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Zi Y, Qin Y, Ma C, Qiao Y, Xu X, Yang Y, He Q, Li M, Liu Y, Gao F. Transcriptome analysis reveals hepatic disordered lipid metabolism, lipotoxic injury, and abnormal development in IUGR sheep fetuses due to maternal undernutrition during late pregnancy. Theriogenology 2024; 226:350-362. [PMID: 38968678 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2023] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 06/23/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Although lipid metabolism in fetal livers under intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) conditions has been widely studied, the implications of maternal undernutrition on fetal hepatic lipid metabolism, lipotoxic injury, and abnormal development remain largely unknown. Therefore, this study investigated the effects of maternal undernutrition on disordered hepatic lipid metabolism, lipotoxic injury, and abnormal development in IUGR sheep fetuses using transcriptome analysis. Seventeen singleton ewes were randomly divided into three groups on day 90 of pregnancy: a control group (CG; 0.63 MJ metabolic energy/body weight (ME/BW)0.75/day, n = 5), maternal undernutrition group 1 (MU1; 0.33 MJ ME/BW0.75/day, n = 6), and maternal undernutrition group 2 (MU2; 0.20 MJ ME/BW0.75/day, n = 6). The fetuses were euthanized and recovered on day 130 of pregnancy. The levels of free fatty acids (FFA) in maternal blood (P < 0.01), fetal blood (P < 0.01), and fetal livers (P < 0.05) were increased in the MU1 and MU2 groups, but fetal hepatic triglyceride (TG) levels in the MU2 group (P < 0.01) and β-hydroxybutyrate levels in the MU1 and MU2 groups (P < 0.01) were decreased compared to the CG. Severe inflammatory cell infiltration and increased non-alcoholic fatty liver disease activity scores were observed in MU1 and MU2 fetuses (P < 0.01). Progressive deposition of fetal hepatic reticular fibers and collagen fibers in the fetal livers of the MU1 and MU2 groups and significant hepatic fibrosis were observed in the MU2 fetuses (P < 0.05). Gene set enrichment analysis showed that genes involved in lipid accumulation and FFA beta oxidation were downregulated in both MU groups compared to those in the controls. The fetal liver mRNA expression of the β-oxidation regulator, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase 1, and the TCA regulator, isocitrate dehydrogenase were reduced in MU1 (P < 0.05) and MU2 (P < 0.01) fetuses, and downregulated mRNA expression of long chain fatty acid CoA ligase 1 (P < 0.05) and glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (P < 0.01) was observed in MU2 fetuses. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in MU1 versus CG (360 DEGs) and MU2 versus CG (746 DEGs) were identified using RNA sequencing. Bioinformatics analyses of the 231 intersecting DEGs between MU1 versus CG and MU2 versus CG indicated that neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) were induced and played a central role in fetal hepatic injury in IUGR sheep. Increased maternal blood myeloperoxidase (MPO) levels (P < 0.01), NE (Elane)-positive areas in fetal liver sections (P < 0.05), and fetal liver MPO protein expression (P < 0.01) were found in the MU1 and MU2 groups; however, MPO levels were reduced in the fetal membrane (P < 0.01) and fetal blood (P < 0.05) in the MU1 group, and in the maternal-fetal placenta and fetal blood in the MU2 group (P < 0.01). Analysis of gene expression trends in the intersecting DEGs between MU1 versus CG (129 DEGs) and MU2 versus CG (515 DEGs) further revealed that 30 hub genes were essential regulators of the G2/M cell cycle, all of which were associated with hepatocellular carcinoma. G0/G1 phase cells of the fetal liver were reduced in the MU1 (P < 0.05) and MU2 (P < 0.01) groups, whereas G2/M phase cells were elevated in the MU1 and MU2 groups (P < 0.01). The representatives of upregulated hub genes and fetal liver protein expression of maternal embryonic leucine zipper kinase and protein regulator of cytokinesis 1 were progressively enhanced in the MU1 and MU2 groups (P < 0.01), and topoisomerase II alpha protein expression in the MU2 group (P < 0.05), as expected. These results indicate that FFA overload, severe lipotoxic injury, and NETs were induced, and disease-promoting regulators of the G2/M cell cycle were upregulated in the fetal liver of IUGR sheep. These findings provide new insights into the pathogenesis of impaired hepatic lipid metabolism and abnormal development and the molecular origin of post-natal liver disease in IUGR due to maternal undernutrition. This information can support the development of new therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zi
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China; Shenzheng Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzheng, China
| | - Yulong Qin
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Chi Ma
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Yina Qiao
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Xiaoyi Xu
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Yilin Yang
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Qiuyue He
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Mingyue Li
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Yingchun Liu
- College of Life Science, Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Biomanufacturing, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China
| | - Feng Gao
- College of Animal Science, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010018, China.
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Zhong Y, Li J, Zhu X, Huang N, Liu R, Sun R. A comprehensive review of bupleuri radix and its bioactive components: with a major focus on treating chronic liver diseases. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 330:118244. [PMID: 38663781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2024.118244] [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: 12/02/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/30/2024]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Bupleuri Radix (BR) has been recognized as an essential herbal medicine for relieving liver depression for thousands of years. Contemporary research has provided compelling evidence of its pharmacological effects, including anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, metabolic regulation, and anticancer properties, positioning it as a promising treatment option for various liver diseases. Hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer are among the prevalent and impactful liver diseases worldwide. However, there remains a lack of comprehensive systematic reviews that explore the prescription, bio-active components, and underlying mechanisms of BR in treating liver diseases. AIM OF THE REVIEW To summarize the BR classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients in treating liver diseases and their mechanisms to inform reference for further development and research. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literature in the last three decades of BR and its classical Chinese medical prescription and ingredients were collated and summarized by searching PubMed, Wiley, Springer, Google Scholar, Web of Science, CNKI, etc. RESULTS: BR and its classical prescriptions, such as Xiao Chai Hu decoction, Da Chai Hu decoction, Si Ni San, and Chai Hu Shu Gan San, have been utilized for centuries as effective therapies for liver diseases, including hepatitis, steatohepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. BR is a rich source of active ingredients, such as saikosaponins, polysaccharides, flavonoids, sterols, organic acids, and so on. These bioactive compounds exhibit a wide range of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, immunomodulatory, and lipid metabolism regulation. However, it is important to acknowledge that BR and its constituents can also possess hepatotoxicity, which is associated with cytochrome P450 (CYP450) enzymes and oxidative stress. Therefore, caution should be exercised when using BR in therapeutic applications to ensure the safe and appropriate utilization of its potential benefits while minimizing any potential risks. CONCLUSIONS To sum up, BR, its compounds, and its based traditional Chinese medicine are effective in liver diseases through multiple targets, multiple pathways, and multiple effects. Advances in pharmacological and toxicological investigations of BR and its bio-active components in the future will provide further contributions to the discovery of novel therapeutics for liver diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Zhong
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Jianchao Li
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 Daxue Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| | - Xiaomin Zhu
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Nana Huang
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 Daxue Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| | - Runping Liu
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100029, China.
