Deciphering the Underlying Mechanism of Eucommiae Cortex against Osteoporotic Fracture by Network Pharmacology

Unraveling the potential mechanisms of the anti-osteoporotic effects of the Achyranthes bidentata-Dipsacus asper herb pair: a network pharmacology and experimental study

Background: Osteoporosis is a prevalent bone metabolism disease characterized by a reduction in bone density, leading to several complications that significantly affect patients' quality of life. The Achyranthes bidentata-Dipsacus asper (AB-DA) herb pair is commonly used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to treat osteoporosis. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic compounds and potential mechanisms of AB-DA using network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and experimental verification. Methods: Identified compounds of AB-DA were collected from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP), Traditional Chinese Medicine Information Database (TCM-ID), TCM@Taiwan Database, BATMAN-TCM, and relevant literature. The main bioactive ingredients were screened based on the criteria of "OB (oral bioavailability) ≥ 30, DL (drug-likeness) ≥ 0.18." Potential targets were predicted using the PharmMapper and SwissTargetPrediction websites, while disease (osteoporosis)-related targets were obtained from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases. The PPI network and KEGG/GO enrichment analysis were utilized for core targets and pathway screening in the STRING and Metascape databases, respectively. A drug-compound-target-pathway-disease network was constructed using Cytoscape software to display core regulatory mechanisms. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation techniques explored the binding reliability and stability between core compounds and targets. In vitro and in vivo validation experiments were utilized to explore the anti-osteoporosis efficiency and mechanism of sitogluside. Results: A total of 31 compounds with 83 potential targets for AB-DA against osteoporosis were obtained. The PPI analysis revealed several hub targets, including AKT1, CASP3, EGFR, IGF1, MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14. GO/KEGG analysis indicated that the MAPK cascade (ERK/JNK/p38) is the main pathway involved in treating osteoporosis. The D-C-T-P-T network demonstrated therapeutic compounds that mainly consisted of iridoids, steroids, and flavonoids, such as sitogluside, loganic acid, and β-ecdysterone. Molecular docking and dynamics simulation analyses confirmed strong binding affinity and stability between core compounds and targets. Additionally, the validation experiments showed preliminary evidence of antiosteoporosis effects. Conclusion: This study identified iridoids, steroids, and flavonoids as the main therapeutic compounds of AB-DA in treating osteoporosis. The underlying mechanisms may involve targeting core MAPK cascade (ERK/JNK/p38) targets, such as MAPK1, MAPK8, and MAPK14. In vivo experiments preliminarily validated the anti-osteoporosis effect of sitogluside. Further in-depth experimental studies are required to validate the therapeutic value of AB-DA for treating osteoporosis in clinical practice.

Mechanism Investigation of Wuwei Shexiang Pills on Gouty Arthritis via Network Pharmacology, Molecule Docking, and Pharmacological Verification

Background

Gout is a common crystal-related arthritis caused by the deposition of monosodium urates (MSU). Tibetan medicine Wuwei Shexiang Pills (WSP) has been demonstrated to exhibit anti-inflammatory, antihyperuricemia, and antigout activities. However, the underlying mechanism is unknown.

Objectives

To explore the mechanisms of Wuwei Shexiang Pills on gouty arthritis via network pharmacology, molecule docking, and pharmacological verification.

Methods

The ingredients and targets of WSP were obtained by searching and screening in BATMAN-TCM and SwissADME. The targets involving the gout were acquired from public databases. The shared targets were put onto STRING to construct a PPI network. Furthermore, Metascape was applied for the GO and KEGG enrichment analysis to predict the biological processes and signaling pathways. And molecular docking was performed to validate the binding association between the key ingredients and the relative proteins of TNF signaling. Based on the serum pharmacology, the predicted antigout mechanism of WSP was validated in MSU-induced THP-1 macrophages. The levels of inflammatory cytokines and mRNA were measured by ELISA and qRT-PCR, respectively, and MAPK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 signaling-associated proteins were determined by western blot and immunofluorescence staining.

Results

48 bioactive ingredients and 165 common targets were found in WSP. The data showed that 5-Cis-Cyclopentadecen-1-One, 5-Cis-Cyclotetradecen-1-One, (-)-isoshyobunone, etc. were potential active ingredients. TNF signaling, HIF-1 signaling, and Jak-STAT signaling were predicted to be the potential pathways against gout. The molecule docking analysis found that most ingredients had a high affinity for p65, NLRP3, IL-1β, TNF-α, and p38. The data from in vitro experiment showed that WSP suppressed the production and gene expression of inflammatory cytokines. Furthermore, WSP could inhibit the activation of MAPK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 signaling pathways.

Conclusion

Our finding suggested that the antigout effect of WSP could be achieved by inhibiting MAPK, NF-κB, and NLRP3 signaling pathways. WSP might be a candidate drug for gouty treatment.

