Papers of the Week

The current therapeutic strategies for neuropathic pain have limited efficacy. The activation of macrophages and pro-inflammatory responses following peripheral nerve injury can effectively prevent the progression of neuropathic pain. Macrophage polarization to the M2 or M1 (respectively anti- and pro- inflammatory) phenotypes frequently occurs during neuroinflammation. Electroacupuncture (EA) therapy has been shown to exert anti-inflammatory functions in several pain models, and has thus been applied to alleviate neuropathic pain. Therefore, the present study aimed to determine whether EA could reduce neuroinflammation and induce analgesia by regulating macrophage polarization.