| | - Rong Sun
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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Jiang X, Cui X, Nie R, You H, Tang Z, Liu W. Network pharmacology-based analysis on the key mechanisms of Yiguanjian acting on chronic hepatitis. Heliyon 2024; 10:e29977. [PMID: 38756592 PMCID: PMC11096846 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e29977] [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: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Chronic hepatitis (CH) encompasses a prevalent array of liver conditions that significantly contribute to global morbidity and mortality. Yiguanjian (YGJ) is a classical traditional Chinese medicine with a long history of medicinal as a treatment for CH. Although it has been reported that YGJ can reduce liver inflammation, the intricate mechanism requires further elucidation. We used network pharmacology approaches in this work, such as gene ontology (GO) analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, and network-based analysis of protein-protein interactions (PPIs), to clarify the pharmacological constituents, potential therapeutic targets, and YGJ signaling pathways associated with CH. Employing the random walk restart (RWR) algorithm, we identified GNAS, GNB1, CYP2E1, SFTPC, F2, MAPK3, PLG, SRC, HDAC1, and STAT3 as pivotal targets within the PPI network of YGJ-CH. YGJ attenuated liver inflammation and inhibited GNAS/STAT3 signaling in vivo. In vitro, we overexpressed the GNAS gene further to verify the critical role of GNAS in YGJ treatment. Our findings highlight GNAS/STAT3 as a promising therapeutic target for CH, providing a basis and direction for future investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodan Jiang
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Cui
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Ruifang Nie
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Hongjie You
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zuoqing Tang
- School of Basic Medical Sciences, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Wenlan Liu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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Zheng S, Xue C, Li S, Zao X, Li X, Liu Q, Cao X, Wang W, Qi W, Zhang P, Ye Y. Chinese medicine in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease based on network pharmacology: a review. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1381712. [PMID: 38694920 PMCID: PMC11061375 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1381712] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a clinicopathological syndrome characterized by abnormalities in hepatic fat deposition, the incidence of which has been increasing year by year in recent years. It has become the largest chronic liver disease globally and one of the important causes of cirrhosis and even primary liver cancer formation. The pathogenesis of NAFLD has not yet been fully clarified. Modern medicine lacks targeted clinical treatment protocols for NAFLD, and most drugs lack efficacy and have high side effects. In contrast, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has significant advantages in the treatment and prevention of NAFLD, which have been widely recognized by scholars around the world. In recent years, through the establishment of a "medicine-disease-target-pathway" network relationship, network pharmacology can explore the molecular basis of the role of medicines in disease prevention and treatment from various perspectives, predicting the pharmacological mechanism of the corresponding medicines. This approach is compatible with the holistic view and treatment based on pattern differentiation of TCM and has been widely used in TCM research. In this paper, by searching relevant databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase, we reviewed and analyzed the relevant signaling pathways and specific mechanisms of action of single Chinese medicine, Chinese medicine combinations, and Chinese patent medicine for the treatment of NAFLD in recent years. These related studies fully demonstrated the therapeutic characteristics of TCM with multi-components, multi-targets, and multi-pathways, which provided strong support for the exact efficacy of TCM exerted in the clinic. In conclusion, we believe that network pharmacology is more in line with the TCM mindset of treating diseases, but with some limitations. In the future, we should eliminate the potential risks of false positives and false negatives, clarify the interconnectivity between components, targets, and diseases, and conduct deeper clinical or experimental studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Zheng
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Chengyuan Xue
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Size Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Zao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoke Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyao Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenying Qi
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yongan Ye
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Wang J, Zhang Z, Li Q, Hu Z, Chen Y, Chen H, Cai W, Du Q, Zhang P, Xiong D, Ye S. Network pharmacology and molecular docking reveal the mechanisms of curcumin activity against esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1282361. [PMID: 38633613 PMCID: PMC11021710 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1282361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background: Curcumin (CUR), an effective traditional Chinese medicinal extract, displays good anti-cancer activity against various cancers. Nevertheless, the impacts and fundamental mechanisms of CUR to treat esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) yet to be comprehensively clarified. This study examined the suppressive impacts of CUR on ESCC. Methods: For a comprehensive understanding of the effect of CUR in ESCC. The CUR targets and ESCC-related genes were identified respectively, and the intersection targets between CUR and ESCC were acquired. Then, we examined the intersection targets and discovered genes that were expressed differently in ESCC. Using DAVID, enrichment analyses were conducted on the targets of CUR-ESCC. The STRING database and Cytoscape v.3.9.1 were utilized to build networks for protein-protein interaction (PPI) and drug-target-pathway. Furthermore, the interactions between CUR and its core targets were confirmed by molecular docking studies. To confirm the effects of CUR on ESCC cells, in vitro experiments were finally conducted. Results: Overall, 47 potential CUR targets for ESCC treatment were identified. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis identified 61 signaling pathways, primarily associated with the FoxO signaling, the cell cycle, cellular senescence, the IL-17 signaling pathway which play important roles in ESCC progression. In the PPI network and the docking results identified CHEK1 and CDK6 as the core targets that positively associated with ESCC survival. CUR arrested ESCC cells at the G2/M and S phases, as shown by flow cytometry. Colony formation and CCK8 assays showed that CUR can inhibit the proliferative ability of ESCC cells. The Transwell invasion results validated that CUR can significantly inhibit the invasion rates of ESCC cells. Conclusion: Collectively, these findings indicate that CUR exhibits pharmacological effects on multiple targets and pathways in ESCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Wang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhilong Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qian Li
- Department of General Practice, The Affiliated Wuxi People’s Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zilong Hu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuan Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Qiancheng Du
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Dian Xiong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Shugao Ye
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Shanghai Xuhui Central Hospital, Shanghai, China
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Liu H, Guo D, Wang J, Zhang W, Zhu Z, Zhu K, Bi S, Pan P, Liang G. Aloe-emodin from Sanhua Decoction inhibits neuroinflammation by regulating microglia polarization after subarachnoid hemorrhage. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 322:117583. [PMID: 38122912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117583] [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: 04/09/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) triggers a cascade of events that lead to early brain injury (EBI), which contributes to poor outcomes and appears within 3 days after SAH initiation. EBI involves multiple process including neuronal death, blood-brain barrier (BBB) injury and inflammation response. Microglia are cluster of immune cells originating in the brain which respond to SAH by changing their states and releasing inflammatory molecules through various signaling pathways. M0, M1, M2 are three states of microglia represent resting state, promoting inflammation state, and anti-inflammation state respectively, which can be modulated by pharmacological strategies. AIM OF THE STUDY After identified potential active ingredients and targets of Sanhua Decoction (SHD) for SAH, we selected aloe-emodin (AE) as a potential ingredient modulating microglia activation states. MATERIALS AND METHODS Molecular mechanisms, targets and pathways of SHD were reveal by network pharmacology technique. The effects of AE on SAH were evaluated in vivo by assessing neurological deficits, neuronal apoptosis and BBB integrity in a mouse SAH model. Furthermore, BV-2 cells were used to examine the effects of AE on microglial polarization. The influence of AE on microglia transformation was measured by Iba-1, TNF-α, CD68, Arg-1 and CD206 staining. The signal pathways of neuronal apoptosis and microglia polarization was measured by Western blot. RESULTS Network pharmacology identified potential active ingredients and targets of SHD for SAH. And AE is one of the active ingredients. We also confirmed that AE via NF-κB and PKA/CREB pathway inhibited the microglia activation and promoted transformation from M1 phenotype to M2 at EBI stage after SAH. CONCLUSIONS AE, as one ingredient of SHD, can alleviate the inflammatory response and protecting neurons from SAH-induced injury. AE has potential value for treating SAH-induced nerve injury and is expected to be applied in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Liu
- Department of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Lishui University, Lishui, China
| | - Dan Guo
- Department of First Outpatients, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Jiao Wang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Lishui University, Lishui, China
| | - Wenxu Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Zechao Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Kunyuan Zhu
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Shijun Bi
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China
| | - Pengyu Pan
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
| | - Guobiao Liang
- Department of Neurosurgery, General Hospital of Northern Theater Command, Shenyang, China.
