Exploration of the mechanism of Zisheng Shenqi decoction against gout arthritis using network pharmacology

Elucidating the mechanism of the Tibetan medicine sanguotang in treating gouty arthritis through network pharmacology and in vivo experiments

BACKGROUND

We explored the mechanisms of Sanguotang (SGT), a Tibetan medicine, in treating gout arthritis (GA).

METHODS

The main active components, action targets, and disease targets of SGT were identified through TCMSP databases. The gene functions were analyzed using protein interaction (PPI) networks, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, and molecular docking. A GA model induced by monosodium urate was established in rats. The ankle joint swelling was observed. The levels of uric acid (UA) and albumin (ALB) in rat serum were measured. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was conducted to examine the pathological changes in rat ankle joints.

RESULTS

Twenty-nine active components of SGT with proven efficacy and 66 intersection targets were identified, primarily involved in inflammation and immune regulation pathways. The PPI results revealed that the key targets of SGT against GA included ALB, IL6, TNF, TP53, and PTGS. Molecular docking showed favorable binding energy between the ALB protein and the active components. The results from animal experiments demonstrated that SGT effectively alleviated the inflammatory reaction in ankle joints, and decreased UA and ALB levels. Furthermore, SGT effectively inhibited the proliferation of synovial cells in the ankle joint cavity, prevented infiltration of inflammatory cells, and protected synovial tissue, thereby improving GA.

CONCLUSIONS

SGT comprehensively contributes to the treatment of GA by regulating UA metabolism, reducing the release of inflammatory factors, and modulating immune and inflammatory pathways.

Huangqin Qingre Chubi Capsule improves rheumatoid arthritis accompanied depression through the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway

AIM OF THE STUDY

Research on the mechanism of Huangqin Qingre Chubi Capsules (HQC) in improving rheumatoid arthritis accompanied depression (RA-dep) model rats.

METHODS

We employed real-time qPCR (RT-qPCR), western blotting (WB), confocal microscopy, bioinformatics, and other methods to investigate the anti-RA-dep effects of HQC and its underlying mechanisms.

RESULTS

HQC alleviated the pathological indexes of inflammation and depression in RA-dep model rats, decreased the levels of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-6, increased the levels of norepinephrine(NE) and serotonin(5-HT), and improved the injury of hippocampus. The analysis of network pharmacology suggests that HQC may target the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the treatment of RA-dep. Furthermore, molecular dynamics simulations revealed a strong affinity between HQC and the Wnt1 molecule. RT-qPCR and Western Blot (WB) experiments confirmed the critical role of the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway in the treatment of RA-dep model rats with HQC. In vitro, the HQC drug-containing serum (HQC-serum) activates the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway in hippocampal cells and, in conjunction with Wnt1, ameliorates RA-dep. In summary, HQC exerts its anti-inflammatory and antidepressant effects in the treatment of RA-dep by binding to Wnt1 and regulating the Wnt1/β-catenin signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

HQC improved the inflammatory reaction and depression-like behavior of RA-dep model rats by activating Wnt1/β-catenin signal pathway. This study revealed a new pathogenesis of RA-dep and contributes to the clinical promotion of HQC in the treatment of RA-dep.

Mechanistic prospective and pharmacological attributes of quercetin in attenuation of different types of arthritis

Arthritis is a frequent autoimmune disease with undefined etiology and pathogenesis. Scientific community constantly fascinating quercetin (QUR), as it is the best-known flavonoid among others for curative and preventive properties against a wide range of diseases. Due to its multifaceted activities, the implementation of QUR against various types of arthritis namely, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoarthritis (OA), gouty arthritis (GA) and psoriotic arthritis (PsA) has greatly increased in recent years. Many research evidenced that QUR regulates a wide range of pathways for instance NF-κB, MAK, Wnt/β-catenine, Notch, etc., that are majorly associated with the inflammatory mechanisms. Besides, the bioavailability of QUR is a major constrain to its therapeutic potential, and drug delivery techniques have experienced significant development to overcome the problem of its limited application. Hence, this review compiled the cutting-edge experiments on versatile effects of QUR on inflammatory diseases like RA, OA, GA and PsA, sources and bioavailability, therapeutic challenges, pharmacokinetics, clinical studies as well as toxicological impacts. The use of QUR in a health context would offer a tearing and potential therapeutic method, supporting the advancement of public health, particularly, of arthritic patients worldwide.

Red Rice Seed Coat Targeting SPHK2 Ameliorated Alcoholic Liver Disease via Restored Intestinal Barrier and Improved Gut Microbiota in Mice

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), leading to the most common chronic liver diseases, is increasingly emerging as a global health problem, which is intensifying the need to develop novel treatments. Herein, our work aimed to estimate the therapeutic efficacy of red rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed coat on ALD and further uncover the underlying mechanisms. Red rice seed coat extract (RRA) was obtained with citric acid-ethanol and analyzed via a widely targeted components approach. The potential targets of RRA to ALD were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Drunken behavior, histopathological examination, liver function, gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier integrity were used to assess the effects of RRA (RRAH, 600 mg/kg·body weight; RRAL, 200 mg/kg·body weight) on ALD. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis associated factors and signaling pathways were measured by corresponding kits, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. In ALD model mice, RRA treatment increased sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, improved gut microbiota composition, restored intestinal barrier, decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in plasma and the liver, cut down Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways, alleviated liver pathological injury and oxidative stress, attenuated inflammation and apoptosis and enhanced liver function. To sum up, RRA targeting SPHK2 can ameliorate ALD by repairing intestinal barrier damage and reducing liver LPS level via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and intestinal microbiota, revealing that red rice seed coat holds potential as a functional food for the prevention and treatment of ALD.

