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Li H, Kang L, Dou S, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Li N, Cao Y, Liu M, Han D, Li K, Feng W. Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus ingredients and mechanism in anti-asthmatic bronchitis research. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 133:155857. [PMID: 39074420 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.155857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Gleditsiae Sinensis Fructus (GSF) is commonly used in traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases such as bronchial asthma. However, there is a lack of research on the chemical composition of GSF and the pharmacological substance and mechanism of action for GSF in treating bronchial asthma. PURPOSE The chemical constituents of GSF were analyzed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-Orbitrap high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS). In this study, we combined network pharmacology, molecular docking techniques, and experimental validation to explore the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanism of GSF in the treatment of bronchial asthma. METHODS Characterization of the chemical constituents of GSF was conducted using UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap HRMS. The identified chemical components were subjected to screening for active ingredients in the Swiss Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, and Excretion (ADME) database. Relevant databases were utilized to retrieve target proteins for the active ingredients and targets associated with bronchial asthma disease, and the common targets between the two were selected. Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the String database and Cytoscape software to identify key targets. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using the Metascape database. The "component-common target" network was constructed using Cytoscape to identify the primary active ingredients. Molecular docking validation was conducted using AutoDock software. The bronchial asthma mouse model was established using ovalbumin (OVA), and the lung organ index of the mice was measured. Lung tissue pathological changes were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE), Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS), and Masson staining. The respiratory resistance (Penh) of the mice was assessed using a pulmonary function test instrument. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to determine the levels of IgE, IL-4, IL-5, and IL-13 in the mouse serum. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to detect the protein expression levels of AKT and PI3K in the lung tissues. An in vitro experiment was performed to observe the effects of echinocystic acid (EA) on IL-4 stimulated Human ASMCs (hASMCs). Cell viability was measured using a CCK-8 assay to calculate the IC50 value of the EA. A wound healing test was conducted to observe the effect of EA on degree of healing. RT-qPCR was performed to detect the influence of EA on the mRNA expression levels of ALB, SRC, TNF-α, AKT1, and IL6 in the cells. RESULTS A total of 95 chemical constituents were identified from the GSF. Of these, 37 were identified as active ingredients. There were 169 overlapping targets between the active ingredients and the disease targets. A topological analysis of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network identified the core targets as IL6, TNF, ALB, AKT1, and SRC. An enrichment analysis revealed that the treatment of bronchial asthma with GSF primarily involved the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, among others. The primary active ingredients included 13(s)-HOTRE, linolenic acid, and acacetin. The molecular docking results demonstrated a favorable binding activity between the critical components of GSF and the core targets. Animal experimental studies indicated that GSF effectively improved symptoms, lung function, and lung tissue pathological changes in the OVA-induced asthmatic mice, while alleviating inflammatory responses. GSF decreased the fluorescent intensity of the AKT and PI3K proteins. The IC50 value of EA was 30.02μg/ml. EA (30) significantly promoted the proliferation of IL4-stimulated hASMCs cells. EA (30) significantly increased the expression of ALB and SRC mRNA and decreased the expressions of TNF-α, AKT, and IL6 mRNA. CONCLUSION The multiple active ingredients found in GSF exerted their anti-inflammatory effects through multiple targets and pathways. This preliminary study revealed the core target and the mechanism of action underlying its treatment of bronchial asthma. These findings provided valuable insights for further research on the pharmacological substances and quality control of GSF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongwei Li
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Henan Research Center for Special Processing Technology of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Le Kang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Henan Research Center for Special Processing Technology of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Shirong Dou
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yiming Zhang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yumei Zhang
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Ning Li
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Yangang Cao
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Mengyun Liu
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Deen Han
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China
| | - Kai Li
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Henan Research Center for Special Processing Technology of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China; Collaborative Innovation Center of Research and Development on the Whole Industry Chain of Yu-Yao, Henan Province, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
| | - Weisheng Feng
- Henan University of Chinese Medicine, Zhengzhou 450046, China.
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Hou Z, Yang F, Zhang Q, Wang Y, Liu J, Liang F. Targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway with PNU120596 protects against LPS-induced acute lung injury. J Pharm Pharmacol 2024:rgae076. [PMID: 39288376 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgae076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/19/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES This study investigated the potential therapeutic benefits of PNU120596, a positive allosteric modulator of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (α7nAChR), in mitigating acute lung injury (ALI) induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in a mouse model. Specifically, we sought to examine the impact of PNU120596 on the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the context of ALI. METHODS ALI was induced in mice by LPS administration, and the protective effects of PNU120596 were assessed. Lung injury, lung function, and the inflammatory response were evaluated. Additionally, the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was examined, along with the levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers. KEY FINDINGS PNU120596 significantly ameliorated LPS-induced lung injury, improved lung function, and reduced the inflammatory response in the mouse model of ALI. Furthermore, we observed that PNU120596 inhibited the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, which was associated with decreased levels of inflammatory factors and oxidative stress markers. CONCLUSIONS PNU120596 exhibits promising therapeutic potential for the treatment of acute lung injury, potentially by targeting the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. These findings suggest that modulation of the α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor with PNU120596 may offer a viable strategy for the management of ALI, warranting further investigation and potential clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixin Hou
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
| | - Fengrui Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
- Department of Anesthesiology, General Hospital, Hunan University of Medicine, Huaihua 418000, PR China
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
| | - Yuxia Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
| | - Junwen Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
| | - Feng Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, PR China
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Deng Q, Chen W, Deng B, Chen W, Chen L, Fan G, Wu J, Gao Y, Chen X. Based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to reveal the mechanism of Andrographis paniculata against solar dermatitis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 135:156025. [PMID: 39326136 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2024.156025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 08/14/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Solar dermatitis (SD) is an acute, damaging inflammation of the skin caused by UV exposure, especially UVB. Therefore, the discovery of novel anti-SD therapeutic agents is crucial. Andrographis paniculata (AP) is a medicinal plant with a wide range of pharmacological effects. Increased evidence shows that AP has potential therapeutic effects on SD. However, the therapeutic mechanisms of AP against SD have not yet been completely elucidated, which is an unexplored field. PURPOSE This study employed network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to ascertain the active constituents, possible targets, and biological pathways associated with AP in the treatment of SD. METHODS AP-related active ingredients and their potential targets were screened from TCMSP and Swiss Target Prediction database, respectively. Potential therapeutic targets of SD were collected using the GeneCards, DrugBank and OMIM databases. Then, we established protein-protein interaction (PPI), compound-target-disease (D-C-T-D) through Cytoscape to identify the major components, core targets of AP against SD. Next, the GO and KEGG pathway was identified by the David database of AP in the treatment of SD. Molecular docking techniques were used to estimate the binding force between the components and the hub genes. In this paper, we used UVB-irradiated HaCaT keratinocytes as an in vitro model and established the dorsal skin of UVB-irradiated ICR mice as an in vivo model to explore the mechanism for further verification. RESULTS There were 24 active components and 63 related target genes in AP against SD. PPI analysis showed that AKT-1, TNF-α, IL6, MMP9, EGFR, and PTGS2 shared the highest centrality among all target genes. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway may be central in the anti-SD system. The molecular docking results showed that the main active components of AP have strong binding affinity with hub genes. In vitro results showed that WG had a protective effect on UVB-intervened HaCat cells. Western blot analysis showed that WG intervention achieved anti-inflammation by reducing the phosphorylated expression of AKT, PI3K proteins in the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and downregulating the expression of TNF-α, IL-6, EGFR. Furthermore, Histological analysis confirmed that administration of WG to ICR mice significantly ameliorated UVB-induced skin roughness, epidermal thickening, disturbed collagen fiber alignment and wrinkles. Meanwhile, immunohistochemistry showed that administration of WG to ICR mice significantly reduced UVB-induced expression of MMP9, MPO, F4/80 in the skin. These results provide new insights into the contribution of WG to the development of clinical treatment modalities for UVB-induced SD. CONCLUSION The crucial element in the fight against SD is WG, with the primary route being PI3K/Akt. The main components and hub genes had robust binding abilities. In vitro and vivo experiments showed that WG could inhibit the expression level of the hub genes by inhibiting the PI3K/Akt pathway. In summary, the information presented in this study indicates that WG might be utilised as a treatment for UVB-induced SD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qin Deng
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Wenyuan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China; School of Pharmacy, Bijie Medical College, Bijie, 551700, Guizhou, China
| | - Bili Deng
- Guizhou Institute of Food Inspection and Testing, Guizhou, China
| | - Weishi Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Lei Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Gengqi Fan
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Jinglan Wu
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Yuan Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China
| | - Xiaolan Chen
- College of Pharmacy, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guizhou,550025, China.
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Chen Y, Tu Y, Cao J, Wang Y, Ren Y. Rhein Alleviates Doxorubicin-Induced Myocardial Injury by Inhibiting the p38 MAPK/HSP90/c-Jun/c-Fos Pathway-Mediated Apoptosis. Cardiovasc Toxicol 2024:10.1007/s12012-024-09917-7. [PMID: 39240427 DOI: 10.1007/s12012-024-09917-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (Dox) has been limited in clinical application due to its cardiac toxicity that varies with the dose. This study aimed to explore how Rhein modulates Dox-induced myocardial toxicity. The general condition and echocardiographic changes of mice were observed to evaluate cardiac function and structure, with myocardial cell injury and apoptosis checked by TUNEL and HE staining. The ELISA assessed markers of myocardial damage and inflammation. The TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction databases were used to retrieve Rhein's targets while GeneCards was used to find genes related to Dox-induced myocardial injury. Intersection genes were analyzed by Protein-Protein Interaction Networks. The core network genes underwent GO and KEGG enrichment analysis using R software. Western blot was used to detect protein expression. Compared to the Dox group, there was no remarkable difference in heart mass /body mass ratio in the Rhein+Dox group. However, heart mass/tibia length increased. Mice in the Rhein+Dox group had significantly increased LVEF, LVPWs, and LVFS compared to those in the Dox group. Myocardial cell damage, inflammation, and apoptosis significantly reduced in the Rhein+Dox group compared to the model group. Eleven core network genes were selected. Further, Rhein+Dox group showed significantly downregulated expression of p38/p-p38, HSP90AA1, c-Jun/p-c-Jun, c-Fos/p-c-Fos, Bax, and cleaved-caspase-3/caspase-3 while Bcl-2 expression significantly upregulated compared to the Dox group. The study suggests that Rhein mediates cardioprotection against Dox-induced myocardial injury, at least partly, by influencing multiple core genes in the MAPK signaling pathway to inhibit myocardial cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Chen
- Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.6, Panxi 7th Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Yadan Tu
- Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.6, Panxi 7th Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Jin Cao
- Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.6, Panxi 7th Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Yigang Wang
- Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.6, Panxi 7th Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, 400021, China
| | - Yi Ren
- Chongqing Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.6, Panxi 7th Road, Jiangbei District, Chongqing, 400021, China.
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Duan X, Wang N, Peng D. Application of network pharmacology in synergistic action of Chinese herbal compounds. Theory Biosci 2024; 143:195-203. [PMID: 38888845 DOI: 10.1007/s12064-024-00419-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Herbal medicines are frequently blended in the form of multi-drug combinations primarily based on the precept of medicinal compatibility, to achieve the purpose of treating diseases. However, due to the lack of appropriate techniques and the multi-component and multi-target nature of Chinese medicine compounding, it is tough to explain how the drugs interact with each other. As a rising discipline, cyber pharmacology has formed a new approach characterized by using holistic and systematic "network targets" via the cross-fertilization of computer technology, bioinformatics, and different multidisciplinary disciplines. It can broadly screen the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine, enhance the effective utilization of drugs, and elucidate the mechanism of drug action. We will overview the principles of Chinese medicine compounding and dispensing, the research methods of network pharmacology, and the software of network pharmacology in the lookup of compounded Chinese medicines, aiming to supply thoughts for the better application of network pharmacology in the research of Chinese medicines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianchun Duan
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine (Anhui University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230038, People's Republic of China
| | - Ni Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China
| | - Daiyin Peng
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Xin'an Medicine (Anhui University of Chinese Medicine), Ministry of Education, Hefei, 230038, People's Republic of China.
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Zhu C, Liu J, Lin J, Xu J, Yu E. Investigating the effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract on cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease. CNS Neurosci Ther 2024; 30:e14914. [PMID: 39238068 PMCID: PMC11377177 DOI: 10.1111/cns.14914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2024] [Accepted: 07/29/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024] Open
Abstract
AIMS Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with limited treatment options. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of Ginkgo biloba leaf extract (GBE) on AD and explore its potential mechanisms of action. METHODS Key chemical components of GBE, including quercetin, luteolin, and kaempferol, were identified using network pharmacology methods. Bioinformatics analysis revealed their potential roles in AD through modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. RESULTS Mouse experiments demonstrated that GBE improved cognitive function, enhanced neuronal morphology, and reduced serum inflammatory factors. Additionally, GBE modulated the expression of relevant proteins and mRNA. CONCLUSION GBE shows promise as a potential treatment for AD. Its beneficial effects on cognitive function, neuronal morphology, and inflammation may be attributed to its modulation of the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB signaling pathway. These findings provide experimental evidence for the application of Ginkgo biloba leaf in AD treatment and highlight its potential mechanisms of action.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng Zhu
- School of Mental Health, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Mental Disorders, The Affiliated Wenzhou Kangning Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Jie Liu
- The Second People's Hospital of Chuzhou Sleep Disorders Department, Chuzhou, China
| | - Jixin Lin
- Second Clinical Medicine Faculty, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiaxi Xu
- General Psychiatric Department, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou, China
| | - Enyan Yu
- Clinical Psychology Department, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, China
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Fan L, Tang K, Li J, Tan Y, Liu X, Bai Z, Tao A, Tan N. Mailuoning oral liquid ameliorates vasculitis in thromboangiitis obliterans rats via inactivating cGAS-STING-IRF3 and TLR4-MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 337:118707. [PMID: 39181282 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/27/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Mailuoning oral liquid (MLN O), one traditional Chinese patent medicine, has a good therapeutic effect on thromboangiitis obliterans (TAO) in clinical practice. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to explore the effects and potential mechanisms of MLN O against TAO based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. MATERIALS AND METHODS Network pharmacology was used to identify the intersectional targets and signaling pathways of MLN O and TAO. In vivo, the TAO model was established by injecting sodium laurate and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) into the femoral arteries of Wistar rats. Rats were given the indicated drugs by intragastric administration (i.g.), intravenous injection (i.v.), or subcutaneous injection (s.c.) per day for 21 days since a week before surgery. In vitro, HUVECs, RAW264.7, and THP-1 cells were stimulated by LPS and DHT to simulate the pathological changes of TAO. The anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, and immunomodulatory effects of MLN O were evaluated by histological observation, blood biochemical indexes detection, H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), qRT-PCR, western blotting and immunofluorescence assays. Furthermore, the vascular ring test was applied to explore the vasodilatory activity of MLN O. RESULTS MLN O significantly improved the pathological signs in TAO rats through its excellent anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, immunomodulatory, and vasodilatory effects. Specifically, MLN O alleviated the gangrene and reduced the thrombosis in TAO rats, meanwhile, suppressed the expressions of inflammatory factors and clotting factors, which is related to the inactivations of cGAS-STING-IRF3 and TLR4-MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways. However, the superphysiological dose of DHT deteriorated the pathological development of TAO in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, the results of network pharmacology are consistent with the experimental verification. CONCLUSION Collectively, this study indicates for the first time that MLN O could alleviate TAO by inhibiting cGAS-STING-IRF3 and TLR4-MAPKs/NF-κB signaling pathways, which sheds light on a novel clinical therapeutic strategy for TAO.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Fan
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Kai Tang
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Jian Li
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China; Jinling Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Nanjing, 210009, China
| | - Yajie Tan
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Xiaoqiong Liu
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ziyu Bai
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Anhua Tao
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China
| | - Ninghua Tan
- Department of TCMs Pharmaceuticals, School of Traditional Chinese Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, 211198, China.