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Zhang F, Ju J, Diao H, Song J, Bian Y, Yang B. Innovative pharmacotherapy for hepatic metabolic and chronic inflammatory diseases in China. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38514420 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16342] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/27/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver disease constitutes a significant global health concern, particularly in China where it has distinctive characteristics. China grapples with a staggering 300 million cases, predominantly due to hepatitis B and metabolic non-alcoholic fatty liver disease. Additionally, hepatocellular carcinoma has become a prevalent which is a lethal type of cancer. Despite the scarcity of innovative treatment options, Chinese hepatologists and researchers have achieved notable breakthroughs in the prevention, diagnosis, management and treatment of liver diseases. Traditional Chinese medicines have found widespread application in the treatment of various liver ailments owing to their commendable pharmacological efficacy and minimal side effects. Furthermore, there is a growing body of research in extracellular vesicles, cell therapy and gene therapy, offering new hope in the fight against liver diseases. This paper provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiological characteristics of liver diseases and the diverse array of treatments that Chinese scholars and scientists have pursued in critical field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Zhang
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jiaming Ju
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Hongtao Diao
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Jinglun Song
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Yu Bian
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| | - Baofeng Yang
- Department of Pharmacology (State Key Laboratory of Frigid Zone Cardiovascular Diseases, the State-Province Key Laboratories of Biomedicine-Pharmaceutics of China, Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Research, Ministry of Education), College of Pharmacy, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
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Guo H, Li P, Zhao J, Xin Q, Miao Y, Li L, Li X, Wang S, Mo H, Zeng L, Ju Z, Liu Z, Shen X, Cong W. Sheng Mai Yin shows anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia and cardioprotective potential in an experimental joint model of fatigue and acute myocardial infarction. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 319:117338. [PMID: 37890804 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.117338] [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: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and fatigue are two common diseases endangering human life and health that may interact and reinforce one another. Myocardial infarction survivors frequently experience fatigue, and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases that cause fatigue-induced sudden death. Sheng Mai Yin (SMY), a Chinese medicine prescription, is traditionally used for the treatment of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and has been demonstrated to reduce fatigue and safeguard cardiac function. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to investigate the effects and underlying mechanisms of SMY in treating fatigue and AMI. MATERIALS AND METHODS The pharmacological mechanisms of SMY in treating fatigue and AMI were predicted by bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. After administering SMY at high, medium and low doses, the swimming time to exhaustion, hemoglobin level, serological parameters and hypoxia tolerance time were detected in C57BL/6N mice, and the left ventricular ejection fractions (LVEF), left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS), grasp strength, cardiac histopathology, serological parameters and the expression of PINK1 and Parkin proteins were examined in Wistar rats. RESULTS 371 core targets for SMY and 282 disease targets for fatigue and AMI were obtained using bioinformatics and network pharmacology methods. Enrichment analysis of target genes revealed that SMY might interfere with fatigue and AMI through biological processes such as mitochondrial autophagy, apoptosis, and oxidative stress. For in vivo experiments, SMY showed significant anti-fatigue and hypoxia tolerance effects in mice; It also improved the cardiac function and grasp strength, decreased their cardiac index, myocardial injury and fibrosis degree, and induced serological parameters levels and the expression of PTEN-induced putative kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin proteins in myocardium, suggesting that SMY may exert cardioprotective effects in a joint rat model of fatigue and AMI by inhibiting excessive mitochondrial autophagy. CONCLUSION This study revealed the anti-fatigue, anti-hypoxia and cardioprotective effects of SMY in a joint model of fatigue-AMI, and the pharmacological mechanism may be related to the inhibition of mitochondrial autophagy in cardiomyocytes through the PINK1/Parkin pathway. The discoveries may provide new ideas for the mechanism study of traditional Chinese medicine, especially complex prescriptions, in treating fatigue and AMI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Guo
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Pengqi Li
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Jun Zhao
- Traditional Chinese Medicine Department, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266000, China
| | - Qiqi Xin
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Yu Miao
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing, 100091, China
| | - Li Li
- Chenland Research Institute, Irvine, CA, 92614, USA
| | - Xin Li
- Chenland Research Institute, Irvine, CA, 92614, USA
| | | | - Hui Mo
- Macao Health Bureau, Macao, 999078, China
| | - Li Zeng
- Macau University of Science and Technology, Macao, 999078, China
| | - Zhenyu Ju
- Key Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine of Ministry of Education, Institute of Aging and Regenerative Medicine, Jinan University, Guangzhou, 510632, China
| | - Zimin Liu
- Chenland Research Institute, Irvine, CA, 92614, USA.
| | - Xiaoxu Shen
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 100091, China.
| | - Weihong Cong
- Laboratory of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, 100091, China; National Clinical Research Center for Chinese Medicine Cardiology, Xiyuan Hospital, Beijing, 100091, China.