Oryza sativa L. Indica Seed Coat Ameliorated Concanavalin A-Induced Acute Hepatitis in Mice via MDM2/p53 and PKCα/MAPK1 Signaling Pathways

Acute hepatitis (AH) is a common liver disease with an increasing number of patients each year, requiring the development of new treatments. Hence, our work aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effect of Oryza sativa L. indica (purple rice) seed coat on concanavalin A (ConA)-induced AH and further reveal its potential mechanisms. Purple rice seed coat extract (PRE) was extracted with hydrochloric acid ethanol and analyzed through a widely targeted components method. We evaluated the effects of PRE on AH through histopathological examination, liver function, gut microbiota composition, and the intestinal barrier. The potential targets of PRE on AH were predicted by bioinformatics. Western blotting, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling assay (TUNEL) staining, and corresponding kits were used to investigate PRE effects on predicting targets and associated signaling pathways in AH mice. In AH model mice, PRE treatment increased transformed mouse 3T3 cell double minute 2 (MDM2) expression to inhibit apoptosis; it also markedly downregulated protein kinase C alpha (PKCα), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 1 (PTGS1), and mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1) activity to alleviate inflammation. Thus, PRE treatment also recovered the intestinal barrier, decreased the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels of plasma and the liver, enhanced liver function, and improved the composition of intestinal microbiota. In general, PRE targeting MDM2, PKCα, MAPK1, and PTGS1 ameliorated ConA-induced AH by attenuating inflammation and apoptosis, restoring the intestinal barrier, enhancing the liver function, and improving the gut microbiota, which revealed that the purple rice seed coat might hold possibilities as a therapeutic option for AH.

The potential bioactive ingredients and hub genes of five TCM prescriptions against lung adenocarcinoma were explored based on bioinformatics

Analysis of the commonness of several prescriptions of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) based on bioinformatics. Searched the TCM prescriptions for the treatment of LUAD in the literature published in the database, searched ingredients in the TCM through TCMSP and Swiss target prediction databases (OB ≥ 30%, DL > 0.18, Caco-2 > 0), and predicted the potential targets. GEO database retrieved LUAD gene chip data and screened (P < 0.05, | log2 (fold change) |> 1). The biological function, hub gene selection and survival period, immune infiltration, methylation, copy number variations (CNVs), and single-nucleotide variants (SNV) of hub genes were analyzed by DAVID, STRING, Kaplan-Meier plotter database, Cytoscape software, GSCALite database, and TIMER2.0. In this study, 5 TCM prescriptions were analyzed, and a total of 173 ingredients were obtained through database search, including 35 coincidence ingredients, a total of 603 potential targets, 621 LUAD-related genes, 16 up-regulated genes, and 31 down-regulated genes. A total of 61 terms of biological process (BP), 14 terms of cellular component (CC), and 14 terms of molecular function (MF) were obtained. Twenty core genes were obtained, including 15 genes with different survival periods, which were closely related to immune cells (B cell, CD8 + T cell, CD4 + T cell, macrophage, neutrophil, and dendritic cells). The low expression of ADRB2 and MAOA and the high expression of AUARK, CDK1, KIF11, MIF, TOP2A, and TTK were associated with the survival rate of LUAD patients (P < 0.05). Baicalein, Arachidonate, Hederagenin, and hub genes may become potential drugs and potential targets for LUAD treatment. Evaluated the efficacy of TCM in the treatment of LUAD from macro to micro, mined the hub genes, and predicted the mechanism of action, so as to lay the foundation for the development of new drugs of TCM, prescription optimization, or disease control.

Purinergic receptor P2X7 activates NOX2/JNK signaling to participate in granulosa cell inflammation and apoptosis in polycystic ovary syndrome

Increasing evidence shows that polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often accompanied by an inflammatory response, hence, appropriately managing granulosa cell inflammation is critical to regaining ovarian function in PCOS. In this study, the differential levels of purinergic receptor P2X7 between the control and PCOS samples in the dataset GSE34526 were assessed, then PCOS mouse models were established. Following evaluating the fluctuations in hormone levels, inflammatory cytokines, and P2X7, mice received treatment with the P2X7 antagonist A740003. Its effects on hormones, inflammation, apoptosis, and NOX2 signaling in mice were examined. Afterward, primary mouse granulosa cells were isolated, and the mediating role of NOX2 signaling in the P2X7 regulatory pathway was confirmed by transfection of NOX2 overexpression plasmids. The results demonstrated that P2X7 was significantly elevated in the PCOS samples in the dataset. Compared with the control group, PCOS mice had significant differences in the follicle-stimulating hormone, luteinizing hormone, testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone, inflammatory factors, and P2X7. Treatment with A740003 partially restored these parameter levels, including NOX2 signaling. Based on in vitro experiments on primary mouse granulosa cells, the above findings were re-verified, and the overexpression of NOX2 could reverse the regulatory function of P2X7. The present study highlights that P2X7 level increases in PCOS, and inhibition of P2X7 can reduce disease symptoms. It is involved in inflammation and apoptosis in granulosa cells through NOX2/JNK signaling.