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He H, Sun S, Xu W, Zhang M. Network Pharmacology Followed by Experimental Validation to Explore the Mechanism of Stigmasterol in Sangbaipi Decoction Regulating PI3K/Akt Signaling to Alleviate Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2024; 19:1819-1834. [PMID: 39140079 PMCID: PMC11319098 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s459814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Purpose Sangbaipi decoction (SBPD), a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription, has been widely used to treat acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD), while the underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear due to the complexity of composition. Methods A TCM-active ingredient-drug target network of SBPD was constructed utilizing the TCM-Systems-Pharmacology database. AECOPD-relevant proteins were gathered from Gene Cards and the Online-Mendelian-Inheritance-in-Man database. Protein-protein interaction, GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the targets from the intersection of SBPD and AECOPD targets were performed to identify the core signaling pathway, followed by molecular docking verification of its interaction with active ingredients. The network pharmacology results were checked using in-vivo experiments. To induce AECOPD, rats were exposure to combined tobacco smoke and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Then rats underwent gavage with stigmasterol (SM) after successful modeling. The involvement of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (Akt) signaling was investigated using its inhibitor, LY294002. Lung function and histopathology were examined. The levels of inflammatory cytokines in the lung and serum were assessed by quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), Western blot and/or Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results SM was recognized as an active ingredient of SBPD and stably bound to Akt1. SM improved lung function and histological abnormalities, concomitant with suppressed PI3K/Akt signaling, downregulated lung and serum Interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels and serum transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) levels and upregulated lung and serum Interleukin 10 (IL-10) levels in AECOPD rats. In AECOPD rats, LY294002 restored lung function, and it also improved lung histological abnormalities and inflammation, which was found to be potentiated by SM. Conclusion SM targets PI3K/Akt signaling to reduce lung injury and inflammation in AECOPD rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haidong He
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Shuihua Sun
- Department of Medical Oncology, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Weihua Xu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingwan Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Tongde Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Hangzhou City, Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China
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Zhao X, Qu Q, Zhang Y, Zhao P, Zhang X, Tang Y, Lei X, Wei X, Song X. Mechanism of Xing 9 ling tablet candy for alcoholic liver disease based on network pharmacology. Anal Biochem 2024; 691:115534. [PMID: 38621605 DOI: 10.1016/j.ab.2024.115534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
Xing 9 Ling tablet candy (X9LTC) effectively treats alcoholic liver disease (ALD), but its potential mechanism and molecular targets remain unstudied. We aimed to address this gap using network pharmacology. Furthermore, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and database analysis revealed a total of 35 active ingredients and 311 corresponding potential targets of X9LTC. Protein interaction analysis revealed PTGS2, JUN, and FOS as its core targets. Enrichment analysis indicated that chemical carcinogenesis-receptor activation, IL-17 and TNF signaling pathway were enriched by multiple core targets, which might be the main pathway of action. Further molecular docking validation showed that the core targets had good binding activities with the identified compounds. Animal experiments showed that X9LTC could reduce the high expression of ALT, AST and TG in the serum of ALD mice, alleviate the lesions in liver tissues, and reverse the high expression of PTGS2, JUN, and FOS proteins in the liver tissues. In this study, we established a method for the determination of X9LTC content for the first time, and predicted its active ingredient and mechanism of action in treating ALD, providing theoretical basis for further research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Zhao
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Qiong Qu
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Peiyuan Zhao
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Xinbo Zhang
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Yingying Tang
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Xuan Lei
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Xuan Wei
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China
| | - Xiao Song
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, Shaanxi, 712046, China; Engineering Research Center for Pharmaceutics of Chinese Materia Medica and New Drug Development, Ministry of Education, Beijing, 100029, China.
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10
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Zhao Q, Wang K, Hou L, Guo L, Liu X. Based on network pharmacology and molecular docking to explore the potential mechanism of shikonin in periodontitis. BMC Oral Health 2024; 24:839. [PMID: 39048977 PMCID: PMC11270799 DOI: 10.1186/s12903-024-04618-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Accepted: 07/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/27/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the potential mechanisms of shikonin in preventing and treating periodontitis using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. MATERIALS AND METHODS The targets of shikonin were obtained in TCMSP and SEA databases, and targets of periodontitis were gathered from the OMIM, GeneCards and Drugbank Databases. The intersecting targets were entered into the DAVID database to obtain the relevant biological functions and pathways by GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. The obtained targets were analysed the protein-protein interaction (PPI) in STRING platform. In Cytoscape 3.8.0, the network analysis function with the MCODE plug-in were used to obtain the key targets, of shikonin and periodontitis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation (MD) were used to assess the affinity between the shikonin and the key targets. RESULTS Shikonin was screened for 22 targets and periodontitis was screened for 944 targets, the intersecting targets were considered as potential therapeutic targets. The targets played important roles in cellular response to hypoxia, response to xenobiotic stimulus and positive regulates of apoptotic process by GO enrichment analysis. 10 significant pathways were analyzed by KEGG, such as human cytomegalovirus infection and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, etc. Cytoscape software screened the key genes including AKT1, CCL5, CXCR4, PPARG, PTEN, PTGS2 and TP53. Molecular docking and MD results showed that shikonin could bind stably to the targets. CONCLUSIONS The present study enriched the molecular mechanisms in periodontitis with shikonin, providing potential therapeutic targets for periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingliang Zhao
- Department of Stomatology, Harbin the First Hospital, Harbin, 150010, China
| | - Kun Wang
- Department of Central Sterile Supply, the First Affiliated Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150001, China
| | - Lin Hou
- Department of Stomatology, Harbin the First Hospital, Harbin, 150010, China
| | - Lin Guo
- School of Integrative Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, West Area, Tuanbo New Town,Jinghai District, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Xiangyan Liu
- Department of Stomatology, Harbin the First Hospital, Harbin, 150010, China.
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11
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Hu R, Xue X, Sun X, Mi Y, Wen H, Xi H, Li F, Zheng P, Liu S. Revealing the role of metformin in gastric intestinal metaplasia treatment. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1340309. [PMID: 39101145 PMCID: PMC11294171 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1340309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Gastric intestinal metaplasia (IM) is a precancerous stage associated with gastric cancer. Despite the observed beneficial effects of metformin on IM, its molecular mechanism remains not fully elucidated. This study aims to reveal the effects and potential mechanisms of metformin in treating IM based on both bioinformatics and in vivo investigations. Methods The seven public databases (GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM, SuperPred, Pharm Mapper, Swiss Target Prediction, TargetNet) were used in this work to identify targeted genes related to intestinal metaplasia (IM) and metformin. The shared targeted genes between metformin and IM were further analyzed by network pharmacology, while the interactions in-between were investigated by molecular docking. In parallel, the therapeutic effect of metformin was evaluated in IM mice model, while the core targets and pathways effected by metformin were verified in vivo. Results We screened out 1,751 IM-related genes and 318 metformin-targeted genes, 99 common genes identified in between were visualized by constructing the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The top ten core targeted genes were EGFR, MMP9, HIF1A, HSP90AA1, SIRT1, IL2, MAPK8, STAT1, PIK3CA, and ICAM1. The functional enrichment analysis confirmed that carcinogenesis and HIF-1 signaling pathways were primarily involved in the metformin treatment of IM. Based on molecular docking and dynamics, we found metformin affected the function of its targets by inhibiting receptor binding. Furthermore, metformin administration reduced the progression of IM lesions in Atp4a-/- mice model significantly. Notably, metformin enhanced the expression level of MUC5AC, while inhibited the expression level of CDX2. Our results also showed that metformin modulated the expression of core targets in vivo by reducing the activity of NF-κB and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR/HIF-1α signaling pathway. Conclusion This study confirms that metformin improves the efficacy of IM treatment by regulating a complex molecular network. Metformin plays a functional role in inhibiting inflammation/apoptosis-related pathways of further IM progression. Our work provides a molecular foundation for understanding metformin and other guanidine medicines in IM treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruoyu Hu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Xia Xue
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Xiangdong Sun
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Yang Mi
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
| | - Huijuan Wen
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Huayuan Xi
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Fuhao Li
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Pengyuan Zheng
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Simeng Liu
- Henan Key Laboratory of Helicobacter Pylori and Microbiota and Gastrointestinal Cancer, Marshall Medical Research Center, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Chen Y, Chen X, Zhang J, Zhang X, Wang D, Lu N, Wang C, Yue Y, Yuan Y. Network pharmacology and experimental evidence: ERK/CREB/BDNF signaling pathway is involved in the antidepressive roles of Kaiyu Zhishen decoction. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 329:118098. [PMID: 38582152 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 03/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/08/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) emerges as a complex psychosomatic condition, notable for its considerable suicidality and mortality rates. Increasing evidence suggests the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine in mitigating depression symptoms and offsetting the adverse effects associated with conventional Western therapeutics. Notably, clinical trials have revealed the adjunctive antidepressant potential of Kaiyu Zhishen Decoction (KZD) alongside Western medication. However, the standalone antidepressant efficacy of KZD and its underlying mechanisms merit in-depth investigation. AIM OF THE STUDY This research aims to elucidate the impact of KZD on MDD and delineate its mechanistic pathways through integrated network pharmacological assessments and empirical in vitro and in vivo analyses. MATERIALS AND METHODS To ascertain the optimal antidepressant dosage and mechanism of KZD, a Chronic Unpredictable Mild Stress (CUMS)-induced depression model in mice was established to evaluate depressive behaviors. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) and network pharmacological approaches were employed to predict KZD's antidepressant mechanisms. Subsequently, hippocampal samples were subjected to 4D-DIA proteomic sequencing and validated through Western blot, immunofluorescence, Nissl staining, and pathway antagonist applications. Additionally, cortisol-stimulated PC12 cells were utilized to simulate neuronal damage, analyzing protein and mRNA levels of MAPK-related signals and cell proliferation markers. RESULTS The integration of network pharmacology and HPLC identified kaempferol and quercetin as KZD's principal active compounds for MDD treatment. Proteomic and network pharmacological KEGG pathway analyses indicated the MAPK signaling pathway as a critical regulatory mechanism for KZD's therapeutic effect on MDD. KZD was observed to mitigate CUMS-induced upregulation of p-ERK/ERK, CREB, and BDNF protein expressions in hippocampal cells by attenuating oxidative stress, thereby ameliorating neuronal damage and exerting antidepressant effects. The administration of PD98059 counteracted KZD's improvements in depression-like behaviors and downregulated p-ERK/ERK and BDNF protein expressions in the hippocampus. CONCLUSIONS This investigation corroborates KZD's pivotal, dose-dependent role in antidepressant activity. Both in vivo and in vitro experiments demonstrate KZD's capacity to modulate the ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway by diminishing ROS expression induced by oxidative stress, enhancing neuronal repair, and thus, manifesting antidepressant properties. Accordingly, KZD represents a promising herbal candidate for further antidepressant research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Chen
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Xiangxu Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jialin Zhang
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Xuejun Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Na Lu
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China
| | - Changsong Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine of Chinese Medicine, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yingying Yue
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China.
| | - Yonggui Yuan
- Department of Psychosomatics and Psychiatry, ZhongDa Hospital, School of Medicine, Southeast University, Nanjing, China; Institute of Psychosomatics, Medical School of Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210009, China.
