Network Pharmacology Analysis and Machine-Learning Models Confirmed the Ability of YiShen HuoXue Decoction to Alleviate Renal Fibrosis by Inhibiting Pyroptosis

Deciphering the Pharmacological Potential of Kouqiangjie Formula for the Treatment of Diabetic Periodontitis Based on Network Pharmacology, Machine Learning, Molecular Dynamics, and Animal Experiments

Background

Periodontitis (PD) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) represent interlinked global health burdens, commonly causing significant clinical complications when coincident. Therefore, managing both conditions (T2DM with periodontitis, DP) simultaneously poses considerable challenges, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. KQJF has been clinically proven to treat DP with good efficacy, but its pharmacological substances and targets are not clear and urgently need to be clarified.

Aim

To define the potential active components and targets of KQJF for the treatment of DP.

Materials and Methods

The investigation commenced with the application of UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis to delineate the active constituents of KQJF and their associated targets in addressing DP. Additionally, the research incorporated subsequent methodologies such as machine learning, network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulations, and a DP rat model was established and validated by in vivo experiments using H&E staining, immunohistochemistry, quantitative real-time PCR, and Western blot.

Results

KQJF was found to contain 49 prototype compounds and 121 metabolites with potential activity against PD and T2DM. Network pharmacology revealed 66 overlapping genes between the pharmacological targets of KQJF and known targets of PD and T2DM. Further exploration through PPI network and enrichment analyses illuminated the involvement of multi-target and multi-pathway mechanisms. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations confirmed the robust interactions between key compounds within KQJF and proteins associated with the diseases. In vivo validation demonstrated that KQJF treatment ameliorated DP-associated histopathological changes and modulated the expression of crucial proteins (including ABCG2, CCND1, CDKN1B, HIF1A, and PIK3R1) in a DP rat model.

Conclusion

In summary, KQJF exhibits potential therapeutic benefits for DP through a multi-component and multi-target approach, potentially offering a novel integrative treatment strategy. This study underscores the importance of integrating traditional medicine with modern molecular techniques to explore novel therapeutic avenues for complex comorbid conditions, providing a blueprint for future pharmacological explorations.

Apigenin inhibits proliferation and differentiation of cardiac fibroblasts through AKT/GSK3β signaling pathway

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE

Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge (S. miltiorrhiza) is an important Traditional Chinese herbal Medicine (TCM) used to treat cardio-cerebrovascular diseases. Based on the pharmacodynamic substance of S. miltiorrhiza, the aim of present study was to investigate the underlying mechanism of S. miltiorrhiza against cardiac fibrosis (CF) through a systematic network pharmacology approach, molecular docking and dynamics simulation as well as experimental investigation in vitro.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A systematic pharmacological analysis was conducted using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Pharmacology (TCMSP) database to screen the effective chemical components of S. miltiorrhiza, then the corresponding potential target genes of the compounds were obtained by the Swiss Target Prediction and TCMSP databases. Meanwhile, GeneCards, DisGeNET, OMIM, and TTD disease databases were used to screen CF targets, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of drug-disease targets was constructed on S. miltiorrhiza/CF targets by Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes/Proteins (STING) database. After that, the component-disease-target network was constructed by software Cytoscape 3.7. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis were performed for the intersection targets between drug and disease. The relationship between active ingredient of S. miltiorrhiza and disease targets of CF was assessed via molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation. Subsequently, the underlying mechanism of the hub compound on CF was experimentally investigated in vitro.

RESULTS

206 corresponding targets to effective chemical components from S. miltiorrhiza were determined, and among them, there were 82 targets that overlapped with targets of CF. Further, through PPI analysis, AKT1 and GSK3β were the hub targets, and which were both enriched in the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway, it was the sub-pathways of the lipid and atherosclerosis pathway. Subsequently, compound-disease-genes-pathways diagram is constructed, apigenin (APi) was a top ingredients and AKT1 (51) and GSK3β (22) were the hub genes according to the degree value. The results of molecular docking and dynamics simulation showed that APi has strong affinities with AKT and GSK3β. The results of cell experiments showed that APi inhibited cells viability, proliferation, proteins expression of α-SMA and collagen I/III, phosphorylation of AKT1 and GSK3β in MCFs induced by TGFβ1.

CONCLUSION

Through a systematic network pharmacology approach, molecular docking and dynamics simulation, and confirmed by in vitro cell experiments, these results indicated that APi interacts with AKT and GSK3β to disrupt the phosphorylation of AKT and GSK3β, thereby inhibiting the proliferation and differentiation of MCFs induced by TGFβ1, which providing new insights into the pharmacological mechanism of S. miltiorrhiza in the treatment of CF.

Qingjie Huagong decoction inhibits pancreatic acinar cell pyroptosis by regulating circHipk3/miR-193a-5p/NLRP3 pathway

BACKGROUND

Safer and more effective drugs are needed for the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP). Qingjie Huagong decoction (QJHGD) has been applied to treat AP for many years and has shown good clinical effects. However, the potential mechanism has not yet been determined.

PURPOSE

To investigate the role and underlying mechanism of the effects of QJHGD on AP both in vitro and in vivo.

METHODS

QJHGD was characterized by UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS. The protective effect of QJHDG and the underlying mechanism were investigated in MPC-83 cells in vitro. A caerulein-induced AP model was established to evaluate the protective effect of QJHGD in mice. CCK-8 assays were used to detect cell viability. The contents of inflammatory mediators were determined by ELISA. Expression levels of circRNA, miRNA and mRNA were determined by qRT-PCR. Protein expression was determined using Western blot. Pancreatic tissues were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining as well as immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analyses. Pull-down and luciferase activity assays were performed to determine the regulatory relationships of circHipk3, miR-193a-5p and NLRP3.

RESULTS

Our results confirmed that mmu-miR-193a-5p was sponged by mmu-circHipk3, and NLRP3 was a target of miR-193a-5p. In vitro experiments showed that QJHGD enhanced MPC-83 cell viability by regulating circHipk3 sponging mir-193a-5 targeting NLRP3 and inhibiting pyroptosis-related factors. Finally, we showed that QJHGD ameliorated pancreatic tissue injury in AP mice via this pathway.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrate that QJHDG exerted its anti-AP effects via the circHipk3/miR-193a-5p/NLRP3 pathway, revealing a novel mechanism for the therapeutic effect of QJHDG on AP.