Clinical plasma cells-related genes to aid therapy in colon cancer

The tumor immune microenvironment (TIME) of colon cancer (CC) has been associated with extensive immune cell infiltration (IMI). Increasing evidence demonstrated that plasma cells (PC) have an extremely important role in advance of antitumor immunity. Nonetheless, there is a lack of comprehensive analyses of PC infiltration in clinical prognosis and immunotherapy in CC. This study systematically addressed the gene expression model and clinical information of CC patients. Clinical samples were obtained from the TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas) databases. Gene ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), GSVA, and the MAlignant Tumors using Expression data (ESTIMATE) algorithm were employed to research the potential mechanism and pathways. Immunophenoscore (IPS) was obtained to evaluate the immunotherapeutic significance of risk score. Half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of chemotherapeutic medicine was predicted by employing the pRRophetic algorithm. A total of 513 CC samples (including 472 tumor samples and 41 normal samples) were collected from the TCGA-GDC database. Significant black modules and 313 candidate genes were considered PC-related genes by accessing WGCNA. Five pivotal genes were established through multiple analyses, which revealed excellent prognostic. The underlying correlation between risk score with tumor mutation burden (TMB) was further explored. In addition, the risk score was obviously correlated with various tumor immune microenvironment (TIME). Also, risk CC samples showed various signaling pathways activity and different pivotal sensitivities to administering chemotherapy. Finally, the biological roles of the CD177 gene were uncovered in CC.

Schisandrin A ameliorates airway inflammation in model of asthma by attenuating Th2 response

Asthma is a persistent respiratory ailment that displays periodicity and is linked to the equilibrium of T cells. Several compounds obtained from Chinese herbal medicines display beneficial impacts on T cell regulation and the attenuation of inflammatory mediator synthesis. Schisandrin A, an active lignan derived from the Schisandra fruit, exhibits anti-inflammatory characteristics. In the present study, the network analysis conducted revealed that the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) signaling pathway is likely a prominent contributor to the anti-asthmatic effects of schisandrin A. In addition, it has been established that the inhibition of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2/PTGS2) is likely a significant factor in this process. The results of in vitro experiments have substantiated that schisandrin A can effectively lower the expression of COX-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in 16 HBE cells and RAW264.7 cells in a manner that is dependent on the dosage administered. It was able to effectively reduce the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway while simultaneously improving the injury to the epithelial barrier function. Furthermore, an investigation utilizing immune infiltration as a metric revealed an inequity in Th1/Th2 cells and a surge in Th2 cytokines in asthma patients. In the OVA-induced asthma mice model, it was observed that schisandrin A treatment effectively suppressed inflammatory cell infiltration, reduced the Th2 cell ratio, inhibited mucus secretion, and prevented airway remodeling. To summarize, the administration of schisandrin A has been found to effectively alleviate the symptoms of asthma by impeding the production of inflammation, which includes reducing the Th2 cell ratio and improving the integrity of the epithelial barrier function. These findings offer valuable insights into the potential therapeutic applications of schisandrin A for the treatment of asthma.

Elsholtzia bodinieri Vaniot ameliorated acute lung injury in mice by regulating pyroptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and macrophage polarization

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Elsholtzia bodinieri Vaniot, perennial herbs, a traditional Yunnan Chinese herbal medicine. Its whole herb can be used as commonly used herbs to cure fever, headache, inflammation, indigestion etc., and its tender tip can also be used as tea in Yunnan of China. However, the protective mechanism of Elsholtzia bodinieri Vaniot on acute lung injury (ALI) still needs to be explored.

AIM OF STUDY

ALI is characterized by acute respiratory inflammation, which remains a significant source of morbidity and mortality. The current study with the aim of determining the therapeutic the efficacy of E. bodinieri Vaniot on lipopolysaccharide-induced ALI, moreover uncovered the underlying gene-regulated framework, so E. bodinieri Vaniot might serve as functional food for adjuvant therapy or therapeutic agent.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

These potential pharmacological targets of E. bodinieri Vaniot against ALI were analyzed by multiple bioinformatics databases. E. bodinieri Vaniot methanol extract (EBE) was obtained by ultrasonic-assisted extraction method, and detected by UHPLC-ESI-HRMS/MS. These pyroptosis, inflammation and oxidative stress associated factors were measured using ELISA assay, western blotting, and histopathological examination to assess the effects of EBE. EcoTyper and immunofluorescence staining were employed to estimate macrophage polarization states in ALI lungs tissue.

RESULTS

In ALI lung tissues, EBE treatment could increase B cell leukemia/lymphoma 2 (BCL2) to inhibit pyroptosis, downregulate prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) to attenuate inflammation, upregulating NAD(P)H dehydrogenase, quinone 1 (NQO1) to alleviate oxidative stress and induce macrophage polarization toward the M2 phenotype.

CONCLUSION

E. bodinieri Vaniot ameliorated ALI thought regulating pyroptosis, inflammation, oxidative stress and macrophage polarization, as well as could be a promising source for therapeutic agent.

Identification of Potential Biomarkers for Group I Pulmonary Hypertension Based on Machine Learning and Bioinformatics Analysis

A number of processes and pathways have been reported in the development of Group I pulmonary hypertension (Group I PAH); however, novel biomarkers need to be identified for a better diagnosis and management. We employed a robust rank aggregation (RRA) algorithm to shortlist the key differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between Group I PAH patients and controls. An optimal diagnostic model was obtained by comparing seven machine learning algorithms and was verified in an independent dataset. The functional roles of key DEGs and biomarkers were analyzed using various in silico methods. Finally, the biomarkers and a set of key candidates were experimentally validated using patient samples and a cell line model. A total of 48 key DEGs with preferable diagnostic value were identified. A gradient boosting decision tree algorithm was utilized to build a diagnostic model with three biomarkers, PBRM1, CA1, and TXLNG. An immune-cell infiltration analysis revealed significant differences in the relative abundances of seven immune cells between controls and PAH patients and a correlation with the biomarkers. Experimental validation confirmed the upregulation of the three biomarkers in Group I PAH patients. In conclusion, machine learning and a bioinformatics analysis along with experimental techniques identified PBRM1, CA1, and TXLNG as potential biomarkers for Group I PAH.

