Hypothesis of the mechanism of action of acupuncture through GHK-Cu (Atena Editora)

Abstract

One of the great challenges currently facing acupuncture is the biological explanation of its actions at the molecular level. Deciphering how the stimulus based on the insertion of a needle can modulate physiological functions as complex as the release of neurotrophic factors is complex. For example, we know that the expression of BDNF is stimulated by the action of acupuncture, also that acupuncture is capable of increasing the amounts of neurotransmitters and receptors in the brain, etc… Understanding how this happens is a challenge for basic science in acupuncture, in this hypothesis I propose a molecular pathway that may be behind many of the phenomena that we observe in the clinic. The emerging paradigm of Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology helps us to understand the implications of acupuncture at the systemic level, however, how we explain its molecular actions. In this case, he hypothesized that acupuncture could stimulate the synthesis of the biopeptide GHK-Cu, and in this sense, many of the molecular actions that trigger acupuncture and that we still do not understand could be justified. These phenomena could be explained through this biopeptide of great gene expression since we know that it stimulates the action of many genes, which in turn can explain the clinical observations of acupuncture. This biopeptide acts on many physiological levels. In the present work, we focus on the Spinal Cord Injury model and how acupuncture can help in its treatment by taking advantage of the actions of GHK-Cu.