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Luo Y, Yang L, Wu H, Xu H, Peng J, Wang Y, Zhou F. Exploring the Molecular Mechanism of Comorbidity of Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Colorectal Cancer: Insights from Bulk Omics and Single-Cell Sequencing Validation. Biomolecules 2024; 14:693. [PMID: 38927096 PMCID: PMC11201668 DOI: 10.3390/biom14060693] [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: 03/08/2024] [Revised: 06/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/08/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The relationship between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and colorectal cancer (CRC) has long been extensively recognized, but their crosstalk mechanisms based on gene regulation remain elusive. In our study, for the first time, bulk RNA-seq and single-cell RNA-seq data were used to explore the shared molecular mechanisms between T2DM and CRC. Moreover, Connectivity Map and molecular docking were employed to determine potential drugs targeting the candidate targets. Eight genes (EVPL, TACSTD2, SOX4, ETV4, LY6E, MLXIPL, ENTPD3, UGP2) were identified as characteristic comorbidity genes for T2DM and CRC, with EVPL and ENTPD3 further identified as core comorbidity genes. Our results demonstrated that upregulation of EVPL and downregulation of ENTPD3 were intrinsic molecular features throughout T2DM and CRC and were significantly associated with immune responses, immune processes, and abnormal immune landscapes in both diseases. Single-cell analysis highlighted a cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subset that specifically expressed ENTPD3 in CRC, which exhibited high heterogeneity and unique tumor-suppressive features that were completely different from classical cancer-promoting CAFs. Furthermore, ENTPD3+ CAFs could notably predict immunotherapy response in CRC, holding promise to be an immunotherapy biomarker at the single-cell level. Finally, we identified that droperidol may be a novel drug simultaneously targeting EVPL and ENTPD3. In conclusion, previous studies have often focused solely on metabolic alterations common to T2DM and CRC. Our study establishes EVPL and ENTPD3 as characteristic molecules and immune biomarkers of comorbidity in T2DM and CRC patients, and emphasizes the importance of considering immunological mechanisms in the co-development of T2DM and CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongge Luo
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Lei Yang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Han Wu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Jin Peng
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - You Wang
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
| | - Fuxiang Zhou
- Department of Radiation and Medical Oncology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Tumor Biological Behaviors, Wuhan 430071, China
- Hubei Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, Wuhan 430071, China
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Zhang W, Wang Y, Yu H, Jin Z, Yuan Y, Liu L, Zhou J. Exploring the mechanism of Erteng-Sanjie capsule in treating gastric and colorectal cancers via network pharmacology and in-vivo validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 327:117945. [PMID: 38428659 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117945] [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: 12/06/2023] [Revised: 01/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/19/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Erteng-Sanjie capsule (ETSJC) has therapeutic effects against gastric cancer (GC) and colorectal cancer (CRC). However, its underlying pharmacological mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY To explore the pharmacological mechanism of ETSJC against GC and CRC via network pharmacology and in-vivo validation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Data on the ingredients of ETSJC were obtained from the TCMSP and HERB databases. Further, details on the related targets of the active ingredients were collected from the HERB and SwissTargetPrediction databases. The targets in GC and CRC, which were screened from the OMIM, GeneCards, and TTD databases, were uploaded to STRING for a separate protein-protein interaction network analysis. The common targets shared by ETSJC, GC, and CRC were then screened. Cytoscape and STRING were used to construct the networks of herbs-compounds-targets and PPI. Metascape was utilized to analyze the enrichment of the GO and KEGG pathways. Molecular docking was used to validate the potential binding mode between the core ingredients and targets. Finally, the predicted results were verified with animal experiment. RESULTS Eight core ingredients (resveratrol, quercetin, luteolin, baicalein, delphinidin, kaempferol, pinocembrin, and naringenin) and six core targets (TP53, SRC, PIK3R1, AKT1, MAPK3, and STAT3) were filtered via network analysis. The molecular mechanism mainly involved the positive regulation of various processes such as cell migration, protein phosphorylation, and the PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. Molecular docking revealed that the core ingredients could be significantly combined with all core targets. The animal experiment revealed that ETSJC could suppress proliferation and promote apoptosis of both GC and CRC tumor cells by regulating the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. CONCLUSIONS Multiple targets (TP53, SRC, AKT1, and STAT3) were important in GC and CRC. ETSJC could act on these targets and engage in different pathways against GC and CRC. Simultaneously, inhibiting the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway was a promising therapeutic mechanism for treating GC and CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencui Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Han Yu
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Zengcai Jin
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Yuyao Yuan
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Likun Liu
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
| | - Jing Zhou
- Department of Oncology, Shanxi Province Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanxi Province Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Taiyuan, China.
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Wang Z, Zhang R, Li Y, Zhang Q, Wang W, Wang Q. Computational study on the endocrine-disrupting metabolic activation of Benzophenone-3 catalyzed by cytochrome P450 1A1: A QM/MM approach. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 358:142238. [PMID: 38705413 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142238] [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: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 05/07/2024]
Abstract
Predicting the metabolic activation mechanism and potential hazardous metabolites of environmental endocrine-disruptors is a challenging and significant task in risk assessment. Here the metabolic activation mechanism of benzophenone-3 catalyzed by P450 1A1 was investigated by using Molecular Dynamics, Quantum Mechanics/Molecular Mechanics and Density Functional Theory approaches. Two elementary reactions involved in the metabolic activation of BP-3 with P450 1A1: electrophilic addition and hydrogen abstraction reactions were both discussed. Further conversion reactions of epoxidation products, ketone products and the formaldehyde formation reaction were investigated in the non-enzymatic environment based on previous experimental reports. Binding affinities analysis of benzophenone-3 and its metabolites to sex hormone binding globulin indirectly demonstrates that they all exhibit endocrine-disrupting property. Toxic analysis shows that the eco-toxicity and bioaccumulation values of the benzophenone-3 metabolites are much lower than those of benzophenone-3. However, the metabolites are found to have skin-sensitization effects. The present study provides a deep insight into the biotransformation process of benzophenone-3 catalyzed by P450 1A1 and alerts us to pay attention to the adverse effects of benzophenone-3 and its metabolites in human livers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Ruiming Zhang
- College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China.
| | - Wenxing Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
| | - Qiao Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao, 266237, PR China
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Han M, Li J, Wu Y, Tang Z. Potential immune-related therapeutic mechanisms of multiple traditional Chinese medicines on type 2 diabetic nephropathy based on bioinformatics, network pharmacology and molecular docking. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 133:112044. [PMID: 38648716 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112044] [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: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 03/27/2024] [Accepted: 04/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of type 2 diabetic nephropathy (T2DN) ranges from 20 % to 40 % among individuals with type 2 diabetes. Multiple immune pathways play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of T2DN. This study aimed to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of active ingredients derived from 14 traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) on T2DN. METHODS By removing batch effect on the GSE30528 and GSE96804 datasets, we employed a combination of weighted gene co-expression network analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis, protein-protein interaction network analysis, and the CIBERSORT algorithm to identify the active ingredients of TCMs as well as potential hub biomarkers associated with immune cells. Functional analysis was conducted using Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), Gene Ontology (GO), and gene set variation analysis (GSVA). Additionally, molecular docking was employed to evaluate interactions between active ingredients and potential immunotherapy targets. RESULTS A total of 638 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in this study, comprising 5 hub genes along with 4 potential biomarkers. Notably, CXCR1, CXCR2, and FOS exhibit significant associations with immune cells while displaying robust or favorable affinities towards the active ingredients kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin. Furthermore, functional analysis unveiled intricate involvement of DEGs, hub genes and potential biomarkers in pathways closely linked to immunity and diabetes. CONCLUSION The potential hub biomarkers and immunotherapy targets associated with immune cells of T2DN comprise CXCR1, CXCR2, and FOS. Furthermore, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin demonstrate potential immunomodulatory effects in modulating T2DN through the regulation of CXCR1, CXCR2, and FOS expression.
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MESH Headings
- Diabetic Nephropathies/drug therapy
- Diabetic Nephropathies/genetics
- Diabetic Nephropathies/immunology
- Humans
- Molecular Docking Simulation
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/drug therapy
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/immunology
- Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/genetics
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/chemistry
- Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology
- Medicine, Chinese Traditional
- Computational Biology
- Network Pharmacology
- Protein Interaction Maps
- Receptors, Interleukin-8B/genetics
- Receptors, Interleukin-8B/metabolism
- Receptors, Interleukin-8A/genetics
- Receptors, Interleukin-8A/metabolism
- Gene Regulatory Networks/drug effects
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingzheng Han
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Jiale Li
- Department of Blood Transfusion, Yuexi Hospital of the Sixth Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University (Xinyi People's Hospital), Xinyi, China
| | - Yijin Wu
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China
| | - Zhaoxin Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou 510642, China.
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Peng X, Tao H, Xia F, Zhu M, Yang M, Liu K, Hou B, Li X, Li S, He Y, Huan W, Gao F. Molecular design, construction and analgesic mechanism insights into the novel transdermal fusion peptide ANTP-BgNPB. Bioorg Chem 2024; 148:107482. [PMID: 38795582 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2024.107482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 05/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
Toad venom, a traditional Chinese medicine, exhibits remarkable medicinal properties of significant therapeutic value. The peptides present within toad venom possess a wide range of biological functions, yet the neuropeptide B (NPB) and it modification requires further exploration to comprehensively understand its mechanisms of action and potential applications. In this study, a fusion peptide, ANTP-BgNPB, was designed to possess better analgesic properties through the transdermal modification of BgNPB. After optimizing the conditions, the expression of ANTP-BgNPB was successfully induced. The molecular dynamics simulations suggested that the modified protein exhibited improved stability and receptor binding affinity compared to its unmodified form. The analysis of the active site of ANTP-BgNPB and the verification of mutants revealed that GLN3, SER38, and ARG42 were crucial for the protein's recognition and binding with G protein-coupled receptor 7 (GPR7). Moreover, experiments conducted on mice using the hot plate and acetic acid twist body models demonstrated that ANTP-BgNPB was effective in transdermal analgesia. These findings represent significant progress in the development of transdermal delivery medications and could have a significant impact on pain management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmeng Peng
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Han Tao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Fengyan Xia
- The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 313000, China
| | - Mingwei Zhu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Meiyun Yang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Kexin Liu
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Bowen Hou
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Xintong Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Suwan Li
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Yanling He
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China
| | - Weiwei Huan
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Utilization of Forestry Biomass, College of Chemistry and Materials Engineering, Zhejiang A & F University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 311300, China.
| | - Fei Gao
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Resources Protection and Innovation of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou 311300, China.
