Research progress of AMP-activated protein kinase and electroacupuncture pretreatment in brain protection

Background AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and electroacupuncture pretreatment can protect the brain against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (I/RI) through a variety of mechanisms.Objective To explore the role of electroacupuncture pretreatrnent on brain I/RI through studying the AMPK signaling pathways,and to provide new ideas for the study of brain protection.Content This article reviews the role of AMPK signaling pathways in the brain protection,the mechanisms of electroacupuncture pretreatment for brain protection,and the relationship between electroacupuncture pretreatment and AMPK expression in brain.Trend The electroacupuncture preconditioning will be very promising for brain protection,and the AMPK signaling pathways in the electroacupuncture pretreatment-induced cerebral protection will become the hotspot of research. Key words: AMP-activated protein kinase;  Electroacupuncture;  Brain ischemia/reperfusion injury