animals. Finally acupuncture had the following beneficial effects on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway: (1) insulin signaling pathway: Acupuncture can balance the phosphorylation levels of IRS-1 tyrosine 895 and IRS-1 serine/threonine 307 and promote the expression of all factors of the insulin signaling pathway, namely, IRS-1 mRNA, p-IRS-1, PI3K p85, PI3K mRNA, AKT, p-AKT, GLUT 4, and GLUT 4 mRNA—promoting glucose uptake, alleviating IR, and ameliorating impaired glucose metabolism. (2) Mitochondrial AMPK pathway: acupuncture significantly promoted AMPK, AMPK mRNA, p-AMPK, SIRT1, SIRT1 mRNA, PGC-1α, PGC-1α mRNA and NRF1, improved mitochondrial dysfunction, enhanced glucose metabolism, and alleviated T2DM symptoms. Conclusion Acupuncture can improve glucose-lipid metabolism, enhance insulin sensitivity, and correct IR, likely by promoting the expression of signaling factors in the insulin and mitochondrial AMPK pathways. These findings offer potential explanations for the mechanism of action and clinical effects of acupuncture in the treatment of T2DM.https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01634-7Type 2 diabetes mellitusAcupunctureAnimal modelsInsulin signaling pathwayMitochondrial pathwayMeta-analysis5 |
| spellingShingle | Fang Luo Zhijun Ma Hanhan Chen Zhuoxuan Li Junjie Feng Chengguo Su Jun Zhu Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome Type 2 diabetes mellitus Acupuncture Animal models Insulin signaling pathway Mitochondrial pathway Meta-analysis5 |
| title | Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis |
| title_full | Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis |
| title_fullStr | Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis |
| title_short | Effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial AMPK pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus: systematic evaluation and meta-analysis |
| title_sort | effects of acupuncture on the insulin signaling pathway and mitochondrial ampk pathway in an animal model of type 2 diabetes mellitus systematic evaluation and meta analysis |
| topic | Type 2 diabetes mellitus Acupuncture Animal models Insulin signaling pathway Mitochondrial pathway Meta-analysis5 |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13098-025-01634-7 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT fangluo effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT zhijunma effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT hanhanchen effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT zhuoxuanli effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT junjiefeng effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT chengguosu effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis AT junzhu effectsofacupunctureontheinsulinsignalingpathwayandmitochondrialampkpathwayinananimalmodeloftype2diabetesmellitussystematicevaluationandmetaanalysis |