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Ye J, Yang R, Li L, Zhong S, Jiang R, Hu Z. Molecular mechanism of Danxiong Tongmai Granules in treatment of coronary heart disease. Aging (Albany NY) 2024; 16:8843-8865. [PMID: 38775721 PMCID: PMC11164497 DOI: 10.18632/aging.205845] [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: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Danxiong Tongmai Granules (DXTMG) are widely utilized in treating coronary heart disease (CHD) in China. This study aims to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DXTMG on CHD by employing a network pharmacology approach, complemented with experimental validation. METHODS Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) compounds and targets were identified via searches in the BATMAN-TCM database, and the GeneCards database was used to obtain the main target genes involved in CHD. We combined disease targets with the drug targets to identify common targets. The "TCM-compound-target" network was plotted using Cytoscape 3.7.2 software and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database from which core targets were obtained. Gene ontology (GO) function analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were performed for common drug-disease targets using R Version 4.0.4 (64 bit) software. Molecular docking of core protein-small molecule ligand interaction was modeled using AutoDock software. A molecular dynamics simulation was conducted on the optimal protein-small molecule complex identified through molecular docking, using Amber18 software. The rat model for myocardial ischemia was established through pre-gavage administration of DXTMG, followed by dorsal hypodermic injection of isoprenaline. Myocardial tissues from the rats were analyzed using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining and Masson's trichrome staining. Relevant targets were validated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS 162 potential targets of DXTMG involved in CHD were identified. These included INS, ALB, IL-6 and TNF according to PPI network studies. GO enrichment analysis identified a total of 3365 GO pathways, including 3049 biological process pathways (BP) concerned with the heart and circulatory system; 109 cellular component (CC) pathways, including cation channels and membrane rafts and 207 molecular function (MF) pathways related to receptor ligands and activators. KEGG analysis revealed a total of 137 pathways (P < 0.05), including those related to AGE-RAGE signaling associated with diabetic complications, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis. The results of molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations demonstrated the robust binding affinity between the compounds and target proteins. Animal experiment findings indicated that, compared with the model group, the DXTMG group effectively ameliorated inflammation and fibrosis in rat myocardial tissues, reduced LDH, cTn-I, and MDA levels (P < 0.05, P < 0.01), elevated SOD and GSH-PX levels (P < 0.05), and reduced the percentage of positive area for IL-6 and TNF-α (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION This study preliminarily suggests that DXTMG can modulate oxidative stress, inflammation response, and cardiomyocyte regulation, thereby mitigating the onset and progression of CHD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiahao Ye
- College of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Ruiping Yang
- Basic Medical Sciences College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Lin Li
- College of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
| | - Senjie Zhong
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510405, China
| | - Ruixue Jiang
- Basic Medical Sciences College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, Hubei 430065, China
| | - Zhixi Hu
- College of Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, Hunan 410208, China
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Yang Z, Wang Y, Huang S, Geng Y, Yang Z, Yang Z. Identification of potential anti-tumor targets and mechanisms of HuaChanSu injection using network pharmacology and cytological experiments in Breast cancer. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0303650. [PMID: 38753638 PMCID: PMC11098324 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
HuaChanSu (HCS) or Cinobufacini injection is an aqueous extract of the dried skin of Bufo bufo gargarigans, and has anti-tumor effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect of HCS against breast cancer (BRCA) using cytology, network pharmacology, and molecular biology approaches. The half-inhibitory concentration (IC50) of HCS in the BRCA cells was determined by cytotoxicity assay, and were accordingly treated with high and low doses HCS in the TUNEL and scratch assays. The potential targets of HCS in the BRCA cells were identified through functional enrichment analysis and protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks, and verified by molecular docking. The expression levels of key signaling pathways-related proteins in HCS-treated BRCA cells by western blotting. HCS inhibited the proliferation and migration of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, and induced apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we screened 289 core HCS targets against BRCA, which were primarily enriched in the PI3K-AKT, MAPK chemokines, and other. signaling pathways. In addition, PIK3CA, PIK3CD, and MTOR were confirmed as HCS targets by molecular docking. Consistent with this, we observed a reduction in the expression levels of phosphorylated PI3K, AKT, and MTOR in the HCS-treated BRCA cells. Taken together, our findings suggest that HCS inhibits the growth of BRCA cells by targeting the PI3K-AKT pathway, and warrants further investigation as a therapeutic agent for treating patients with BRCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zetian Yang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
| | - Yifan Wang
- The First School of Medicine, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, 510405, China
| | - Shuicai Huang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
| | - Yi Geng
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
| | - Zejuan Yang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
| | - Zhenhuai Yang
- The Affiliated Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, 510130, China
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Wang X, Wu L, Yu M, Wang H, He L, Hu Y, Li Z, Zheng Y, Peng B. Exploring the molecular mechanism of Epimedium for the treatment of ankylosing spondylitis based on network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations. Mol Divers 2024:10.1007/s11030-024-10877-x. [PMID: 38734868 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-024-10877-x] [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: 12/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a rheumatic disease that causes inflammation and bone formation in the spine. Despite significant advances in treatment, adverse side effects have triggered research into natural compounds. Epimedium (EP) is a traditional Chinese herb with a variety of pharmacological activities, including antirheumatic, anti-inflammatory, and immunomodulatory activities; however, its direct effects on AS treatment and the underlying molecular mechanisms have not been systematically studied. Thus, here, we used network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulations to explore the targets of EP for treating AS. We constructed an interaction network to elucidate the complex relationship between EP and AS. Sixteen active ingredients in EP were screened; 80 potential targets were identified. In particular, 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2-phenylchromone, anhydroicaritin, and luteolin were the core components and TNF, IL-6, IL-1β, MMP9, and PTGS2 were the core targets. The GO and KEGG analyses indicated that EP may modulate multiple biological processes and pathways, including the AGE-RAGE, TNF, NF-κB/MAPK, and TLR signaling pathways, for AS treatment. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations showed good affinity between the active components and core targets of EP, with stable binding within 100 nanoseconds. In particular, 8-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)-2-phenylchromone possessed the highest free energy of binding to PTGS2 and TNF (-115.575 and - 87.676 kcal/mol, respectively). Thus, EP may affect AS through multiple pathways, including the alleviation of inflammation, oxidative stress, and immune responses. In summary, we identified the active components and potential targets of EP, highlighting new strategies for the further experimental validation and exploration of lead compounds for treating AS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangjin Wang
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Lijiao Wu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Maobin Yu
- Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Hao Wang
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Langyu He
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yilang Hu
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Zhaosen Li
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yuqin Zheng
- School of Sports Medicine and Health, Chengdu Sports University, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Bo Peng
- Department of Respiratory, Hospital of Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 610000, China.
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9
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Li M, Zhang G, Tang Q, Xi K, Lin Y, Chen W. Network-based analysis identifies potential therapeutic ingredients of Chinese medicines and their mechanisms toward lung cancer. Comput Biol Med 2024; 173:108292. [PMID: 38513387 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108292] [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: 12/25/2023] [Revised: 02/27/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors around the world, which has the highest mortality rate among all cancers. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has attracted increased attention in the field of lung cancer treatment. However, the abundance of ingredients in Chinese medicines presents a challenge in identifying promising ingredient candidates and exploring their mechanisms for lung cancer treatment. In this work, two network-based algorithms were combined to calculate the network relationships between ingredient targets and lung cancer targets in the human interactome. Based on the enrichment analysis of the constructed disease module, key targets of lung cancer were identified. In addition, molecular docking and enrichment analysis of the overlapping targets between lung cancer and ingredients were performed to investigate the potential mechanisms of ingredient candidates against lung cancer. Ten potential ingredients against lung cancer were identified and they may have similar effect on the development of lung cancer. The results obtained from this study offered valuable insights and provided potential avenues for the development of novel drugs aimed at treating lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Li
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Guiyang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Qiang Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Kexing Xi
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Yue Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Wei Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China; State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China; State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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Almowallad S, Al-Massabi R. Berberine modulates cardiovascular diseases as a multitarget-mediated alkaloid with insights into its downstream signals using in silico prospective screening approaches. Saudi J Biol Sci 2024; 31:103977. [PMID: 38510527 PMCID: PMC10951604 DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2024.103977] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis is potentially correlated with several cardiac disorders that are greatly associated with cellular oxidative stress generation, inflammation, endothelial cells dysfunction, and many cardiovascular complications. Berberine is a natural isoquinoline alkaloid compound that widely modulates pathogenesis of atherosclerosis through its different curative potentials. This in silico screening study was designed to confirm the potent restorative properties of berberine chloride as a multitarget-mediated alkaloid against the CVDs and their complications through screening, identifying, visualizing, and evaluating its binding models, affinities, and interactions toward several CVDs-related targets as direct and/or indirect-mediated signals via inhibiting cellular ER stress and apoptotic signals and activating autophagy pathway. The drug-likeness properties of berberine were predicted using the computational QSAR/ADMET and Lipinski's RO5 analyses as well as in silico molecular docking simulations. The potent berberine-binding modes, residues-interaction patterns, and free energies of binding scores towards several CVDs-related targets were estimated using molecular docking tools. Furthermore, the pharmacokinetic properties and toxicological features of berberine were clearly determined. According to this in silico virtual screening study, berberine chloride could restore cardiac function and improve pathogenic features of atherosclerotic CVDs through alleviating ER stress and apoptotic signals, activating autophagy, improving insulin sensitivity, decreasing hyperglycemia and dyslipidemia, increasing intracellular RCT signaling, attenuating oxidative stress and vascular inflammation, and upregulating cellular antioxidant defenses in many cardiovascular tissues. In this in silico study, berberine chloride greatly modulated several potent CVDs-related targets, including SIGMAR1, GRP78, CASP3, BECN1, PIK3C3, SQSTM1/p62, LC3B, GLUT3, INSR, LDLR, LXRα, PPARγ, IL1β, IFNγ, iNOS, COX-2, MCP-1, IL10, GPx1, and SOD3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanaa Almowallad
- Assistant Professor of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rehab Al-Massabi
- Assistant Professor of Medical Biochemistry, Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Tabuk, Tabuk 71491, Saudi Arabia
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Tong T, Cheng B, Tie S, Ouyang D, Cao J. Exploring Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma and Polygalae Radix in Alzheimer's: Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2024; 103:e37740. [PMID: 38608086 PMCID: PMC11018230 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000037740] [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: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Explore Acori Tatarinowii Rhizoma (ATR) and Polygalae Radix (PR) mechanisms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) treatment through network pharmacology. ATR-PR was investigated in the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database, Batman, and Traditional Chinese Medicines Integrated Database (TCMID) to gather information on its chemical components and target proteins. Target genes associated with AD were retrieved from the GeneCards and National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) databases. The integration of these datasets with potential targets facilitated the construction of an AD and ATR-PR protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using the STRING database. The resulting network identified the core active ingredients and main targets of ATR-PR in AD treatment. Cluster analysis of the PPI network was performed using Cytoscape 3.7.1. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted using the Metascape database. Molecular docking simulations revealed potential interactions between the main active ingredients and core targets. Our analysis identified 8 putative components and 455 targets of ATR-PR. We systematically searched for 1306 genes associated with AD, conducted Venn diagram analysis resulting in 156 common targets, and constructed a PPI network with 57 key targets. GO functional analysis highlighted the primary biological processes associated with oxidative stress. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis revealed the involvement of 64 signaling pathways, with the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway playing a key role. Molecular docking analysis indicated a high affinity between the potential targets of ATR-PR and the main compounds of AD. This study sheds light on the complex network of interactions involving ATR-PR in the context of AD. The identified targets, pathways, and interactions provide a foundation for understanding the potential therapeutic mechanisms. The involvement of oxidative stress-related processes and the crucial role of the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway suggest avenues for targeted therapeutic interventions in Alzheimer's disease treatment. Our proposition of the combined use of ATR-PR has emerged as a potential treatment strategy for AD, supported by a network pharmacology approach. This framework provides a robust foundation for future clinical applications and experimental research in the pursuit of effective Alzheimer's disease treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianhao Tong
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Bin Cheng
- Xiangtan County Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Xiangtan, China
| | - Songyan Tie
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Dan Ouyang
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
| | - Jianzhong Cao
- Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
- Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Diagnostics in Chinese Medicine, Hunan University of Chinese Medicine, Changsha, China
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Wang J, Zhao P, Cheng P, Zhang Z, Yang S, Wang J, Wang X, Zhu G. Exploring the effect of Anshen Dingzhi prescription on hippocampal mitochondrial signals in single prolonged stress mouse model. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 323:117713. [PMID: 38181935 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117713] [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: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/07/2024]
Abstract
HEADINGS ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Anshen Dingzhi prescription (ADP), which was first published in the masterpiece of traditional Chinese Medicine in the Qing Dynasty, "Yi Xue Xin Wu" (1732 CE), is documented to interrupt panic-related disorders. However, the mechanism of its action is still not clear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to investigate the effects of ADP on post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)-like behaviors and explore the mechanism from perspective of sirtuin1 (SIRT1)-peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1α)-dependent mitochondrial function. MATERIALS AND METHODS The changes of SIRT1-PGC-1α signal and mitochondrial function were evaluated in the hippocampus of mice receiving single prolonged stress (SPS). Later, the roles of this signaling pathway played in fear memory generalization and anxiety-like behavior in SPS mice was investigated using two agonists of this signaling pathway. On this basis, the effects of ADP (36.8 mg/kg) with definite therapeutic effects, on mitochondrial function were investigated and further confirmed by a SIRT1 inhibitor. Finally, the possible components of ADP targeting PGC-1α were monitored through bioinformatics. RESULTS Compared with control mice, SIRT1-PGC-1α signal in the hippocampus was impaired in SPS mice, accompanied with dysfunction of mitochondria and abnormal expression of synaptic proteins. The agonists of SIRT1-PGC-1α signal, ZLN005, as well as resveratrol improved the behavioral changes of mice caused by SPS, reversed the decline of proteins in SIRT1-PGC-1α signal, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the abnormal expression of synaptic proteins. The fingerprint was established for the quality control of ADP. At a dose of 36.8 mg/kg, ADP could prevent fear memory generalization and anxiety-like behavior in SPS mice. Mechanically, ADP promoted SIRT1-PGC-1α signal and repaired mitochondrial function. Importantly, SIRT1 inhibitor, selisistat eliminated the ameliorative effects of ADP on behavioral and mitochondrial function. Through molecular docking simulation, the brain-entering components of ADP, including malkangunin, Rg5, fumarine, frutinone A, celabenzine, and inermin had high binding energy with PGC-1α. CONCLUSION Dysfunction of SIRT1-PGC-1α-dependent mitochondrial function is attributed to SPS-triggered fear generalization and anxiety-like behavior, and ADP could improve PTSD-like behaviors likely through activating this signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Wang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Panpan Zhao
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Ping Cheng
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Zhengrong Zhang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China
| | - Shaojie Yang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China; Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinical Medical Research Center of Anhui Province, The Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Jingji Wang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China; Acupuncture and Moxibustion Clinical Medical Research Center of Anhui Province, The Second Affiliation Hospital of Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230061, China
| | - Xuncui Wang
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China.
| | - Guoqi Zhu
- Center for Xin'an Medicine and Modernization of Traditional Chinese Medicine of IHM, and Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology (Brain Diseases), Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, China.