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Lan T, Geng XJ, Zhang SJ, Zeng XX, Ying JJ, Xu Y, Liu SY, Li P, Tong YH, Wang W, Mao ZJ, Wang SW. Si-Ni-San inhibits hepatic Fasn expression and lipid accumulation in MAFLD mice through AMPK/p300/SREBP-1c axis. PHYTOMEDICINE : INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHYTOTHERAPY AND PHYTOPHARMACOLOGY 2024; 123:155209. [PMID: 37984123 DOI: 10.1016/j.phymed.2023.155209] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Soothing the liver and regulating qi is one of the core ideas of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in the treatment of fatty liver. Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a well-known herbal formula in TCM for liver soothing and qi regulation in fatty liver treatment. However, its efficacy lacks modern scientific evidence. PURPOSE This study was aimed to investigate the impact of SNS on metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) in mice and explore the underlying molecular mechanisms, particularly its effects on lipid metabolism in hepatocytes. METHODS The therapeutic effect of SNS was evaluated using in vivo and in vitro models of high-fat/high-cholesterol (HFHC) diet-induced mice and palmitic acid (PA)-induced hepatocytes, respectively. Molecular biological techniques such as RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq), co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP), and western blotting were employed to elucidate the molecular mechanism of SNS in regulating lipid metabolism in hepatocytes. RESULTS Our findings revealed that SNS effectively reduced lipid accumulation in the livers of HFHC diet-induced mice and PA-induced hepatocytes. RNA-seq analysis demonstrated that SNS significantly down-regulated the expression of fatty acid synthase (Fasn) in the livers of HFHC-fed mice. Mechanistically, SNS inhibited Fasn expression and lipid accumulation by activating adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK). Activation of AMPK suppressed the activity of the transcriptional coactivator p300 and modulated the protein stability of sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1c (SREBP-1c). Importantly, p300 was required for the inhibition of Fasn expression and lipid accumulation by SNS. Furthermore, SNS activated AMPK by decreasing adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production in hepatocytes. CONCLUSION This study provided novel evidence on the regulatory mechanisms underlying the effects of SNS on Fasn expression. Our findings demonstrate, for the first time, that SNS exerts suppressive effects on Fasn expression through modulation of the AMPK/p300/SREBP-1c axis. Consequently, this regulatory pathway mitigates excessive lipid accumulation and ameliorates MAFLD in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tian Lan
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Xiao-Juan Geng
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Si-Jia Zhang
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Xi-Xi Zeng
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Jun-Jie Ying
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Yi Xu
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Shi-Yu Liu
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Ping Li
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China
| | - Yu-Hua Tong
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Preventive Treatment Center, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University Affiliated Four-provinces Marginal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Quzhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Quzhou 324000, China.
| | - Zhu-Jun Mao
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Zhejiang Chinese Medical University, Hangzhou 310053, China; Department of Ophthalmology, The Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China.
| | - Si-Wei Wang
- The Joint Innovation Center for Health & Medicine, the Quzhou Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Quzhou People's Hospital, Quzhou 324000, China.
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Xiao B, Li J, Qiao Z, Yang S, Kwan HY, Jiang T, Zhang M, Xia Q, Liu Z, Su T. Therapeutic effects of Siegesbeckia orientalis L. and its active compound luteolin in rheumatoid arthritis: network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 317:116852. [PMID: 37390879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116852] [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: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a common difficult disease with a high disability rate. Siegesbeckia orientalis L. (SO), a Chinese medicinal herb that is commonly used for treating RA in clinical practice. While, the anti-RA effect and the mechanisms of action of SO, as well as its active compound(s) have not been elucidated clearly. AIM OF THE STUDY We aim to explore the molecular mechanism of SO against RA by using network pharmacology analysis, as well as the in vitro and in vivo experimental validations, and to explore the potential bioactive compound(s) in SO. METHODS Network pharmacology is an advanced technology that provides us an efficient way to study the therapeutic actions of herbs with the underlying mechanisms of action delineated. Here, we used this approach to explore the anti-RA effects of SO, and then the molecular biological approaches were used to verify the prediction. We first established a drug-ingredient-target-disease network and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of SO-related RA targets, followed by the Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses. Further, we used lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages and vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGFA)-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) models, as well as adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA) rat model to validate the anti-RA effects of SO. The chemical profile of SO was also determined by using the UHPLC-TOF-MS/MS analysis. RESULTS Network pharmacology analysis highlighted inflammatory- and angiogenesis-related signaling pathways as promising pathways that mediate the anti-RA effects of SO. Further, in both in vivo and in vitro models, we found that the anti-RA effect of SO is at least partially due to the inhibition of toll like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. Molecular docking analysis revealed that luteolin, an active compound in SO, shows the highest degree of connections in compound-target network; moreover, it has a direct binding to the TLR4/MD-2 complex, which is confirmed in cell models. Besides, more than forty compounds including luteolin, darutoside and kaempferol corresponding to their individual peaks were identified tentatively via matching with the empirical molecular formulae and their mass fragments. CONCLUSION We found that SO and its active compound luteolin exhibit anti-RA activities and potently inhibit TLR4 signaling both in vitro and in vivo. These findings not only indicate the advantage of network pharmacology in the discovery of herb-based therapeutics for treating diseases, but also suggest that SO and its active compound(s) could be developed as potential anti-RA therapeutic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bixia Xiao
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Junmao Li
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
| | - Zhiping Qiao
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Songhong Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanchang, China.
| | - Hiu-Yee Kwan
- School of Chinese Medicine, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China; Institute for Research and Continuing Education, Hong Kong Baptist University, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Ting Jiang
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Mi Zhang
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Quan Xia
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zhongqiu Liu
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
| | - Tao Su
- International Institute for Translational Chinese Medicine, School of Pharmaceutical Science, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China.
