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Li S, Xiong Z, Lan Y, Zheng Q, Zhang L, Xu X. Naringenin modulates the NO‑cGMP‑PKG signaling pathway by binding to AKT to enhance osteogenic differentiation in hPDLSCs. Int J Mol Med 2024; 54:67. [PMID: 38940332 PMCID: PMC11232664 DOI: 10.3892/ijmm.2024.5391] [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: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/22/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Naringenin (NAR) is a prominent flavanone that has been recognized for its capacity to promote the osteogenic differentiation of human periodontal ligament stem cells (hPDLSCs). The present study aimed to explore how NAR promotes the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs and to assess its efficacy in repairing alveolar bone defects. For this purpose, a protein‑protein interaction network of NAR action was established by mRNA sequencing and network pharmacological analysis. Gene and protein expression levels were evaluated by reverse transcription‑quantitative and western blotting. Alizarin red and alkaline phosphatase staining were also employed to observe the osteogenic capacity of hPDLSCs, and immunofluorescence was used to examine the co‑localization of NAR molecular probes and AKT in cells. The repair of mandibular defects was assessed by micro‑computed tomography (micro‑CT), Masson staining and immunofluorescence. Additionally, computer simulation docking software was utilized to determine the binding affinity of NAR to the target protein, AKT. The results demonstrated that activation of the nitric oxide (NO)‑cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP)‑protein kinase G (PKG) signaling pathway could promote the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. Inhibition of AKT, endothelial nitric oxide synthase and soluble guanylate cyclase individually attenuated the ability of NAR to promote the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs. Micro‑CT and Masson staining revealed that the NAR gavage group exhibited more new bone formation at the defect site. Immunofluorescence assays confirmed the upregulated expression of Runt‑related transcription factor 2 and osteopontin in the NAR gavage group. In conclusion, the results of the present study suggested that NAR promotes the osteogenic differentiation of hPDLSCs by activating the NO‑cGMP‑PKG signaling pathway through its binding to AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shenghong Li
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Zhenqiang Xiong
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Yuxin Lan
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Qian Zheng
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
| | - Xiaomei Xu
- Department of Orthodontics, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Luzhou Key Laboratory of Oral and Maxillofacial Reconstruction and Regeneration, The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
- Institute of Stomatology, Southwest Medical University, Luzhou, Sichuan 646000, P.R. China
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Yi B, Lv F, Zhang N, Lin J, Xu K, Li C, Li P, Zhao M. Exploring the pharmacological mechanisms of Biyan Qingdu Granula in the treatment after nasopharyngeal carcinoma radiotherapy based on UPLC/Q-TOF MS, network pharmacology and molecular docking. J Pharm Biomed Anal 2024; 239:115830. [PMID: 38096633 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpba.2023.115830] [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: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 09/30/2023] [Accepted: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biyan Qingdu Granula (BYQD) is a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) formula commonly used for post-radiotherapy treatment of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Despite its extensive use, the underlying pharmacological mechanisms have yet to be fully elucidated. METHODS UPLC/Q-TOF MS was used to comprehensively analyze the chemical composition of BYQD. Additionally, an everted gut sac model, coupled with UPLC/Q-TOF MS, was used to screen and identify the active ingredients. Subsequently, we conducted a network pharmacological analysis to delve into the potential mechanisms of these active ingredients. Molecular docking experiments were also performed to assess the interactions between active ingredients and potential core targets. RESULTS The findings revealed the identification of 62 identical ingredients upon comparing the sample solution and intestinal absorbed solution of BYQD. We constructed a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, which led to the identification of five core targets, namely, TP53, STAT3, MAPK1, SRC and AKT1. Through the construction of a drug-active ingredient-intersection target network, we identified Quercetin, Luteolin, Eupatilin, Magnoflorine, Acacetin and other compound as potential active ingredients. Gene Ontology (GO) function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis suggested that pathways in cancer, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis, proteoglycans in cancer, and the MAPK signaling pathway might play the key roles in the treatment of NPC after radiotherapy using BYQD. Molecular docking results corroborated strong binding activity between the putative core targets and the corresponding key active ingredients. CONCLUSION This study provides a preliminary revelation of the active ingredients and potential pharmacological mechanisms of BYQD in the post-radiotherapy treatment of NPC. These findings establish a vital theoretical basis and serve as a scientific reference for the future investigating the pharmacological mechanisms and clinical application of BYQD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojiao Yi
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Fengyi Lv
- Zhong Yuan Academy of Biological Medicine, Liaocheng People's Hospital, Liaocheng 252000, Shandong, China
| | - Na Zhang
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China; Experimental Research Center, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing 100700, China
| | - Juan Lin
- Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Keyi Xu
- Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Chuyuan Li
- Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Peng Li
- Hutchison Whampoa Guangzhou Baiyunshan Chinese Medicine Co., Ltd., Guangzhou 510515, China.
| | - Min Zhao
- School of Pharmacy, Shenyang Pharmaceutical University, Shenyang 110016, China.
