从“肠道菌群-神经炎症”探讨“通腑升清”针法保护AD神经元的作用机制

老年痴呆（AD）是当前世界公共卫生领域面临的重大挑战，本项目在既往研究的基础上，立足中医经典理论，提出运用“通腑升清”针法干预AD。本研究拟以AD模型动物快速老化小鼠为研究对象，以针刺调节“肠道菌群-神经炎症”为研究思路，以Morris水迷宫、体内肠道通透性检测、HE染色、多重免疫荧光检测、16S rRNA高通量测序、UPLC-MS检测、16S-UPLC-MS关联分析以及分子生物学检测为研究手段，通过分析模型动物学习记忆能力、肠道屏障功能、肠道菌群结构与代谢产物、脑内神经炎症等多维数据，探索“通腑升清”针法保护AD神经元的作用机制，证实“‘通腑升清’法通过调节肠道菌群，抑制脑内神经炎症，从而发挥保护神经元作用”的科学假说，可为深化中医理论认识、明确针刺保护AD神经元的关键环节与重要物质提供有力科学依据，并对完善针刺AD临床治疗策略具有重要的现实意义。

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major challenge in the field of public health in the world. Based on the Chinese medicine theory and our previous studies, this project proposed to use “Tongfu and Shengqing” acupuncture therapy for AD. Focused on the “gut microbiota-neuroinflammation”, this project will apply Morris water maze, Intestinal permeability test in vivo, HE staining, multiple immunofluorescences, 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing, UPLC-MS, 16S-UPLC-MS analysis, ELISA and western blot to explore the mechanism of acupuncture by analyzing the learning-memory abilities, intestinal barrier function, structure and metabolites of gut microbiota and the cerebral neuroinflammation. Moreover, this project intends to confirm the scientific hypothesis that “Tongfu and Shengqing” acupuncture could inhibit the neuroinflammation and protect neuron in brain by regulating gut microbiota. This study will be not only of great value to deepen the understanding of Chinese medicine theory, illustrate the key processes and important substances of acupuncture protecting neuron of AD, but also provide a powerful reference for improving the clinical treatment strategy.