Objective To analyses the studies about acupuncture regulating inflammatory signaling pathway in treatment of inflammation- related diseases, which can explain the possible mechanism and provide evidence of acupuncture in treatment of inflammatory diseases. Methods Acupuncture-related studies of animal experiments and clinical trials in PubMed about three signaling pathway, Janus protein-tyrosine kinase/signal transducer and activator of transcription （JAK-STAT）, nuclear factor kappa B （NF-KB） and mitogen-act-ivated protein kinase （MAPK） were retrieved. The effective of acupuncture on cytokines of the three signaling pathway were analyzed and systematical（y summarized. Results Acupuncture can inhibit the activity of JAK-STAT, NF-KB and MAPK inflammatory signaling pathway by down-regulate the cytokines of them. Conclusion Acupuncture and moxibustion have the function of anti-inflammation though inhibiting the JAK-STAT, NF-KB and MAPK signaling pathway. Anti-inflammation maybe plays a vital role in the mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion.
