LI Tianran, YE Yang, W ANG Xuerui, JI Caishuo, W ANG  Yu, LIU Cunzhi

(1.Beijing Hospital of TCM Affiliated to Capital Medical   University,   Beijing Key Laboratory of Acupuncture Neuromodulation, Beijing 100010, China 2. Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine，Tianjin，300000)

Abstract:  Mesenchymal  stem  cells  (MSCs),  the  progenitor  cells  with  the  ability  of  self  replication  and differentiation, are able to change into many kinds of cells or tissues. The study of acupuncture combined with MSCs transplantation has made some progress and shown potential application prospect. This article summarizes  the  experimental  research  literatures  of  acupuncture  combined  with  MSCs  transplantation over the past ten years. The biological mechanisms of acupuncture combined with MSCs transplantation might be related to the increase of MSCs survival rate and the directional differentiation of MSCs induced by acupuncture. The combination of acupuncture and MSCs transplantation might be  used as a potential routine technique in clinical practice, and the underlying mechanisms need to be further elucidated.

Key words: Acupuncture, mesenchymal stem cells, experimental research, progress