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Yang W, Wang Y, Han D, Tang W, Sun L. Recent advances in application of computer-aided drug design in anti-COVID-19 Virials Drug Discovery. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 173:116423. [PMID: 38493593 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116423] [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: 12/08/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic epidemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which poses a serious threat to human health worldwide and results in significant economic losses. With the continuous emergence of new virus strains, small molecule drugs remain the most effective treatment for COVID-19. The traditional drug development process usually requires several years; however, the development of computer-aided drug design (CADD) offers the opportunity to develop innovative drugs quickly and efficiently. The literature review describes the general process of CADD, the viral proteins that play essential roles in the life cycle of SARS-CoV-2 and can serve as therapeutic targets, and examples of drug screening of viral target proteins by applying CADD methods. Finally, the potential of CADD in COVID-19 therapy, the deficiency, and the possible future development direction are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weiying Yang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Ye Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Jilin University, Changchun 130012, China
| | - Dongfeng Han
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Wenjing Tang
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China
| | - Lichao Sun
- Department of Emergency Medicine, First Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130021, China.
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Jiang Y, Zhong S, Tan H, Fu Y, Lai J, Liu L, Weng J, Chen H, He S. Study on the mechanism of action of Saposhnikovia divaricata and its key phytochemical on rheumatoid arthritis based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117586. [PMID: 38104871 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 12/07/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz.) Schischk (SD; called "fangfeng" in China) has been widely used in the clinical treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and has shown well therapeutic effects, but the specific mechanisms of action of its bioactive phytochemicals remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to investigate the molecular biological mechanism of SD in treating RA through a pharmacology-based strategy. The SD-specific core ingredient Prangenidin was screened for further in-depth study. MATERIALS AND METHODS The bioactive phytochemicals of SD and potential targets for the treatment of RA were screened by network pharmacology, and phytochemicals-related parameters such as pharmacology, and toxicology were evaluated. The protein interaction network was established to screen the core targets, and the correlation between the core targets and RA was further validated by bioinformatics strategy. Finally, molecular docking of core components and corresponding targets was performed. The in vitro experiments were performed to elucidate the regulation of Prangenidin on MH7A cells and on the PI3K/AKT pathway, and the in vivo therapeutic effect of Prangenidin was validated in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. RESULTS A total of 18 bioactive phytochemicals and 66 potential target genes intersecting with the screened RA disease target genes were identified from SD. Finally, core ingredients such as wogonin, beta-sitosterol, 5-O-Methylvisamminol, and prangenidin and core targets such as PTGS2, RELA, and AKT1 were obtained. The underlying mechanism of SD in treating RA might be achieved by regulating pathways such as PI3K/AKT, IL-17 pathway, apoptosis, and multiple biological processes to exert anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Molecular docking confirmed that all core ingredients and key targets had great docking activity. Prangenidin inhibited viability, migration, and invasion, and induced apoptosis in MH7A cells. Prangenidin also reduced the production of IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-1, and MMP-3. Molecular analysis showed that Prangenidin exerts its regulatory effect on MH7A cells by inhibiting PI3K/AKT pathway. Treatment with Prangenidin ameliorated synovial inflammation in the joints of mice with CIA. CONCLUSION Our findings provide insights into the therapeutic effects of SD on RA, successfully predicting the effective ingredients and potential targets, which could suggest a novel theoretical basis for further exploration of its molecular mechanisms. It also revealed that Prangenidin inhibited viability, migration, invasion, cytokine, and MMPs expression, and induced apoptosis in RA FLSs via the PI3K/AKT pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Jiang
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Shuxin Zhong
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Huangsheng Tan
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Yuanfei Fu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Juyi Lai
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Lijin Liu
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Juanling Weng
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China
| | - Hanwei Chen
- Department of Radiology, Panyu Health Management Center (Panyu Rehabilitation Hospital), Guangzhou, 511495, China.
| | - Shenghua He
- The Fourth Clinical Medical College of Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen, 518033, China; Department of Spine Surgery, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, 518033, 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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Ralte L, Sailo H, Kumar R, Khiangte L, Kumar NS, Singh YT. Identification of novel AKT1 inhibitors from Sapria himalayana bioactive compounds using structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations. BMC Complement Med Ther 2024; 24:116. [PMID: 38454426 PMCID: PMC10921764 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-024-04415-3] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Through the experimental and computational analyses, the present study sought to elucidate the chemical composition and anticancer potential of Sapria himalayana plant extract (SHPE). An in vitro analysis of the plant extract was carried out to determine the anticancer potential. Further, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamic simulation were employed to evaluate the potential phytochemical compounds for cervical cancer (CC) drug formulations. The SHPE exhibited anti-cancerous potential through inhibition properties against cancer cell lines. The LC-MS profiling showed the presence of 14 compounds in SHPE. Using network pharmacology analysis, AKT1 (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1) is identified as the possible potential target, and EGFR (Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor) is identified as the possible key signal pathway. The major targets were determined to be AKT1, EGFR by topological analysis and molecular docking. An in silico interaction of phytoconstituents employing molecular docking demonstrated a high binding inclination of ergoloid mesylate and Ergosta-5,7,9(11),22-tetraen-3-ol, (3.beta.,22E)- with binding affinities of -15.5 kcal/mol, and -11.3 kcal/mol respectively. Further, MD simulation and PCA analyses showed that the phytochemicals possessed significant binding efficacy with CC protein. These results point the way for more investigation into SHPE compound's potential as CC treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laldinfeli Ralte
- Department of Botany, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, 796004, India
| | - Hmingremhlua Sailo
- Department of Botany, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, 796004, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Department of Botany, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, 796004, India
| | | | | | - Yengkhom Tunginba Singh
- Department of Botany, Mizoram University, Aizawl, Mizoram, 796004, India.
- Department of Life Sciences (Botany), Manipur University, Imphal, Manipur, 795003, India.
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Gattan HS, Wakid MH, Qahwaji RM, Altwaim S, Mahjoub HA, Alfaifi MS, Elshazly H, Al-Megrin WAI, Alshehri EA, Elshabrawy HA, El-kady AM. In silico and in vivo evaluation of the anti-cryptosporidial activity of eugenol. Front Vet Sci 2024; 11:1374116. [PMID: 38515537 PMCID: PMC10954888 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1374116] [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: 01/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Cryptosporidiosis is an opportunistic parasitic disease widely distributed worldwide. Although Cryptosporidium sp. causes asymptomatic infection in healthy people, it may lead to severe illness in immunocompromised individuals. Limited effective therapeutic alternatives are available against cryptosporidiosis in this category of patients. So, there is an urgent need for therapeutic alternatives for cryptosporidiosis. Recently, the potential uses of Eugenol (EUG) have been considered a promising novel treatment for bacterial and parasitic infections. Consequently, it is suggested to investigate the effect of EUG as an option for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis. Materials and methods The in silico bioinformatics analysis was used to predict and determine the binding affinities and intermolecular interactions of EUG and Nitazoxanide (NTZ) toward several Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) lowa II target proteins. For animal study, five groups of immunosuppressed Swiss albino mice (10 mice each) were used. Group I was left uninfected (control), and four groups were infected with 1,000 oocysts of Cryptosporidium sp. The first infected group was left untreated. The remaining three infected groups received NTZ, EUG, and EUG + NTZ, respectively, on the 6th day post-infection (dpi). All mice were sacrificed 30 dpi. The efficacy of the used formulas was assessed by counting the number of C. parvum oocysts excreted in stool of infected mice, histopathological examination of the ileum and liver tissues and determination of the expression of iNOS in the ileum of mice in different animal groups. Results treatment with EUG resulted in a significant reduction in the number of oocysts secreted in stool when compared to infected untreated mice. In addition, oocyst excretion was significantly reduced in mice received a combination therapy of EUG and NTZ when compared with those received NTZ alone. EUG succeeded in reverting the histopathological alterations induced by Cryptosporidium infection either alone or in combination with NTZ. Moreover, mice received EUG showed marked reduction of the expression of iNOS in ileal tissues. Conclusion Based on the results, the present study signified a basis for utilizing EUG as an affordable, safe, and alternative therapy combined with NTZ in the management of cryptosporidiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hattan S. Gattan
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed H. Wakid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Rowaid M. Qahwaji
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sarah Altwaim
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Haifaa A. Mahjoub
- Biological Sciences Department, College of Sciences and Arts, King Abdulaziz University, Rabigh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mashael S. Alfaifi
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Public Health and Health Informatics, Umm Al-Qura University, Mecca, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hayam Elshazly
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences-Scientific Departments, Qassim University, Buraidah, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Zoology, Faculty of Science, Beni-Suef University, Beni Suef, Egypt
| | - Wafa Abdullah I. Al-Megrin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, Princess Nourah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Hatem A. Elshabrawy
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Sam Houston State University, Conroe, TX, United States
| | - Asmaa M. El-kady
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, South Valley University, Qena, Egypt
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Smith MD, Darryl Quarles L, Demerdash O, Smith JC. Drugging the entire human proteome: Are we there yet? Drug Discov Today 2024; 29:103891. [PMID: 38246414 DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2024.103891] [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: 10/18/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
Each of the ∼20,000 proteins in the human proteome is a potential target for compounds that bind to it and modify its function. The 3D structures of most of these proteins are now available. Here, we discuss the prospects for using these structures to perform proteome-wide virtual HTS (VHTS). We compare physics-based (docking) and AI VHTS approaches, some of which are now being applied with large databases of compounds to thousands of targets. Although preliminary proteome-wide screens are now within our grasp, further methodological developments are expected to improve the accuracy of the results.
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Affiliation(s)
- Micholas Dean Smith
- University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - L Darryl Quarles
- Departments of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, TN 38163, USA; ORRxD LLC, 3404 Olney Drive, Durham, NC 27705, USA
| | - Omar Demerdash
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA.
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Diab MK, Mead HM, Khedr MA, Nafie MS, Abu-Elsaoud AM, El-Shatoury SA. Metabolite profiling and in-silico studies show multiple effects of insecticidal actinobacterium on Spodoptera littoralis. Sci Rep 2024; 14:3057. [PMID: 38321075 PMCID: PMC10847143 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-53096-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: 10/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
The polyphagous pest, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), poses a significant global economic threat by gregariously feeding on over a hundred plant species, causing substantial agricultural losses. Addressing this challenge requires ongoing research to identify environmentally safe control agents. This study aimed to elucidate the insecticidal activity of the metabolite (ES2) from a promising endophytic actinobacterium strain, Streptomyces sp. ES2 EMCC2291. We assessed the activity of ES2 against the eggs and fourth-instar larvae of S. littoralis through spectrophotometric measurements of total soluble protein, α- and β-esterases, polyphenol oxidase (PPO), and catalase enzyme (CAT). The assessments were compared to commercial Biosad® 22.8% SC. Untargeted metabolomics using LC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 83 metabolic compounds as chemical constituents of ES2. The median lethal concentration (LC50) of ES2 (165 mg/mL) for treated Spodoptera littoralis eggs showed significant differences in polyphenol oxidase and catalase enzymatic activities, while the LC50 of ES2 (695 mg/mL) for treated S. littoralis fourth instar larvae showed lower significance in α- and β-esterase activities. Molecular docking of ES2 identified seven potent biocidal compounds, showing strong affinity to PPO and catalase CAT proteins in S. littoralis eggs while displaying limited binding to alpha and beta esterase proteins in the larvae. The results contribute to the understanding of ES2 as a promising alternative biopesticide, providing insights for future research and innovative applications in sustainable pest management strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Khaled Diab
- Agricultural Research Center, Pest Physiology Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Giza, 12311, Egypt.
| | - Hala Mohamed Mead
- Agricultural Research Center, Pest Physiology Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Giza, 12311, Egypt
| | - Mohamad Ahmad Khedr
- Agricultural Research Center, Cotton Leafworm Department, Plant Protection Research Institute, Giza, 12311, Egypt
| | - Mohamed S Nafie
- Faculty of Science, Chemistry Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
| | | | - Sahar Ahmed El-Shatoury
- Faculty of Science, Microbiology & Botany Department, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, 41522, Egypt
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Ye Y, Liu B, Wang Z, Liu L, Zhang Q, Zhang Q, Jiang W. Sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate induces ROS-mediated necroptosis by directly targeting catalase in HepG2 cells. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 910:168446. [PMID: 37949132 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.168446] [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: 07/22/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzene sulfonate (OBS) has been widely used as a substitute for perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) because of its high surface activity and low cost, but the knowledge of its biological effects is still limited. In this study, we compared the toxic effects of OBS and PFOS on human hepatoma cells (HepG2). OBS resulted in lower cell viability, higher ROS levels, and more severe necrosis than PFOS, indicating that OBS caused higher cytotoxicity than PFOS. In this process, OBS induced a burst of ROS and downregulation of catalase (CAT). OBS-induced oxidative stress was recovered after the CAT overexpression, but the CAT levels were not reversed after N-acetylcysteine (NAC) pretreatment. This indicates that the downregulated CAT is an upstream signal of the ROS burst. Moreover, drug affinity targeting assay, spectroscopic analysis and molecular docking were conducted, showing that OBS directly targeted CAT and therefore downregulated CAT. In addition, we found that OBS-induced necrosis is RIP1/RIP3-dependent programmed necroptosis. In summary, OBS directly targets CAT to reduce CAT levels and induces oxidative stress and necroptosis. Our findings are helpful to understand the toxicity of OBS and to evaluate the safety of OBS as a substitute for PFOS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiyuan Ye
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Bingyan Liu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Zijian Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Ling Liu
- Marine College, Shandong University, Weihai 264209, China
| | - Qiu Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China
| | - Wei Jiang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China.