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13
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Zhang MY, Zheng SQ. Network pharmacology and molecular dynamics study of the effect of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on diabetic kidney disease. World J Diabetes 2024; 15:1562-1588. [PMID: 39099827 PMCID: PMC11292324 DOI: 10.4239/wjd.v15.i7.1562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2024] [Revised: 05/13/2024] [Accepted: 05/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is the primary cause of end-stage renal disease. The Astragalus-Coptis drug pair is frequently employed in the management of DKD. However, the precise molecular mechanism underlying its therapeutic effect remains elusive. AIM To investigate the synergistic effects of multiple active ingredients in the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD through multiple targets and pathways. METHODS The ingredients of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were collected and screened using the TCMSP database and the SwissADME platform. The targets were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database, while the DKD differential gene expression analysis was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database. DKD targets were acquired from the GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database, and DisGeNET databases, with common targets identified through the Venny platform. The protein-protein interaction network and the "disease-active ingredient-target" network of the common targets were constructed utilizing the STRING database and Cytoscape software, followed by the analysis of the interaction relationships and further screening of key targets and core active ingredients. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Ency-clopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichments were performed using the DAVID database. The tissue and organ distributions of key targets were evaluated. PyMOL and AutoDock software validate the molecular docking between the core ingredients and key targets. Finally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were conducted to simulate the optimal complex formed by interactions between core ingredients and key target proteins. RESULTS A total of 27 active ingredients and 512 potential targets of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair were identified. There were 273 common targets between DKD and the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair. Through protein-protein interaction network topology analysis, we identified 9 core active ingredients and 10 key targets. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that Astragalus-Coptis drug pair treatment for DKD involves various biological processes, including protein phosphorylation, negative regulation of apoptosis, inflammatory response, and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response. These pathways are mainly associated with the advanced glycation end products (AGE)-receptor for AGE products signaling pathway in diabetic complications, as well as the Lipid and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated high affinity and stability between the core active ingredients and key targets. Notably, the quercetin-AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1) and quercetin-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) protein complexes exhibited exceptional stability. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that DKD treatment with the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair involves multiple ingredients, targets, and signaling pathways. We propose a novel approach for investigating the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effects of the Astragalus-Coptis drug pair on DKD. Furthermore, we suggest that quercetin is the most potent active ingredient and specifically targets AKT1 and TNF, providing a theoretical foundation for further exploration of pharmacologically active ingredients and elucidating their molecular mechanisms in DKD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo-Yan Zhang
- Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110847, Liaoning Province, China
| | - Shu-Qin Zheng
- Department of Endocrinology, The Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shenyang 110032, Liaoning Province, China
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14
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Zhong K, Huang Y, Chen R, Pan Q, Li J, Xi X. The protective effect of ginsenoside Rg1 against sepsis-induced lung injury through PI3K-Akt pathway: insights from molecular dynamics simulation and experimental validation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:16071. [PMID: 38992150 PMCID: PMC11239675 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-66908-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 07/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Sepsis-induced acute lung injury (SALI) poses a significant threat with high incidence and mortality rates. Ginsenoside Rg1 (GRg1), derived from Ginseng in traditional Chinese medicine, has been found to reduce inflammation and protect lung epithelial cells against tissue damage. However, the specific roles and mechanisms by which GRg1 mitigates SALI have yet to be fully elucidated. In this context, we employed a relevant SALI mouse model, alongside network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation to pinpoint GRg1's action targets, complemented by in vitro assays to explore the underlying mechanisms. Our research shows that GRg1 alleviates CLP-induced SALI, decreasing lung tissue damage and levels of serum proinflammatory factor IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β, also enhancing the survival rate of CLP mice. A total of 116 common targets between GRg1 and ALI, with specific core targets including AKT1, VEGFA, SRC, IGF1, ESR1, STAT3, and ALB. Further in vitro experiments assessed GRg1's intervention effects on MLE-12 cells exposed to LPS, with qRT-PCR analysis and molecular dynamics simulations confirming AKT1 as the key target with the favorable binding activity for GRg1. Western blot results indicated that GRg1 increased the Bcl-2/Bax protein expression ratio to reduce apoptosis and decreased the high expression of cleaved caspase-3 in LPS-induced MLE-12 cells. More results showed significant increases in the phosphorylation of PI3K and AKT1. Flow cytometric analysis using PI and Annexin-V assays further verified that GRg1 decreased the apoptosis rate in LPS-stimulated MLE-12 cells (from 14.85 to 6.54%, p < 0.05). The employment of the AKT1 inhibitor LY294002 confirmed these trends, indicating that AKT1's inhibition negates GRg1's protective effects on LPS-stimulated MLE-12 cells. In conclusion, our research highlights GRg1's potential as an effective adjunct therapy for SALI, primarily by inhibiting apoptosis in alveolar epithelial cells and reducing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, thus significantly enhancing the survival rates of CLP mice. These beneficial effects are mediated through targeting AKT1 and activating the PI3K-AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaiqiang Zhong
- Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Yingui Huang
- Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Rui Chen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research On Emergency in TCM, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Qiusha Pan
- Second Clinical Medical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Jun Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Xiaotu Xi
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine (Guangdong Provincial Hospital of Chinese Medicine), Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Research On Emergency in TCM, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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15
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Wu W, Lan W, Jiao X, Shao A, Wu P, Wang K, Zhan S. Mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of Gang Huo Qing wen granules in the treatment of influenza based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15853. [PMID: 38982082 PMCID: PMC11233559 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-62469-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Influenza (Flu) is a severe health, medical, and economic problem, but no medication that has excellent outcomes and lowers the occurrence of these problems is now available. GanghuoQingwenGranules (GHQWG) is a common Chinese herbal formula for the treatment of influenza (flu). However, its methods of action remain unknown. We used network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation techniques to investigate the pharmacological mechanism of GHQWG in flu. TCMSP and various types of literature were used to obtain active molecules and targets of GHQWG. Flu-related targets were found in the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, the DisFeNET database, the Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), and the DrugBank database. To screen the key targets, a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. DAVID was used to analyze GO and KEGG pathway enrichment. Target tissue and organ distribution was assessed. Molecular docking was used to evaluate interactions between possible targets and active molecules. For the ideal core protein-compound complexes obtained using molecular docking, a molecular dynamics simulation was performed. In total, 90 active molecules and 312 GHQWG targets were discovered. The PPI network's topology highlighted six key targets. GHQWG's effects are mediated via genes involved in inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative stress, as well as the TNF and IL-17 signaling pathways, according to GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated that the active compounds and tested targets had strong binding capabilities. This analysis accurately predicts the effective components, possible targets, and pathways involved in GHQWG flu treatment. We proposed a novel study strategy for future studies on the molecular processes of GHQWG in flu treatment. Furthermore, the possible active components provide a dependable source for flu drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenyu Wu
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Wanning Lan
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xin Jiao
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Axue Shao
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China
| | - Peng Wu
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Kai Wang
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Shaofeng Zhan
- The First Clinical Medical School of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
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16
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Lin G, Zhang F, Weng X, Hong Z, Ye D, Wang G. Role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of castration-resistant prostate cancer: a comprehensive study using sequencing and animal models. Oncogene 2024; 43:2373-2388. [PMID: 38886569 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-024-03073-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
CRPC remains a significant challenge in prostate cancer research. We aimed to elucidate the role of gut microbiota and its specific mechanisms in CRPC using a multidisciplinary approach. We analyzed 16S rRNA sequencing data from mouse fecal samples, revealing substantial differences in gut microbiota composition between CRPC and castration-sensitive prostate cancer mice, particularly in Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes. Functional analysis suggested different bacteria may influence CRPC via the α-linolenic acid metabolism pathway. In vivo, experiments utilizing mouse models and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) demonstrated that FMT from healthy control mice could decelerate tumor growth in CRPC mice, reduce TNF-α levels, and inhibit the activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Transcriptome sequencing identified crucial genes and pathways, with rescue experiments confirming the gut microbiota's role in modulating CRPC progression through the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB pathway. The activation of this pathway by TNF-α has been corroborated by in vitro cell experiments, indicating its role in promoting prostate cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion while inhibiting apoptosis. Gut microbiota dysbiosis may promote CRPC development through TNF-α activation of the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway, potentially linked to α-linolenic acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guowen Lin
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Feng Zhang
- Department Of Urology, Shanghai Eighth People's Hospital, Shanghai, 200235, China
| | - Xiaoling Weng
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Zhe Hong
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Dingwei Ye
- Department of Urology, Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Shanghai Genitourinary Cancer Institute, Shanghai, 200032, China.
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Medical College, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Gangmin Wang
- Department of Urology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200040, China.
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Liu Y, Wang J, Yu X, Hu J, Sun X. Study on the material basis of Zhujing pill in treating fundus lesions through component analysis and network pharmacology. Biomed Chromatogr 2024; 38:e5885. [PMID: 38736272 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Zhujing pill (ZP) is a famous Chinese herbal formula that has been widely used to treat diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, retinitis pigmentosa and other fundus lesions. In this study, the material basis and mechanism of ZP in the treatment of fundus lesions were evaluated via the high-performance liquid chromatography fingerprint, ultra-performance liquid chromatography quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry, network pharmacology and molecular docking. A total of 32 common components were found and 31 components were identified in 15 batches of ZP samples. Moreover, 134 common key targets and 17 putative active components that are connected to fundus lesions were identified. Molecular docking revealed that quercetin, kaempferol, isorhamnetin, 5-O-feruloylquinic acid, plantagoside and 2'-acetylacteoside have the ability to interact with the core targets such as AKT1, TP53, TNF, IL-6 and Jun. Our findings revealed that the therapeutic effects of ZP on fundus lesions are mediated by multiple components, targets and pathways, including at least six active ingredients and 11 targets. The study provides new ideas for further research on the material basis and mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijie Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoxiang Yu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Jing Hu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Therapeutic Substance of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiuyan Sun
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
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Chen J, He Q, Jin J. Targeting dendritic cell activation: the therapeutic impact of paeoniflorin in cortosteroid-dependent dermatitis management. Arch Dermatol Res 2024; 316:348. [PMID: 38849562 DOI: 10.1007/s00403-024-03002-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
This study investigates the mechanism through which paeoniflorin inhibits TSLP expression to regulate dendritic cell activation in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis treatment. Utilizing databases like TCMSP, we identified paeoniflorin's components, targets, and constructed networks. Molecular docking and gene enrichment analysis helped pinpoint key targets and pathways affected by paeoniflorin. In vitro and in vivo models were used to study CD80, CD86, cytokines, T-cell activation, skin lesions, histopathological changes, TSLP, CD80, and CD86 expression. Our study revealed paeoniflorin's active constituent targeting IL-6 in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis. In vitro experiments demonstrated reduced TSLP expression, CD80, CD86, and cytokine secretion post-paeoniflorin treatment. In vivo, paeoniflorin significantly decreased skin lesion severity, cytokine levels, TSLP, CD80, and CD86 expression. The study highlights paeoniflorin's efficacy in inhibiting TSLP expression and suppressing dendritic cell activation in corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic intervention. Additionally, it offers insights into the complex molecular mechanisms underlying paeoniflorin's anti-inflammatory properties in treating corticosteroid-dependent dermatitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinjin Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 4 Huayuanshan, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430061, China
| | - Qi He
- Department of Dermatology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 4 Huayuanshan, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430061, China
| | - Jing Jin
- Department of Dermatology, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 4 Huayuanshan, Wuchang District, Wuhan, Hubei Province, 430061, China.
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Chen Y, Xu M, Liu XM, Wang JX, Sun MF, Song JX, Guan P, Ji ES, Wang N. Mechanistic study of Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu decoction amelioration of doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by reducing oxidative stress and inhibiting cellular pyroptosis. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 175:116653. [PMID: 38688172 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Huangqi Guizhi Wuwu Decoction (HQGZWWD) has shown promising potential in treating various cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to elucidate the molecular basis and therapeutic role of HQGZWWD in the treatment of doxorubicin (DOX)-induced myocardial injury. The HPLC fingerprint of HQGZWWD was used to analyze the active components. A DOX-induced myocardial damage rat model was developed, and the therapeutic effects of HQGZWWD were evaluated using echocardiography, myocardial enzyme levels, and hematoxylin and eosin staining. Network pharmacology was used to screen treatment targets, and western blotting and immunohistochemistry were performed to assess cellular pyroptosis levels. Oxidative stress levels were measured using assay kits, and mitochondrial damage was examined using transmission electron microscopy. An in vitro model of DOX-induced cell damage was established, and treatment was administered using serum containing HQGZWWD and N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Oxidative stress levels were detected using assay kits and DCFH-DA, whereas cellular pyroptosis levels were assessed through WB, immunofluorescence, and ELISA assays. HQGZWWD ameliorated DOX-induced myocardial injury. Network pharmacology identified IL-1β and IL-18 as crucial targets. HQGZWWD downregulated the protein levels of the inflammatory factors IL-1β and IL-18, inhibited the expression of GSDMD-NT, and simultaneously suppressed the synthesis of Caspase-1, ASC, NLRP3, and Caspase-11. Additionally, HQGZWWD inhibited oxidative stress, and the use of NAC as an oxidative stress inhibitor resulted in significant inhibition of the GSDMD-NT protein in H9C2 cells. These findings highlight the myocardial protective effects of HQGZWWD by inhibiting oxidative stress and suppressing both canonical and non-canonical pyroptotic pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Chen
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Meng Xu
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Xiao-Mei Liu
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Jian-Xin Wang
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Meng-Fan Sun
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Ji-Xian Song
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China
| | - Peng Guan
- Laboratory of Molecular Iron Metabolism, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050024, China.
| | - En-Sheng Ji
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China; Hebei Technology Innovation Center of TCM Combined Hydrogen Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China.
| | - Na Wang
- Department of Physiology, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China; Hebei Technology Innovation Center of TCM Combined Hydrogen Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei 050200, China.
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20
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Han Q, Li Y, Yu Y, Yuan H, Wang Z, Guo Y, Shi J, Xue Y, Liu X. Exploring the mechanism of diabetic cardiomyopathy treated with Qigui Qiangxin mixture based on UPLC-Q/TOF-MS, network pharmacology and experimental validation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:12119. [PMID: 38802644 PMCID: PMC11130275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-63088-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Despite its effectiveness in treating diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM), Qigui Qiangxin Mixture (QGQXM) remains unclear in terms of its active ingredients and specific mechanism of action. The purpose of this study was to explore the active ingredients and mechanism of action of QGQXM in the treatment of DCM through the comprehensive strategy of serum pharmacology, network pharmacology and combined with experimental validation. The active ingredients of QGQXM were analyzed using Ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q/TOF-MS). Network pharmacology was utilized to elucidate the mechanism of action of QGQXM for the treatment of DCM. Finally, in vivo validation was performed by intraperitoneal injection of STZ combined with high-fat feeding-induced DCM rat model. A total of 25 active compounds were identified in the drug-containing serum of rats, corresponding to 121 DCM-associated targets. GAPDH, TNF, AKT1, PPARG, EGFR, CASP3, and HIF1 were considered as the core therapeutic targets. Enrichment analysis showed that QGQXM mainly treats DCM by regulating PI3K-AKT, MAPK, mTOR, Insulin, Insulin resistance, and Apoptosis signaling pathways. Animal experiments showed that QGQXM improved cardiac function, attenuated the degree of cardiomyocyte injury and fibrosis, and inhibited apoptosis in DCM rats. Meanwhile, QGQXM also activated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, up-regulated Bcl-2, and down-regulated Caspase9, which may be an intrinsic mechanism for its anti-apoptotic effect. This study preliminarily elucidated the mechanism of QGQXM in the treatment of DCM and provided candidate compounds for the development of new drugs for DCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Quancheng Han
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yan Li
- Cardiology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing Shi Road, Lixia District, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiding Yu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Huajing Yuan
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Ziqi Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yonghong Guo
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingle Shi
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yitao Xue
- Cardiology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing Shi Road, Lixia District, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
| | - Xiujuan Liu
- Cardiology Department, Affiliated Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jing Shi Road, Lixia District, Jinan, People's Republic of China.