Study on the active ingredients and mechanism of action of Jiaotai Pill in the treatment of type 2 diabetes based on network pharmacology: A review

To explore the potential active ingredients and related mechanisms of Jiaotai Pill in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. The main active components of Jiaotai Pills were obtained by TCMSP and BATMAN-TCM database combined with literature mining, and the targets of the active components of Jiaotai Pills were predicted by reverse pharmacophore matching (PharmMapper) method. Verifying and normalizing the obtained action targets by using a Uniprot database. Obtaining T2DM related targets through GeneCards, the online mendelian inheritance in man, DrugBank, PharmGKB and therapeutic target databases, constructing a Venn diagram by using a Venny 2.1 online drawing platform to obtain the intersection action targets of Jiaotai pills and T2DM, and the protein-protein interaction network was constructed by String platform. Bioconductor platform and R language were used to analyze the function of gene ontology and the pathway enrichment of Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes. A total of 21 active components and 262 potential targets of Jiaotai Pill were screened by database analysis and literature mining, including 89 targets related to T2DM. Through gene ontology functional enrichment analysis, 1690 biological process entries, 106 molecular function entries and 78 cellular component entries were obtained. Seven pathways related to T2DM were identified by Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis. Jiaotai Pill can achieve the purpose of treating T2DM through multiple active ingredients, multiple disease targets, multiple biological pathways and multiple pathways, which provides a theoretical basis for the clinical treatment of T2DM by Jiaotai Pill.

“Drying effect” of fructus aurantii components and the mechanism of action based on network pharmacology and in vitro pharmacodynamic validation

Background: Fructus aurantii (FA) is the dried, unripe fruit of the plant Citrus aurantium L. and its cultivated varieties. We investigated the drying effect of FA components and how this drying affect is achieved.

Methods: We employed systems pharmacology to predict the components and targets of FA that produce its drying effect. These predictions were verified by computer simulation and animal experiments. In the latter, we measured the bodyweight, water consumption, urine output, fecal water content, rate of salivary secretion, and cross-sectional area of the long axis of the submandibular gland of mice. Immunohistochemistry was used to measure expression of aquaporin (AQP)5 in the submandibular gland, AQP2 in the kidney, and AQP3 in the colon. ELISA kits were used to measure the horizontal variation of cyclic adenosine monsophosphate (cAMP), cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) and interferon-γ.

Results: Sixty-seven potentially active components of FA were screened out. FA could produce a drying effect after regulating 214 targets through 66 active components. A total of 870 gene ontology (GO) terms and 153 signaling pathways were identified. The hypoxia inducible factor-1 signaling pathway, phosphoinositide 3-kinase-protein kinase B (PI3K-AKT) signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and Ras signaling pathway may have important roles in the drying effect of FA. Four components of FA were identified: sinensetin, tangeretin, 5-demethylnobiletin and chrysin. These four components could increase the serum level of interferon-γ and ratio of cyclic adenosine monophosphate:cyclic guanosine monophosphate in mice, and affect their water consumption, urine output, fecal water content and rate of salivary secretion.

Conclusion: Four components of FA (tangeretin, sinensetin, chrysin, 5-Demethylmobiletin) were closely related to the Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (JAK-STAT3), PI3K-AKT, and the other signaling pathways. They can regulate the protein expression of JAK2, STAT3, PI3K, lymphocyte cell-specific protein-tyrosine kinase, vascular endothelial growth factor A, and protein kinase B1, affect water metabolism in the body and, finally, result in a drying effect.

Huangqin Qingre Qubi Capsule inhibits RA pathology by binding FZD8 and further inhibiting the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Huangqin Qingre Qubi Capsule (HQC) is a Chinese herbal compound for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), which is made from dry roots of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, dry mature seeds of Gardenia jasminoides J.Ellis, dry and mature seeds of Coix lacryma-jobi var. stenocarpa Oliv., dry mature seeds of Amygdalus persica L. and roots and rhizomes of Clematis chinensis Osbeck in the proportion of 10:9:30:5:10. HQC has a significant effect in clinical treatment of RA, which can inhibit RA inflammation, improve oxidative stress state, and effectively relieve symptoms of RA patients.

AIM OF THE STUDY

The anti-arthritis effect of HQC and its mechanism, especially whether it improves RA through FZD8-Wnt/β-catenin signal axis, were studied using adjuvant arthritis (AA) rats and FLS from RA patients.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Real time qPCR (RT-qPCR), Western blot (WB), confocal microscopy and other molecular biological methods were used to study the anti-RA effect of HQC and its mechanism.

RESULTS

The expression of FZD8 was significantly up-regulated in synovium and FLS of AA rats and RA FLS. FZD8 significantly activated the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, promoted abnormal proliferation of FLS, increased the levels of inflammatory factors IL-1β, IL-6 and IL-8, and significantly increased the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3) and fibronectin. HQC has significant therapeutic effect on AA rats. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics showed that HQC had a good binding ability with FZD8. We also confirmed that HQC inhibited Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by binding FZD8, and reduced the levels of the above inflammatory factors and pathological genes of RA.

CONCLUSIONS

The expression of FZD8 is significantly increased in AA rats and FLS from RA patients. Clarify that HQC improves RA through the FZD8-Wnt/β-catenin signal axis, provide a clear therapeutic mechanism for HQC to improve RA, and also provide a basis for clinical promotion of HQC.