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Bayat Z, Mazaheri T, Farhadifard H, Taherkhani A. Mechanisms Involved in Therapeutic Effects of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Based on Systems Biology and Structural Bioinformatics Approaches. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024; 2024:1236910. [PMID: 38322303 PMCID: PMC10846925 DOI: 10.1155/2024/1236910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024]
Abstract
Objective Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most frequent oral cancer, constituting more than 90% of all oral carcinomas. The 5-year survival rate of OSCC patients is not satisfactory, and therefore, there is an urgent need for new practical therapeutic approaches besides the current therapies to overcome OSCC. Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (SBG) is a plant of the family Lamiaceae with several pharmaceutical properties such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anticancer effects. Previous studies have demonstrated the curative effects of SBG in OSCC. Methods A systems biology approach was conducted to identify differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) in OSCC patients with a dismal prognosis compared to OSCC patients with a favorable prognosis. A protein interaction map (PIM) was built based on DEMs targets, and the hub genes within the PIM were indicated. Subsequently, the prognostic role of the hubs was studied using Kaplan-Meier curves. Next, the binding affinity of SBG's main components, including baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin-A, salvigenin, and norwogonin, to the prognostic markers in OSCC was evaluated using molecular docking analysis. Results Survival analysis showed that overexpression of CAV1, SERPINE1, ACTB, SMAD3, HMGA2, MYC, EIF2S1, HSPA4, HSPA5, and IL6 was significantly related to a poor prognosis in OSCC. Besides, molecular docking analysis demonstrated the ΔGbinding and inhibition constant values between SBG's main components and SERPINE1, ACTB, HMGA2, EIF2S1, HSPA4, and HSPA5 were as <-8.00 kcal/mol and nanomolar concentration, respectively. The most salient binding affinity was observed between wogonin and SERPINE1 with a criterion of ΔGbinding < -10.02 kcal/mol. Conclusion The present results unraveled potential mechanisms involved in therapeutic effects of SBG in OSCC based on systems biology and structural bioinformatics analyses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Bayat
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Tina Mazaheri
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Homa Farhadifard
- Department of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
| | - Amir Taherkhani
- Research Center for Molecular Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
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Ivanov I, Manolov S, Bojilov D, Marc G, Dimitrova D, Oniga S, Oniga O, Nedialkov P, Stoyanova M. Novel Flurbiprofen Derivatives as Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Agents: Synthesis, In Silico, and In Vitro Biological Evaluation. Molecules 2024; 29:385. [PMID: 38257299 PMCID: PMC10818523 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29020385] [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: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
In this study, we present the synthesis of five novel compounds by combining flurbiprofen with various substituted 2-phenethylamines. The synthesized derivatives underwent comprehensive characterization using techniques such as 1H- and 13C-NMR spectroscopy, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Detailed HRMS analysis was performed for each of these newly created molecules. The biological activities of these compounds were assessed through in vitro experiments to evaluate their potential as anti-inflammatory and antioxidant agents. Furthermore, the lipophilicity of these derivatives was determined, both theoretically using the cLogP method and experimentally through partition coefficient (RM) measurements. To gain insights into their binding affinity, we conducted an in silico analysis of the compounds' interactions with human serum albumin (HSA) using molecular docking studies. Our findings reveal that all of the newly synthesized compounds exhibit significant anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities, with results statistically comparable to the reference compounds. Molecular docking studies further explain the observed in vitro results, shedding light on the molecular mechanisms behind their biological activities. Using in silico method, toxicity was calculated, resulting in LD50 values. Depending on the administration route, the novel flurbiprofen derivatives show lower toxicity compared to the standard flurbiprofen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iliyan Ivanov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Plovdiv, 24 “Tsar Assen” Street., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (D.B.); (D.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Stanimir Manolov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Plovdiv, 24 “Tsar Assen” Street., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (D.B.); (D.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Dimitar Bojilov
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Plovdiv, 24 “Tsar Assen” Street., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (D.B.); (D.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Gabriel Marc
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Diyana Dimitrova
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Plovdiv, 24 “Tsar Assen” Street., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (D.B.); (D.D.); (M.S.)
| | - Smaranda Oniga
- Department of Therapeutic Chemistry, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 12 Ion Creangă Street, 400010 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
| | - Ovidiu Oniga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, “Iuliu Hațieganu” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 41 Victor Babeș Street, 400012 Cluj-Napoca, Romania; (G.M.); (O.O.)
| | - Paraskev Nedialkov
- Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Sofia, 2 Dunav Street, 1000 Sofia, Bulgaria;
| | - Maria Stoyanova
- Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Plovdiv, 24 “Tsar Assen” Street., 4000 Plovdiv, Bulgaria; (D.B.); (D.D.); (M.S.)
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Zhang J, Zhao T, Zhang P, Shi Z, Da Q, Ma H, Jing L. Moslosooflavone protects against brain injury induced by hypobaric hypoxic via suppressing oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, energy metabolism disorder, and apoptosis. J Pharm Pharmacol 2024; 76:44-56. [PMID: 37991718 DOI: 10.1093/jpp/rgad109] [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: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To investigate the protect effect of moslosooflavone against brain injury induced by hypobaric hypoxia (HH) in mice. METHODS Protective effects of moslosooflavone in oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, energy metabolism disorder, and apoptosis were studied in HH-induced brain damage mice. The pathological morphology in the cortex of mice was determined by hematoxylin and eosin staining. The related protein expressions were detected by western blot. KEY FINDINGS Moslosooflavone improved HH-induced brain histopathological changes, reduced the contents of ROS and MDA, and elevated the levels of antioxidant enzymes and GSH in HH-exposed brains of mice. Moslosooflavone also markedly enhanced the ATPase activities and PK, ATP contents, while reducing LDH activity and the LD, TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 contents HH-exposed brains of mice. In addition, moslosooflavone notably decreased the expression of HIF-1α, VEGF, Bax, and cleaved caspase-3 dramatically increasing the expression of Bcl-2, Nrf2, and HO‑1 in HH-exposed brains of mice. CONCLUSIONS Our current studies indicate that moslosooflavone protects HH-induced brain injury possibly through alleviating oxidative stress and neuroinflammation, maintaining the balance of energy metabolism, and inhibiting cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Tong Zhao
- Department of Pharmacy, Gansu Provincial Maternity and Child Care Hospital, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Pengpeng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Zhiqun Shi
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Qingyue Da
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Huiping Ma
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
| | - Linlin Jing
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710061, China
- Department of Pharmacy, The 940th Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force of PLA, Lanzhou, Gansu 730050, China
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Chen K, Yu G. Tetrahydroalstonine possesses protective potentials on palmitic acid stimulated SK-N-MC cells by suppression of Aβ1-42 and tau through regulation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Eur J Pharmacol 2024; 962:176251. [PMID: 38061471 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2023.176251] [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: 08/07/2023] [Revised: 11/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease. The morbidity of Alzheimer's disease is currently on the rise worldwide, but no effective treatment is available. Cornus officinalis is an herb and edible plant used in traditional Chinese medicine, whose extract has neuroprotective properties. In this investigation, we endeavored to refine a systems pharmacology strategy combining bioinformatics analysis, drug prediction, network pharmacology, and molecular docking to screen tetrahydroalstonine (THA) from Cornus officinalis as a therapeutic component for AD. Subsequent in vitro experiments were validated using MTT assay, Annexin V-PI flow cytometry, Western blotting, and immunofluorescence analysis. In Palmitate acid-induced SK-N-MC cells, THA restored the impaired PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, regulated insulin resistance, and attenuated BACE1 and GSK3β activity. In addition, THA significantly reduced cell apoptosis rate, down-regulated relative levels of p-JNK/JNK, Bax/Bcl-2, cytochrome C, active caspase-3 and caspase-3, and attenuated Palmitate acid-induced Aβ1-42 and Tau generation. THA may regulate the phenotype of AD and reduce cell apoptosis by modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This systematic analysis provides new ramifications concerning the therapeutic utility of tetrahydroalstonine for AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kang Chen
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, PR China
| | - Guran Yu
- Department of Neurology, Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, 210029, PR China.
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Wu L, Yang Y, Lin M, Wang H, Li L, Wu H, Wang X, Yan M. Unraveling the anti-primary dysmenorrhea mechanism of Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. extract by the integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental verification. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155213. [PMID: 37980805 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155213] [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: 08/12/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The plant Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. (A. fragrans) named "Xingxiang Tuerfeng", is a traditional herb with a long history of therapeutic practice in southern China in the treatment of gynecological diseases. PURPOSE The anti-inflammatory extract of Ainsliaea fragrans Champ. (AF-ext) exhibited anti-primary dysmenorrhea (PD) activity in oxytocin-induced mice. This study aimed to unravel the underlying mechanisms of AF-ext on PD by the integrative approach of network pharmacology and experimental verification. METHODS First, the therapeutic targets of AF-ext are predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. Second, activity screening and immunoblotting methods were used for target validation. Then, the therapeutic effect of AF-ext on PD was evaluated using oxytocin-induced mice and uterine strips model. RESULTS AF-p1, and AF-p2, the active ingredients of AF-ext, showed inhibitory effects on COX1/2 and EGFR, and all five active components showed antagonistic activity on TRPV1. AF-ext (25, 50, 100 mg/kg) could significantly reduce the number of writhing times and prolong writhing latencies in a dose-dependent manner. AF-ext inhibited spasmolytic activity in uterine strips induced by oxytocin and Ca2+ stimulation. AF-ext inhibited NF-κB/COX-2/PG pathway and activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in PD mice. It significantly downregulated the PD-induced overexpression of p-p65/p65, p-IκBα, and COX-2 by inhibiting the NF-κB pathway. Moreover, the overexpression of NLRP3, p20/pro-Caspase 1, and p17/pro-IL-1β was greatly downregulated. CONCLUSIONS AF-ext demonstrated anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and spasmolytic activity in the treatment of PD. It inhibited the NF-κB/COX-2/PG pathway and NLRP3 inflammasome activation in PD mice with a multi-target approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Wu
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China; Shenzhen Research Institute of China, Pharmaceutical University, Shenzhen 518057, China
| | - Ying Yang
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Min Lin
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haiqing Wang
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Luqian Li
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Haixia Wu
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Xue Wang
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Ming Yan
- Jiangsu Center for Pharmacodynamics Research and Evaluation, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing 210009, Jiangsu Province, China.
