大量研究表明，针刺引起的穴位局部成纤维细胞及肥大细胞功能激活、传入神经兴奋及相关化学物质释放，构成了针刺穴位效应启动子（即针效初始调控环节）。作为细胞外基质重要信号分子的硫酸软骨素蛋白多糖（CSPGs）是上述物质进行信息交流的重要信使。我们认为，穴位局部CSPGs是针刺效应启动的关键因素之一，与成纤维细胞-肥大细胞-化学物质-传入神经共同构成了针刺穴位效应启动网络，使针刺信息启动并级联放大，发挥调节作用。本项目选择手针足三里治疗佐剂性关节炎大鼠为研究平台，综合采用分子生物学、蛋白质组学、生物信息学等技术与方法，研究穴位局部CSPGs在针刺效应初始调控环节中的作用及初步机制，探索CSPGs在成纤维细胞-肥大细胞-化学物质-传入神经联系中的信使作用，建立相关数学模型，揭示针刺效应启动的关键因素，探索针效调控新模式，为提高针刺疗效提供实验依据。

Many researches have demonstrated that the acupuncture effects are closely related to fibroblast, mast cell, nerve and some chemical molecules in acupoints, involving in the composition of the steps initiating acupuncture effect. As a vital component of the extracellular matrix, Chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) plays an important role in message transmission during the communication of above-mentioned materials. Therefore, we make the assumption that CSPGs at acupoints may the key factor participating in the process of the initial regulation of acupuncture effect, with the fibroblasts, mast cell, chemical molecules and afferent nerve to constitute the initial regulation network of acupuncture effect. That initiates the acupuncture effect and forms cascade amplification, producing regulatory role. Based on the research platform of acupuncture treatment for inflammatory pain induced by Complete Freund's adjuvant, this project plans to use multiple measures such as techniques of molecular biology, proteomics bioinformatics, to study the role and mechanism of CSPGs in the initial regulation of acupuncture effect, to probe messenger function of CSPGs in network of fibroblasts, mast cell, chemical molecules and afferent nerve, to establish mathematical model, to reveal the key factors initiating the effect of acupuncture, and to provide some experimental basis for improving acupuncture effect.