Tribute to Prof. Geoffrey Burnstock: his contribution to acupuncture
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Tribute to Prof. Geoffrey Burnstock: his contribution to acupuncture Yong Tang 1,2,3
&
Peter Illes 1,2,4
Received: 19 August 2020 / Accepted: 7 September 2020 # The Author(s) 2020
Keywords Tribute . Prof. Geoffrey Burnstock . Purinergic signalling
As the creator of purinergic signalling [1], Prof. Geoffrey Burnstock (1929–2020) [2] also made important contributions to the science of acupuncture (AP). AP family procedures include mechanical needling, electroacupuncture, moxibustion, cupping, etc. [3]. His insightful hypothesis on the natural scientific basis of AP in 2009 [4] led to an explosion of research worldwide that aimed to explaining how purinergic signalling contributes to AP. The development of our understanding on AP-induced analgesia has been elaborately documented in the past [5–7]; hence, in this article, we summarize Geoff’s distinguished contribution to, and profound impact on, AP and also disclose some personal accounts of his impact on our personal careers in specific, and on the Chinese AP community on a larger scale.
Novel hypothesis on the purinergic mode of action of acupuncture AP family procedures, originally developed in China, are widely used in over 183 countries and regions all over the world. In 1980, 43 kinds of diseases were recommended by * Yong Tang [email protected] * Peter Illes [email protected] 1
International Collaborative Center on Big Science Plan for Purine Signalling, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
2
School of Acupuncture and Tuina, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 610075, China
3
Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province for Acupuncture & Chronobiology, Chengdu 610075, China
4
Rudolf-Boehm-Institut für Pharmakologie und Toxikologie, Universität Leipzig, 04107 Leipzig, Germany
the WHO to be treated by AP, and this number was increased to 64 in 1996. In 1997, an NIH consensus was reached and communicated to the public, stating that AP verifiably works on nausea, vomiting, pain, and other conditions, based on evidence provided by clinical trials and the endorphin theory of its mode of action [8, 9]. However, the endorphin hypothesis still failed to completely explain how AP acts, and therefore, it was a major development when in 2009 Geoff published his hypothesis [4], later updated in 2011 [10] and 2014 [11]. He proposed that insertion and twisting of the needles employed in AP mechanically deform the skin, causing the local release of ATP by keratinocytes (1) (Fig. 1). The ATP binds to and activates P2X3 and P2X2/3 receptors located on sensory nerve endings in the skin (2) to initiate action potentials. The signal is then relayed via the dorsal root ganglia to the spinal cord (3) and subsequently through interneuronal pathways (4) to the brain stem (5), which contains motor neurons that control the activity of the gut, lungs, heart, arteries, and reproductive organs—all major targets for AP. Signals also travel to the pain centers of the cortex, delivering a mes
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