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Mitra D, Paul M, Thatoi H, Das Mohapatra PK. Potentiality of bioactive compounds as inhibitor of M protein and F protein function of human respiratory syncytial virus. In Silico Pharmacol 2023; 12:5. [PMID: 38148755 PMCID: PMC10749291 DOI: 10.1007/s40203-023-00178-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The human respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) creates a pandemic every year in several countries in the world. Lack of target therapeutics and absence of vaccines have prompted scientists to create novel vaccines or small chemical treatments against RSV's numerous targets. The matrix (M) protein and fusion (F) glycoprotein of RSV are well characterized and attractive drug targets. Five bioactive compounds from Alnus japonica (Thunb.) Steud. were taken into consideration as lead compounds. Drug-likeness characters of them showed the drugs are non-toxic and non-mutagenic and mostly lipophobic. Molecular docking reveals that all bioactive compounds have better binding and better inhibitory effect than ribavirin which is currently used against RSV. Praecoxin A appeared as the best lead compound between them. It creates 7 different types of bonds with amino acids of M protein and 5 different types of bonds with amino acids of F protein. Van der Waals interactions highly influenced the binding energies. Molecular dynamic simulations represent the non-deviated and less fluctuating nature of praecoxin A. Principal Component Analysis showed praecoxin A complex with RSV matrix protein is more stable than ribavirin complex. This study will help to develop a new drug to inhibit RSV. All ligands were minimized through semi-empirical PM3 process with MOPAC. Toxicity was tested by ProTox-II server. Molecular docking studies were carried out using AutoDock 4.2. Molecular dynamics simulations for 100 ns were carried out through GROMACS 5.12 MD and GROMOS96 43a1 force field. The graphs were produced by GROMACS's XMGrace program. Graphical abstract
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Affiliation(s)
- Debanjan Mitra
- Department of Microbiology, Raiganj University, Raiganj, West Bengal 733134 India
| | - Manish Paul
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Odisha 757003 India
| | - Hrudayanath Thatoi
- Department of Biotechnology, Maharaja Sriram Chandra Bhanja Deo University, Baripada, Odisha 757003 India
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Chen T, Li S, Lian D, Hu Q, Hou H, Niu D, Li H, Song L, Gao Y, Chen Y, Hu X, Li J, Ye Z, Peng B, Zhang G. Integrated Network Pharmacology and Experimental Approach to Investigate the Protective Effect of Jin Gu Lian Capsule on Rheumatoid Arthritis by Inhibiting Inflammation via IL-17/NF-κB Pathway. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:3723-3748. [PMID: 38107658 PMCID: PMC10725692 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s423022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose This study aimed to investigate the main pharmacological action and underlying mechanisms of Jin Gu Lian Capsule (JGL) against rheumatoid arthritis (RA) based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. Methods Network pharmacology approaches were performed to explore the core active compounds of JGL, key therapeutic targets, and signaling pathways. Molecular docking was used to predict the binding affinity of compounds with targets. In vivo experiments were undertaken to validate the findings from network analysis. Results A total of 52 targets were identified as candidate JGL targets for RA. Sixteen ingredients were identified as the core active compounds, including, quercetin, myricetin, salidroside, etc. Interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), transcription factor AP-1 (JUN), growth-regulated alpha protein (CXCL1), C-X-C motif chemokine (CXCL)3, CXCL2, signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1), prostaglandin G/H synthase 2 (PTGS2), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)1, inhibitor of nuclear factor kappa-B kinase subunit beta (IKBKB) and transcription factor p65 (RELA) were obtained as the key therapeutic targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that the efficacy of JGL was functionally involved in regulating immune-mediated inflammation, in which IL-17/NF-κB signaling was recommended as one of the main pathways. Molecular docking suggested that the core active compounds bound strongly to their respective targets. Experimentally, JGL treatment mitigated inflammation, showed analgesic activity, and ameliorated collagen-induced arthritis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay showed that JGL effectively reduced the serum levels of cytokines, chemokines, and MMPs. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that JGL markedly reduced the expression of the targets in IL-17/NF-κB pathway including IL-17A, IL-17RA, NF-κB p65, C-X-C motif ligand 2, MMP1 and MMP13. Conclusion This investigation provided evidence that JGL may alleviate RA symptoms by partially inhibiting the immune-mediated inflammation via IL-17/NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tengfei Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Sihan Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongyin Lian
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Qin Hu
- College of Life Sciences and Bio-Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Hongping Hou
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Delian Niu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Han Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ling Song
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yunhang Gao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Chen
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaoru Hu
- National Institute for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jianrong Li
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Zuguang Ye
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Bo Peng
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangping Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, People's Republic of China
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Chen Q, Wang Y, Shi C, Tong M, Sun H, Dong M, Liu S, Wang L. Molecular Mechanism of the Asarum-Angelica Drug Pair in the Treatment of Periodontitis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17389. [PMID: 38139216 PMCID: PMC10744231 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417389] [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: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/05/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
(1) To examine the potential mechanism of the Asarum-Angelica drug pair against periodontitis and provide an experimental basis for the treatment of periodontitis with herbal medicine. (2) The core components and core targets of the Asarum-Angelica drug pair in the treatment of periodontitis were detected according to network pharmacology methods. Finally, the effect of the Asarum-Angelica drug pair on osteogenic differentiation was observed in mouse embryonic osteoblast precursor cells. (3) According to the results of network pharmacology, there are 10 potential active ingredients in the Asarum-Angelica drug pair, and 44 potential targets were obtained by mapping the targets with periodontitis treatment. Ten potential active ingredients, such as kaempferol and β-sitosterol, may play a role in treating periodontitis. Cell experiments showed that the Asarum-Angelica drug pair can effectively promote the expression of osteoblast markers alkaline phosphatase (ALP), Runt-related Transcription Factor 2 (RUNX2), and BCL2 mRNA and protein in an inflammatory environment (p < 0.05). (4) Network pharmacology effectively analyzed the molecular mechanism of Asarum-Angelica in the treatment of periodontitis, and the Asarum-Angelica drug pair can promote the differentiation of osteoblasts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qianyang Chen
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Yuhan Wang
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Chun Shi
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Meichen Tong
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Haibo Sun
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Ming Dong
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Shuo Liu
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
| | - Lina Wang
- Department of Endodontics and Periodontics, College of Stomatology, Dalian Medical University, 9 West Section, Lvshun South Road, Dalian 116044, China
- Academician Laboratory of Immune and Oral Development and Regeneration, Dalian Medical University, Dalian 116044, China
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Agarwal R, T RR, Smith JC. Comparative Assessment of Pose Prediction Accuracy in RNA-Ligand Docking. J Chem Inf Model 2023; 63:7444-7452. [PMID: 37972310 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jcim.3c01533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Structure-based virtual high-throughput screening is used in early-stage drug discovery. Over the years, docking protocols and scoring functions for protein-ligand complexes have evolved to improve the accuracy in the computation of binding strengths and poses. In the past decade, RNA has also emerged as a target class for new small-molecule drugs. However, most ligand docking programs have been validated and tested for proteins and not RNA. Here, we test the docking power (pose prediction accuracy) of three state-of-the-art docking protocols on 173 RNA-small molecule crystal structures. The programs are AutoDock4 (AD4) and AutoDock Vina (Vina), which were designed for protein targets, and rDock, which was designed for both protein and nucleic acid targets. AD4 performed relatively poorly. For RNA targets for which a crystal structure of a bound ligand used to limit the docking search space is available and for which the goal is to identify new molecules for the same pocket, rDock performs slightly better than Vina, with success rates of 48% and 63%, respectively. However, in the more common type of early-stage drug discovery setting, in which no structure of a ligand-target complex is known and for which a larger search space is defined, rDock performed similarly to Vina, with a low success rate of ∼27%. Vina was found to have bias for ligands with certain physicochemical properties, whereas rDock performs similarly for all ligand properties. Thus, for projects where no ligand-protein structure already exists, Vina and rDock are both applicable. However, the relatively poor performance of all methods relative to protein-target docking illustrates a need for further methods refinement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rupesh Agarwal
- UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6309, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1939, United States
| | - Rajitha Rajeshwar T
- UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6309, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1939, United States
| | - Jeremy C Smith
- UT/ORNL Center for Molecular Biophysics, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-6309, United States
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, Tennessee 37996-1939, United States
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30
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Liu G, Zhang S, Lin R, Cao X, Yuan L. Anti-tumor target screening of sea cucumber saponin Frondoside A: a bioinformatics and molecular docking analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1307838. [PMID: 38144520 PMCID: PMC10739435 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1307838] [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: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 11/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer remains the leading cause of death worldwide. In spite of significant advances in targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches, clinical outcomes for cancer remain poor. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential mechanisms and therapeutic targets of Frondoside A for the treatment of liver, pancreatic, and bladder cancers. The data presented in our study demonstrated that Frondoside A reduced the viability and migration of HepG2, Panc02, and UM-UC-3 cancer cell in vitro. Moreover, we utilized the GEO database to screen and identify for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in liver, pancreatic, and bladder cancers, which resulted in the identification of 714, 357, and 101 DEGs, respectively. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway annotation were performed using the Metascape database for DEGs that were significantly associated with cancer development. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks of the identified DEGs in liver, pancreatic, and bladder cancers were analyzed using Cytoscape 3.9.0 software, and subsequently identified potential key genes that were associated with these networks. Subsequently, their prognostic values were assessed by gene expression level analysis and Kaplan-Meier survival analysis (GEPIA). Furthermore, we utilized TIMER 2.0 to investigate the correlation between the expression of the identified key gene and cancer immune infiltration. Finally, molecular docking simulations were performed to assess the affinity of Frondoside A and key genes. Our results showed a significant correlation between these DEGs and cancer progression. Combined, these analyses revealed that Frondoside A involves in the regulation of multiple pathways, such as drug metabolism, cell cycle in liver cancer by inhibiting the expression of CDK1, TOP2A, CDC20, and KIF20A, and regulates protein digestion and absorption, receptor interaction in pancreatic cancer by down-regulation of ASPM, TOP2A, DLGAP5, TPX2, KIF23, MELK, LAMA3, and ANLN. While in bladder cancer, Frondoside A regulates muscle contraction, complement and coagulation cascade by increase FLNC expression. In conclusion, the present study offers valuable insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the anticancer effects of Frondoside A, and suggests that Frondoside A can be used as a functional food supplement or further developed as a natural anti-cancer drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangchun Liu
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shenglin Zhang
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ruoyan Lin
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xudong Cao
- Deparment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Lihong Yuan
- School of Biosciences and Biopharmaceutics, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou, China
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31
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Wang Z, Wang Z, Wang G, Zhang Q, Wang Q, Wang W. New insight into biodegradation mechanism of phenylurea herbicides by cytochrome P450 enzymes: Successive N-demethylation mechanism. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 182:108332. [PMID: 37988774 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108332] [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: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023]
Abstract
Phenylurea herbicides (PUHs) present one of the most important herbicides, which have cause serious effects on ecological environment and humans. Nowadays enzyme strategy shows great advantages in degradation of PUHs. Here density functional theory (DFT), quantitative structure - activity relationship (QSAR) and quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) approaches are used to investigate the degradation mechanism of PUHs catalyzed by P450 enzymes. Two successive N-demethylation pathways are identified and two hydrogen abstraction (H-abstraction) reaction pathways are identified as the rate-determining step through high-throughput DFT calculations. The Boltzmann-weighted average energy barrier of the second H-abstraction pathway (19.95 kcal/mol) is higher than that of the first H-abstraction pathway (16.80 kcal/mol). Two QSAR models are established to predict the energy barriers of the two H-abstraction pathways based on the quantum chemical descriptors and mordred molecular descriptors. The determination coefficient (R2) values of QSAR models are > 0.9, which reveal that the established QSAR models have great predictive capability. QM/MM calculations indicate that human P450 enzymes are more efficient in degradation of PUHs than crop and weed P450 enzymes. Correlations between energy barriers and key structural/charge parameters are revealed and key parameters that have influence on degradation efficiency of PUHs are identified. This study provides lateral insights into the biodegradation strategy and removal method of PUHs and valuable information for designing or engineering of highly efficient degradation enzymes and genetically modified crops.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zijian Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Zhong Wang
- Shandong Nuclear and Radiation Safety Monitoring Center, Jinan 250117, PR China
| | - Guoqiang Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China.
| | - Qiao Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Wenxing Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
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Gupta H, Sahi S. High-throughput virtual screening of potential inhibitors of GPR52 using docking and biased sampling method for Huntington's disease therapy. Mol Divers 2023:10.1007/s11030-023-10763-y. [PMID: 38038795 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-023-10763-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Huntington's disease (HD) is a rare and progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by polyglutamine (poly-Q) mutations of the huntingtin (HTT) gene resulting in chorea, cognitive, and psychiatric dysfunctions. Being a monogenic condition, reducing the levels of the mutated huntingtin protein (mHTT) holds promise as an effective therapeutic approach. GPR52, an orphan G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR), enriched in the striatum, is a novel target for slowing down the progression of HD by lowering the mHTT levels. Therefore, the study focuses on identifying potent small-molecule inhibitors for GPR52 using a combination of robust high-throughput virtual screening (HTVS) and pharmacokinetics profiling followed by fast pulling of ligand (FPL) and umbrella sampling (US) simulations. Initially, screening a library of 2,36,545 compounds was done against the binding pocket of GPR52. Based on binding affinity, stereochemical and non-bonded interactions, and pharmacokinetic profiling, 50 compounds were shortlisted. Selected hit compounds 1, 2, and 3 were subjected to FPL simulations with applied external bias potential to investigate their unique dissociation pathways and intermolecular interactions over time. Subsequently, the US simulations were performed on the selected hit compounds to estimate their binding free energy (ΔG). The analysis of the trajectories obtained from simulations revealed that the residues TYR34, TYR185, GLY187, ASP188, ILE189, SER299, PHE300, and THR303 within the active site of GPR52 were significant for efficient ligand binding through the formation of various hydrogen bond interactions and hydrophobic contacts. Out of the three hit compounds, compound 3 had the lowest ΔG of - 20.82 ± 0.44 kcal/mol. The study identified compounds 1, 2, and 3 as potential molecules that can be developed as GPR52 inhibitors holding promise for lowering mHTT levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Himanshi Gupta
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201312, India
| | - Shakti Sahi
- School of Biotechnology, Gautam Buddha University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201312, India.