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11
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Yu B, Zhou M, Dong Z, Zheng H, Zhao Y, Zhou J, Zhang C, Wei F, Yu G, Liu WJ, Liu H, Wang Y. Integrating network pharmacology and experimental validation to decipher the mechanism of the Chinese herbal prescription modified Shen-Yan-Fang-Shuai formula in treating diabetic nephropathy. PHARMACEUTICAL BIOLOGY 2023; 61:1222-1233. [PMID: 37565668 PMCID: PMC10424623 DOI: 10.1080/13880209.2023.2241521] [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: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
CONTEXT Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the main cause of end-stage renal disease. Modified Shen-Yan-Fang-Shuai formula (M-SYFSF) has excellent clinical efficacy in treating diabetic kidney disease. However, the potential mechanism of M-SYFSF remains unknown. OBJECTIVE To investigate the mechanism of M-SYFSF against DN by network pharmacological analysis and biological experiments. MATERIALS AND METHODS Utilizing a web-based pharmacology database, the potential mechanisms of M-SYFSF against DN were identified. In vivo experiments, male SD rats were injected with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) and got uninephrectomy to construct a model of DN. M-SYFSF (11.34 g/kg/d) was gavaged once per day for 12 weeks after model establishment. In vitro experiments, human proximal tubular cells (HK-2) were performed with advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) (100 μg/mL), then intervened with M-SYFSF freeze-dried powder. Pathological staining, WB, IHC, ELISA were conducted to explore the mechanism of M-SYFSF against DN. RESULTS Network pharmacological analysis showed that MAPK pathway was the potential pathway. Results showed that compared with the Model group, M-SYFSF significantly reduced 24h urine albumin, UACR, and serum creatinine levels (54.90 ± 26.67 vs. 111.78 ± 4.28, 8.87 ± 1.69 vs. 53.94 ± 16.01, 11.56 ± 1.70 vs. 118.70 ± 49.57, respectively), and improved renal pathological changes. Furthermore, the intervention of M-SYFSF reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and inhibited the activation of MAPK pathway in AGEs-treated HK-2 cells. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION M-SYFSF is likely to reduce inflammation in DN by inhibiting the MAPK pathway. It provides a theoretical basis for the clinical application of M-SYFSF in the treatment of DN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Borui Yu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Mengqi Zhou
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Zhaocheng Dong
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Huijuan Zheng
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yuxue Zhao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Beijing Dongcheng First People’s Hospital, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Jingwei Zhou
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Chao Zhang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Fudong Wei
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Guoyong Yu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Wei Jing Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education, Beijing Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Hongfang Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Yaoxian Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, P.R. China
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12
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Zhang P, Zhang D, Zhou W, Wang L, Wang B, Zhang T, Li S. Network pharmacology: towards the artificial intelligence-based precision traditional Chinese medicine. Brief Bioinform 2023; 25:bbad518. [PMID: 38197310 PMCID: PMC10777171 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbad518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Network pharmacology (NP) provides a new methodological perspective for understanding traditional medicine from a holistic perspective, giving rise to frontiers such as traditional Chinese medicine network pharmacology (TCM-NP). With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology, it is key for NP to develop network-based AI methods to reveal the treatment mechanism of complex diseases from massive omics data. In this review, focusing on the TCM-NP, we summarize involved AI methods into three categories: network relationship mining, network target positioning and network target navigating, and present the typical application of TCM-NP in uncovering biological basis and clinical value of Cold/Hot syndromes. Collectively, our review provides researchers with an innovative overview of the methodological progress of NP and its application in TCM from the AI perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Zhang
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dingfan Zhang
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Wuai Zhou
- China Mobile Information System Integration Co., Ltd, Beijing 100032, China
| | - Lan Wang
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Boyang Wang
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tingyu Zhang
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shao Li
- Institute for TCM-X, MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics/Bioinformatics Division, BNRIST, Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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Liao X, Ozcan M, Shi M, Kim W, Jin H, Li X, Turkez H, Achour A, Uhlén M, Mardinoglu A, Zhang C. Open MoA: revealing the mechanism of action (MoA) based on network topology and hierarchy. Bioinformatics 2023; 39:btad666. [PMID: 37930015 PMCID: PMC10637856 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btad666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023] Open
Abstract
MOTIVATION Many approaches in systems biology have been applied in drug repositioning due to the increased availability of the omics data and computational biology tools. Using a multi-omics integrated network, which contains information of various biological interactions, could offer a more comprehensive inspective and interpretation for the drug mechanism of action (MoA). RESULTS We developed a computational pipeline for dissecting the hidden MoAs of drugs (Open MoA). Our pipeline computes confidence scores to edges that represent connections between genes/proteins in the integrated network. The interactions showing the highest confidence score could indicate potential drug targets and infer the underlying molecular MoAs. Open MoA was also validated by testing some well-established targets. Additionally, we applied Open MoA to reveal the MoA of a repositioned drug (JNK-IN-5A) that modulates the PKLR expression in HepG2 cells and found STAT1 is the key transcription factor. Overall, Open MoA represents a first-generation tool that could be utilized for predicting the potential MoA of repurposed drugs and dissecting de novo targets for developing effective treatments. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION Source code is available at https://github.com/XinmengLiao/Open_MoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinmeng Liao
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mehmet Ozcan
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Zonguldak Bulent Ecevit University, 67630 Zonguldak, Turkey
| | - Mengnan Shi
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Woonghee Kim
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Han Jin
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Xiangyu Li
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Guangzhou, Guangdong Province 510005, China
| | - Hasan Turkez
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum 25240, Turkey
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Solna, Karolinska Institute, 17176 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathias Uhlén
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Adil Mardinoglu
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
- Centre for Host-Microbiome Interactions, Faculty of Dentistry, Oral & Craniofacial Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Department of Protein Science, Science for Life Laboratory, KTH-Royal Institute of Technology, 17121 Stockholm, Sweden
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Cheng Y, Sun D, Zou L, Li S, Tang L, Yu X, Tang B, Wu Y, Fang H. Elucidation of the mechanisms and molecular targets of KeChuanLiuWei-Mixture for treatment of severe asthma based on network pharmacology. Chem Biol Drug Des 2023; 102:1034-1049. [PMID: 37574823 DOI: 10.1111/cbdd.14302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
KeChuanLiuWei-Mixture (KCLW) is widely used as a Chinese medicine prescription to treat severe asthma. However, the underlying therapeutic mechanism of KCLW remains unclear. In this study, a network pharmacology method was used to identify the chemical constituents of KCLW by the TCMSP database and ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Differential expression identification, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and functional enrichment analysis were used to screen key targets of KCLW for severe asthma. Our results confirmed that quercetin, luteolin, kaempferol, and wogonin are the most critical active ingredients in KCLW. Moreover, the 16 relevant severe asthma-related targets of KCLW were obtained by overlapping the PPI networks of the KCLW putative targets and severe asthma-related genes, among which the most important targets were IL-6, NOS2, VEGFA, CXCL2, and PLAT. Functionally, the 16-targets and their interacting differentially expressed genes were primarily related to biological functions and pathways related to immunity and inflammation, such as inflammatory response, T cell differentiation, Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway, TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway, and NF-κB signaling pathway. KCLW inhibited inflammation in PDGF-BB-induced airway smooth muscle cells. In summary, this study demonstrates the active substance and potential therapeutic mechanism of KCLW in severe asthma, and offers a clinical direction for KCLW against severe asthma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanqi Cheng
- Prevention and Health Care Department of TCM, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ding Sun
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Lu Zou
- Teaching and Practising Center, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Shaobin Li
- Prevention and Health Care Department of TCM, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ling Tang
- Prevention and Health Care Department of TCM, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiao Yu
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Binqing Tang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Shanghai Municipal Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Yingen Wu
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hong Fang
