Network pharmacology-based mechanism prediction and pharmacological validation of Bushenhuoxue formula attenuating postmenopausal osteoporosis in ovariectomized mice

Exploring the mechanism of Liang Xue Wu Hua Tang in the treatment of rosacea via network pharmacology and molecular docking

Rosacea is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease affecting the center of the face that causes burning and itching sensations and changes in aesthetics. Liang Xue Wu Hua Tang (LXWHT) is a classic herbal formulation that is efficacious and has been widely used in the clinical treatment of rosacea; however, the pharmacological mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism of action of LXWHT using network pharmacology and molecular docking. The Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology database was searched to identify the active ingredients and pharmacological targets of LXWHT, and the GeneCard, Disgenet, and Gene Expression Omnibus databases were applied to screen rosacea-related targets. Cytoscape software was used to visualize the protein-protein interaction network, and network topology analysis was used to identify core targets. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed for the core targets. Molecular docking simulations and visualization were performed using Maestro and PyMOL, respectively. A total of 43 active compounds and 28 potential targets for LXWHT treatment of rosacea were selected for analysis. The Gene Ontology/Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes results indicated that LXWHT may exert therapeutic effects on rosacea by intervening in immune pathways including tumor necrosis factor pathway, interleukin-17 pathways, and Toll-like receptor signaling pathways. Chemokine ligand 2, interferon-γ, interleukin-1ß, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ, and matrix metallopeptidase 9 may be the core therapeutic target. Quercetin, stigmasterol, kaempferol, beta-sitosterol, luteolin, beta-carotene, baicalein, acetin, and isorhamnetin were predicted to be the key active ingredients. LXWHT may exert therapeutic effects in the treatment of rosacea by modulating immunity and angiogenesis, laying the foundation for further research.

Network pharmacology-based pharmacological mechanism prediction of Lycii Fructus against postmenopausal osteoporosis

Postmenopausal osteoporosis (PMOP) has become one of most frequent bone diseases worldwide with aging population. Lycii Fructus, a common plant fruit with the property of drug homologous food, has long since been used to treat PMOP. The aim of this study is to explore pharmacological mechanisms of Lycii Fructus against PMOP through using network pharmacology approach. The active ingredients of Lycii Fructus were obtained from Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology database. Target fishing was performed on these ingredients in UniProt database for identification of the relative targets. Then, we screened the targets related to PMOP using GeneCards database and DisGeNET database. The overlapping genes between PMOP and Lycii Fructus were obtained to perform protein-protein interaction, gene ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes analysis. A total of 35 active ingredients were identified in Lycii Fructus, and fished 158 related targets. Simultaneously, 292 targets associated with PMOP were obtained from GeneCards database and DisGeNET database. By drawing Venn diagram, 41 overlapping genes were obtained, and were considered as therapeutically relevant. Gene ontology enrichment analysis predicted that anti-inflammation and promotion of angiogenesis might be 2 potential mechanism of Lycii Fructus for PMOP treatment. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis revealed several pathways, such as IL-17 pathway, TNF pathway, MAPK pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and HIF signaling pathway were involved in regulating these 2 biological processes. Through the method of network pharmacology, we systematically investigated the mechanisms of Lycii Fructus against PMOP. The identified multi-targets and multi-pathways provide new insights to further determinate its exact pharmacological mechanisms.

BushenHuoxue formula promotes osteogenic differentiation via affecting Hedgehog signaling pathway in bone marrow stem cells to improve osteoporosis symptoms

BACKGROUND

The BushenHuoxue formula (BSHX) has been previously demonstrated to ameliorate osteoporosis, but the mechanisms underlying this phenomenon are currently unclear. The present study aims at investigating the mechanisms that BSHX induces osteogenesis.