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21
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Sun Z, Deng L, Xu Z, Yang K, Yu P. Uncovering the molecular mechanism of Mume Fructus in treatment of Sjögren's syndrome. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e38085. [PMID: 38728503 PMCID: PMC11081559 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000038085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Modern medicine has no cure for the xerostomia caused by the early onset of Sjögren's syndrome. Mume Fructus is a common Chinese herbal medicine used to relieve xerostomia. However, the molecular mechanisms of the effects of Mume Fructus are unknown. In this study, network pharmacology and molecular docking were used to investigate the mechanisms of action of Mume Fructus on Sjögren's syndrome. MATERIALS AND METHOD The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database was used to identify the active components and targets of Mume Fructus, and the UniProt database was used to identify the genes encoding these targets. SS-related targets were also identified from the GeneCards and OMIM databases. By finding the intersection of the targets of the compounds and the targets of Sjögren's syndrome, the predicted targets of Mume Fructus in the treatment of Sjögren's syndrome were obtained. Further investigation of the active compounds and their targets was carried out by constructing a network of "medicine-candidate compound-target-disease" using Cytoscape 3.7.2, the Protein-Protein Interaction network using the STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.2, and key targets were identified by Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis on R software. Finally, molecular docking was used to verify the affinity of the candidate compounds to the key targets. RESULTS Quercetin, beta-sitosterol, and kaempferol in Mume Fructus interact with AKT1, IL-6, IL-1B, JUN, CASP3, and MAPK8. These results suggest that Mume Fructus exerts its therapeutic effects on the peripheral gland injury of Sjögren's syndrome and its secondary cardiovascular disease and tumorigenesis through anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, and anti-tumor pathways. CONCLUSION With network pharmacology, this study systematically identified the main active components, targets, and specific mechanisms of the therapeutic effects of Mume Fructus on Sjögren's syndrome, providing both a theoretical basis and research direction for further investigations on Mume Fructus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongli Sun
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Lilin Deng
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Zhoujie Xu
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Kun Yang
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, P.R. China
| | - Penglong Yu
- Chongqing Three Gorges Medical College, Chongqing, P.R. China
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22
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Gao J, Wang N, Song W, Yuan Y, Teng Y, Liu Z. Mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of chuanxiong combined with Chishao on treating acute lung injury based on network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 325:117862. [PMID: 38342157 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/13/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The herb pair of Chuanxiong Rhizome (Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort., Chuanxiong in Chinese, CX) and Paeoniae Radix Rubra (Paeonia lactiflora Pall. Or Paeonia veitchii Lynch, Chishao in Chinese, CS) is a famous blood activating and stasis resolving pair that is often found in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formulas for the treatment of acute lung injury (ALI). However, the relationship of CX-CS herb pair to ALI and its underlying mechanisms are unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY The study explored the effect and mechanisms of CX-CS herb pair in LPS induced ALI by network pharmacology and molecular docking combined with preclinical evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The related targets of the active compounds of CX-CS herb pair in regulating ALI were screened by network pharmacology. PPI was constructed and the potential pathways were investigated by GO and KEGG. The contribution of each active ingredient of CX-CS herb pair to ALI were calculated by network-based efficacy. The interactions between potential targets and active ingredients were evaluated by molecular docking. LPS stimulated RAW264.7 cells and mice model experiments were adopted to verify the effect of CX-CS herb pair on ALI. RESULTS A total of 25 compounds and 193 targets were identified in the CX-CS herb pair, of which 19 compounds and 64 targets were associated with ALI, and six compounds including baicalin, ellagic acid, baicalein, beta-sitosterol, paeoniflorin and ferulic acid accounted for 93.12% of the total combination index for ALI prevention. The CX-CS herbal pair against ALI was associated with PI3K/AKT and MAPK signaling pathways by GO and KEGG analysis. The screened active compounds showed good affinity for TNF, MAPK, and AKT by molecular docking. In vitro and in vivo tests showed that CX combined with CS synergistically inhibited LPS-induced ALI at 1:3, suppressed the release of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6, inhibited the accumulation of ROS, as well as regulated the content of SOD, MDA and GSH. Meanwhile, the herb pair was effective in inhibiting the expression of p38, ERK, IκBα, p65, caspase 3, PARP, and up-regulating the levels of AKT and Bcl-2/Bax. CONCLUSIONS Our study confirmed the synergistic effect of CX-CS herb pair on the prevention of ALI by inhibiting inflammation, oxidative stress, and apoptosis through MAPK/NF-κB and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junling Gao
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Ning Wang
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Wenjuan Song
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yajie Yuan
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China
| | - Yuou Teng
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China.
| | - Zhen Liu
- China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Food Nutrition/Safety and Medicinal Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation Microbiology of Ministry of Education, Tianjin Key Laboratory of Industry Microbiology, College of Biotechnology, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, Tianjin, 300457, China.
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23
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Gu H, Zhong L, Zhang Y, Sun J, Liu L, Liu Z. Exploring the mechanism of Jinlida granules against type 2 diabetes mellitus by an integrative pharmacology strategy. Sci Rep 2024; 14:10286. [PMID: 38704482 PMCID: PMC11069553 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-61011-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Jinlida granule (JLD) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, the mechanism of JLD treatment for T2DM is not fully revealed. In this study, we explored the mechanism of JLD against T2DM by an integrative pharmacology strategy. Active components and corresponding targets were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology (TCMSP), SwissADME and Bioinformatics Analysis Tool for Molecular Mechanisms of Traditional Chinese Medicine Database (BATMAN-TCM) database. T2DM-related targets were obtained from Drugbank and Genecards databases. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and analyzed with STRING (Search Toll for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/proteins) and Cytoscape to get the key targets. Then, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Gene and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed with the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Lastly, the binding capacities and reliability between potential active components and the targets were verified with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. In total, 185 active components and 337 targets of JLD were obtained. 317 targets overlapped with T2DM-related targets. RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin-6 (IL-6), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), Caspase-3 (CASP3) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) were identified as seven key targets by the topological analysis of the PPI network. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses showed that the effects were primarily associated with gene expression, signal transduction, apoptosis and inflammation. The pathways were mainly enriched in PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation verified the good binding affinity between the key components and targets. The predicted results may provide a theoretical basis for drug screening of JLD and a new insight for the therapeutic effect of JLD on T2DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Gu
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Liang Zhong
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Yuxin Zhang
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Jinghua Sun
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Lipeng Liu
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China
| | - Zanchao Liu
- Department of Hebei Provincial Key Laboratory of Basic Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
- Department of Shijiazhuang Technology Innovation Center of Precision Medicine for Diabetes, The Shijiazhuang Second Hospital, Shijiazhuang, 050000, China.
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24
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Shi R, Gao S, Huang H, Jiang K, Wang D. Integrating network pharmacology with microRNA microarray analysis to identify the role of miRNAs in thrombosis treated by the Dahuang Zhechong pill. Comput Biol Med 2024; 173:108338. [PMID: 38531252 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Thrombotic diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, urging for improvements in treatment strategies. Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for treating thrombotic diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of DHZCP in treating thrombosis with a focus on bioinformatics and miRNAs. METHODS We used network pharmacology to explore the targets of thrombosis treated with DHZCP and performed microarray analysis to acquire miRNA profiles and predict the target genes in thrombin-stimulated MEG-01 cells treated with DHZCP. Based on the overlapping of targets, we carried out a component-target-miRNA network and enrichment analysis and validated the selected miRNAs and mRNAs using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS Our data showed 850 targets of 230 active ingredients of DHZCP and 1214 thrombosis-related genes; 235 targets were common. We identified 32 miRNAs that were regulated by thrombin stimulation but regulated reversely by DHZCP treatment in MEG-01 cells, and predicted 1846 targets with function annotation. We analyzed conjointly 23 integrating targets from network pharmacology and microarray. HIF1A, PIK3CA, MAPK1 and BCL2L1 emerged as key nodes in the network diagrams. We confirmed the differential expression of seven miRNAs, one mRNA (BCL2L1) and platelet surface protein. CONCLUSIONS This study showed that miRNAs and their targets, such as BCL2L1, played crucial roles in platelet activation during DHZCP intervention in thrombosis, highlighting their potential to alleviate platelet activation and increase cell apoptosis. The study's findings could help develop new strategies for improving thrombosis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Shi
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
| | - Shan Gao
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Huichao Huang
- Department of Infectious Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Ke Jiang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
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25
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Song X, Feng G, Ren C, Li W, Liu W, Liu G, Zhang J, Lei Y, He Z, Han C, Liu T, Ma K, Hou J. Study of the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of Miao medicine comprising raw and processed Radix Wikstroemia indica using the "sweat soaking method". JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 324:117770. [PMID: 38219877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE To explore the differences in the anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanisms of the Miao medicine, both raw and after processing, using the "sweat soaking method" of Radix Wikstroemia indica (RWI). AIM OF THE STUDY The purpose of this study was to explore the differences in the anti-inflammatory efficacy and mechanism of action before and after the processing of the Miao medicine (RWI) using the "sweat soaking method." MATERIALS AND METHODS Network pharmacology technology was used to construct the "drug-component target-pathway-disease" network, and the main anti-inflammatory pathways of RWI were identified. Rat models of collagen-induced arthritis were established. The changes in body weight, swelling rate of the foot pad and ankle joint, arthritis index, thymus index, spleen index, pathological changes of the ankle joint, and the content of inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and NO) were used as indices to evaluate the effect of RWI on rats with collagen-induced arthritis before and after its processing. Plasma and urine samples were collected from the rats, and the potential biomarkers of, and metabolic pathways underlying the anti-inflammatory effects of RWI before and after processing were identified using 1H-Nuclear magnetic resonance metabolomics combined with a multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS Eleven key anti-inflammatory targets of IL6, IL-1β, TNF, ALB, AKT1, IFNG, INS, STAT3, EGFR, TP53, and SRC were identified by network pharmacology. The PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, steroid hormone biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, tryptophan metabolism, and other pathways were mainly involved in these effects. Pharmacodynamic studies found that both raw and processed RWI products downregulated inflammatory factors in rats with collagen-induced arthritis and alleviated the pathological changes. A total of 41 potential pathways for the anti-inflammatory effects of raw RWI products and 36 potential pathways for the anti-inflammatory effects of processed RWI products were identified by plasma and urine metabolomics. The common pathways of network pharmacology and metabolomics were steroid hormone biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. CONCLUSIONS The anti-inflammatory effect of RWI was mainly related to the regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis, arginine biosynthesis, arginine and proline metabolism, and tryptophan metabolism. Finally, the "sweat soaking method" enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of RWI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueli Song
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Guo Feng
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Chenchen Ren
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Wen Liu
- Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Ju Zhang
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Yan Lei
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Zhengyan He
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Caiyao Han
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Tingting Liu
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Kexin Ma
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
| | - Jinxin Hou
- Department of Chinese Materia Medica, Guizhou University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guiyang, 550025, Guizhou Province, China.
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Chen M, Lv J, Guo N, Ji T, Fang Y, Wang Z, He X. Crtc1 deficiency protects against sepsis-associated acute lung injury through activating akt signaling pathway. J Inflamm (Lond) 2024; 21:12. [PMID: 38644501 PMCID: PMC11034098 DOI: 10.1186/s12950-024-00385-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Interplay between systemic inflammation and programmed cell death contributes to the pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI). cAMP-regulated transcriptional coactivator 1 (CRTC1) has been involved in the normal function of the pulmonary system, but its role in ALI remains unclear. METHODS AND RESULTS We generated a Crtc1 knockout (KO; Crtc1-/-) mouse line. Sepsis-induced ALI was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) for 24 h. The data showed that Ctrc1 KO substantially ameliorated CLP-induced ALI phenotypes, including improved lung structure destruction, reduced pulmonary vascular permeability, diminished levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, compared with the wildtype mice. Consistently, in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated RAW264.7 cells, Crtc1 knockdown significantly inhibited the expression of inflammatory effectors, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and CXCL1, whereas their expressions were significantly enhanced by Crtc1 overexpression. Moreover, both Crtc1 KO in mice and its knockdown in RAW264.7 cells dramatically reduced TUNEL-positive cells and the expression of pro-apoptotic proteins. In contrast, Crtc1 overexpression led to an increase in the pro-apoptotic proteins and LPS-induced TUNEL-positive cells. Mechanically, we found that the phosphorylation of Akt was significantly enhanced by Crtc1 knockout or knockdown, but suppressed by Crtc1 overexpression. Administration of Triciribine, an Akt inhibitor, substantially blocked the protection of Crtc1 knockdown on LPS-induced inflammation and cell death in RAW264.7 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study demonstrates that CRTC1 contribute to the pathological processes of inflammation and apoptosis in sepsis-induced ALI, and provides mechanistic insights into the molecular function of CRTC1 in the lung. Targeting CRTC1 would be a promising strategy to treat sepsis-induced ALI in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meng Chen
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, Maternal and Child Health Hospital of Hubei Province, 745 Wuluo Road, 430070, Wuhan, Hubei, China
| | - Jian Lv
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 518057, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100037, Beijing, China
| | - Ningning Guo
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 518057, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100037, Beijing, China
| | - Tuo Ji
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, China
- Department of Anesthesiology, School and Hospital of Stomatology, Wuhan University, 430079, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Fang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 518057, Shenzhen, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100037, Beijing, China
| | - Zhihua Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 518057, Shenzhen, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, 100037, Beijing, China.
| | - Xianghu He
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, 430071, Wuhan, Hubei, China.