- Prevention and Health Care Department of TCM, Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Zhang N, Liu T, Wang J, Xiao Y, Zhang Y, Dai J, Ma Z, Ma D. Si-Ni-San Reduces Hepatic Lipid Deposition in Rats with Metabolic Associated Fatty Liver Disease by AMPK/SIRT1 Pathway. Drug Des Devel Ther 2023; 17:3047-3060. [PMID: 37808345 PMCID: PMC10559901 DOI: 10.2147/dddt.s417378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Metabolic associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is a chronic disease characterized by excessive lipid deposition in the liver without alcohol or other clear liver-damaging factors. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK)/silencing information regulator (SIRT)1 signaling pathway plays an important role in MAFLD development. Si-Ni-San (SNS), a traditional Chinese medicine, has shown reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats, however, the underlying mechanisms of SNS are barely understood. Purpose The aim of this research was to investigate the mechanisms of SNS in reducing hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats by regulating AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathways. Methods The components of SNS were determined by high performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) analysis. MAFLD rats were induced by high-fat and high-cholesterol diet (HFHCD), and treated by SNS. SNS-containing serum and Compound C (AMPK inhibitor) were used to treat palmitic acid (PA)-induced HepG2 cells. To elucidate the potential mechanism, lipid synthesis-related proteins (SREBP-1c and FAS), fatty acid oxidation (PPARα and CPT-1), and AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway (p-AMPK and SIRT1) were assessed by Western blot. Results SNS improved serum lipid levels, liver function and reduced hepatic lipid deposition in MAFLD rats. SNS-containing serum reduced lipid deposition in PA-induced HepG2 cells. SNS could up-regulate protein expressions of PPARα, CPT-1, p-AMPK and SIRT1, and down-regulate protein expressions of SREBP-1c and FAS. Similar effects of SNS-containing serum were observed in PA-induced HepG2 cells. Meanwhile, Compound C weakened the therapeutic effects of SNS-containing serum on lipid deposition. Conclusion SNS could reduce hepatic lipid deposition by inhibiting lipid synthesis and promoting fatty acid oxidation, which might be related with activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway. This study could provide a theoretical basis for the clinical use of SNS to treat MAFLD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Tong Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jianan Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yingying Xiao
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Ying Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jun Dai
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhihong Ma
- School of Basic Medicine, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Integrative Medicine on Liver-Kidney Patterns, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
| | - Donglai Ma
- School of Pharmacy, Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, 050200, People’s Republic of China
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16
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Zhang D, Hong L, Zhang RS, Zhang Q, Yao J, Wang J, Zhang N. Identification of the key mechanisms of action of Si-Ni-San in uveitis using bioinformatics and network pharmacology. Medicine (Baltimore) 2023; 102:e34615. [PMID: 37653797 PMCID: PMC10470687 DOI: 10.1097/md.0000000000034615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2023] [Revised: 07/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Uveitis is an eye disease with a high rate of blindness, whose pathogenesis is not completely understood. Si-Ni-San (SNS) has been used as a traditional medicine to treat uveitis in China. However, its mechanism of action remains unclear. This study explored the potential mechanisms of SNS in the treatment of uveitis through network pharmacology and bioinformatics. METHODS Using R language and Perl software, the active components and predicted targets of SNS, as well as the related gene targets of uveitis, were mined through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology, Therapeutic Target, Gene Expression Omnibus, GeneCards, and DrugBank databases. The network diagram of active components and intersection targets was constructed using Cytoscape software and the String database. The CytoNCA plug-in was used to conduct topological analysis on the network diagram and screen out the core compounds and key targets. The genes were analyzed for Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment. Chemoffice, Pymol, AutoDock, and Vina were used to analyze the molecular docking of key targets and core compounds of diseases through the PubChem database. RESULTS JUN, RELA, and MAPK may play important roles in the treatment of uveitis by SNS. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis showed that core genes were mainly concentrated in MAPK, toll-like receptor, tumor necrosis factor, and nucleotide oligomerization domain-like receptor signaling pathways. In addition, molecular docking results showed that the bioactive compounds (kaempferol, luteolin, naringin, and quercetin) exhibited good binding ability to JUN, RELA, and MAPK. CONCLUSION Based on these findings, SNS exhibits multi-component and multi-target synergistic action in the treatment of uveitis, and its mechanism may be related to anti-inflammatory and immune regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Zhang
- Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Ha Er Bin Shi, China
| | - Liu Hong
- Dalian Women and Children’s Medical Group, Dalian, China
| | - Rui Su Zhang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Jing Yao
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Jiadi Wang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
| | - Ning Zhang
- Heilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, China
- Banan Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
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Yao J, Zhao Y. Lp-PLA2 silencing ameliorates inflammation and autophagy in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis through inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 pathway. PeerJ 2023; 11:e15639. [PMID: 37397012 PMCID: PMC10309053 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.15639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a common cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality worldwide, is characterized by inflammation and hepatocellular injury. Our research focuses on lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2), an inflammation-related biomarker that has recently garnered interest in the context of NASH due to its potential roles in disease pathogenesis and progression. Methods We established a NASH mouse model using a high-fat diet (HFD) and treated it with sh-Lp-PLA2 and/or rapamycin (an mTOR inhibitor). Lp-PLA2 expression in NASH mice was detected by qRT-PCR. Serum levels of liver function parameters and inflammatory cytokines were detected using corresponding assay kits. We examined pathological changes in liver using hematoxylin-eosin, oil red O, and Masson staining, and observed autophagy through transmission electron microscopy. The protein levels of Lp-PLA2, mTOR, light chain 3 (LC3) II/I, phosphorylated Janus kinase 2 (p-JAK2)/JAK2, and phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3)/STAT3 were determined by western blotting. Kupffer cells extracted from C57BL/6J mice were treated to replicate NASH conditions and treated with sh-Lp-PLA2, rapamycin, and/or a JAK2-inhibitor to further verify the roles and mechanisms of Lp-PLA2 in NASH. Results Our data indicate an upregulation of Lp-PLA2 expression in HFD-induced NASH mice. Silencing Lp-PLA2 in NASH mice reduced liver damage and inflammation markers (aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and interleukin-6 (IL-6)), while increasing IL-10 levels, an anti-inflammatory cytokine. Additionally, Lp-PLA2 silencing decreased lipid and collagen accumulation and promoted autophagy. The beneficial effects of sh-Lp-PLA2 on NASH were enhanced by rapamycin. Furthermore, Lp-PLA2 silencing resulted in the downregulation of the expression of p-JAK2/JAK2 and p-STAT3/STAT3 in NASH mice. Similar results were observed in Kupffer cells treated under NASH conditions; Lp-PLA2 silencing promoted autophagy and repressed inflammation, effects which were potentiated by the addition of rapamycin or a JAK2-inhibitor. Conclusion Our findings suggest that silencing Lp-PLA2 promotes autophagy via deactivating the JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway, thereby restraining NASH progression. This highlights the potential therapeutic value of targeting Lp-PLA2, adding a new dimension to our understanding of NASH pathogenesis and treatment strategies.
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Zhao L, Zhang H, Li N, Chen J, Xu H, Wang Y, Liang Q. Network pharmacology, a promising approach to reveal the pharmacology mechanism of Chinese medicine formula. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 309:116306. [PMID: 36858276 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2023.116306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 124.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Network pharmacology is a new discipline based on systems biology theory, biological system network analysis, and multi-target drug molecule design specific signal node selection. The mechanism of action of TCM formula has the characteristics of multiple targets and levels. The mechanism is similar to the integrity, systematization and comprehensiveness of network pharmacology, so network pharmacology is suitable for the study of the pharmacological mechanism of Chinese medicine compounds. AIM OF THE STUDY The paper summarizes the present application status and existing problems of network pharmacology in the field of Chinese medicine formula, and formulates the research ideas, up-to-date key technology and application method and strategy of network pharmacology. Its purpose is to provide guidance and reference for using network pharmacology to reveal the modern scientific connotation of Chinese medicine. MATERIALS AND METHODS Literatures in this review were searched in PubMed, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Web of Science, ScienceDirect and Google Scholar using the keywords "traditional Chinese medicine", "Chinese herb medicine" and "network pharmacology". The literature cited in this review dates from 2002 to 2022. RESULTS Using network pharmacology methods to predict the basis and mechanism of pharmacodynamic substances of traditional Chinese medicines has become a trend. CONCLUSION Network pharmacology is a promising approach to reveal the pharmacology mechanism of Chinese medicine formula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhao
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hong Zhang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Ning Li
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Jinman Chen
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Hao Xu
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China
| | - Yongjun Wang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
| | - Qianqian Liang
- Longhua Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China; Spine Institute, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 201203, China; Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education of Theory and Therapy of Muscles and Bones, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, 200032, China.