METHODS

We established an osteoporosis model in rats by bilateral ovariectomy and then treated the rats with an osteogenic inducer (dexamethasone, β-sodium glycerophosphate and Vitamin C) and BSHX. After that, bone marrow density and histopathological bone examination were evaluated by using HE staining and immunohistochemistry, respectively. We also assessed the differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) into osteoblasts by using immunofluorescence staining. ALP, BMP, and COL1A1 levels were determined by ELISA. We identified genes involved in pathogenesis of osteoporosis through Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database and subsequently selected Hedgehog signaling-related genes Shh, Ihh, Gli2, and Runx2 for assessment via qRT-PCR and ELISA, Western blotting. Network pharmacology analysis was performed to identify bioactive metabolites of BSHX.

RESULTS

BSHX treatment in osteoporosis model rats promoted tightening of the morphological structure of the trabecular bone and increased the bone mineral density (BMD). BSHX also increased levels of osteoblast makers ALP, BMP, and COL1A1. Additionally, bioinformatics analysis of the GEO dataset showed that Hedgehog signaling pathway was involved in pathogenesis of osteoporosis, especially related genes Shh, Ihh, Gli2, and Runx2. Remarkably, BHSX upregulated these genes indispensably involved in the osteogenesis-related Hedgehog signaling pathway in both bone tissue and BMSCs. Importantly, we identified that quercetin was the active compounds that involved in the mechanism of BSHX-improved OP via affecting Hedgehog-related genes.

CONCLUSION

Our results indicate that BSHX promotes osteogenesis by improving BMSC differentiation into osteoblasts via increased expression of Hedgehog signaling-related genes Shh, Ihh, Gli2, and Runx2, and quercetin was the bioactive compound of BSHX.

Longbie capsules reduce bone loss in the subchondral bone of rats with comorbid osteoporosis and osteoarthritis by regulating metabolite alterations

Background and objective

With the development of global population aging, comorbidity (≥2 diseases) is a common health problem among elderly people. Osteoarthritis (OA) and osteoporosis (OP) are common in elderly individuals. There is a lack of drug therapy for OA and OP comorbidities. The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy and mechanism of Longbie capsule (LBJN), which contains various plant herbs, in treating OA and OP comorbidities (OA + OP) in rats using metabolomics techniques.

Methods

We created an OA + OP rat model through bilateral oophorectomy combined with meniscus instability surgery. Thirty SD rats were randomly divided into five groups (six in each group), namely, the sham group, OA group, OA + OP group, LBJN low-dose group (0.625 g/kg, OA + OP+LB-L group) and LBJN high-dose group (1.25 g/kg, OA + OP+LB-H group). After 8 weeks of intervention, we used micro-CT to detect bone microstructure status, ELISA to measure bone metabolism indicators, and UPLC-MS technology for metabolomics analysis. Finally, the screened differentially expressed metabolites were subjected to Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway and functional enrichment analysis.

Results

The micro-CT results showed that LBJN significantly improved the bone mineral density (BMD) and bone quality of subchondral bone in OA + OP rats, and LBJN regulated the expression of bone alkaline phosphatase (BALP), osteoprotegerin (OPG), and tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRACP) in serum to maintain bone metabolism balance. Metabolomics analysis showed that the metabolic trajectory of OA + OP rats after intervention in the OA + OP+LB-H group showed significant changes, and 107 potential biomarkers could be identified. Among them, 50 metabolites were upregulated (such as zeranol) and 57 were downregulated (such as vanillactic acid). The KEGG functional enrichment results indicated that the differentially expressed metabolites are mainly involved in amino acid metabolism, lipid metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. The KEGG pathway enrichment results indicated that LBJN may exert therapeutic effects on OA + OP rats by regulating the cAMP signaling pathway, and the FoxO signaling pathway.

Conclusion

LBJN can maintain bone metabolism balance by regulating serum lipid metabolism, amino acid metabolism, carbohydrate metabolism, and estrogen, thereby reducing bone loss in subchondral bone, which may be a potential mechanism through which LBJN treats OA + OP.