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Carlos JP, Carlos GC, Sergio AS, Lorena GR, Gabriela RS, Mariano GG, Alma CG. Evaluation of the pH effect on complex formation between bovine β-lactoglobulin and aflatoxin M1: a molecular dynamic simulation and molecular docking study. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023:1-11. [PMID: 37817538 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2268178] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate interaction between aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) and structural models of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) at pH 4.0 and 6.5. This information would provide an explanation of the variability in AFM1 during cheese production. Once β-LG models were optimized using molecular dynamic (MD) simulation, it was found that a region of the Calyx cavity underwent conformational changes, at the E-F loop, from the closed conformation at pH 6.5 to the open at pH 4.0. No differences in Site C conformation were observed at both pH. The binding free energy (ΔGb) of the β-LG-AFM1 complexes at the different pHs were determined by molecular docking. The ΔGb values obtained for the Calyx cavity showed that at pH 4.0 there is a more stable complex formation compared to pH 6.5 with values of -42.6 and -32.0 kJ mol-1, respectively. On the contrary, in the complexes formed in Site C at both pH´s there were no differences. Likewise, the ΔGb in the dimer interface was evaluated, obtaining a value of -29.3 kJ mol-1, like those obtained at Site C. In addition, by the MD simulations of the β-LG-AFM1 complexes, it was observed that at acidic pH the binding of AFM1 with β-LG is more stable. In conclusion, the computational tools showed that the most stable complex was formed at the Calyx cavity at pH 4.0. This suggests that during cheese production using acidic coagulation, the whey proteins show higher affinity toward AFM1 which may explain the observed variability of mycotoxin.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiménez-Pérez Carlos
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, México, México
| | - Gómez-Castro Carlos
- Área Académica de Química, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Unidad Universitaria, Pachuca-Hidalgo, México
| | | | - Gómez-Ruiz Lorena
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, México, México
| | | | - García-Garibay Mariano
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, México, México
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Alimentación, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Lerma. Av, México, México
| | - Cruz-Guerrero Alma
- Departamento de Biotecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana-Iztapalapa, México, México
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Bo X, Chen J, Mu J, Dong X, Ren Z, Liu J, Wang S. Quercetin promotes the secretion of musk by regulating the hormone level and microbial structure of forest musk deer. Integr Zool 2023. [PMID: 37789560 DOI: 10.1111/1749-4877.12763] [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] [Indexed: 10/05/2023]
Abstract
Musk is a scarce and precious medical resource secreted by male forest musk deer (FMD). Current research to promote musk secretion in FMD has used almost exclusively hormone injections, but this approach can be detrimental to the health of FMD. In order to conserve this endangered species as much as possible while increasing the production of musk, this study first used bioinformatics methods to predict the function of quercetin, a flavonoid that promotes testosterone (T) production and prevents late-onset male hypogonadism. On the basis of good prediction effect, different concentrations of quercetin were added to the diet of FMD. The results showed that quercetin could change the levels of T, luteinizing hormone releasing hormone, luteinizing hormone, and estradiol, and regulate the structure of intestinal microorganisms and musk microorganisms of FMD. Moreover, there is a correlation among musk components, hormones, intestinal microorganisms, and musk microorganisms, which indicates that the production of musk may be regulated by these three at the same time, and the addition of quercetin with 800 mg per kg diet could significantly increase the yield of muscone (P < 0.05), the most effective ingredient in musk. In addition, quercetin decreased the high level of cortisol during musk secretion, which may relieve the stress on FMD in this process. This may help to protect the health of FMD. Combined with the results of software prediction, we finally proposed a possible mechanism for the complex process of musk secretion in FMD with a view to providing ideas for further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyu Bo
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jialing Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jinzhan Mu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xianggui Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhanjun Ren
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Jinyao Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
| | - Shuhui Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A & F University, Shaanxi, China
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Liu L, Birling Y, Zhao Y, Ma W, Tang Y, Sun Y, Wang X, Yu M, Bi H, Liu JP, Li L, Liu Z. Mechanism of Chinese botanical drug Dizhi pill for myopia: An integrated study based on bioinformatics and network analysis. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34753. [PMID: 37747014 PMCID: PMC10519534 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034753] [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: 05/28/2023] [Revised: 07/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 09/26/2023] Open
Abstract
To identify the active constituents, core targets, immunomodulatory functions and potential mechanisms of Dizhi pill (DZP) in the treatment of myopia. The active constituents and drug targets of DZP were searched in the TCMSP, Herb databases and correlational studies. The targets of myopia were searched in the TTD, Genecards, OMIM and Drugbank databases. Gene expression profile data of GSE136701 were downloaded from the GEO database and subjected to WGCNA and DEG analysis to screen for significant modules and targets of myopia. Intersectional targets of myopia and DZP and core targets of myopia were analyzed through the String database. The GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the interested targets were conducted. Cibersort algorithm was used for immune infiltration analysis to investigate the immunomodulatory functions of DZP on myopia. Autodock was used to dock the important targets and active constituents. Eight targets (STAT3, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, MAPK1, MAPK3, HSP90AA1, MIP, and LGSN) and 5 active constituents (Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Diincarvilone A, Ferulic acid methyl ester, and Naringenin) were identified from DZP. In pathways identified by the GO and KEGG enrichment analyses, "ATP metabolic process" and "AGE-RAGE diabetes complication signaling" pathways were closely related to the mechanisms of DZP in the treatment of myopia. Molecular docking showed that both the intersectional targets and core targets of myopia could bind stably and spontaneously with the active constituents of DZP. This study suggested that the mechanisms of DZP in the treatment of myopia were related to active constituents: Quercetin, Beta-sitosterol, Diincarvilone A, Ferulic acid methyl ester and Naringenin, intersectional targets: STAT3, PIK3CA, PIK3R1, MAPK1, MAPK3, and HSP90AA1, core targets of myopia: MIP and LGSN, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, positive regulation of ATP metabolic process pathway and immunomodulatory functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longkun Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yoann Birling
- NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW
| | - Yan Zhao
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenxin Ma
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Tang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxin Sun
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xuehui Wang
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Mingkun Yu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Hongsheng Bi
- Affiliated Eye Hospital of Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong, China
| | - Jian-ping Liu
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Li Li
- Beijing Institute for Drug Control, NMPA Key Laboratory for Safety Research and Evaluation of Innovative Drugs, Beijing Key Laboratory of Analysis and Evaluation on Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaolan Liu
- Center for Evidence-Based Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Yu Q, Liu M, Zhao T, Su M, Wang S, Xu W, He S, Li K, Mu X, Wu J, Sun P, Zheng F, Weng N. Mechanism of baixiangdan capsules on anti-neuroinflammation: combining dry and wet experiments. Aging (Albany NY) 2023; 15:7689-7708. [PMID: 37556347 PMCID: PMC10457058 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204934] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Neuroinflammation plays an important role in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, and despite intensive research, treatment of neuroinflammation remains limited. BaiXiangDan capsule (BXD) is widely used in clinical practice. However, systematic studies on the direct role and mechanisms of BXD in neuroinflammation are still lacking. We systematically evaluated the potential pharmacological mechanisms of BXD on neuroinflammation using network pharmacological analysis combined with experimental validation. Multiple databases are used to mine potential targets for bioactive ingredients, drug targets and neuroinflammation. GO and KEGG pathway analysis was also performed. Interactions between active ingredients and pivotal targets were confirmed by molecular docking. An experimental model of neuroinflammation was used to evaluate possible therapeutic mechanisms for BXD. Network pharmacological analysis revealed that Chrysoeriol, Kaempferol and Luteolin in BXD exerted their anti-neuroinflammatory effects mainly by acting on targets such as NCOA2, PIK3CA and PTGS2. Molecular docking results showed that their average affinity was less than -5 kcal/mol, with an average affinity of -8.286 kcal/mol. Pathways in cancer was found to be a potentially important pathway, with involvement of PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. In addition, in vivo experiments showed that BXD treatment ameliorated neural damage and reduced neuronal cell death. Western blotting, RT-qPCR and ELISA analysis showed that BXD inhibited not only the expression of IL-1β, TNF-α and NO, but also NF-κB, MMP9 and PI3K/AKT signaling pathways. This study applied network pharmacology and in vivo experiments to explore the possible mechanisms of BXD against neuroinflammation, providing insight into the treatment of neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qingying Yu
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Molin Liu
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Tingting Zhao
- College of Foreign Languages, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Mengyue Su
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Shukun Wang
- College of Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Wenhua Xu
- Preventive Treatment Center, Shenzhen Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen 518000, China
| | - Shuhua He
- Department of Psychiatry, Boai Hospitai of Zhongshan, Zhongshan 528400, China
| | - Kejie Li
- Experimental Center, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Xiangyu Mu
- College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Jibiao Wu
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Peng Sun
- Innovation Research Institute of Chinese Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan 250000, China
| | - Feng Zheng
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical University, Quanzhou 362000, China
| | - Ning Weng
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shandong Mental Health Center, Shandong University, Jinan 250000, China
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37
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Imran M, Abida, Alotaibi NM, Thabet HK, Alruwaili JA, Eltaib L, Alshehri A, Alsaiari AA, Kamal M, Alshammari AMA. Repurposing Anti-Dengue Compounds against Monkeypox Virus Targeting Core Cysteine Protease. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2025. [PMID: 37509664 PMCID: PMC10377189 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11072025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The monkeypox virus (MPXV) is an enveloped, double-stranded DNA virus belonging to the genus Orthopox viruses. In recent years, the virus has spread to countries where it was previously unknown, turning it into a worldwide emergency for public health. This study employs a structural-based drug design approach to identify potential inhibitors for the core cysteine proteinase of MPXV. During the simulations, the study identified two potential inhibitors, compound CHEMBL32926 and compound CHEMBL4861364, demonstrating strong binding affinities and drug-like properties. Their docking scores with the target protein were -10.7 and -10.9 kcal/mol, respectively. This study used ensemble-based protein-ligand docking to account for the binding site conformation variability. By examining how the identified inhibitors interact with the protein, this research sheds light on the workings of the inhibitors' mechanisms of action. Molecular dynamic simulations of protein-ligand complexes showed fluctuations from the initial docked pose, but they confirmed their binding throughout the simulation. The MMGBSA binding free energy calculations for CHEMBL32926 showed a binding free energy range of (-9.25 to -9.65) kcal/mol, while CHEMBL4861364 exhibited a range of (-41.66 to -31.47) kcal/mol. Later, analogues were searched for these compounds with 70% similarity criteria, and their IC50 was predicted using pre-trained machine learning models. This resulted in identifying two similar compounds for each hit with comparable binding affinity for cysteine proteinase. This study's structure-based drug design approach provides a promising strategy for identifying new drugs for treating MPXV infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohd Imran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Abida
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia;
| | - Nawaf M. Alotaibi
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hamdy Khamees Thabet
- Chemistry Department, College of Arts and Sciences, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jamal Alhameedi Alruwaili
- Medical Lab Technology Department, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Northern Border University, Arar 91431, Saudi Arabia
| | - Lina Eltaib
- Department of Pharmaceutics, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Alshehri
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, Northern Border University, Rafha 91911, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Pharmacology, College of Clinical Pharmacy, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, King Faisal Road, Dammam 31441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahad Amer Alsaiari
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mehnaz Kamal
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, College of Pharmacy, Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University, Al-Kharj 11942, Saudi Arabia;
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Wang Y, Liu W, Dong B, Wang D, Nian Y, Zhou H. Isolation and Identification of Herbicidal Active Compounds from Brassica oleracea L. and Exploration of the Binding Sites of Brassicanate A Sulfoxide. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 12:2576. [PMID: 37447136 DOI: 10.3390/plants12132576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2023] [Revised: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Brassica oleracea L. has strong allelopathic effects on weeds. However, the allelochemicals with herbicidal activity in B. oleracea L. are still unknown. In this study, we evaluated the activity of allelochemicals isolated from Brassica oleracea L. based on the germination and growth of model plant Lactuca sativa Linn., grass weed Panicum miliaceum, and broadleaf weed Chenopodium album. Additionally, we employed molecular docking to predict the binding of brassicanate A sulfoxide to herbicide targets. The results of this study showed that eight compounds with herbicidal activity were isolated from B. oleracea L., and the predicted results indicated that brassicanate A sulfoxide was stably bound to dihydroxyacid dehydratase, hydroxymethylpyruvate dioxygenase, acetolactate synthase, PYL family proteins and transport inhibitor response 1. This research provides compound sources and a theoretical foundation for the development of natural herbicides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Wanyou Liu
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Baozhu Dong
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Dong Wang
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
| | - Yin Nian
- State Key Laboratory of Phytochemistry and Plant Resources in West China, Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming 650201, China
| | - Hongyou Zhou
- College of Horticulture and Plant Protection, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot 010020, China
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Hou Z, Li Y, Zheng M, Liu X, Zhang Q, Wang W. Regioselective oxidation of heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons catalyzed by cytochrome P450: A case study of carbazole. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 258:114964. [PMID: 37121081 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.114964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/11/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Recently there are increasing interests in accurately evaluating the health effects of heterocyclic PAHs. However, the activation mechanism and possible metabolites of heterocyclic PAHs catalyzed by human CYP1A1 is still elusive to a great extent. Here, leveraged to high level QM/MM calculations, the corresponding activation pathways of a representative heterocyclic PAHs, carbazole, were systematically explored. The first stage is electrophilic addition or hydrogen abstraction from N-H group. Electrophilic addition was evidenced to be more feasible and regioselectivity at C3 and C4 sites were identified. Correlations between energy barriers and key structural/electrostatic parameters reveal that O-Cα distance and Fe-O-Cα angle are the main origin for the catalytic regioselectivity. Electrophilic addition was determined as the rate-determining step and the subsequent possible reactions include epoxidation, NIH shift (the hydrogen migration from the site of hydroxylation to the adjacent carbon) and proton shuttle. The corresponding products are epoxides, ketones and hydroxylated carbazoles, respectively. The main metabolites (hydroxylated carbazoles) are estimated to be more toxic than carbazole. The regioselectivity of carbazole activated by CYP1A1 is different from the environmental processes (gas and aqueous phase). Collectively, these results will inform the in-depth understanding the metabolic processes of heterocyclic PAHs and aid the accurate evaluation of their health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zexi Hou
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Yanwei Li
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China; Shenzhen Research Institute, Shandong University, Shenzhen 518057, PR China.