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Wu Q, He M, Wang J, Tong T, Yang D, Tang H. The therapeutic mechanism of Chebulae Fructus in the treatment of immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail on the basis of network pharmacology. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1123449. [PMID: 37275616 PMCID: PMC10235497 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1123449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Chebulae Fructus (Terminalia chebula Retz.) is a well-known traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), one of the family Combretaceae, whose immature fruit is called Fructus Chebulae Immaturus or Zangqingguo. This present study aimed at detecting the target and therapeutic mechanism of Chebulae Fructus against immunosuppression through network analysis and experimental validation. Methods Effective components and potential targets of Chebulae Fructus were Search and filtered through the Chinese herbal medicine pharmacology data and analysis platform. A variety of known disease target databases were employed to screen the therapeutic target proteins against immunosuppression and thus constructing a protein-protein interaction network. Hub genes and key pathways in this study were identified by continuous project enrichment analysis. Further, the core targets and therapeutic mechanism of Chebulae Fructus against immunosuppression in Chinese yellow quail through animal experiment. Results Seventy-five identifiable major candidate targets of Chebulae Fructus were found and thus constructing a drug-compound-target-disease network. Targets derived from gene enrichment analysis play pivotal roles in lipid and atherosclerosis, fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis, and the hepatitis B pathway. Height of plicate and areas of lymphoid follicle were both increased and the expression of GATA-3 and T-bet was upregulated in Chinese yellow quail fed with Chebulae Fructus in animal experiment. Conclusion Chebulae Fructus may be a helpful Chinese medicine with immunosuppressive effect and prospective applications in future. Further research is also needed to understand the mechanisms of immunosuppression and the mechanism of action of immunomodulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiang Wu
- Agricultural College, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, China
| | - Min He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Agricultural College, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, China
| | - TieJin Tong
- Agricultural College, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, China
| | - Dan Yang
- Agricultural College, Yibin Vocational and Technical College, Yibin, China
| | - Huaqiao Tang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, China
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Cui XY, Jiang XD, Li WH, Zhang R, You HJ, Tang ZQ, Ma Y, Yang Z, Che NC, Liu WL. Investigation of effective components and action mechanism of Yiguanjian in treatment of liver fibrosis based on network pharmacology. Shijie Huaren Xiaohua Zazhi 2023; 31:256-267. [DOI: 10.11569/wcjd.v31.i7.256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional Chinese medicine compounds are characterized by the comprehensive adjustment of multiple components and show unique advantages in the prevention and treatment of liver fibrosis. Yiguanjian (YGJ) is a famous prescription for nourishing Yin to soothe the liver, which can improve the symptoms of liver fibrosis, and understanding its anti-liver fibrosis mechanism can promote its development and use.
AIM To explore the mechanism of YGJ in the treatment of liver fibrosis through network pharmacology and to experi-mentally validate the initial results obtained.
METHODS Components of YGJ and potentially targeted proteins were downloaded from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database. The targets of liver fibrosis were accessed from GeneCard and OMIM databases. STRING database was utilized to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network based on the components of YGJ and the targets of liver fibrosis. The PPI network was subjected to random walk with restart (RWR) to obtain key genes, and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed based on the DAVID database. For animal experimental validation, eighteen SD rats were randomly assigned to a normal group, a model group, and a YGJ group. The rats in the model group and YGJ group were intraperitoneally injected with 50% CCl4 olive oil solution for 6 wk to induce liver fibrosis, and rats in the normal group were intraperitoneally injected with the same amount of olive oil solution. Then, the rats of the YGJ group were given YGJ decoction (6.67 g/kg) daily for 4 weeks. Meanwhile, rats in the other groups were given distilled water. Blood and liver samples were collected, and the levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) in the serum of rats were detected with an automated analyzer. Pathological changes in liver tissue were observed by hematoxylin-eosin (HE) and Masson staining. Western blot and qRT-PCR were used to detect the expression of key proteins and genes in the liver.
RESULTS A total of 52 components and 186 potential targets of YGJ were obtained, and 1080 targets of liver fibrosis were screened. The top 10 genes with the high-affinity scores to the drug targets were STAT6, SRC, MAPK3, STX1A, EP300, STAT3, PLG, CTNNB1, CDKN1B, and CANX. The top 50 genes were mainly enriched in response to PI3K- Akt signaling pathway and FoxO signaling pathway, etc. In CCl4-induced liver fibrosis rats, YGJ decoction could significantly improve liver lesions and reduce fibrosis. YGJ decoction could reduce α-SMA expression, promote the expression of phosphorylated STAT6, increase the protein expression of PPAR-γ and CD163 and the mRNA expression of Arg-1, CD206, and CD163, and inhibit the gene expression of IL-6.
CONCLUSION The therapeutic effect of YGJ decoction for liver fibrosis involves multiple components and multiple pathways, including the STAT6/PPAR-γ pathway.
