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Liang X, Xie H, Yu L, Ouyang J, Peng Q, Chen K, Liu F, Chen H, Chen X, Du X, Zhu X, Li G, He R. Study on the effects and mechanisms of Wenzhong Bushen Formula in improving ovarian reserve decline in mice based on network pharmacology. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 324:117756. [PMID: 38218503 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.117756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE The Wenzhong Bushen Formula (WZBSF) is a traditional Chinese medicine empirical formula known for its effects in tonifying qi, strengthening the spleen, warming the kidneys, promoting yang, regulating blood circulation, and balancing menstruation. Clinical evidence has demonstrated its significant efficacy in treating Diminished Ovarian Reserve (DOR) by improving ovarian reserves. However, the specific pharmacological mechanisms of WZBSF remain unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to investigate the mechanisms by which WZBSF improves ovarian reserve decline through network pharmacology and animal experiments. METHODS AND MATERIALS WZBSF was analyzed using a dual UPLC-MS/MS and GC-MS platform. Effective components and targets of WZBSF were obtained from the TCMSP database and standardized using UniProt. Disease targets were collected from GeneCard, OMIM, PHARMGKB, and DisGeNET databases, with cross-referencing between the two sets of targets. A PPI protein interaction network was constructed using Cytoscape3.9.1 and STRING database, followed by KEGG and GO enrichment analysis using the Metascape database. Finally, an ovarian reserve decline model was established in mice, different doses of WZBSF were administered, and experimental validation was conducted through serum hormone detection, H&E staining, immunofluorescence (IF), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blot analysis (WB). RESULTS WZBSF shares 145 common targets with ovarian reserve decline. GO enrichment analysis revealed involvement in biological processes such as response to hormone stimulation and phosphatase binding, while KEGG analysis implicated pathways including the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway. In mice with ovarian reserve decline, WZBSF restored weight gain rate, increased ovarian index, normalized estrous cycles, reversed serum hormone imbalances, restored various follicle counts, and improved ovarian morphology. Additionally, WZBSF reduced p-AKT and p-FOXO3a levels, preventing excessive activation of primordial follicles and maintaining ovarian reserve. CONCLUSION WZBSF can ameliorate cyclophosphamide and busulfan-induced ovarian reserve decline, and its mechanism may be associated with the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/FOXO3a signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxia Liang
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Haibo Xie
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Leyi Yu
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Jiahui Ouyang
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Qingjie Peng
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Keming Chen
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Feifei Liu
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Hua Chen
- General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xiaojiang Chen
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xiaoli Du
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Xiangdong Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Guangyong Li
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Rui He
- Key Laboratory of Fertility Preservation and Maintenance of Ministry of Education, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China; Key Laboratory of Ningxia Minority Medicine Modernization Ministry of Education, School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, China.
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Deng J, Qin L, Qin S, Wu R, Huang G, Fang Y, Huang L, Zhou Z. NcRNA Regulated Pyroptosis in Liver Diseases and Traditional Chinese Medicine Intervention: A Narrative Review. J Inflamm Res 2024; 17:2073-2088. [PMID: 38585470 PMCID: PMC10999193 DOI: 10.2147/jir.s448723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Pyroptosis is a novel pro-inflammatory mode of programmed cell death that differs from ferroptosis, necrosis, and apoptosis in terms of its onset and regulatory mechanisms. Pyroptosis is dependent on cysteine aspartate protein hydrolase (caspase)-mediated activation of GSDMD, NLRP3, and the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-1 (IL-1β), and interleukin-18 (IL-18), ultimately leading to cell death. Non-coding RNA (ncRNA) is a type of RNA that does not encode proteins in gene transcription but plays an important regulatory role in other post-transcriptional links. NcRNA mediates pyroptosis by regulating various related pyroptosis factors, which we termed the pyroptosis signaling pathway. Previous researches have manifested that pyroptosis is closely related to the development of liver diseases, and is essential for liver injury, alcoholic fatty liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), liver fibrosis, and liver cancer. In this review, we attempt to address the role of the ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis pathway in the above liver diseases and their pathogenesis in recent years, and briefly outline that TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) intervene in liver diseases by modulating ncRNA-mediated pyroptosis, which will provide a strategy to find new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of liver diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiasheng Deng
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, 530200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Le Qin
- Department of Pharmacy, Affiliated Hospital of Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, 533000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sulang Qin
- School of Graduate Studies, Youjiang Medical University for Nationalities, Baise, Guangxi, 533000, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ruisheng Wu
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, 530200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Guidong Huang
- School of Pharmacy, Guangxi University of Chinese Medicine, Nanning, Guangxi, 530200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yibin Fang
- Department of Pharmacy, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Lanlan Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545006, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhipin Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, Liuzhou People’s Hospital, Liuzhou, Guangxi, 545006, People’s Republic of China
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Liu Y, Xu L, Fang Q, Rong H, Zheng H. Network pharmacology-based investigation and experimental validation of the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection in acute pancreatitis. Technol Health Care 2024; 32:2307-2320. [PMID: 38393937 DOI: 10.3233/thc-231086] [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] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Danshen Chuanxiong Injection (DCI) has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP); however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain incompletely understood. OBJECTIVE In this study, we employed network pharmacology analysis to comprehensively investigate the active components, potential targets, and signaling pathways involved in DCI-mediated treatment of AP. METHODS We utilized the mouse pancreatic acinar cell line 266-6 to establish an cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced AP cell injury model and evaluated cell viability using the Cell counting kit-8 assay. Western blotting and quantitative PCR were employed to determine the expression levels of key target proteins and genes. RESULTS Network pharmacology analysis identified a total of 144 active components and 430 potential targets within DCI. By integrating data from public databases, we identified 762 AP-related genes. Among these, we identified 93 potential targets that may be involved in the therapeutic effects of DCI for AP. These targets were significantly enriched in biological processes such as oxidative stress, regulation of cytokine production, leukocyte migration, and the TNF signaling pathway. Molecular docking studies revealed a high binding affinity between the active components and the key targets AKT1 and NFKBA, indicative of potential interaction. Additionally, CCK-induced acinar cell injury led to upregulation of AKT1, NFKBA, and P53 proteins, as well as TNF, IL6, and MMP9 genes. Conversely, treatment with DCI dose-dependently attenuated CCK-induced acinar cell injury and restored the expression levels of the aforementioned proteins and genes. CONCLUSION Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DCI in the treatment of AP. Our findings confirm the protective effect of DCI against CCK-induced acinar cell injury and its regulation of key targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yining Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhoushan Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Liming Xu
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Emergency and Critical Care Center, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Affiliated People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qiongyan Fang
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhoushan Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Hui Rong
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhoushan Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huaiyu Zheng
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhoushan Hospital of Zhejiang Province, Zhoushan, Zhejiang, China
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