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Nguyen TK, Phung HH, Choi WJ, Ahn HC. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Study on the Multi-Target Mechanisms of Aloe vera for Non-Alcoholic Steatohepatitis Treatment. PLANTS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 11:3585. [PMID: 36559697 PMCID: PMC9783676 DOI: 10.3390/plants11243585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a leading cause of chronic liver disease with limited treatment options. The widely distributed plant Aloe vera has shown protective effects against NASH in animals, yet the precise mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the potential mechanisms underlying the anti-NASH effects of Aloe vera using a network pharmacology and molecular docking approach. By searching online databases and analyzing the Gene Expression Omnibus dataset, we obtained 260 Aloe vera-NASH common targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses showed that the common targets were strongly associated with the key pathological processes implicated in NASH, including lipid and glucose metabolism, inflammation, apoptosis, oxidative stress, and liver fibrosis. Four core proteins, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (AKT1), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), transcription factor c-Jun, and tumor suppressor protein p53, were identified from compound-target-pathway and protein-protein interaction networks. Molecular docking analysis verified that the active ingredients of Aloe vera were able to interact with the core proteins, especially AKT1 and TNFα. The results demonstrate the multi-compound, multi-target, and multi-pathway mechanisms of Aloe vera against NASH. Our study has shown the scientific basis for further experiments in terms of the mechanism to develop Aloe vera-based natural products as complementary treatments for NASH. Furthermore, it identifies novel drug candidates based on the structures of Aloe vera's active compounds.
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Xu W, Ren B, Zhang Z, Chen C, Xu T, Liu S, Ma C, Wang X, Wang Q, Cheng F. Network pharmacology analysis reveals neuroprotective effects of the Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan Formula in Alzheimer’s disease. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:943400. [DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.943400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There is yet no effective drug for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) which is one of the world’s most common neurodegenerative diseases. The Qin-Zhi-Zhu-Dan Formula (QZZD) is derived from a widely used Chinese patent drug–Qing-Kai-Ling Injection. It consists of Radix Scutellariae, Fructus Gardeniae, and Pulvis Fellis Suis. Recent study showed that QZZD and its effective components played important roles in anti-inflammation, antioxidative stress and preventing brain injury. It was noted that QZZD had protective effects on the brain, but the mechanism remained unclear. This study aims to investigate the mechanism of QZZD in the treatment of AD combining network pharmacology approach with experimental validation. In the network pharmacology analysis, a total of 15 active compounds of QZZD and 135 putative targets against AD were first obtained. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis were then applied to clarify the biological mechanism. The anti-inflammatory mechanism of QZZD was proved, and a synthetic pathway–TNFR1-ERK1/2-NF-κBp65 signaling pathway was obtained. On the basis of the above discoveries, we further validated the protective effects QZZD on neurons with an APP/PS1 double transgenic mouse model. Weight change of the mice was monitored to assess QZZD’s influence on the digestive system; water maze experiment was used for evaluating the effects on spatial learning and memory; Western blotting and immunohistochemistry analysis were used to detect the predicted key proteins in network pharmacology analysis, including Aβ, IL-6, NF-κBp65, TNFR1, p-ERK1/2, and ERK1/2. We proved that QZZD could improve neuroinflammation and attenuate neuronal death without influencing the digestive system in APP/PS1 double transgenic mice with dementia. Combining animal pharmacodynamic experiments with network pharmacology analysis, we confirmed the importance of inflammation in pathogenesis of AD, clarified the pharmacodynamic characteristics of QZZD in treating AD, and proved its neuroprotective effects through the regulation of TNFR1-ERK1/2-NF-κBp65 signaling pathway, which might provide reference for studies on treatment of AD in the future.
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Yang Y, Zhu J, Yao CL, Guo DA, He N, Mei QX, Feng GJ, Chen QH, Yang GY. Determination of six core components from Mahuang Xuanfei Zhike syrup in rat plasma and tissues by UPLC-MS/MS: Application to the pharmacokinetics and tissue distribution study. Biomed Chromatogr 2022; 36:e5496. [PMID: 36047933 DOI: 10.1002/bmc.5496] [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: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Mahuang Xuanfei Zhike (MXZ) syrup, a Chinese patent medicine, has been widely used in clinical treatment of cough. However, there is no reported method for quantitative analysis of the effective components of MXZ syrup in biological samples. In this study, the effective components of MXZ syrup were screened by network pharmacology and molecular docking technology, a sensitive and rapid method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established to test the active components of MXZ syrup in rat plasma and tissue homogenates, including ephedrine, amygdalin, chlorogenic acid, harpagoside, forsythin and forsythoside A. Chromatographic separation was performed on a Waters Acquity UPLC HSS T3 column (2.1 × 50 mm, 1.8 μm) and the mass analysis was conducted in a Waters Xevo TQ mass spectrometer using multiple reaction positive and negative ion simultaneous monitoring mode (MRM). The results expounded that the linearity ranged from 0.3 ng/mL to 409.4 ng/mL, The extraction recoveries were all less than 8.33%, and the matrix effects were all less than 8.45, which met the requirements. The pharmacokinetic and tissue distribution results indicated that the main active components of MXZ syrup were absorbed quickly and eliminated slowly in vivo, and there may be a reabsorption process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yang
- Shenzhen Bao'an Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital
| | - Jing Zhu
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Chang-Liang Yao
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - De-An Guo
- Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Sciences
| | - Na He
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
| | - Quan-Xi Mei
- Shenzhen Bao'an Authentic TCM Therapy Hospital
| | | | | | - Guang-Yi Yang
- Shenzhen Bao'an Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine
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