临床研究证实疏肝调神针法可显著改善抑郁症状，但内在机制尚未完全明确。研究进展表明，调控情绪的神经环路内神经元突触损伤是抑郁症发生的关键病理变化，应激产物REDD1和Akt-mTORC1通路可能在其中发挥重要作用。我们前期研究发现，疏肝调神针法可增加突触间谷氨酸含量，增加前额叶和海马BDNF及相关突触蛋白的表达、保护锥体神经元和星形胶质细胞的形态与功能，而其确切相互作用机制仍未明确。因此，我们提出“针刺通过抑制应激产物REDD1介导的PP2A与Akt结合、阻止Akt-mTORC1通路去磷酸化失活，介导突触生发实现抗抑郁效应”的假说，围绕假说使用行为学、生化和免疫技术，阐述针刺抗抑郁机制与突触损伤和修复的关系，用现代科学客观指标诠释针刺抗抑郁的实质内涵，为抑郁症的防治提供新途径和新靶点。

According TCM theory, the basic therapy principle for depression is to soothing liver and regulating spirit. The acupuncture treatment can significantly attenuates depressive syndromes in clinical practice. However, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. Based on the latest research progress, the key pathogeneses of major depressive disorder is related to synapses damage of pyramidal cells and astrocytes which may resulting from stress product REDD1 and Akt-mTORC1 signaling pathway. Our previous studies were shown that the acupuncture therapy increased level of BDNF, EAATs, Glu and synaptic proteins in prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. But how they work? We still unknown. We speculate acupuncture may achieve antidepressant effect by inhibiting REDD1 induced dephosphorylating of PP2A and Akt, then activate synaptogenesis inducing by mTORC1 signaling pathway by combining Akt, TSC and Rheb. This research is trying to find biomarkers to elaborate the exact underlying mechanism of antidepressant effect of acupuncture therapy.