Inhibitory Effect of Jinwujiangu Prescription on Peripheral Blood Osteoclasts in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and the Relevant Molecular Mechanism

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic progressive autoimmune disease characterized with high recurrence, high disability, poor prognosis, and long treatment cycles. Versus western medicine, traditional Chinese medicine has the traits of definite efficacy, low toxicity, and side effects in the treatment of RA. Moreover, traditional Chinese medicine also has the advantages of multiple targets, multiple links, and multiple approaches. This study was committed to exploring the effect of Jinwujiangu prescription on peripheral blood osteoclasts in those patients with RA and relevant molecular mechanisms. We first identified 159 common targets by online pharmacology, and there were correlations among these targets; besides, the main signaling pathways involved were inclusive TNF signaling pathway, rheumatoid arthritis, IL-17 signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, etc. Through experimental verification, we found that PBMC cells extracted from human peripheral blood could be successfully induced into osteoclasts, and Jinwujiangu prescription inhibited the generation of osteoclasts from PBMCs of RA patients. CCK-8 and flow cytometry showed that osteoclast viability was significantly decreased and osteoclast apoptosis was significantly increased in the HIF-1α interference group; low-, medium-, and high-dose Jinwujiangu prescription groups; sinapine group; and hydroxychloroquine control group. Moreover, Jinwujiangu prescription and sinapine could inhibit the production of cytokines in peripheral blood osteoclasts and inhibit autophagy in RA patients. The expression level of mTOR was significantly increased in both Jinwu middle- and high-dose groups. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that sinapine, the active target in Jinwujiangu prescription, can act as a HIF-1α inhibitor; activate the mTOR pathway; downregulate the level of autophagy rate, ATG5, beclin-1, and LC3 expression; and inhibit the occurrence of autophagy. The trial registration number of the study is KYW2021010.

Molecular Targets of Shenqi Dihuang, A Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine, and Its Potential Role in Renal Cell Carcinoma Therapy

Chinese herbal medicine (CHM), which includes herbal slices and proprietary products, is widely used in China. Shenqi Dihuang (SQDH) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula with ingredients that affect tumor growth. Despite recent advances in prognosis, patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cannot currently receive curative treatment. The present study aimed to explore the potential target genes closely associated with SQDH. The gene expression data for SQDH and RCC were obtained from the TCMSP and TCGA databases. The SQDH-based prognostic prediction model reveals a strong correlation between RCC and SQDH. In addition, the immune cell infiltration analysis indicated that SQDH might be associated with the immune response of RCC patients. Based on this, we successfully built the prognostic prediction model using SQDH-related genes. The results demonstrated that CCND1 and NR3C2 are closely associated with the prognosis of RCC patients. Finally, the pathways enrichment analysis revealed that response to oxidative stress, cyclin binding, programmed cell death, and immune response are the most enriched pathways in CCND1. Furthermore, transcription regulator activity, regulation of cell population proliferation, and cyclin binding are closely associated with the NR3C2.

Therapeutic Mechanism of Kai Xin San on Alzheimer’s Disease Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation

OBJECTIVE

To explore the specific pharmacological molecular mechanisms of Kai Xin San (KXS) on treating Alzheimer's disease (AD) based on network pharmacology and experimental validation.

METHODS

The chemical compounds of KXS and their corresponding targets were screened using the Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine (ETCM) database. AD-related target proteins were obtained from MalaCards database and DisGeNET databases. Key compounds and targets were identified from the compound-target-disease network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis. Functional enrichment analysis predicted the potential key signaling pathways involved in the treatment of AD with KXS. The binding affinities between key ingredients and targets were further verified using molecular docking. Finally, the predicted key signaling pathway was validated experimentally. Positioning navigation and space search experiments were conducted to evaluate the cognitive improvement effect of KXS on AD rats. Western blot was used to further examine and investigate the expression of the key target proteins related to the predicted pathway.

RESULTS

In total, 38 active compounds and 469 corresponding targets of KXS were screened, and 264 target proteins associated with AD were identified. The compound-target-disease and PPI networks identified key active ingredients and protein targets. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis suggested a potential effect of KXS in the treatment of AD via the amyloid beta (A β)-glycogen synthase kinase-3 beta (GSK3 β)-Tau pathway. Molecular docking revealed a high binding affinity between the key ingredients and targets. In vivo, KXS treatment significantly improved cognitive deficits in AD rats induced by Aβ_1-42, decreased the levels of Aβ, p-GSK3β, p-Tau and cyclin-dependent kinase 5, and increased the expressions of protein phosphatase 1 alpha (PP1A) and PP2A (P<0.05 or P<0.01).

CONCLUSION

KXS exerted neuroprotective effects by regulating the Aβ -GSK3β-Tau signaling pathway, which provides novel insights into the therapeutic mechanism of KXS and a feasible pharmacological strategy for the treatment of AD.

Comprehensive bioinformatics analysis reveals biomarkers of DNA methylation-related genes in varicose veins

Background: Patients with Varicose veins (VV) show no obvious symptoms in the early stages, and it is a common and frequent clinical condition. DNA methylation plays a key role in VV by regulating gene expression. However, the molecular mechanism underlying methylation regulation in VV remains unclear. Methods: The mRNA and methylation data of VV and normal samples were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Methylation-Regulated Genes (MRGs) between VV and normal samples were crossed with VV-associated genes (VVGs) obtained by weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to obtain VV-associated MRGs (VV-MRGs). Their ability to predict disease was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Biomarkers were then screened using a random forest model (RF), support vector machine model (SVM), and generalized linear model (GLM). Next, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to explore the functions of biomarkers. Furthermore, we also predicted their drug targets, and constructed a competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) network and a drug target network. Finally, we verified their mRNA expression using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Results: Total three VV-MRGs, namely Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP2), Cysteine-rich intestinal protein 1 (CRIP1), and Odd-skipped related 1 (OSR1) were identified by VVGs and MRGs overlapping. The area under the curves (AUCs) of the ROC curves for these three VV-MRGs were greater than 0.8. RF was confirmed as the optimal diagnostic model, and WISP2, CRIP1, and OSR1 were regarded as biomarkers. GSEA showed that WISP2, CRIP1, and OSR1 were associated with oxidative phosphorylation, extracellular matrix (ECM), and respiratory system functions. Furthermore, we found that lncRNA MIR17HG can regulate OSR1 by binding to hsa-miR-21-5p and that PAX2 might treat VV by targeting OSR1. Finally, qRT-PCR results showed that the mRNA expression of the three genes was consistent with the results of the datasets. Conclusion: This study identified WISP2, CRIP1, and OSR1 as biomarkers of VV through comprehensive bioinformatics analysis, and preliminary explored the DNA methylation-related molecular mechanism in VV, which might be important for VV diagnosis and exploration of potential molecular mechanisms.