| | - Mingna Zheng
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Xinning Liu
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Qingzhu Zhang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
| | - Wenxing Wang
- Environment Research Institute, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, PR China
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El-Wakil ES, Abdelmaksoud HF, Wakid MH, Alsulami MN, Hammam O, Albohiri HH, Ghallab MMI. Annona muricata Leaf as an Anti-Cryptosporidial Agent: An In Silico Molecular Docking Analysis and In Vivo Studies. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:878. [PMID: 37375825 DOI: 10.3390/ph16060878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Cryptosporidiosis is a serious parasitic diarrheal disease linked to the occurrence of colorectal cancer in immunocompromised patients. The FDA-approved drug nitazoxanide (NTZ) achieved a temporary effect, and relapses occur. Annona muricata leaf is widely used in traditional medicine to treat a wide range of disorders, including antiparasitic and anticancer effects. So, this study aimed to investigate Annona muricata leaf antiparasitic and anticancer properties compared to NTZ in Cryptosporidium parvum (C. parvum) acutely and chronically infected immunosuppressed mice. A molecular docking analysis was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of some biologically active compounds that represented the pharmacological properties of Annona muricata leaf-rich extract toward C. parvum lactate dehydrogenase compared to NTZ. For the in vivo study, eighty immunosuppressed albino mice were classified into four groups as follows: group I: infected and treated with A. muricata; group II: infected and treated with nitazoxanide; group III: infected and received no treatment; and group IV: were neither infected nor treated. Furthermore, half of the mice in groups I and II received the drugs on the 10th day post-infection (dpi), and the other half received treatment on the 90th day post-infection. Parasitological, histopathological, and immunohistochemical evaluations were performed. The docking analysis showed that the lowest estimated free energy of binding of annonacin, casuarine, L-epigallocatechin, P-coumaric acid, and ellagic acid toward C. parvum LDH, were -6.11, -6.32, -7.51, -7.81, and -9.64 kcal/mol, respectively, while NTZ was -7.03 kcal/mol. Parasitological examination displayed a significantly high difference in C. parvum oocyst mean counts in groups I and II compared to group III (p-value < 0.001), with group I demonstrating the highest efficacy. The analyses of histopathological and immunohistochemical results revealed that group I showed restoration of the normal villous pattern without evidence of dysplasia or malignancy. A. muricata leaf has proved to be a reliable agent for Cryptosporidium treatment. This paper argues for its promising use as an antiparasitic agent and for the prevention of neoplastic sequels of Cryptosporidium infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eman S El-Wakil
- Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba 12411, Egypt
| | - Hagar F Abdelmaksoud
- Department of Parasitology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba 12411, Egypt
| | - Majed H Wakid
- Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
- Special Infectious Agents Unit, King Fahd Medical Research Center, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muslimah N Alsulami
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Olfat Hammam
- Department of Pathology, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Imbaba 12411, Egypt
| | - Haleema H Albohiri
- Department of Biology, College of Science, University of Jeddah, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marwa M I Ghallab
- Department of Medical Parasitology, Faculty of Medicine, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafrelsheikh 33516, Egypt
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Sun F, Liu J, Tariq A, Wang Z, Wu Y, Li L. Unraveling the mechanism of action of cepharanthine for the treatment of novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) from the perspectives of systematic pharmacology. ARAB J CHEM 2023; 16:104722. [PMID: 36910427 PMCID: PMC9987614 DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2023.104722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Natural products play an irreplaceable role in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nevertheless, the underlying molecular mechanisms involved remain elusive. To better understand their potential therapeutic effects, more validation studies are needed to explore underlying mechanisms systematically. This study aims to explore the potential targets of action and signaling pathways of cepharanthine for the treatment of COVID-19. This study revealed that a total of 173 potential targets of action for Cepharanthine and 86 intersectional targets for Cepharanthine against COVID-19 were screened and collected. Gene Ontology enrichment analysis suggested that inflammatory, immune cell and enzyme activities were the critical terms for cepharanthine against COVID-19. Pathway enrichment analysis showed that five pathways associated with COVID-19 were the main signaling pathways for the treatment of COVID-19 via cepharanthine. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations suggested that 6 core targets were regarded as potential targets for cepharanthine against COVID-19. In brief, the study demonstrates that cepharanthine may play an important role in the treatment of SARS-CoV-2 infection through its harmonious activity against SARS-CoV-2 pathways and multiple related targets. This article provides valuable insights required to respond effectively to concerns of western medical community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feifei Sun
- Animal-Derived Food Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), Beijing 100017, China
| | - Jinde Liu
- Animal-Derived Food Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
| | - Ali Tariq
- College of Veterinary Sciences, University of Agriculture, Peshawar, Peshawar, Pakistan
| | - Zhonglei Wang
- Key Laboratory of Green Natural Products and Pharmaceutical Intermediates in Colleges and Universities of Shandong Province, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Qufu Normal University, Qufu 273165, PR China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Yongning Wu
- NHC Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment, Chinese Academy of Medical Science Research Unit (2019RU014), Beijing 100017, China
| | - Lin Li
- Animal-Derived Food Safety Innovation Team, College of Animal Science and Technology, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
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Zhai L, Yang W, Li D, Zhou W, Cui M, Yao P. Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal the immunomodulatory mechanism of rhubarb peony decoction for the treatment of ulcerative colitis and irritable bowel syndrome. JOURNAL OF PHARMACY & PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES : A PUBLICATION OF THE CANADIAN SOCIETY FOR PHARMACEUTICAL SCIENCES, SOCIETE CANADIENNE DES SCIENCES PHARMACEUTIQUES 2023; 26:11225. [PMID: 37305432 PMCID: PMC10248730 DOI: 10.3389/jpps.2023.11225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) share various similarities in clinical symptoms, pathogenesis, and treatment. UC concurrent IBS tends toward more severe symptoms and worse prognosis, and promising feasible therapies for the overlapping symptoms remains a challenge. Rhubarb peony decoction (RPD) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely applied in treating UC. RPD may exert extensive therapeutic effects on both IBS and UC. However, the common mechanism of its treatment remains unclear. We aimed to assess the potential pharmacological mechanism of RPD in the treatment of overlapping IBS and UC. Methods: The active components and targets of RPD were retrieved from ETCM, TCMSP, BATMAN-TCM, and TCM databases. The disease targets were screened by searching the DrugBank, OMIM, TTD, and PharmGKB databases. PPI network analysis was performed and visualized via the STRING platform and Cytoscape software. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the hub genes of RPD were predicted to elucidate the potential molecular mechanism. Subsequently, molecular docking was carried out to verify the combination of active compounds with core targets. Results: By integrating all targets of RPD and disease, a total of 31 bioactive ingredients were identified including quercetin, kaempferol, aloe-emodin, beta-sitosterol, and (+)-catechin, etc. JUN, TP53, MAPK1, RELA, MYC, and ESR1 were explored as potential therapeutic targets among 126 common drug-disease-related targets. They were enriched in the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, as well as the NF-kappa B signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway. Additionally, some active ingredients were identified as candidates for binding to the hub targets via molecular docking, further suggesting their anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties. Conclusion: RPD may exert the overall treatment effect for UC and IBS overlap syndrome via the biological mechanism of "multi-ingredients, multi-targets, and multi-pathways" on inflammation, oxidative stress, immune, oncogenicity, and gut microbiota dysbiosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leilei Zhai
- Graduate School, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Weiming Yang
- Graduate School, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Dianrong Li
- Graduate School, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Wei Zhou
- Department of Nephrology, The Children’s Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health, Hangzhou, China
| | - Min Cui
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
| | - Ping Yao
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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Roberti A, Tejedor JR, Díaz-Moreno I, López V, Santamarina-Ojeda P, Pérez RF, Urdinguio RG, Concellón C, Martínez-Chantar ML, Fernández-Morera JL, Díaz-Quintana A, Del Amo V, Fernández AF, Fraga MF. Nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) regulates the glucocorticoid signaling pathway during the early phase of adipogenesis. Sci Rep 2023; 13:8293. [PMID: 37217546 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-34916-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is associated with adipose tissue dysfunction through the differentiation and expansion of pre-adipocytes to adipocytes (hyperplasia) and/or increases in size of pre-existing adipocytes (hypertrophy). A cascade of transcriptional events coordinates the differentiation of pre-adipocytes into fully differentiated adipocytes; the process of adipogenesis. Although nicotinamide N-methyltransferase (NNMT) has been associated with obesity, how NNMT is regulated during adipogenesis, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms, remain undefined. In present study we used genetic and pharmacological approaches to elucidate the molecular signals driving NNMT activation and its role during adipogenesis. Firstly, we demonstrated that during the early phase of adipocyte differentiation NNMT is transactivated by CCAAT/Enhancer Binding Protein beta (CEBPB) in response to glucocorticoid (GC) induction. We found that Nnmt knockout, using CRISPR/Cas9 approach, impaired terminal adipogenesis by influencing the timing of cellular commitment and cell cycle exit during mitotic clonal expansion, as demonstrated by cell cycle analysis and RNA sequencing experiments. Biochemical and computational methods showed that a novel small molecule, called CC-410, stably binds to and highly specifically inhibits NNMT. CC-410 was, therefore, used to modulate protein activity during pre-adipocyte differentiation stages, demonstrating that, in line with the genetic approach, chemical inhibition of NNMT at the early stages of adipogenesis impairs terminal differentiation by deregulating the GC network. These congruent results conclusively demonstrate that NNMT is a key component of the GC-CEBP axis during the early stages of adipogenesis and could be a potential therapeutic target for both early-onset obesity and glucocorticoid-induced obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annalisa Roberti
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 33940, El Entrego, Spain
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Juan Ramon Tejedor
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 33940, El Entrego, Spain
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Irene Díaz-Moreno
- Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ), Scientific Research Centre Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), University of Seville - Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Virginia López
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Pablo Santamarina-Ojeda
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Raúl F Pérez
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 33940, El Entrego, Spain
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rocío G Urdinguio
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Carmen Concellón
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - María Luz Martínez-Chantar
- Liver Disease Lab, Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance, Derio, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Carlos III National Health Institute, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Luis Fernández-Morera
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
- Endocrinology and Nutrition Department, Hospital Vital Alvarez Buylla (HVAB), 33611, Mieres, Spain
| | - Antonio Díaz-Quintana
- Institute for Chemical Research (IIQ), Scientific Research Centre Isla de la Cartuja (cicCartuja), University of Seville - Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), Seville, Spain
| | - Vicente Del Amo
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, University of Oviedo, Oviedo, Spain
| | - Agustín F Fernández
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 33940, El Entrego, Spain.
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Mario F Fraga
- Nanomaterials and Nanotechnology Research Center (CINN), Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), 33940, El Entrego, Spain.
- Foundation for Biomedical Research and Innovation in Asturias (FINBA), 33011, Oviedo, Spain.
- Health Research Institute of Asturias (ISPA), Av. del Hospital Universitario, 33011, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain.
- University Institute of Oncology (IUOPA), University of Oviedo, 33006, Oviedo, Spain.
- Center for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER), 28029, Madrid, Spain.
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Li R, Shi C, Wei C, Wang C, Du H, Liu R, Wang X, Hong Q, Chen X. Fufang Shenhua tablet inhibits renal fibrosis by inhibiting PI3K/AKT. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 116:154873. [PMID: 37257328 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fufang Shenhua tablet (SHT), a traditional Chinese medicine compound, has been utilized in the clinical management of chronic kidney disease (CKD) for a long time. Nevertheless, the fundamental active constituents and potential mechanism of action remain unclear. Thus, the objective of this study was to investigate the renoprotective effect of SHT on residual renal tissue in CKD model rats and to explore its primary efficacious components and their underlying mechanism. METHODS After a 12-week period of SHT treatment through gavage in a 5/6 nephrectomized animal model of CKD, we evaluated the body weight, renal function, and renal pathological changes. Furthermore, the expression levels of fibronectin (FN), collagen I (COL-1), α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), and vimentin in renal tissues were assessed. In addition, network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking were utilized to predict the primary active components, potential therapeutic targets, and intervention pathways through which SHT could potentially exert its anti-kidney fibrosis effects. Subsequently, these predictions were validated in renal tissues of rats with CKD and in transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1)-induced HK-2 cells. RESULTS SHT significantly improved renal function and reduced renal pathological damage and fibrosis in CKD model rats. Network pharmacological analysis identified 62 active components in SHT, with quercetin ranked first, and 105 protein targets shared by SHT and CKD. Based on the protein‒protein interaction network (PPI) and the SHT-CKD-pathway network, AKT1, MYC, IL2, and VEGFA were identified as key targets. Furthermore, GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses indicated that the renoprotective effect of SHT on CKD was closely associated with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Molecular docking results demonstrated that the main active components of SHT had a strong binding affinity to the hub genes. During experimental validation, SHT hindered the activity of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway in the renal tissue of CKD model rats. Furthermore, activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway was correlated with a modified fibrotic phenotype in rats with 5/6 nephrectomy-induced CKD and TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells. Conversely, SHT and quercetin curtailed the activation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and inhibited the formation of renal fibrosis, thus indicating that the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway is the basis of the antifibrotic effects of SHT. Ultimately, administration of the PI3K/AKT agonist 740Y-P counteracted the fibrotic phenotype of TGF-β1-induced HK-2 cells induced by SHT. CONCLUSIONS In this investigation, we employed a fusion of systems pharmacology and in vivo and in vitro experiments to elucidate the mechanism of SHT's antifibrotic properties via obstruction of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Additionally, we surmised that AKT may be the principal target of SHT for the management of CKD and that quercetin may be its efficacious component. We have thus identified SHT as a promising drug for the amelioration of renal fibrosis and the progression of CKD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Run Li
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China; The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chunru Shi
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China; The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Cuiting Wei
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China; The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Chao Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China; The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Hongjian Du
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Ran Liu
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Xu Wang
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Quan Hong
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China.
| | - Xiangmei Chen
- Department of Nephrology, First Medical Center of Chinese PLA General Hospital, Nephrology Institute of the Chinese People's Liberation Army, National Key Laboratory of Kidney Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Kidney Diseases, Beijing Key Laboratory of Kidney Disease Research, Beijing 100853, China; The College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Guangzhou 510006, China.