Identification of kaempferol as an OSX upregulator by network pharmacology-based analysis of qianggu Capsule for osteoporosis

Osteoporosis is the most common metabolic disease of skeleton with reduced bone density and weaker bone. Qianggu Capsule as a traditional chinese medicine has been widely used to treat osteoporosis. The potential pharmacological mechanism of its active ingredient Gusuibu is not well understood. The purpose of this work is to analyze the anti-osteoporosis function of Gusuibu based on network pharmacology, and further explore the potential mechanism of Qianggu Capsule. The active compounds and their corresponding targets of Gusuibu were obtained from TCMSP, TCMID, and BATMAN-TCM databases. Potential therapeutic targets for osteoporosis were obtained through DisGeNET, TTD, GeneCards, MalaCards, CTD, and OMIM databases. The overlapping targets of Gusuibu and osteoporosis were obtained. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis were performed. The “Gusuibu-active compounds-target genes-osteoporosis” network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network were constructed, and the top hub genes were screened by using the plug-in CytoHubba. Molecular docking was used to verify the binding activity of hub genes and key compounds. We identified 21 active compounds and 140 potential therapeutic targets that may be related to Gusuibu and 10 hub genes (AKT1, IL6, JUN, TNF, MAPK3, VEGFA, EGFR, MAPK1, CASP3, PTGS2). Molecular docking analysis demonstrated that four key active small molecules in Gusuibu (including Luteolin, Naringenin, Kaempferol, and Beta-sitosterol) have excellent binding affinity to the target proteins encoded by the top 10 hub genes. Our new findings indicated that one key active compound kaempferol activated the expression of osteoblast specific transcription factor OSX through JNK kinase pathway.

Overexpression of PIK3R1 Promotes Bone Formation by Regulating Osteoblast Differentiation and Osteoclast Formation

In an effort to bolster our understanding of regulation of bone formation in the context of osteoporosis, we screened out differentially expressed genes in osteoporosis patients with high and low bone mineral density by bioinformatics analysis. PIK3R1 is increasingly being nominated as a pivotal mediator in the differentiation of osteoblasts and osteoclasts that is closely related to bone formation. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the way that PIK3R1 affects bone metabolism are not fully elucidated. We intended to examine the potential mechanism by which PIK3R1 regulates osteoblast differentiation. Enrichment analysis was therefore carried out for differentially expressed genes. We noted that the estrogen signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, and osteoclast differentiation were markedly associated with ossification, and they displayed enrichment in PIK3R1. Based on western blot, qRT-PCR, and differentiation analysis in vitro, we found that upregulation of PIK3R1 enhanced osteoblastic differentiation, as evidenced by increased levels of investigated osteoblast-related genes as well as activities of ALP and ARS, while it notably decreased levels of investigated osteoclast-related genes. On the contrary, downregulation of PIK3R1 decreased levels of osteoblast-related genes and increased levels of osteoclast-related genes. Besides, in vitro experiments revealed that PIK3R1 facilitated proliferation and repressed apoptosis of osteoblasts but had an opposite impact on osteoclasts. In summary, PIK3R1 exhibits an osteoprotective effect via regulating osteoblast differentiation, which can be represented as a promising therapeutic target for osteoporosis.

Exploring the Pharmacological Mechanism of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction in Treating Osteoporosis Based on Network Pharmacology

Objective

The purpose of this work is to study the mechanism of action of Duhuo Jisheng Decoction (DHJSD) in the treatment of osteoporosis based on the methods of bioinformatics and network pharmacology.

Methods

In this study, the active compounds of each medicinal ingredient of DHJSD and their corresponding targets were obtained from TCMSP database. Osteoporosis was treated as search query in GeneCards, MalaCards, DisGeNET, Therapeutic Target Database (TTD), Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD), and OMIM databases to obtain disease-related genes. The overlapping targets of DHJSD and osteoporosis were identified, and then GO and KEGG enrichment analysis were performed. Cytoscape was employed to construct DHJSD-compounds-target genes-osteoporosis network and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. CytoHubba was utilized to select the hub genes. The activities of binding of hub genes and key components were confirmed by molecular docking.

Results

174 active compounds and their 205 related potential targets were identified in DHJSD for the treatment of osteoporosis, including 10 hub genes (AKT1, ALB, IL6, MAPK3, VEGFA, JUN, CASP3, EGFR, MYC, and EGF). Pathway enrichment analysis of target proteins indicated that osteoclast differentiation, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, Wnt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, JAK-STAT signaling pathway, calcium signaling pathway, and TNF signaling pathway were the specifically major pathways regulated by DHJSD against osteoporosis. Further verification based on molecular docking results showed that the small molecule compounds (Quercetin, Kaempferol, Beta-sitosterol, Beta-carotene, and Formononetin) contained in DHJSD generally have excellent binding affinity to the macromolecular target proteins encoded by the top 10 genes.

Conclusion

This study reveals the characteristics of multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway of DHJSD against osteoporosis and provides novel insights for verifying the mechanism of DHJSD in the treatment of osteoporosis.