Integrated strategy of network pharmacology, molecular docking, HPLC-DAD and mice model for exploring active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of Penthorum chinense Pursh against alcoholic liver injury

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Penthorum chinense Pursh (PCP, Saxifragaceae) is an edible plant and frequently-used Chinese herbal medicine, and is commonly used as Miao medicine in China. It showed well effect on alcoholic liver injury (ALI), but studies on its active ingredients and mechanisms against ALI remain at the starting stage.

AIM OF THE STUDY

This work aims to explore the active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of PCP against ALI.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

First, network pharmacology was applied to decipher the potential active ingredients and pharmacological mechanisms of PCP against ALI by ingredient identification, ADMET evaluation, target identification, network construction and analysis, protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, and gene enrichment analysis. Second, molecular docking was used to explore the interaction between key active ingredient and hub protein of PCP against ALI. Then, the ingredient analysis of PCP aqueous extract and semiquantitative analysis of key active ingredient were carried out on HPLC-DAD. Subsequently, mice with ALI were used to investigate the therapeutic effect or verify the predicted mechanisms of PCP or key active ingredient against ALI by analyzing body weight, liver index, ALT and AST activities in serum and liver tissues, oxidation related indices (SOD activity, GSH level and MDA level) in liver tissues, histopathology of liver tissues (oil red O, hematoxylin-eosin and DAB-TUNEL staining), and changes of related proteins (PI3K, Akt, p-Akt, Bax and Bcl-2) in liver tissues with the aid of Western blot.

RESULTS

Network pharmacology showed that the active ingredients and related genes of PCP against ALI comprised 10 ingredients and 52 genes. Based on the result of ingredient analysis of PCP aqueous extract, quercitrin was identified as the key active ingredient of PCP against ALI. PPI analysis indicated that AKT1 was the hub gene of PCP against ALI, and molecular docking suggested that there were good interaction between quercetin and Akt1 protein. Gene enrichment analysis showed that the pivotal molecular mechanism of PCP against ALI might be to inhibit hepatocyte apoptosis via activation of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. PCP and quercitrin showed anti-ALI effect by offsetting weight loss and increase of liver index, and reversing the imbalance of oxidative stress and histopathological changes of liver tissues (abnormal fatty acid metabolism, hepatic cord swelling and inflammatory cell infiltration) in mice with ALI. PCP caused the decrease of DAB-TUNEL-positive cells, upregulated the anti-apoptotic proteins (PI3K, Akt and p-Akt) levels and the ratio of p-Akt/Akt, and downregulated pro-apoptotic protein (Bax) level and the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2 in liver tissues of mice with ALI, indicating that the mechanism of PCP against ALI involved in inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis via activation of PI3K-Akt signaling pathway.

CONCLUSION

PCP and quercitrin showed well anti-ALI effect. The key active ingredient of PCP against ALI was identified as quercitrin. The underlying pharmacological mechanisms of PCP against ALI may be related to PI3K-Akt signaling pathway-mediated inhibition of hepatocyte apoptosis. This work provided new evidence to support the application of PCP in treatment of ALI, and a research basis for the research and development of functional foods or drugs against ALI from PCP.

Metagenomic Analysis of Gut Microbiome in Gout Patients with Different Chinese Traditional Medicine Treatments

Introduction

Changes in eating habits have made gout a metabolic disease of increasing concern. Previous studies have indicated that there are significant differences in species composition and abundance of gut microbiome in gout patients compared with average. Considering that traditional Chinese medicine has a momentous effect in treating gout, the research study aimed to explore the differences of genomic and metabolomics of gut microbiome before and after traditional Chinese medicine treatment in patients with gout.

Method

30 patients with gout and 29 matched controls were recruited of which 16 patients took H treatment and 14 patients took T treatment. Stools were collected twice for patients before and after treatment and only once for controls. A total of 89 samples were annotated with metagenomic species and functions, and the enrichment analysis of differential genes and KO pathway was carried out.

Result

The results showed a decrease in the diversity of gut microbiome in gout patients and the gene abundance and metabolomics had great differences among study groups. The number of bacterial genera also had significant differences among treatment groups. Moreover, among different groups, the regulation of different species was variously correlated. The correlation between species and clinical laboratory indicators in the rising group was stronger than that in the decreasing group and the upregulation of some strain was related to the content of urea nitrogen.

Conclusion

After the traditional Chinese medicine treatment, the glutathione pathway was significantly enriched and some pathogenic bacteria were significantly inhibited. The study suggests that traditional Chinese medicine treatment may exert its therapeutic effect by inhibiting relevant pathways.

Research into the mechanism of intervention of SanQi in endometriosis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology

BACKGROUND

By using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, we have explored the mechanism of action of Sanqi in the treatment of endometriosis (EMS), in order to provide reference for clinical studies of Chinese medicine treatment of Ems and Chinese medicine pharmacology.

