已发表论文

蒙古医温针疗法通过重塑慢性不可预知温和应激大鼠的肠道菌群 - 代谢物 - 障壁轴发挥抗抑郁样作用

 

Authors Wu R, Bao Q, Ba Y, Saiyin C, Si L, A R

Received 19 September 2025

Accepted for publication 14 December 2025

Published 30 December 2025 Volume 2025:21 Pages 2911—2925

DOI https://doi.org/10.2147/NDT.S566386

Checked for plagiarism Yes

Review by Single anonymous peer review

Peer reviewer comments 2

Editor who approved publication: Dr Roger Pinder

Riluge Wu,* Qinglin Bao,* Yasula Ba, Chaoketu Saiyin, Lengge Si, Runa A

Mongolian Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China

*These authors contributed equally to this work

Correspondence: Runa A; Lengge Si, Mongolian Medical College, Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia, People’s Republic of China, Email Aruna1987_immu@163.com; Silengge16_immu@163.com

Objective: This study evaluated the antidepressant-like effects of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture (MMWA) in a chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) model and examined its mechanistic involvement in the gut microbiota–metabolite–barrier axis, representing a novel multi-omics investigation of this traditional therapy.
Methods: Control, CUMS, and MMWA rats (n = 9/group) were assessed using sucrose preference, open-field activity, and Morris water maze tasks. Gut microbiota, fecal metabolites, and intestinal barrier markers were measured by 16S rRNA sequencing, UPLC–MS/MS metabolomics, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting.
Results: MMWA improved CUMS-induced deficits, increasing sucrose preference (p < 0.01), enhancing locomotor activity (p < 0.01), and reducing escape latency (p < 0.05). Treatment restored microbial diversity and increased beneficial short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)–producing genera, including Lactobacillus and Prevotella (p < 0.05). Metabolomic analysis showed recovery of key neuroactive metabolites such as taurine and arginine (adjusted p < 0.05). MMWA also enhanced intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating Occludin, TJP1/ZO-1, and Claudin-4 (p < 0.001). Associations across microbiota–metabolite pathways reflected coordinated restoration.
Conclusion: MMWA alleviates depressive-like behaviors by reshaping gut microbiota, normalizing metabolic profiles, and strengthening the intestinal barrier. These findings support its potential as a complementary approach for depressive-like conditions and highlight a mechanistic link involving the microbiota–metabolite–barrier axis.

Keywords: Mongolian medical warm acupuncture, depression, gut microbiota, metabolomics, intestinal barrier