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Shu P, Mo J, Li Z, Li M, Zhu W, Du Z. Ferulic acid in synergy with retinol alleviates oxidative injury of HaCaT cells during UVB-induced photoaging. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:7153-7173. [PMID: 38643459 PMCID: PMC11087097 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2024] [Indexed: 04/22/2024]
Abstract
Application of retinol (Vitamin A, VA) in skincare is limited for instability, poor water solubility, and skin intolerance that combats skin aging. We employed computer-aided virtual screening and cell experiments with transcriptomics, thereby unveiling the comprehensive gene expression and regulation pathway of photoaging HaCaT cell treated with ferulic acid (FA) in synergizing with VA. Through network pharmacology analysis, the combined use of VA and FA exhibited highly correlated cross-targets with skin aging acting on EGFR, PTPN1, ESR2, GSK3B, BACE1, PYGL, PTGS2 and APP. The indicators of oxidative stress, such as SOD, GSH, MDA, CAT and ROS in HaCaT cells after co-administration, were significantly improved from those in photoaging group (p<0.0001). 155 differential expressed genes (DEGs) were specific between groups, while reducing the expression of PTGS2 was identified as an important regulatory factor in photoaging HaCaT cells by VA and FA. Those DEGs of co-administration group focused on oxidative-reduction enzyme activity, skin growth, keratinization, and steroid biosynthesis. Apparently, the co-administration of VA and FA effectively mitigated the process of UVB-induced photoaging by reducing oxidative stress injury, inflammation responses, and regulating cell growth. This synergistic approach significantly slowed down the photoaging progression and improved the applied performance of VA in HaCaT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Shu
- State Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, P.R. China
- HBN Research Institute and Biological Laboratory, Shenzhen Hujia Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
| | - Jiaxin Mo
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zunjiang Li
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Mingjie Li
- HBN Research Institute and Biological Laboratory, Shenzhen Hujia Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen 518000, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wei Zhu
- The Second Clinical College, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Clinical Research on Traditional Chinese Medicine Syndrome, Guangzhou 510006, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyun Du
- State Key Laboratory Basis of Xinjiang Indigenous Medicinal Plants Resource Utilization, CAS Key Laboratory of Chemistry of Plant Resources in Arid Regions, Xinjiang Technical Institute of Physics and Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Urumqi 830011, Xinjiang, P.R. China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, P.R. China
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Wei X, Wang D, Liu J, Zhu Q, Xu Z, Niu J, Xu W. Interpreting the Mechanism of Active Ingredients in Polygonati Rhizoma in Treating Depression by Combining Systemic Pharmacology and In Vitro Experiments. Nutrients 2024; 16:1167. [PMID: 38674858 PMCID: PMC11054788 DOI: 10.3390/nu16081167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Polygonati Rhizoma (PR) has certain neuroprotective effects as a homology of medicine and food. In this study, systematic pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro experiments were integrated to verify the antidepressant active ingredients in PR and their mechanisms. A total of seven compounds in PR were found to be associated with 45 targets of depression. Preliminarily, DFV docking with cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) showed good affinity. In vitro, DFV inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation of BV-2 cells, reversed amoeba-like morphological changes, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential. DFV reversed the malondialdehyde (MDA) overexpression and superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression inhibition in LPS-induced BV-2 cells and decreased interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and IL-6 mRNA expression levels in a dose-dependent manner. DFV inhibited both mRNA and protein expression levels of COX2 induced by LPS, and the activation of NACHT, LRR, and PYD domains-containing protein 3 (NLRP3) and caspase1 was suppressed, thus exerting an antidepressant effect. This study proves that DFV may be an important component basis for PR to play an antidepressant role.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wei
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Dan Wang
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jiajia Liu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Qizhi Zhu
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Ziming Xu
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
| | - Jinzhe Niu
- School of Food and Biological Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230601, China
| | - Weiping Xu
- Institute of Intelligent Machines, Hefei Institutes of Physical Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei 230031, China
- Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, China
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Tumor Immunotherapy and Nutrition Therapy, Hefei 230001, China
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Shi T, Hou C, Duan Y, Li Y, Liu W, Huang P, Zhou Y, Yu S, Song L. Mechanism of Smilax china L. in the treatment of intrauterine adhesions based on network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:150. [PMID: 38580999 PMCID: PMC10996135 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04414-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Smilax china L. (SCL) is a traditional herbal medicine for the potential treatment of intrauterine adhesion (IUA). However, the mechanisms of action have not yet been determined. In this study, we explored the effects and mechanisms of SCL in IUA by network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular biology experiments. METHODS Active ingredients and targets of SCL were acquired from TCMSP and SwissTargetPrediction. IUA-related targets were collected from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM and TTD databases. A protein‒protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1 and analysed with CytoHubba and CytoNCA to identify the core targets. The DAVID tool was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analyses. Furthermore, molecular docking was employed to assess the interaction between the compounds and key targets. Finally, the mechanisms and targets of SCL in IUA were verified by cellular experiments and western blot. RESULTS A total of 196 targets of SCL were identified, among which 93 were related to IUA. Topological and KEGG analyses results identified 15 core targets that were involved in multiple pathways, such as inflammation, apoptosis, and PI3K/AKT signalling pathways. Molecular docking results showed that the active compounds had good binding to the core targets. In vitro experiments showed that astilbin (AST), a major component of SCL, significantly reduced TGF-β-induced overexpression of fibronectin (FN), activation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and the expression of downstream factors (NF-κB and BCL2) in human endometrial stromal cells, suggesting that AST ameliorates IUA by mediating the PI3K/AKT/NF-κB and BCL2 proteins. CONCLUSIONS AST, a major component of SCL, may be a potential therapeutic agent for IUA. Moreover, its mechanism is strongly associated with regulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway and the downstream NF-κB and BCL2 proteins. This study will provide new strategies that utilize AST for the treatment of IUA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Chuqi Hou
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Yongzhen Duan
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuliang Li
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Wenqin Liu
- Clinical Pharmacy Center, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, China
| | - Peixian Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Yuhua Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China
| | - Shanshan Yu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China.
| | - Luyao Song
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhujiang Hospital, Southern Medical University, #253 Industrial Avenue Zhong, Guangzhou, 510280, Guangdong, China.
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Yang Z, Hao T, Ma J, Yang D, Qiu M, Wang R. Tribuloside: Mechanisms and Efficacy in Treating Acute Lung Injury Revealed by Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. Dose Response 2024; 22:15593258241251594. [PMID: 38725454 PMCID: PMC11080732 DOI: 10.1177/15593258241251594] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Acute lung injury (ALI) is a serious illness that has few treatment options available. Tribuloside, a natural flavonoid extracted from the Tribulus Terrestris plant in China, is potent in addressing many health issues such as headaches, dizziness, itching, and vitiligo. Objective This study intends to explore the mechanisms of action of Tribuloside in treating ALI through a combination of network pharmacology and experimental validation. Methods We obtained the 2D structure and SMILES number of Tribuloside from the PubChem database. We used the SwissTargetPrediction database to identify pharmacological targets. We found 1215 targets linked to ALI by examining the GeneCards database. We used the String database and Cytoscape software to create the "drug or disease-target" network as well as the protein-protein interactions (PPI). Key targets were identified by evaluating associated biological processes and pathway enrichment. A Venny Diagram showed 49 intersection points between Tribuloside and ALI. Molecular docking with AutoDockTools found that Tribuloside had a high affinity for IL6, BCL2, TNF, STAT3, IL1B, and MAPK3, the top 6 targets in the PPI network by Degree values. To test Tribuloside's therapeutic efficacy in ALI, an acute lung damage model in mice was constructed using lipopolysaccharide. Tribuloside treatment reduced inflammatory cell infiltration, decreased fibrotic area, repaired damaged alveoli, and suppressed inflammatory factors IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the lungs through many pathways and targets. Conclusion This study reveals that Tribuloside has the potential to treat ALI by targeting various pathways and targets, according to network pharmacology predictions and experimental confirmation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Dan Yang
- Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
| | - Min Qiu
- Baotou Medical College, Baotou, China
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, China
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Zhang Y, Wang Y, Xin E, Zhang Z, Ma D, Liu T, Gao F, Bian T, Sun Y, Wang M, Wang Z, Yan X, Li Y. Network pharmacology and experimental verification reveal the mechanism of Hedysari Radix and Curcumae Rhizoma with the optimal compatibility ratio against colitis-associated colorectal cancer. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117555. [PMID: 38110130 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The herb pair Astragali Radix (AR) and Curcumae Rhizoma (vinegar-processed, VPCR), derived from the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) text 'Yixuezhongzhongcanxilu', have long been used to treat gastrointestinal diseases, notably colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). Hedysari Radix (HR), belonging to the same Leguminosae family as AR but from a different genus, is traditionally used as a substitute for AR when paired with VPCR in the treatment of CAC. However, the optimal compatibility ratio for HR-VPCR against CAC and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To investigate the optimal compatibility ratio and underlying mechanisms of HR-VPCR against CAC using a combination of comparative pharmacodynamics, network pharmacology, and experimental verification. MATERIALS AND METHODS The efficacy of different compatibility ratios of HR-VPCR against CAC was evaluated using various indicators, including the body weight, colon length, tumor count, survival rate, disease activity index (DAI) score, Haemotoxylin and Eosin (H&E) pathological sections, inflammation cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), tumor markers (K-Ras, p53), and intestinal permeability proteins (claudin-1, E-cadherin, mucin-2). Then, the optimal compatibility ratio of HR-VPCR against CAC was determined based on the fuzzy matter-element analysis by integrating the above indicators. After high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis for the optimal compatibility ratio of HR-VPCR, potential active components of HR-VPCR were identified by TCMSP and the previous bibliographies. Swiss Targets and GeneCards were adopted to predict the targets of the active components and the targets of CAC, respectively. Then, the common targets of HR-VPCR against CAC were obtained by Venn analysis. PPI networks were constructed in STRING. GO and KEGG enrichments were visualized by the David database. Finally, the predicted pathway was experimentally validated via Western blot. RESULTS Various compatibility ratios of HR-VPCR demonstrated notable therapeutic effects to some extent, evidenced by improvements in body weight, colon length, tumor count, pathological symptoms (DAI score), colon and organ indexes, survival rate, and modulation of inflammation factors (IL-1β, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α), as well as tumor markers (K-Ras, p53), and down-regulation of intestinal permeability proteins (claudin-1, E-cadherin, mucin-2) in CAC mice. Among these ratios, the ratio 4:1 represents the optimal compatibility ratio by the fuzzy matter-element analysis. Thirty active components of HR-VPCR were carefully selected, targeting 553 specific genes. Simultaneously, 2022 targets associated with CAC were identified. 88 common targets were identified after generating a Venn plot. Following PPI network analysis, 29 core targets were established, with AKT1 ranking highest among them. Further analysis via GO and KEGG enrichment identified the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway as a potential mechanism. Experimental validation confirmed that HR-VPCR intervention effectively reversed the activated PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS The optimal compatibility ratio for the HR-VPCR herb pair in alleviating CAC is 4:1. HR-VPCR exerts its effects by alleviating intestinal inflammation, improving intestinal permeability, and regulating the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yugui Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Yanjun Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Erdan Xin
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Zhuanhong Zhang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Dingcai Ma
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Ting Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Feiyun Gao
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Tiantian Bian
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Yujing Sun
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Scientific Research and Experimental Center, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Maomao Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Zhe Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Xingke Yan
- College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Tuina, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
| | - Yuefeng Li
- College of Pharmacy, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Key Laboratory of Standard and Quality of Chinese Medicine Research of Gansu, Engineering Research Center of Chinese Medicine Pharmaceutical Process of Gansu, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China; Scientific Research and Experimental Center, Gansu University of Chinese Medicine, Lanzhou, 730000, PR China.
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Gao H, Yuan Z, Liang H, Liu Y. Integrating UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS with serum pharmacochemistry network and experimental verification to explore the pharmacological mechanisms of Cynanchi stauntonii rhizoma et radix against sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1261772. [PMID: 38584603 PMCID: PMC10995315 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1261772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Patients with sepsis are at an incremental risk of acute lung injury (ALI). Baiqian, also known as Cynanchi stauntonii rhizoma et radix (Csrer), has anti-inflammatory properties and is traditionally used to treat cough and phlegm. This study aimed to demonstrate the multicomponent, multitarget, and multi-pathway regulatory molecular mechanisms of Csrer in treating lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. Methods: The bioactive components of Csrer were identified by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography Q-Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Q-Orbitrap MS). Active targets predicted from PharmMapper. DrugBank, OMIM, TTD, and GeneCards were used to identify potential targets related to ALI. Intersection genes were identified for Csrer against ALI. The PPI network was analysed to identify prime targets. GO and KEGG analyses were performed. A drug-compound-target-pathway-disease network was constructed. Molecular docking and simulations evaluated the binding free energy between key proteins and active compounds. The protective effect and mechanism of Csrer in ALI were verified using an ALI model in mice. Western blot, Immunohistochemistry and TUNEL staining evaluated the mechanisms of the pulmonary protective effects of Csrer. Results: Forty-six bioactive components, one hundred and ninety-two potential cross-targets against ALI and ten core genes were identified. According to GO and KEGG analyses, the PI3K-Akt, apoptosis and p53 pathways are predominantly involved in the "Csrer-ALI" network. According to molecular docking and dynamics simulations, ten key genes were firmly bound by the principal active components of Csrer. The "Csrer-ALI" network was revealed to be mediated by the p53-mediated apoptosis and inflammatory pathways in animal experiments. Conclusion: Csrer is a reliable source for ALI treatment based on its practical components, potential targets and pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hejun Gao
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ziyi Yuan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Haoxuan Liang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Youtan Liu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Shenzhen Hospital, Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, China
- The Third School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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Ren J, Deng G, Li R, Jin X, Liu J, Li J, Gao Y, Zhang J, Wang X, Wang G. Possible pharmacological targets and mechanisms of sivelestat in protecting acute lung injury. Comput Biol Med 2024; 170:108080. [PMID: 38306776 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS) is a life-threatening syndrome induced by various diseases, including COVID-19. In the progression of ALI/ARDS, activated neutrophils play a central role by releasing various inflammatory mediators, including elastase. Sivelestat is a selective and competitive inhibitor of neutrophil elastase. Although its protective effects on attenuating ALI/ARDS have been confirmed in several models of lung injury, clinical trials have presented inconsistent results on its therapeutic efficacy. Therefore, in this report, we used a network pharmacology approach coupled with animal experimental validation to unravel the concrete therapeutic targets and biological mechanisms of sivelestat in treating ALI/ARDS. In bioinformatic analyses, we found 118 targets of sivelestat against ALI/ARDS, and identified six hub genes essential for sivelestat treatment of ALI/ARDS, namely ERBB2, GRB2, PTK2, PTPN11, ESR1, and CCND1. We also found that sivelestat targeted several genes expressed in human lung microvascular endothelial cells after lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment at 4 h (ICAM-1, PTGS2, RND1, BCL2A1, TNF, CA2, and ADORA2A), 8 h (ICAM-1, PTGS2, RND1, BCL2A1, MMP1, BDKRB1 and SLC40A1), and 24 h (ICAM-1). Further animal experiments showed that sivelestat was able to attenuate LPS-induced ALI by inhibiting the overexpression of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and PTGS2 and increasing the phosphorylation of PTK2. Taken together, the bioinformatic findings and experimentative data indicate that the therapeutic effects of sivelestat against ALI/ARDS mainly focus on the early stage of ALI/ARDS by pharmacological modulation of inflammatory reaction, vascular endothelial injury, and cell apoptosis-related molecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiajia Ren
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Guorong Deng
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ruohan Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xuting Jin
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jueheng Liu
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiamei Li
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ya Gao
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xiaochuang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China
| | - Gang Wang
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, China; Key Laboratory of Surgical Critical Care and Life Support, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Ministry of Education, Xi'an, China.