METHODS

There are 123 intersecting targets between the active ingredients of Sanqi and disease targets. In the Protein-Protein Interaction network, Jun proto-oncogene, AP-1 transcription factor subunit, tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6, etc., are the core proteins. The top 20 genes ranked by degree have been analyzed according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway and Gene Ontology analysis, and 20 pathways have been identified.

RESULTS

On the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway, the most important part is the phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase-Akt signaling pathway, and on the Gene Ontology pathway, it is the Heme binding. The top 3 targets docked to quercetin have a certain affinity when it is docked to their degree value. Among the chemical components of Sanqi, quercetin has the most targets, suggesting that it may play a major role in the treatment of EMS.

CONCLUSION

The results of molecular docking provide further evidence of the potential role of Sanqi for EMS. Overall, our study provides a new direction for the treatment of EMS and provides the basis for Sanqi as a drug for the treatment of EMS.

Identification of molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Xintong granule in coronary artery disease by a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a cardiovascular disease characterized by atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, thrombogenesis, inflammation, etc. Xintong granule (XTG) is considered a practical therapeutic strategy in China for CAD. Although its therapeutic role in CAD has been reported, the molecular mechanisms of XTG in CAD have not yet been explored. A network pharmacology approach including drug-likeness (DL) evaluation, oral bioavailability (OB) prediction, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction and analysis, and Gene Ontology term and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses was used to predict the active ingredients, potential targets, and molecular mechanisms of XTG associated with the treatment of CAD. Molecular docking analysis was performed to investigate the interactions between the active compounds and the underlying targets. Fifty-one active ingredients of XTG and 294 CAD-related targets were screened for analysis. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis showed that the therapeutic targets of XTG in CAD are mainly involved in blood circulation and vascular regulation. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that XTG intervenes in CAD mainly through the regulation of fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and the relaxin signaling pathway. Molecular docking analysis showed that each key active ingredient (quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, resveratrol, fisetin, gamma-sitosterol, and beta-sitosterol) of XTG can bind to the core targets of CAD (AKT1, JUN, RELA, MAPK8, NFKB1, EDN1, and NOS3). The present study revealed the CAD treatment-related active ingredients, underlying targets, and potential molecular mechanisms of XTG acting by regulating fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and relaxin signaling pathway.

Mechanism of Action of Zhi Gan Cao Decoction for Atrial Fibrillation and Myocardial Fibrosis in a Mouse Model of Atrial Fibrillation: A Network Pharmacology-Based Study

Atrial fibrillation (AF), a commonly seen cardiac disease without optimal curative treatment option, is usually treated by traditional Chinese medicine in China. The Zhi-Gan-Cao decoction (ZGCD) is an alternative medicine for clinical use and has definitive effects. It remains to be defined regarding the specific components and related mechanisms of ZGCD for the treatment of AF. We determined the primary constituents and major targets of the herbs in ZGCD using the TCMSP, HERB, and BATMAN-TCM databases. The UniProt databank database amended and combined the prospective names to supply objective data and records. Every target connected to AF was generated using the GeneCards databank, Drugbank database, TTD, Disgenet database, and OMIM. After identifying possible common targets between ZGCD and AF, the interface network illustration “ZGCD component-AF-target” was created using Cytoscape. We obtained 175 constituents and 839 targets for seven herbal drug categories in the ZGCD and identified 1008 targets of AF. After merging and removing repetitions, 136 collective targets between the ZGCD and AF were removed using the Cytoscape system. These renowned targets were generated from 38 suitable components from among the 157 components. GO enhancement examination and KEGG enrichment analysis by Metascape identified the close connection between the critical target genes and 20 signaling pathways. Then, we injected isoproterenol subcutaneously into the mouse and gave gavage with roasted licorice soup. Two weeks later, mouse were processed and sampled for testing. The results of HE and Masson staining showed that ZGCD effectively alleviated the degree of myocardial fibrosis. As indicated by qRT-PCR and Western blotting, ZGCD significantly reduced COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, and TGF-β1 in myocardial fibrotic tissue to reduce myocardial fibrosis and treat AF by interfering with the expression of COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, and TGF-β1 in myocardial tissue. ZGCD may treat AF by lowering the degree of myocardial fibrosis.

Efficacy and Safety of Qinpi Tongfeng Formula Combined with Bloodletting Therapy in the Treatment of Acute Gouty Arthritis: A Study Protocol for a Randomized Controlled Trial

Background

Acute gouty arthritis (AGA) is a common arthritis disease, with the characteristics of acute onset, severe condition, and poor prognosis. The conventional treatments have shown certain curative effects but are accompanied with many adverse reactions. The combination of orally taken Qinpi Tongfeng Formula (QPTFF) and bloodletting therapy could effectively alleviate arthralgia and joint swelling in AGA patients. However, there is a lack of high-quality randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of the combined therapy against AGA.

Methods

This is a prospective, randomized, parallel controlled trial conducted in the First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to explore the efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA. Eighty-six AGA patients meeting the inclusion and exclusion criteria will be randomly divided into the treatment group and control group in a 1 : 1 ratio using a randomization table. The investigators and the patients will not be blinded, while the outcome assessors and statisticians will be blinded to the allocation. Patients in the treatment group will take QPTFF and bloodletting therapy simultaneously, while patients in the control group will be instructed to orally take colchicine tablets. The primary outcome is the total effective rate, and the secondary outcomes are the pain changes after the first treatment, pain scores, complete pain relief time, joint symptom scores, TCM syndrome score, and laboratory test. SPSS22.0 will be used for statistical analysis. Discussion. This study will evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of QPTFF combined with bloodletting therapy in the treatment of AGA, and the results of this study will provide reliable clinical evidence for the clinical use of QPTFF combined with bloodletting in the treatment of AGA. The trial is registered with ChiCTR2100048836.