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Ogun OJ, Thaller G, Becker D. Molecular Structural Analysis of Porcine CMAH-Native Ligand Complex and High Throughput Virtual Screening to Identify Novel Inhibitors. Pathogens 2023; 12:pathogens12050684. [PMID: 37242354 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12050684] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Porcine meat is the most consumed red meat worldwide. Pigs are also vital tools in biological and medical research. However, xenoreactivity between porcine's N-glycolylneuraminic acid (Neu5Gc) and human anti-Neu5Gc antibodies poses a significant challenge. On the one hand, dietary Neu5Gc intake has been connected to particular human disorders. On the other hand, some pathogens connected to pig diseases have a preference for Neu5Gc. The Cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) catalyses the conversion of N-acetylneuraminic acid (Neu5Ac) to Neu5Gc. In this study, we predicted the tertiary structure of CMAH, performed molecular docking, and analysed the protein-native ligand complex. We performed a virtual screening from a drug library of 5M compounds and selected the two top inhibitors with Vina scores of -9.9 kcal/mol for inhibitor 1 and -9.4 kcal/mol for inhibitor 2. We further analysed their pharmacokinetic and pharmacophoric properties. We conducted stability analyses of the complexes with molecular dynamic simulations of 200 ns and binding free energy calculations. The overall analyses revealed the inhibitors' stable binding, which was further validated by the MMGBSA studies. In conclusion, this result may pave the way for future studies to determine how to inhibit CMAH activities. Further in vitro studies can provide in-depth insight into these compounds' therapeutic potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oluwamayowa Joshua Ogun
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Georg Thaller
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Husbandry, University of Kiel, Olshausenstraße 40, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Doreen Becker
- Institute of Genome Biology, Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Wilhelm-Stahl-Allee 2, 18196 Dummerstorf, Germany
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Duan H, Zhang R, Yuan L, Liu Y, Asikaer A, Liu Y, Shen Y. Exploring the therapeutic mechanisms of Gleditsiae Spina acting on pancreatic cancer via network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. RSC Adv 2023; 13:13971-13984. [PMID: 37181515 PMCID: PMC10167735 DOI: 10.1039/d3ra01761c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive tumors and also has a low survival rate. The dried spines of Gleditsia sinensis Lam are known as "Gleditsiae Spina" and they mostly contain flavonoids, phenolic acids, terpenoids, steroids, and other chemical components. In this study, the potential active components and molecular mechanisms of Gleditsiae Spina for treating pancreatic cancer were systematically revealed by network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations (MDs). RAC-alpha serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT1), cellular tumor antigen p53 (TP53), tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), interleukin-6 (IL6) and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) were common targets of Gleditsiae Spina, human cytomegalovirus infection signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, and MAPK signaling pathway were critical pathways of fisetin, eriodyctiol, kaempferol and quercetin in the treatment of pancreatic cancer. Molecular dynamics simulations (MDs) results showed that eriodyctiol and kaempferol have long-term stable hydrogen bonds and high binding free energy for TP53 (-23.64 ± 0.03 kcal mol-1 and -30.54 ± 0.02 kcal mol-1, respectively). Collectively, our findings identify active components and potential targets in Gleditsiae Spina for the treatment of pancreatic cancer, which may help to explore leading compounds and potential drugs for pancreatic cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongtao Duan
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing 405400 China
| | - Rui Zhang
- Department of Pharmacy, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital 550002 Guiyang China
| | - Lu Yuan
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing 405400 China
| | - Yiyuan Liu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing 405400 China
| | - Aiminuer Asikaer
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing 405400 China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery II, Guizhou Provincial People's Hospital 550002 Guiyang China
| | - Yan Shen
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Chongqing University of Technology Chongqing 405400 China
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Shamsol Azman ANS, Tan JJ, Abdullah MNH, Bahari H, Lim V, Yong YK. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis of Active Compounds in Tualang Honey against Atherosclerosis. Foods 2023; 12:foods12091779. [PMID: 37174317 PMCID: PMC10178747 DOI: 10.3390/foods12091779] [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: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Atherosclerosis, a pathological condition marked by the accumulation of lipids and fibrous substances in the arterial walls, is a leading cause of heart failure and death. The present study aimed to utilize network pharmacology to assess the potential pharmacological effects of bioactive compounds in Tualang honey on atherosclerosis. This is significant as previous studies have indicated the cardioprotective effects of Tualang honey, yet a comprehensive evaluation using network pharmacology has yet to be conducted. The bioactive compounds in Tualang honey were screened and the potential gene targets for these compounds were predicted through Swiss Target Prediction and SuperPred databases. Atherosclerosis genes were retrieved from the OMIM, DisGeNet, and GeneCards databases. The interaction between these compounds and atherosclerosis genes was established through protein-protein interaction, gene ontology, and KEGG pathway analysis. The results of these analyses were then further confirmed through molecular docking studies using the AutoDock Tools software. The results revealed that 6 out of 103 compounds in Tualang honey met the screening criteria, with a total of 336 potential gene targets, 238 of which were shared with atherosclerosis. Further analysis showed that these active compounds had a good affinity with key targets and were associated with biological processes related to protein phosphorylation and inflammation as well as pathways related to lipid and atherosclerosis and other signaling pathways. In conclusion, the study provides insight into the potential pharmacological effects of Tualang honey bioactive compounds on atherosclerosis, supporting its use as a promising treatment for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ain Nabila Syahira Shamsol Azman
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Jun Jie Tan
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, Kepala Batas 13200, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Nazrul Hakim Abdullah
- Department of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Hasnah Bahari
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Vuanghao Lim
- Advanced Medical and Dental Institute, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Bertam, Kepala Batas 13200, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Yoke Keong Yong
- Department of Human Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia
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Mahnam K, Rajaee SM. A theoretical survey to find potential natural compound for inhibition of binding the RBD domain to ACE2 receptor based on plant antivirals. J Biomol Struct Dyn 2023; 41:14540-14565. [PMID: 36974837 DOI: 10.1080/07391102.2023.2183033] [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: 10/20/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2023] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
The spike protein of coronavirus is crucial in binding and arrival of the virus to the human cell via binding to the human ACE2 receptor. In this study, at first 25 antiviral phytochemicals were docked into the RBD domain of spike protein, and then all complexes and free RBD domains were separately subjected to molecular dynamics simulation for 100 ns and MM/PBSA binding free energy calculation. In this phase, four ligands were chosen as hit compounds and a natural compound database (NPASS) was screened based on high similarity with these ligands, and 367 ligands were found. Then the same previous procedure was repeated for these ligands and ADME properties were investigated. Finally, virtual screening and 4400 ns MD simulation and MM/PBSA calculation revealed that new ligands including NPC67959, NPC157855, NPC248793, and NPC216361 can inhibit the RBD domain of spike protein and we propose them as potential drugs for experimental studies.Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karim Mahnam
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Sciences, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
- Nanotechnology Research Center, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran
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Gao C, Pan H, Ma F, Zhang Z, Zhao Z, Song J, Li W, Fan X. Centipeda minima active components and mechanisms in lung cancer. BMC Complement Med Ther 2023; 23:89. [PMID: 36959600 PMCID: PMC10035269 DOI: 10.1186/s12906-023-03915-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has been extensively used for neoplasm treatment and has provided many promising therapeutic candidates. We previously found that Centipeda minima (C. minima), a Chinese medicinal herb, showed anti-cancer effects in lung cancer. However, the active components and underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, we used network pharmacology to evaluate C. minima active compounds and molecular mechanisms in lung cancer. METHODS We screened the TCMSP database for bioactive compounds and their corresponding potential targets. Lung cancer-associated targets were collected from Genecards, OMIM, and Drugbank databases. We then established a drug-ingredients-gene symbols-disease (D-I-G-D) network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network using Cytoscape software, and we performed Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses using R software. To verify the network pharmacology results, we then performed survival analysis, molecular docking analysis, as well as in vitro and in vivo experiments. RESULTS We identified a total of 21 C. minima bioactive compounds and 179 corresponding targets. We screened 804 targets related to lung cancer, 60 of which overlapped with C. minima. The top three candidate ingredients identified by D-I-G-D network analysis were quercetin, nobiletin, and beta-sitosterol. PPI network and core target analyses suggested that TP53, AKT1, and MYC are potential therapeutic targets. Moreover, molecular docking analysis confirmed that quercetin, nobiletin, and beta-sitosterol, combined well with TP53, AKT1, and MYC respectively. In vitro experiments verified that quercetin induced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell death in a dose-dependent manner. GO and KEGG analyses found 1771 enriched GO terms and 144 enriched KEGG pathways, including a variety of cancer related pathways, the IL-17 signaling pathway, the platinum drug resistance pathway, and apoptosis pathways. Our in vivo experimental results confirmed that a C. minima ethanol extract (ECM) enhanced cisplatin (CDDP) induced cell apoptosis in NSCLC xenografts. CONCLUSIONS This study revealed the key C. minima active ingredients and molecular mechanisms in the treatment of lung cancer, providing a molecular basis for further C. minima therapeutic investigation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuiyun Gao
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Huafeng Pan
- Science and Technology Innovation Center, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China
| | - Fengjun Ma
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Ze Zhang
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Zedan Zhao
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Jialing Song
- School of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University, Yantai, Shandong, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
| | - Xiangzhen Fan
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, China.
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50
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Qi Z, Yan Z, Wang Y, Ji N, Yang X, Zhang A, Li M, Xu F, Zhang J. Integrative applications of network pharmacology and molecular docking: An herbal formula ameliorates H9c2 cells injury through pyroptosis. J Ginseng Res 2023; 47:228-236. [PMID: 36926601 PMCID: PMC10014185 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgr.2022.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background QiShen YiQi pills (QSYQ) is a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) formula, which has a significant effect on the treatment of patients with myocardial infarction (MI) in clinical practice. However, the molecular mechanism of QSYQ regulation pyroptosis after MI is still not fully known. Hence, this study was designed to reveal the mechanism of the active ingredient in QSYQ. Methods Integrated approach of network pharmacology and molecular docking, were conducted to screen active components and corresponding common target genes of QSYQ in intervening pyroptosis after MI. Subsequently, STRING and Cytoscape were applied to construct a PPI network, and obtain candidate active compounds. Molecular docking was performed to verify the binding ability of candidate components to pyroptosis proteins and oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) induced cardiomyocytes injuries were applied to explore the protective effect and mechanism of the candidate drug. Results Two drug-likeness compounds were preliminarily selected, and the binding capacity between Ginsenoside Rh2 (Rh2) and key target High Mobility Group Box 1 (HMGB1)was validated in the form of hydrogen bonding. 2 μM Rh2 prevented OGD-induced H9c2 death and reduced IL-18 and IL-1β levels, possibly by decreasing the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome, inhibiting the expression of p12-caspase1, and attenuating the level of pyroptosis executive protein GSDMD-N. Conclusions We propose that Rh2 of QSYQ can protect myocardial cells partially by ameliorating pyroptosis, which seems to have a new insight regarding the therapeutic potential for MI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhongwen Qi
- Postdoctoral Research Station of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Gerontology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
| | - Zhipeng Yan
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Yueyao Wang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Nan Ji
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaoya Yang
- Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Ao Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Meng Li
- Institute of Hypertension, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
- Corresponding author. Institute of Hypertension, Jiangsu Province Hospital of Chinese Medicine, Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Fengqin Xu
- Postdoctoral Research Station of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Gerontology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
- Corresponding author. Postdoctoral Research Station of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Institute of Gerontology, Xiyuan Hospital, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Junping Zhang
- First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Acupuncture and Moxibustion, Tianjin, China
- Corresponding author. First Teaching Hospital of Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China.
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