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Wen X, Cheng M, Song Z, Hu J, Liang X, Lang W, Yang M, Zhou R, Hao Y. Molecular mechanism of honeysuckle + forsythia in treatment of acute lung injury based on network pharmacology. Biomed Rep 2024; 20:32. [PMID: 38273899 PMCID: PMC10809323 DOI: 10.3892/br.2024.1720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of acute lung injury (ALI) is complex and it is a common critical illness in clinical practice, seriously threatening the lives of critically ill patients, for which no specific molecular marker exists and there is a lack of effective methods for the treatment of ALI. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of action of honeysuckle and forsythia in treatment of acute lung injury (ALI) based on network pharmacology and in vitro modeling. The active ingredients and targets of honeysuckle and forsythia were predicted using traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology, PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction databases, and the Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct a drug-component-potential target network. The potential targets were imported into the Search tool for recurring instances of neighboring genes) database to obtain protein-protein interactions and subjected to Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Targets analysis using Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery. AutoDock Vina 1.1.2 software was used for docking between key active ingredients and the target proteins to analyze the binding ability of the active ingredients to the primary targets in honeysuckle and forsythia. A total of 64 male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into control, model, positive drug (Lianhua-Qingwen capsule), honeysuckle, forsythia, honeysuckle + forsythia high-, medium- and low-dose groups. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induced an ALI model. The lung tissues of the mice were stained with hematoxylin-eosin and the serum levels of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) were measured 4 h after the LPS administration. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting were used to detect NF-κB mRNA and protein expression, respectively. Active ingredients of honeysuckle and forsythia acted on 265 common targets in ALI, which regulated NF-κB, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and PI3K-AKT signaling pathway, HIF-1 signalling pathway to slow the inflammatory response in treatment of ALI. In the positive drug group, honeysuckle, forsythia group, honeysuckle + forsythia high-, medium- and low-dose groups, lung tissue damage were significantly decrease compared with the model group, and inflammatory cell infiltration was reduced. Compared with the model group, honeysuckle + forsythia groups experienced decreased damage caused by the LPS and inflammation in the lung tissues and significantly decreased TNF-α and NF-κB and MDA concentration and significantly increased the SOD and GSH-Px activities. The mechanism of the effect of honeysuckle and forsythia on ALI may be mediated by inhibition of TNF-α and NF-κB expression and the activation of antioxidant mechanisms to decrease production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in lung tissue, thus treating ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wen
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
| | - Min Cheng
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
- Shangluo University, College of Biomedical and Food Engineering, Shangluo, Shaanxi 726000, P.R. China
| | - Zhongxing Song
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
| | - Jinhang Hu
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
| | - Xuhu Liang
- Shangluo University, College of Biomedical and Food Engineering, Shangluo, Shaanxi 726000, P.R. China
| | - Wuying Lang
- Shangluo University, College of Biomedical and Food Engineering, Shangluo, Shaanxi 726000, P.R. China
| | - Mengqi Yang
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
| | - Ruina Zhou
- Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Co-construction Collaborative Innovation Center for Chinese Medicine Resources Industrialization by Shaanxi and Education Ministry, State Key Laboratory of Research and Development of Characteristic Qin Medicine Resources (Cultivation), Xianyang, Shaanxi 712046, P.R. China
| | - Yunjing Hao
- Northwest University, College of Life Sciences, Xian, Shaanxi 710075, P.R. China
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Wu Y, Fang Y, Li Y, Au R, Cheng C, Li W, Xu F, Cui Y, Zhu L, Shen H. A network pharmacology approach and experimental validation to investigate the anticancer mechanism of Qi-Qin-Hu-Chang formula against colitis-associated colorectal cancer through induction of apoptosis via JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117323. [PMID: 37852337 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117323] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Qi-Qin-Hu-Chang Formula (QQHCF) is a traditional Chinese medicine prescription that is clinically used at the Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine for the treatment of colitis-associated colorectal cancer (CAC). AIM OF THE STUDY To evaluate the potential therapeutic effects of QQHCF on a CAC mouse model and investigate its underlying mechanisms using network pharmacology and experimental validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The active components and potential targets of QQHCF were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) and herb-ingredient-targets gene network were constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.2. Target genes of CAC were obtained from GeneCards, Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man, and DrugBank database. The drug disease target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed and the core targets were visualized and identified using Cytoscape. The Metascape database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis. UHPLC-MS/MS was used to further identify the active compounds in QQHCF. Subsequently, the therapeutic effects and potential mechanism of QQHCF against CAC were investigated in AOM/DSS-induced CAC mouse in vivo, and HT-29 and HCT116 cells in vitro. Finally, interactions between JNK, p38, and active ingredients were assessed by molecular docking. RESULTS A total of 176 active compounds, 273 potential therapeutic targets, and 2460 CAC-related target genes were obtained. The number of common targets between QQHCF and CAC were 165. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that the MAPK signaling pathway was closely associated with CAC, which may be the potential mechanism of QQHCF against CAC. Network pharmacology and UHPLC-MS/MS analyses showed that the active compounds of QQHCF included quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, wogonin, oxymatrine, lupanine, and baicalin. Animal experiments demonstrated that QQHCF reduced tumor load, number, and size in AOM/DSS-treated mice, and induced apoptosis in colon tissue. In vitro experiments further showed that QQHCF induced apoptosis and inhibited cell viability, migration, and invasion in HCT116 and HT-29 cells. Notably, QQHCF activated the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway both in vivo and in vitro. Molecular docking analysis revealed an ability for the main components of QQHCF and JNK/p38 to bind. CONCLUSION The present study demonstrated that QQHCF could ameliorate AOM/DSS-induced CAC in mice by activating the JNK/p38 MAPK signaling pathway. These results have important implications for the development of effective treatment strategies for CAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuguang Wu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yulai Fang
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China
| | - Yanan Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Ryan Au
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China; Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences, Oakland, CA, 94612, USA
| | - Cheng Cheng
- School of Health Preservation and Rehabilitation, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, China
| | - Weiyang Li
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Feng Xu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Yuan Cui
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China; The First School of Clinical Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210023, China
| | - Lei Zhu
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China.
| | - Hong Shen
- Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, China.
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Zhang R, Asikaer A, Chen Q, Wang F, Lan J, Liu Y, Hu L, Zhao H, Duan H. Network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification unveil glycyrrhizin from glycyrrhiza glabra alleviates acute pancreatitis via modulation of MAPK and STAT3 signaling pathways. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:58. [PMID: 38280993 PMCID: PMC10821312 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04372-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a severe gastrointestinal inflammatory disease with increasing mortality and morbidity. Glycyrrhiza glabra, commonly known as Liquorice, is a widely used plant containing bioactive compounds like Glycyrrhizin, which possesses diverse medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, and anticancer activities. The objective of this study is to investigate the active components, relevant targets, and underlying mechanisms of the traditional Chinese medicine Glycyrrhiza glabra in the treatment of AP. Utilizing various computational biology methods, we explored the potential targets and molecular mechanisms through Glycyrrhizin supplementation. Computational results indicated that Glycyrrhizin shows promising pharmacological potential, particularly with mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3) protein (degree: 70), forming stable complexes with Glycyrrhizin through ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions, with a binding free energy (ΔGbind) of -33.01 ± 0.08 kcal/mol. Through in vitro experiments, we validated that Glycyrrhizin improves primary pancreatic acinar cell injury by inhibiting the MAPK/STAT3/AKT signaling pathway. Overall, MAPK3 emerges as a reliable target for Glycyrrhizin's therapeutic effects in AP treatment. This study provides novel insights into the active components and potential targets and molecular mechanisms of natural products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Zhang
- Department of pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Aiminuer Asikaer
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 405400, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Fang Wang
- College of Stomotology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, China
| | - Junjie Lan
- Department of pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Linfang Hu
- Department of pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Huaye Zhao
- Department of pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital, Guiyang, 550002, China
| | - Hongtao Duan
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing, 405400, PR China.
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Zhou D, Zhou T, Tang S, Li Q, Li W, Gan G, Li M, Chen Q. Network pharmacology combined with Mendelian randomization analysis to identify the key targets of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2024; 15:1354950. [PMID: 38332893 PMCID: PMC10850565 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2024.1354950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Diabetic Nephropathy (DN) is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes. The potential targets of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibitors for the treatment of DN need to be explored. Methods The GSE96804 and GSE1009 datasets, 729 RAAS inhibitors-related targets and 6,039 DN-related genes were derived from the public database and overlapped with the differentially expressed genes (DN vs. normal) in GSE96804 to obtain the candidate targets. Next, key targets were screened via the Mendelian randomization analysis and expression analysis. The diagnostic nomogram was constructed and assessed in GSE96804. Additionally, enrichment analysis was conducted and a 'core active ingredient-key target-disease pathway' network was established. Finally, molecular docking was performed. Results In total, 60 candidate targets were derived, in which CTSC and PDE5A were screened as the key targets and had a causal association with DN as the protective factors (P < 0.05, OR < 1). Further, a nomogram exhibited pretty prediction efficiency. It is indicated that Benadryl hydrochloride might play a role in the DN by affecting the pathways of 'cytokine cytokine receptor interaction', etc. targeting the CTSC. Moreover, PDE5A might be involved in 'ECM receptor interaction', etc. for the effect of NSAID, captopril, chlordiazepoxide on DN. Molecular docking analysis showed a good binding ability of benadryl hydrochloride and CTSC, NSAID and PDE5A. PTGS2, ITGA4, and ANPEP are causally associated with acute kidney injury. Conclusion CTSC and PDE5A were identified as key targets for RAAS inhibitors in the treatment of DN, which might provide some clinical significance in helping to diagnose and treat DN. Among the targets of RAAS inhibitors, PTGS2, ITGA4 and ANPEP have a causal relationship with acute kidney injury, which is worthy of further clinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongqi Zhou
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taikang Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Shiyun Tang
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qing Li
- Department of Endocrine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Wen Li
- Department of Endocrine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Gaofeng Gan
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taikang Hospital of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Mingqiao Li
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine and Orthopedics, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
| | - Qiu Chen
- Department of Endocrine, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, Sichuan, China
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Li W, Hou Y, Wang Y, Liu R, Zhang H, Luo Y, Li Q, Njolibimi M, Hong B, Xu T. Shizao decoction for cirrhotic ascites: assessing potential targets based on network analysis combined with pharmacokinetics and metabolomics. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1298818. [PMID: 38323084 PMCID: PMC10844526 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1298818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Shizao decoction (SZD) is a traditional Chinese medicine decoction that has therapeutic effects on cirrhotic ascites (CAS). Because of the unclear treatment mechanism, in the current study, the anti-CAS activity of SZD and molecular mechanisms were analyzed by network analysis combined with pharmacokinetics and metabolomics. Methods: Firstly, we assessed the anti-CAS efficacy of SZD by hematoxylin-eosin (H&E), liver function tests, NO and ET-1 levels, and portal venous pressure. Secondly, network analysis was applied to dig out the metabolites, targets, and pathways related to SZD and CAS. Then, the pharmacokinetics of the pharmacokinetically relevant metabolites (PRM) were analyzed. Thirdly, the serum and urine metabolic biomarkers of rats with CAS were identified using metabolomics by comparing them with the SZD treatment group. In addition, MetaboAnalyst was utilized to conduct metabolic pathway analysis. Finally, the correlation analysis established a dynamic connection between absorbed PRM from SZD and CAS-associated endogenous metabolites. Results: Pharmacodynamic analysis indicated that SZD effectively mitigated liver injury symptoms by ameliorating inflammatory cell infiltration in CAS rats. The network analysis results indicated that twelve RPM contribute to the therapeutic efficacy of SZD against CAS; the key signaling pathways involved might be hepatitis B and PI3K-Akt. Pharmacokinetics results showed that the 12 RPM were efficiently absorbed into rat plasma, ensuring desirable bioavailability. The metabolomic analysis yielded 21 and 23 significantly distinct metabolites from the serum and urine, respectively. The 12 bioavailable SZD-PRM, such as luteolin, apigenin, and rutin, may be associated with various CAS-altered metabolites related to tryptophan metabolism, alpha-linolenic acid metabolism, glycine metabolism, etc. Discussion: A novel paradigm was provided in this study to identify the potential mechanisms of pharmacological effects derived from a traditional Chinese medicine decoction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjing Li
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yujiao Hou
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yanping Wang
- Comprehensive Support Center, Arongqi Medical Security Bureau, Hulunbuir, China
| | - Ronghong Liu
- Pharmacy Department, Xichong Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Nanchong, China
| | - Han Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Yanqiong Luo
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Qian Li
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | | | - Bo Hong
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
| | - Tao Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar, China
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Gu M, Su W, Dai J, Wang J, Jia X, Yao J, Zhang G, Zhu Q, Pang Z. Jingfang granule alleviates Pseudomonas aeruginosa-induced acute lung inflammation through suppression of STAT3/IL-17/NF-κB pathway based on network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 318:116899. [PMID: 37454750 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Revised: 06/11/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen which is the second leading cause of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Jingfang granule (JFG) is an herbal formula of Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) widely used in treatment of acute respiratory tract infections in China. However, the molecular mechanisms of JFG in treatment of P. aeruginosa-induced acute pneumonia are not clear. AIM OF STUDY This study aimed to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of JFG on P. aeruginosa-induced acute inflammation using a mouse model of bacterial acute pneumonia. MATERIALS AND METHODS The chemical components and targets of JFG were retrieved from Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, and the P. aeruginosa pneumonia-related targets were obtained from the disease databases, including Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM), GeneCards and DisGeNet. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING database. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed using the Database for Annotation, Visualization and Integrated Discovery (DAVID). Molecular docking was performed using AutoDockTools 1.5.6. Further in vivo experiments employed a mouse model of P. aeruginosa acute pneumonia to verify the target proteins and signaling pathways affected by JFG, which were predicted by the network pharmacology analysis. RESULTS A total of 218 active components and 257 targets of JFG were retrieved from TCMSP database. Moreover, 99 intersectant targets were obtained between the 257 JFG targets and 694 disease targets. Among the intersectant targets, STAT3, IL-6, AKT1, TNF, MAPK1, MAPK3 and EGFR were identified to be the key therapeutic targets through PPI network analysis, and STAT3 was in the center of the network, which is a key regulator of IL-17 expression. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis suggested that IL-17 signaling pathway was one of the crucial inflammatory pathways affected by JFG in treatment of P. aeruginosa pneumonia. Furthermore, the in vivo experiments demonstrated that the JFG-treated mice displayed reduced proinflammatory cytokine production (IL-17, IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF), diminished neutrophil infiltration and decreased mortality, compared with the non-drug-treated mice during P. aeruginosa lung infection. Moreover, the expression or phosphorylation levels of the key regulators in STAT3/IL-17/NF-κB axis including STAT3, ERK1/2 (MAPK3/1), AKT, NF-κB p65 and RORγt were significantly reduced in the lung tissues of the JFG-treated mice. CONCLUSION JFG was effective in treatment of P. aeruginosa acute lung infection, which reduced inflammatory responses through suppressing STAT3/IL-17/NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengdi Gu
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Wen Su
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Jiangqin Dai
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Jue Wang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Xiaolei Jia
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Jingchun Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Guimin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Generic Manufacture Technology of Chinese Traditional Medicine, Lunan Pharmaceutical Group Co. Ltd., Linyi, 276005, China.
| | - Qingjun Zhu
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
| | - Zheng Pang
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, 250355, China.