Elaborate the Mechanism of Ancient Classic Prescriptions (Erzhi Formula) in Reversing GIOP by Network Pharmacology Coupled with Zebrafish Verification

Osteoporosis is a degenerative disease that endangers human health. At present, chemical drugs used for osteoporosis have serious side effects. Therefore, it is valuable to search herbs with high safety and good curative effect in antiosteoporosis. Erzhi formula (EZF), an ancient classic compound, has been reported to have a beneficial effect in antiosteoporosis, but its mechanism is unclear. In this paper, the active compounds of EZF were found in Systems Pharmacology Database, and gene targets related to osteoporosis were obtained in GeneCards. The GO functional and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed by Metascape. The network of “components-targets-signal pathway” was constructed by Cytoscape. Next, molecular docking between the active components and hub genes related to the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway was conducted by Autodock. In the verification experiment, the zebrafish induced by prednisolone (PNSL) was used to reproduce glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIOP) model, and then the reversal effects of EZF were systematically evaluated according to the behavior, skull staining area, bone mineralization area (BMA), average optical density (AOD), and cumulative optical density (COD). Finally, it was shown that 24 components in EZF could regulate 39 common gene targets to exert antiosteoporosis effect. Besides, the main regulatory mechanisms of EZF were 4 signaling pathways: PI3K-Akt, JAK-STAT, AGE-RAGE, and cancer pathway. In PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, wedelolactone, dimethyl wedelolactone, specnuezhenide, ursolic acid, acacetin, beta-sitosterol, apigenin, and kaempferol can bind tightly with EGF, IL-2, and IL-4 genes. Compared with the model group, the moving distance, swimming speed, and cumulative swimming time of zebrafish in EZF group were significantly increased (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the BMA and COD of zebrafish were significantly improved after the intervention of EZF (P < 0.05). In summary, the 24 components of EZF exert their antiosteoporosis effects by regulating 39 related gene targets, among which the PI3K signaling pathway is crucial. EZF can promote bone formation and reversed GIOP through “multicomponent/multitarget/multipathway” and the medium dose of EZF may be the most suitable concentration for the treatment of GIOP in zebrafish model.

Advances in Experimental and Clinical Research of the Gouty Arthritis Treatment with Traditional Chinese Medicine

Gouty arthritis (GA) is a multifactorial disease whose pathogenesis is utterly complex, and the current clinical treatment methods cannot wholly prevent GA development. Western medicine is the primary treatment strategy for gouty arthritis, but it owns an unfavorable prognosis. Therefore, the prevention and treatment of GA are essential. In China, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been adopted for GA prevention and treatment for thousands of years. Gout patients are usually treated with TCM according to their different conditions, and long-term results can be achieved by improving their physical condition. And TCM has been proved to be an effective method to treat gout in modern China. Nevertheless, the pharmacological mechanism of TCM for gout is still unclear, which limits its spread. The theory of prevention and treatment of gout with TCM is more well acknowledged in China than in abroad. In this article, Chinese herbs and ancient formula for gout were summarized first. A total of more than 570 studies published from 2004 to June 2021 in PubMed, Medline, CNKI, VIP, Web of Science databases and Chinese Pharmacopoeia and traditional Chinese books were searched; the current status of TCM in the treatment of GA was summarized from the following aspects: articular chondrocyte apoptosis inhibition, antioxidative stress response, inflammatory cytokine levels regulation, uric acid excretion promotion, immune function regulation, uric acid reduction, and intestinal flora improvement in subjects with gout. The literature review concluded that TCM has a specific curative effect on the prevention and treatment of GA, particularly when combined with modern medical approaches. However, lacking a uniform definition of GA syndrome differentiation and the support of evidence-based medicine in clinical practice have provoked considerable concern in previous studies, which needs to be addressed in future research.

Myrtenal and β-caryophyllene oxide screened from Liquidambaris Fructus suppress NLRP3 inflammasome components in rheumatoid arthritis

Background

Liquidambaris Fructus (LF) is the infructescence of Liquidambar formosana. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, LF has been used to treat joint pain, a common symptom of arthritis and rheumatism; however, a lack of pharmacological evidence has limited its applications in modern clinics. Therefore, this study aims to explore the protective effect of LF on rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to identify its active ingredients.

Methods

Rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) were divided into 4 groups and administered petroleum ether extract of LF (PEL), ethyl acetate extract of LF (EEL), water extract of LF (WEL), or piroxicam (PIR) respectively for 3 weeks. Two additional groups were used as normal control (NC) and model control (MC) and administered distilled water as a placebo. The clinical scores for arthritis, bone surface, synovial inflammation and cartilage erosion were used to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of each treatment. The serum IL-1β and TNF-α level and the expression of NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 p20 in the synovial tissue of AIA rats were evaluated by ELISA and Western blot. The active ingredients of LF were investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods, and their inhibition of NLRP3 inflammasome activation was verified in the human rheumatoid arthritis fibroblast-like synovial cells (RA-FLS) model.

Results

PEL could alleviate paw swelling, bone and joint destruction, synovial inflammation and cartilage erosion in the AIA rats, with significantly superior efficacy to that of EEL and WEL. PEL reduced IL-1β and TNF-α serum levels, and attenuated the upregulation of NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 p20 expression in the synovial tissue of AIA rats. Network pharmacology and molecular docking results indicated that myrtenal and β-caryophyllene oxide were the main two active ingredients of PEL, and these two compounds showed significant inhibition on TNF-α, NLRP3, IL-1β and caspase-1 p20 expression in RA-FLS.

Conclusions

Myrtenal and β-caryophyllene oxide screened from PEL could suppress the activation of NLRP3 inflammasome, thereby alleviating RA symptoms.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12906-021-03410-2.