Revolutionizing the understanding of acupoint biology and acupuncture mechanisms through spatial omics: current perspectives and future directions

Guo X, Cao J, Su T, Ding X, Chen A, Kosgei BK, Zhang D, Wang F, Luo P · Frontiers in Medicine · 2026 July 21

DOI 10.3389/fmed.2026.1863599

Objective

To investigate how spatial omics technologies can characterize the spatial molecular architecture of acupoints and reveal the local and systemic regulatory networks underlying acupuncture effects.

Conclusions

The review concludes that spatial omics can transform acupuncture research by defining the biological architecture of acupoints, visualizing tissue responses to stimulation, and elucidating the spatiotemporal dynamics of systemic responses.

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Insights

Spatial molecular mapping could reveal how stimulation at acupuncture points produces coordinated biological responses throughout the body.

This review synthesised evidence on the anatomical and spatial characteristics of acupuncture points, known molecular mechanisms of acupuncture, relevant receptors and signalling pathways, and applications of spatial molecular profiling technologies in Western and Chinese medicine. It evaluated how these technologies can analyse multiple biological molecules within intact tissue while preserving their location. The review argues that spatial molecular profiling can define the local biological architecture of acupuncture points, visualise tissue responses to stimulation, and trace changing biological networks that connect local stimulation with distant body-wide effects. This approach could help link acupuncture’s empirical practice to measurable cellular and molecular mechanisms.