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Chen H, Bai L, Shi Y, Zhang X, Wang X, Wang Y, Hu J, Zhou P. Investigation of the Molecular Mechanisms Underlying the Therapeutic Effect of Perilla frutescens L. Essential Oil on Acute Lung Injury Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and Network Pharmacology. Comb Chem High Throughput Screen 2024; 27:1480-1494. [PMID: 37818572 DOI: 10.2174/0113862073244521231003071900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism through which Perilla essential oil treats acute lung injury (ALI) through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and in vitro assays. METHODS Relevant ALI targets of the active ingredients of Perilla essential oil were predicted using the SwissTargetPrediction database and meta TarFisher database. These ALI targets were then screened using GeneCards and DisGeNET, and differentially expressed ALI target genes were identified using the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Next, key targets were enriched using Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Protein-protein interaction network analysis was performed to obtain targets with the highest degree values for molecular docking with Perilla essential oil active ingredients. For in vitro experiments, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce an ALI inflammation model using RAW264.7 cells. The model cells were then treated with Perilla essential oil to detect the protein expression levels of vascular endothelial factor (NO), tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), and p65 nuclear transcription factor in them. RESULTS Sixty-eight key targets of Perilla oil were identified for the treatment of ALI. These targets were found to be involved in biological processes related to peptides, response to lipopolysaccharides, the positive regulation of cytokine production, etc., using GO. The signaling pathways found to be associated with the targets included the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, the NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and small cell lung cancer and other inflammatory signaling pathways. The five key targets that showed good binding activity with Perilla oil active ingredients included TNF, RELA, PARP1, PTGS2, and IRAK4. In vitro assays showed that Perilla essential oil could significantly reduce NO and TNF-α levels and inhibit the phosphorylation of nuclear transcription factor P65, thus inhibiting the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusion Perilla essential oil can play a role in the treatment of ALI by inhibiting the activation of the NF-κB signaling pathway and preventing an excessive inflammatory response. This study thus provides a reference for the in-depth study of the mechanisms through which Perilla essential oil treats ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hou Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Yangling Vocational and Technical College, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Lu Bai
- Xi'an No.1 Hospital, Xi'an, 710002, China
| | - Yanqiong Shi
- Shanghai Xuhui District Central Hospital, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Xuan Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Yujiao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
| | - Jiadong Hu
- School of Pharmaceutical and Chemical Engineering, Yangling Vocational and Technical College, Yangling, 712100, China
| | - Peijie Zhou
- School of Pharmacy, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, 712046, China
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Zhu M, Xu T, Ji L, Jiang B, Wu K. MIR143HG promotes methylation of transcription factor HOXB7 promoter by recruiting methyltransferase DNMT1 to prevent the progression of colon cancer. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23378. [PMID: 38127104 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301060rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, accumulating evidence has demonstrated the role of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in colon cancer. We aim to investigate the role of MIR143HG, also known as CARMN (Cardiac mesoderm enhancer-associated noncoding RNA) in colon cancer and explore the related mechanisms. An RNAseq data analysis was performed to screen differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with colon cancer. Next, MIR143HG expression was quantified in colon cancer cells. Moreover, the contributory roles of MIR143HG in the progression of colon cancer with the involvement of DNMT1 and HOXB7 (Homeobox B7) were evaluated after restored MIR143HG or depleted HOXB7. Finally, the effects of MIR143HG were investigated in vivo by measuring tumor formation in nude mice. High-throughput transcriptome sequencing was employed to validate the specific mechanisms by which MIR143HG and HOXB7 affect tumor growth in vivo. MIR143HG was found to be poorly expressed, while HOXB7 was highly expressed in colon cancer. MIR143HG could promote HOXB7 methylation by recruiting DNMT1 to reduce HOXB7 expression. Upregulation of MIR143HG or downregulation of HOXB7 inhibited cell proliferation, invasion and migration and facilitated apoptosis in colon cancer cells so as to delay the progression of colon cancer. The same trend was identified in vivo. Our study provides evidence that restoration of MIR143HG suppressed the progression of colon cancer via downregulation of HOXB7 through DNMT1-mediated HOXB7 promoter methylation. Thus, MIR143HG may be a potential candidate for the treatment of colon cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mo Zhu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, P.R. China
| | - Ting Xu
- Hematology Research Laboratory, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, P.R. China
| | - Lindong Ji
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, P.R. China
| | - Baofei Jiang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, P.R. China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Shanghai, P.R. China
| | - Kun Wu
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, The Affiliated Huaian No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huaian, P.R. China
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Geng J, Zhou G, Guo S, Ma C, Ma J. Underlying Mechanism of Traditional Herbal Formula Chuang-Ling-Ye in the Treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcer through Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking. Curr Pharm Des 2024; 30:448-467. [PMID: 38343057 DOI: 10.2174/0113816128287155240122121553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chuang-Ling-Ye (CLY) has been clinically proven to be an effective Chinese medicine for the treatment of diabetic foot ulcers (DFU). OBJECTIVES This study aimed to investigate the possible mechanism of CLY in relation to DFU using network pharmacology and molecular docking. MATERIALS AND METHODS Firstly, relevant targets of CLY against DFU were obtained from TCMSP, Swiss Target Prediction database and GEO database. Then, topological analysis was employed by Cytoscape to screen the top 6 core active ingredients and the top 8 hub targets. Furthermore, the OmicShare Tools were applied for gene ontology (GO) functional enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) signaling pathway enrichment analysis. Finally, the results of network pharmacology were verified by molecular docking method. RESULTS CLY has 61 active compounds and 361 targets after de-duplication, and the top 8 hub targets were EGFR, TP53, CCND1, IL-1B, CREBBP, AR, PTGS2 and PGR. GO enrichment analysis is mainly related to signal transducer activity, receptor activity, and molecular transducer activity. KEGG pathway analysis indicated that these shared targets were primarily focused on AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, HIF-1 signaling pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, and JAK-STAT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results showed that physciondiglucoside, 2-cinnamoyl-glucose and kinobeon A were well bound with EGFR, IL-1B, AR and PTGS2. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated that CLY has anti-oxidative stress and anti-inflammatory effects in the treatment of DFU through various constituents, multiple targets, and multiple pathways, which provides a valuable point of reference for future investigations on CLY.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyuan Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, P.R. China
| | - Guowei Zhou
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China
| | - Song Guo
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China
| | - Chaoqun Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing 210029, P.R. China
| | - Jiangfeng Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Materials-Oriented Chemical Engineering, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing Tech University, Nanjing 211800, P.R. China
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Liu C, Liu Y, Liu Y, Guan J, Gao Y, Ou L, Qi Y, Lv X, Zhang J. Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Experimental Verification Revealing the Mechanism of Fule Cream against Childhood Atopic Dermatitis. Curr Comput Aided Drug Des 2024; 20:860-875. [PMID: 37807411 DOI: 10.2174/0115734099257922230925074407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Fule Cream (FLC) is an herbal formula widely used for the treatment of pediatric atopic dermatitis (AD), however, the main active components and functional mechanisms of FLC remain unclear. This study performed an initial exploration of the potential acting mechanisms of FLC in childhood AD treatment through analyses of an AD mouse model using network pharmacology, molecular docking technology, and RNA-seq analysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS The main bioactive ingredients and potential targets of FLC were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) and SwissTargetPrediction databases. An herb-compound-target network was built using Cytoscape 3.7.2. The disease targets of pediatric AD were searched in the DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), OMIM, DrugBank and GeneCards databases. The overlapping targets between the active compounds and the disease were imported into the STRING database for the construction of the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses of the intersection targets were performed, and molecular docking verification of the core compounds and targets was then performed using AutoDock Vina 1.1.2. The AD mouse model for experimental verification was induced by MC903. RESULTS The herb-compound-target network included 415 nodes and 1990 edges. Quercetin, luteolin, beta-sitosterol, wogonin, ursolic acid, apigenin, stigmasterol, kaempferol, sitogluside and myricetin were key nodes. The targets with higher degree values were IL-4, IL-10, IL-1α, IL-1β, TNFα, CXCL8, CCL2, CXCL10, CSF2, and IL-6. GO enrichment and KEGG analyses illustrated that important biological functions involved response to extracellular stimulus, regulation of cell adhesion and migration, inflammatory response, cellular response to cytokine stimulus, and cytokine receptor binding. The signaling pathways in the FLC treatment of pediatric AD mainly involve the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, cytokine‒cytokine receptor interaction, chemokine signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway. The binding energy scores of the compounds and targets indicate a good binding activity. Luteolin, quercetin, and kaempferol showed a strong binding activity with TNFα and IL-4. CONCLUSION This study illustrates the main bioactive components and potential mechanisms of FLC in the treatment of childhood AD, and provides a basis and reference for subsequent exploration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang Liu
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Yuxin Liu
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Jing Guan
- Preparation Research Laboratory, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Ying Gao
- Department of Dermatology, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Ling Ou
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Yuenan Qi
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xiaoxi Lv
- Immunology and Cancer Pharmacology Group, State Key Laboratory of Bioactive Substance and Function of Natural Medicines, Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100050, China
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Drug Clinical Trial Institution, Children's Hospital, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
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Guan HR, Li B, Zhang ZH, Wu HS, He XL, Dong YJ, Su J, Lv GY, Chen SH. Integrated bioinformatics and network pharmacology to explore the therapeutic target and molecular mechanisms of Bailing capsule on polycystic ovary syndrome. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:458. [PMID: 38102584 PMCID: PMC10722827 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-04280-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a complex endocrine and metabolic disorder that is common in women of reproductive age. The clinical features of PCOS include hyperandrogenemia and polycystic ovarian changes. Bailing capsule (BL), a proprietary Chinese medicine that contains fermented Cordyceps sinensis powder, has been applied to treat PCOS. However, the specific active ingredients of BL and its mechanisms of action are yet to be elucidated. METHODS Initially, the effectiveness of BL on PCOS model mice was evaluated. Subsequently, the active ingredients of BL were searched in the TCMSP and TCM Systems Pharmacology databases, and their targets were predicted using Swiss Target Prediction and SEA databases. Furthermore, the GEO gene database was used to screen for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to PCOS. Data from Gene Card, OMIM, DDT, and Drugbank databases were then combined to establish a PCOS disease gene library. Cross targets were imported into the STRING database to construct a protein-protein interaction network. In addition, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses were performed using Metascape and DAVID databases and visualized using Cytoscape software and R 4.2.3. The core targets were docked with SYBYL-X software, and their expressions in PCOS mice were further verified using qPCR. RESULTS The core active ingredients of BL were identified to be linoleyl acetate, cholesteryl palmitate, arachidonic acid, among others. Microarray data sets from four groups containing disease and normal samples were obtained from the GEO database. A total of 491 DEGs and 106 drug-disease cross genes were selected. Estrous cycle and ovarian lesions were found to be improved in PCOS model mice following BL treatment. While the levels of testosterone, progesterone, and prolactin decreased, that of estradiol increased. qPCR findings indicated that the expressions of JAK2, PPARG, PI3K, and AKT1 were upregulated, whereas those of ESR1 and IRS1 were downregulated in PCOS model mice. After the administration of BL, the expressions of associated genes were regulated. This study demonstrated that BL exerted anti-PCOS effects via PIK3CA, ESR1, AKT, PPARG, and IRS1 targets affecting PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. DISCUSSION This research clarified the multicomponent, multitarget, and multichannel action of BL and provided a theoretical reference for further investigations on its pharmacological basis and molecular mechanisms against PCOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao-Ru Guan
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Bo Li
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM for Innovative R & D and Digital Intelligent Manufacturing of TCM Great Health Products, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, 313200, PR China
| | - Ze-Hua Zhang
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Han-Song Wu
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Xing-Lishang He
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Ying-Jie Dong
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China
| | - Jie Su
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China.
| | - Gui-Yuan Lv
- College of Pharmaceutical Science, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, PR China.
| | - Su-Hong Chen
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Yangtze River Delta Region Green Pharmaceuticals, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310014, PR China.
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of TCM for Innovative R & D and Digital Intelligent Manufacturing of TCM Great Health Products, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, 313200, PR China.
