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Zhang M, Yu J, Liu A, Liu QQ, Sun T, Li X, Du Y, Li J, Wang B, Yang Q. Luteolin in the Qi Bi Anshen decoction improves propionic acid-induced autism-like behavior in rats by inhibiting LRP1/MMP9. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 118:154965. [PMID: 37451152 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.154965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND A neurodevelopmental illness with a high frequency and unidentified pathophysiology is known as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). A research hotspot in this field is the identification of disease-specific biomarkers and drug intervention targets. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) can eliminate the symptoms of autism by precisely regulating human physiology. The Qi Bi Anshen decoction (QAT) is a commonly used TCM clinical drug commonly-used to treat for treating ASD. However, the primary active ingredients and underlying mechanisms of action of this decoction remain unknown. PURPOSE This study aimed to investigate the active ingredients and pharmacodynamics of QAT in the treatment of ASD using a Sprague-Dawley rat model that resembled autism. METHODS Autism-like rat models were established through intracerebroventricular injections of propionic acid (PPA). Subsequently, the rats were treated with QAT, and their efficacy was evaluated using the three-chamber method to analyze social interactions and grooming behavior. Additionally, open-field tests, elevated cross-maze tests, hematoxylin and eosin staining, Nissl staining, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were performed; Western blot analysis was employed to determine the expression of synaptic plasticity-related proteins. Utilizing ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS), the effectiveness of active QAT components was assessed, and potential QAT targets were screened through molecular docking, surface plasmon resonance, and thermal migration experiments. To better understand the precise processes involved in treating ASD with active QAT components, in vivo and in vitro knockdown tests were also performed. RESULTS QATexhibited a significant improvement in autism-like behavior and a notable increase in the production of proteins associated with synaptic plasticity. Furthermore, luteolin (LUT), identified as a potentially important active ingredient in QAT for treating ASD, reduced matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP9) expression. However, this effect was attenuated by the knockdown of low-density lipoprotein receptor-associated protein 1 (LRP1), which is the target binding site for LUT. CONCLUSIONS LUT emerges as a potentially crucial active component of QAT in the treatment of ASD, with the ability to antagonize LRP1 and subsequently reduce MMP9 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengjia Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Mechanism and Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China; Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiaoyan Yu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - An Liu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Qing-Qing Liu
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Xi Li
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Yaya Du
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Jiamin Li
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Mechanism and Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China; Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pharmacodynamic Mechanism and Material Basis of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi Provincial Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shaanxi University of Chinese Medicine, Xianyang, China.
| | - Qi Yang
- Precision Pharmacy and Drug Development Center, Department of Pharmacy, Tangdu Hospital, Air Force Medical University, Xi'an, China.
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Liu Z, Huang H, Yu Y, Jia Y, Dang X, Wang Y, Huang L. Exploring the Potential Mechanism of Danshen in the Treatment of Concurrent Ischemic Heart Disease and Depression Using Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking, and Molecular Dynamics Simulation. Nat Prod Commun 2022. [DOI: 10.1177/1934578x221143637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: This study aimed to explore the potential targets and mechanism of action of Danshen in treating concurrent ischemic heart disease (IHD) and depression using network pharmacology, molecular docking, and molecular dynamics simulation (MDS). Methods: The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database was used to obtain active ingredients and targets of Danshen. Candidate targets for IHD and depression were obtained from the Genecards and DisGeNet databases. The protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using the STRING database and the Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed using the Metascape database and the GlueGO package of the Cytoscape 3.8.2 software. Molecular docking was performed using Autodock 1.5.6 and Vina, and the MDS was completed using GROMACS 5.1.2. Results: We obtained 65 active ingredients of Danshen with 131 candidate targets and 39 intersection targets of the active ingredients and diseases. Luteolin, tanshinone IIA, and salviolone were the core active ingredients, and AKT1, TNF, IL-6, MMP9, CASP3, IL-10, PTGS2, STAT3, PPARG, IL-4, EGFR, MAPK14, NOS3, and EDN1 were the core targets. The GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses revealed that the intersection targets were mainly enriched in positive regulation of protein phosphorylation, blood circulation, IL-17 signaling pathway, VEGF signaling pathway, and JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The molecular docking revealed that the core active ingredients had a good affinity for the core targets. The results of MDS revealed that the protein-ligand complexes were stable. Conclusions: This study used network pharmacology to analyze the potential mechanism of action of Danshen in the treatment of concurrent IHD and depression. Additionally, the study provided a theoretical basis for further studying the pharmacological mechanisms and targets of Danshen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiyao Liu
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Hailiang Huang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Ying Yu
- Innovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yuqi Jia
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Xiaowen Dang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yajie Wang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Lei Huang
- College of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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Qizhi Kebitong Formula Ameliorates Streptozocin-Induced Diabetic Osteoporosis through Regulating the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB Pathway. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 2022:4469766. [PMID: 36046447 PMCID: PMC9420605 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4469766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2022] [Revised: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Background Diabetic osteoporosis (DOP) is a progressive osteoblast dysfunction induced by high glucose, which has negative impacts on bone homeostasis. Qizhi Kebitong formula (QKF) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula for treating DOP. However, its role in the protection of DOP has not been clarified yet. Here, we aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of QKF on DOP development via in vivo experiment. Methods Network pharmacology was used to detect the key targets and signaling pathways of QKF on DOP. The effects of QKF on DOP were examined by the phenotypic characteristics, micro-CT, and hematoxylin-eosin (H&E) staining. The predicted targets and pathways were validated by a streptozocin- (STZ-) induced mouse model. Subsequently, the levels of the selected genes and proteins were analyzed using qRT-PCR and Western blot. Finally, AutoDock and PyMOL were used for molecular docking. Results In this study, 90 active compounds and 2970 related disease targets have been found through network pharmacology. And QKF could improve the microstructures of femur bone mass, reduce inflammatory cell infiltration, and downregulate the levels of TNF-α, IKBKB, IL-6, and IL-1β. Moreover, the underlying effect of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB pathways was also recommended in the treatment. Conclusion Altogether, our findings suggested that QKF could markedly alleviate osteoblast dysfunction by modulating the key targets and PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway.
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