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Wang Y, Chen X, Wang Y, Zhong H, Liu L, Ye Y. Network pharmacology integrated with molecular docking technology to reveal the potential mechanism of Shuganfang against drug-induced liver injury. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e36349. [PMID: 38050247 PMCID: PMC10695566 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000036349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 12/06/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the active composition and mechanism of the Shuganfang (SGF) in treating drug-induced liver injury (DILI) using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The potential active ingredients and targets of SGF were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database (TCMSP) database. DILI-related targets were queried from various databases including GEO, GeneCards, OMIM, NCBI, and DisGeNET. The STRING database was used to establish a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. DAVID was utilized for conducting gene ontology (GO) function enrichment and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. The data visualization and analysis of herb-ingredient-target and disease-pathway-target-ingredient networks were conducted using Cytoscape software (version 3.7.2). PyMoL and AutoDock software was used to select the best binding target for molecular docking. A total of 177 active ingredients,126 targets and 10112 disease targets were obtained, including 122 intersection targets. The identified potential active ingredients consisted of quercetin, kaempferol, luteolin, tanshinone IIa, nobiletin, isorhamnetin, beta-sitosterol and naringenin. The core targets implicated in the study were IL6, estrogen receptor 1 (ESR1), hypoxia-inducible factor alpha subunit 1 (HIF1A), MYC and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA). KEGG analysis revealed that the treatment of DILI with SGF mainly acted through apoptosis, the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway. Furthermore, the binding affinities between the potential ingredients and the core targets were subsequently confirmed through molecular docking experiments. The findings indicated that the docking outcomes remained consistent and demonstrated a favorable capacity for binding. SGF exerts a therapeutic effect on DILI through multiple active ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways. Our findings contribute to a positive investigation and establish a theoretical basis for further extensive exploration of SGF as a potential treatment for DILI in future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Wang
- Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Xueying Chen
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, College of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hong Zhong
- Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Liqin Liu
- Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Ye
- Zhejiang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, China
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Ma X, Pan B, Wang L, Feng Z, Peng C. Network pharmacology and molecular docking elucidate potential mechanisms of Eucommia ulmoides in hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury. Sci Rep 2023; 13:20716. [PMID: 38001230 PMCID: PMC10673959 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-47918-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Eucommia ulmoides (EU) and its diverse extracts have demonstrated antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and cytoprotective properties against hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury (HIRI). However, the primary constituents of EU and their putative mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to explore the potential mechanisms of EU in the prevention and treatment of HIRI by employing network pharmacology and molecular docking methodologies. The main components and corresponding protein targets of EU were searched in the literature and TCMSP, and the compound target network was constructed by Cytoscape 3.9.1. Liver ischemia-reperfusion injury targets were searched in OMIM and GeneCards databases. The intersection points of compound targets and disease targets were obtained, and the overlapping targets were imported into the STRING database to construct the PPI network. We further analyzed the targets for GO and KEGG enrichment. Finally, molecular docking studies were performed on the core targets and active compounds. The component-target network unveiled a total of 26 efficacious bioactive compounds corresponding to 207 target proteins. Notably, the top-ranking compounds based on degree centrality were quercetin, β-sitosterol, and gallic acid. Within the PPI network, the highest degree centrality encompassed RELA, AKT1, TP53. GO and KEGG enrichment analysis elucidated that EU in HIRI primarily engaged in positive regulation of gene expression, positive transcriptional regulation via RNA polymerase II promoter, negative modulation of apoptotic processes, positive regulation of transcription from DNA templates, and drug responsiveness, among other biological processes. Key pathways included cancer pathways, RAGE signaling pathway, lipid metabolism, atherosclerosis, TNF signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, and apoptotic pathways. Molecular docking analysis revealed robust affinities between quercetin, β-sitosterol, gallic acid, and RELA, AKT1, TP53, respectively. This study reveals EU exhibits substantial potential in mitigating and treating HIRI through multifaceted targeting and involvement in intricate signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuan Ma
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Bochen Pan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Liusong Wang
- Department of General Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, Zunyi, 563000, Guizhou, China
| | - Zanjie Feng
- Clinical Medical Research Center, The affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
| | - Cijun Peng
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The affiliated Hospital of Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, China.
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Fan M, Jin C, Li D, Deng Y, Yao L, Chen Y, Ma YL, Wang T. Multi-level advances in databases related to systems pharmacology in traditional Chinese medicine: a 60-year review. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1289901. [PMID: 38035021 PMCID: PMC10682728 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1289901] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The therapeutic effects of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) involve intricate interactions among multiple components and targets. Currently, computational approaches play a pivotal role in simulating various pharmacological processes of TCM. The application of network analysis in TCM research has provided an effective means to explain the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the actions of herbs or formulas through the lens of biological network analysis. Along with the advances of network analysis, computational science has coalesced around the core chain of TCM research: formula-herb-component-target-phenotype-ZHENG, facilitating the accumulation and organization of the extensive TCM-related data and the establishment of relevant databases. Nonetheless, recent years have witnessed a tendency toward homogeneity in the development and application of these databases. Advancements in computational technologies, including deep learning and foundation model, have propelled the exploration and modeling of intricate systems into a new phase, potentially heralding a new era. This review aims to delves into the progress made in databases related to six key entities: formula, herb, component, target, phenotype, and ZHENG. Systematically discussions on the commonalities and disparities among various database types were presented. In addition, the review raised the issue of research bottleneck in TCM computational pharmacology and envisions the forthcoming directions of computational research within the realm of TCM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyue Fan
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ching Jin
- Northwestern Institute on Complex Systems, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, United States
| | - Daping Li
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yingshan Deng
- College of Acupuncture and Massage, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lin Yao
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yongjun Chen
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yu-Ling Ma
- Oxford Chinese Medicine Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Taiyi Wang
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
- Oxford Chinese Medicine Research Centre, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
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Gu X, Bao N, Zhang J, Huang G, Zhang X, Zhang Z, Du Y, Meng H, Liu J, Wu P, Wang X, Wang G. Muscone ameliorates myocardial ischemia‒reperfusion injury by promoting myocardial glycolysis. Heliyon 2023; 9:e22154. [PMID: 38045159 PMCID: PMC10692826 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e22154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2023] [Revised: 11/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Objective The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is increasing yearly. With the use of thrombolysis or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), the mortality rate of acute myocardial infarction has been significantly reduced. However, reperfusion can cause additional myocardial injury. There is still a lack of effective drugs to treat I/R injury, and it is urgent to find new therapeutic drugs. Methods In this study, network pharmacology was used to predict potential targets and biological processes involved in Muscone-mediated treatment of acute myocardial infarction. To model ischemia‒reperfusion injury, a hypoxia-reoxygenation model and in vivo ischemia‒reperfusion injury C57BL/6 mice model was constructed. Mice were treated with Muscone i.p. for 4 weeks. We detected the cardiac function on day 28.The expression levels of the apoptotic proteins Caspase-3 and Bax and the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 were detected by immunoblotting after Muscone treatment of AC16 cells and in vivo. Additionally, the gene expression levels of the PUMA and p53 were analyzed by qRT‒PCR. Molecular docking was used to evaluate the binding energy between Muscone and NLRP3-related proteins. Immunoblotting and qRT‒PCR were used to assess the expression levels of NLRP3 signaling pathway-related proteins (NLRP3, ASC, and Caspase-1) and the NLRP3 gene, respectively. Moreover, the extracellular acidification rate of AC16 cells was measured using the Seahorse system to evaluate glycolysis levels after Muscone treatment. The expression of the key glycolytic enzyme PKM2 was analyzed by immunoblotting and qRT‒PCR. Finally, ChIP‒qPCR was performed to determine the levels of histone modifications (H3K4me3, H3K27me3, and H2AK119Ub) in the PKM2 promoter region. Results GO functional enrichment analysis revealed that muscone was involved in regulating the biological processes (BP) of AMI, which mainly included negative regulation of the apoptosis signaling pathway, the response to lipopolysaccharide, and blood pressure regulation. The cellular components (CC) involved in muscone-mediated regulation of AMI mainly included lipid rafts, membrane microdomains, and membrane regions. The molecular functions (MF) involved in muscone-mediated regulation of AMI mainly included oxidoreductase activity, nuclear receptor activity, and transcription factor activity. In vitro results indicated that muscone treatment could inhibit the expression levels of Bax and Caspase-3 in AC16 cells after ischemia‒reperfusion while increasing the expression level of the antiapoptotic protein Bcl-2. Muscone significantly suppressed the transcription levels of p53 and PUMA in AC16 cells. Molecular docking suggested that muscone could bind well with the Cryo-EM structure of NEK7(PDB ID:6NPY). Further investigation of inflammatory pathways revealed that muscone could inhibit the expression level of NLRP3 in AC16 cells and reduce the expression levels of Caspase-1 and Caspase recruitment domain. Fluorescent quantitative PCR experiments showed that muscone significantly inhibited the transcription of NLRP3. Moreover, we found that muscone could enhance the glycolytic efficiency of AC16 cells, which may be related to the increased protein expression of PKM2 in AC16 cells. Fluorescent quantitative PCR showed that muscone could increase the transcription level of PKM2. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that muscone treatment increased the expression level of H3K4me3 in the PKM2 promoter region and inhibited the levels of H3K27me3 and H2AK119Ub in the PKM2 promoter region. Conclusion Muscone promoted myocardial glycolysis and inhibited NLRP3 pathway activation to improve myocardial ischemia‒reperfusion injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Gu
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Neng Bao
- Department of Nephrology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Guangyi Huang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Xiaodong Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Zhixuan Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Yinqiang Du
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Suzhou Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou Municipal Hospital, Gusu School, Nanjing Medical University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215008, China
| | - Haoyu Meng
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
| | - Jiabao Liu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
| | - Peng Wu
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210000, China
| | - Xiaoyan Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
| | - Guangyan Wang
- Department of Cardiology, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu, 214000, China
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Sahu N, Madan S, Walia R, Tyagi R, Fantoukh OI, Hawwal MF, Akhtar A, Almarabi I, Alam P, Saxena S. Multi-target mechanism of Solanum xanthocarpum for treatment of psoriasis based on network pharmacology and molecular docking. Saudi Pharm J 2023; 31:101788. [PMID: 37811124 PMCID: PMC10551897 DOI: 10.1016/j.jsps.2023.101788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/10/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Solanum xanthocarpum (SX) has been used to treat a variety of diseases, including skin disorders like psoriasis (PSO). SX possesses many pharmacological activities of anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, immunosuppressive, and healing qualities. However, the multi-target mechanism of SX on PSO still needs clarity. Materials and methods: The Indian Medicinal Plants, Phytochemicals and Therapeutics (IMPPAT) database and the Swiss Target Prediction online tool were used to find the active phytochemical components and their associated target proteins. OMIM and GeneCards databases were used to extract PSO-related targets. A Venn diagram analysis determined the common targets of SX against PSO. Subsequently, the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and core PPI target analysis were carried out using the STRING network and Cytoscape software. Also, utilising the online Metascape and bioinformatics platform tool, a pathway enrichment analysis of common targets using the Kyoto Encyclopaedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) databases was conducted to verify the role of targets in biological processes, cellular components and molecular functions with respect to KEGG pathways. Lastly, molecular docking simulations were performed to validate the strong affinity between components of SX and key target receptors. Results: According to the IMPPAT Database information, 8 active SX against PSO components were active. According to the PPI network and core targets study, the main targets against PSO were EGFR, SRC, STAT3, ERBB2, PTK2, SYK, EP300, CBL, TP53, and AR. Moreover, molecular docking simulations verified the binding interaction of phytochemical SX components with their PSO targets. Last but not least, enrichment analysis showed that SX is involved in several biological processes, including peptidyl-tyrosine phosphorylation, peptidyl-tyrosine modification, and peptidyl-serine modification. The relevant KEGG signalling pathways are the PI3K-AKT signalling pathway, the EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance pathway, and the MAPK signalling pathway. Conclusion: The network pharmacology technique, which is based on data interpretation and molecular docking simulation techniques, has proven the multi-target function of SX phytoconstituents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilanchala Sahu
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India
| | - Swati Madan
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India
| | - Ramanpreet Walia
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India
| | - Rama Tyagi
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India
| | - Omer I. Fantoukh
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed F. Hawwal
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali Akhtar
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim Almarabi
- Division of Pharmacognosy, Department of BioMolecular Sciences, School of Pharmacy, The University of Mississippi, Oxford, MS 38677, USA
| | - Perwez Alam
- Department of Pharmacognosy, College of Pharmacy, P.O. Box 2457, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451, Saudi Arabia
| | - Shikha Saxena
- Amity Institute of Pharmacy, Amity University, Noida, Uttar Pradesh 201303, India
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Guo Y, Wang J, Hua Y, Jiang M, Xu W, Shi Y, Yang J, Wan H, Yang R. Network pharmacology and in vitro experimental verification to reveal the mechanism of Astragaloside IV against kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury. Heliyon 2023; 9:e21711. [PMID: 38027853 PMCID: PMC10660051 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e21711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) is a prevalent disorder among hospitalized patients worldwide. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been shown to protect against ischemic AKI. However, the specific effects and mechanisms of AS-IV on alleviating kidney ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury remain unclear. The objective of this research was to elucidate the regulatory targets and mechanisms through which AS-IV protects kidney I/R injury. A combination of network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulation, pharmacodynamic study and Western blot were employed to explore the underlying mechanisms. Network pharmacology revealed that ferroptosis was a potential mechanism of AS-IV against kidney I/R injury. Molecular docking and MD simulations demonstrated strong binding affinity between the GPX4/SLC7A11 and AS-IV. The experimental verification demonstrated that AS-IV improved cell proliferation, decreased the level of ROS and Fe2+, and increased the expressions of GPX4 and SLC7A11 as same as Ferrostatin-1 in OGD/R-injured HUVECs. In conclusion, AS-IV had a significant inhibition on ferroptosis in kidney I/R injury, providing a new perspective for drug development on kidney I/R injury. Definitely, further exploration in vivo is necessary to fully understand whether AS-IV alleviates kidney I/R injury through inhibiting endothelial ferroptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Guo
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Jinfu Wang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Yanjie Hua
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Mengya Jiang
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Wanyue Xu
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
| | - Yanpeng Shi
- Linping Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Jiehong Yang
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Haitong Wan
- Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
| | - Ruchun Yang
- Hangzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310053, China
- Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Prevention and Control Technology, Zhejiang Province, 310053, China
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