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Wu J, Jia S, Xu B, Yao X, Shao J, Yao J, Cen D, Yao X. Bicyclol attenuates high fat diet-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease/non-alcoholic steatohepatitis through modulating multiple pathways in mice. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1157200. [PMID: 37007016 PMCID: PMC10063911 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1157200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: The pathological progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is driven by multiple factors, and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) represents its progressive form. In our previous studies, we found that bicyclol had beneficial effects on NAFLD/ NASH. Here we aim to investigate the underlying molecular mechanisms of the bicyclol effect on NAFLD/NASH induced by high-fat diet (HFD) feeding.Methods: A mice model of NAFLD/NASH induced by HFD-feeding for 8 weeks was used. As a pretreatment, bicyclol (200 mg/kg) was given to mice by oral gavage twice daily. Hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stains were processed to evaluate hepatic steatosis, and hepatic fibrous hyperplasia was assessed by Masson staining. Biochemistry analyses were used to measure serum aminotransferase, serum lipids, and lipids in liver tissues. Proteomics and bioinformatics analyses were performed to identify the signaling pathways and target proteins. Data are available via Proteome X change with identifier PXD040233. The real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses were performed to verify the proteomics data.Results: Bicyclol had a markedly protective effect against NAFLD/NASH by suppressing the increase of serum aminotransferase, hepatic lipid accumulation and alleviating histopathological changes in liver tissues. Proteomics analyses showed that bicyclol remarkably restored major pathways related to immunological responses and metabolic processes altered by HFD feeding. Consistent with our previous results, bicyclol significantly inhibited inflammation and oxidative stress pathway related indexes (SAA1, GSTM1 and GSTA1). Furthermore, the beneficial effects of bicyclol were closely associated with the signaling pathways of bile acid metabolism (NPC1, SLCOLA4 and UGT1A1), cytochrome P450-mediated metabolism (CYP2C54, CYP3A11 and CYP3A25), biological processes such as metal ion metabolism (Ceruloplasmin and Metallothionein-1), angiogenesis (ALDH1A1) and immunological responses (IFI204 and IFIT3).Discussion: These findings suggested that bicyclol is a potential preventive agent for NAFLD/NASH by targeting multiple mechanisms in future clinical investigations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Wu
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Shu Jia
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Benghong Xu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology, Shenzhen Medical Key Discipline of Health Toxicology, Shenzhen Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shengzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiaokun Yao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jingping Shao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Jianzuo Yao
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Li Huili Hospital Affiliated to Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Danwei Cen
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
| | - Xiaomin Yao
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Zhejiang Pharmaceutical University, Ningbo, China
- *Correspondence: Xiaomin Yao,
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Jiang M, Huang C, Wu Q, Su Y, Wang X, Xuan Z, Wang Y, Xu F, Ge C. Sini San ameliorates CCl4-induced liver fibrosis in mice by inhibiting AKT-mediated hepatocyte apoptosis. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 303:115965. [PMID: 36460296 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/21/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Sini San (SNS) is recorded in Zhang Zhongjing's "Treatise on Typhoids" and is used in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and other liver diseases, with good efficacy in liver fibrosis. However, its anti-liver fibrosis mechanism remains unclear. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aimed to evaluate the ameliorative effect of SNS on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice and the underlying mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS The active ingredients in the water extract of SNS were determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mice were subsequently treated with different doses of SNS for 3 weeks, and AST, ALT, and T-BIL were detected in the serum. The pathological characteristics of the liver were observed using hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and Masson's staining. Hepatocyte apoptosis was assessed using terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. The proteins expression of PI3K, p-PI3K, AKT, p-AKT, FXR, caspase-8, Bax, and Bcl-2 was analyzed using western blotting and immunofluorescence. FXR mRNA expression was measured using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). Using network pharmacology and bioinformatics to search for active ingredients that regulate PI3K/AKT signaling in the SNS. The material basis for regulating PI3K/AKT signaling in SNS was searched using network pharmacology and bioinformatics. Based on the network pharmacology results, isorhamnetin or SNS-containing serum was added to HepG2 cells stimulated with TNF-α. The Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8 assay was used to analyze cell viability and apoptosis of HepG2 cells was detected using flow cytometry. RESULTS SNS reduced serum levels of AST, ALT and T-BIL, down-regulated caspase-8 protein expression and the ratio of Bcl-2/Bax protein expression, and improved apoptosis in liver fibrosis mice. In addition, SNS downregulated the ratio of p-PI3K/PI3K and p-AKT/AKT protein expression and increased FXR expression. Network pharmacology studies showed that quercetin, kaempferol and isorhamnetin in SNS can bind to AKT. In vitro experiments showed that isorhamnetin inhibited HepG2 cell apoptosis, upregulated FXR expression and suppressed AKT activity, whereas AKT inhibitors blocked the effects of isorhamnetin. The effect of the SNS-containing serum was similar to that of isorhamnetin. CONCLUSION SNS ameliorated the progression of fibrosis and improved hepatocyte apoptosis in liver fibrosis mice. The anti-apoptotic mechanism was related to the inhibition of AKT-mediated down-regulation of FXR expression by its active ingredient, isorhamnetin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meijie Jiang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, PR China
| | - Chunmei Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China
| | - Qiong Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China
| | - Yong Su
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China
| | - Xinming Wang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China
| | - Zihua Xuan
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, PR China
| | - Yunlai Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, PR China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, 230012, PR China
| | - Fan Xu
- School of Pharmacy, Anhui University of Chinese Medicine, Hefei, 230012, PR China; Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Chinese Medicinal Formula, Hefei, 230012, PR China.
| | - Chaoliang Ge
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, 230022, PR China.
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Li J, Wu K, Zhong Y, Kuang J, Huang N, Guo X, Du H, Guo C, Li R, Zhu X, Zhang T, Gong L, Sheng L, Sun R. Si-Ni-SAN ameliorates obesity through AKT/AMPK/HSL pathway-mediated lipolysis: Network pharmacology and experimental validation. JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY 2023; 302:115892. [PMID: 36334816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115892] [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: 08/28/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/29/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE Si-Ni-San (SNS) is a famous Chinese herbal formula used in China for thousands of years. It has clinical effects on a variety of lipid metabolism disorders, but the ameliorating effects of SNS on obesity and underlying mechanisms remained poorly elucidated. AIM OF THE STUDY This study aims to explore the therapeutic effect and mechanism of SNS on obesity from multiple perspectives in vitro and in vivo. MATERIALS AND METHODS The high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity mouse model was established to evaluate the effect of SNS. Then network pharmacologic methods were performed to predict underlying mechanisms, and the core pathways were verified in animal and cell studies. RESULTS Our results demonstrated that SNS significantly reduced body weight, body fat content, white adipose tissue (WAT) expansion in obese mice, and lipid accumulation in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) cells. Network pharmacologic analysis identified 66 potential therapeutic targets, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis of these genes revealed that the most important signaling pathway includes AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling pathway, regulation of lipolysis in adipocytes, lipid and atherosclerosis. Western blot assay confirmed that SNS activated hormone-sensitive triglyceride lipase (HSL) and adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) activity and promoted lipolysis through AMPK signaling pathway. CONCLUSION The results confirmed that SNS improves lipid accumulation through AKT/AMPK/HSL axis mediated lipolysis, which opens a new option for clinical treatment of obesity and associated complications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchao Li
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 Daxue Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| | - Kaiyi Wu
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Ying Zhong
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Jiangying Kuang
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Nana Huang
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Xin Guo
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 10 Poyanghu Road, Tianjin, 301617, China.
| | - Hang Du
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Chong Guo
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Rongrong Li
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 Daxue Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| | - Xiaomin Zhu
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 4655 Daxue Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250355, China.
| | - Liping Gong
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Lisong Sheng
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China.
| | - Rong Sun
- The Second Hospital of Shandong University, 247 Beiyuan Ave, Jinan, Shandong, 250033, China; Advanced Medical Research Institute, Shandong University, 44 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, China.
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Xu G, Feng S, Sun R, Ding Q, Shi Y. Systematic Analysis Strategy Based on Network Pharmacology to Investigate the Potential Mechanism of Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. against Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis. EVIDENCE-BASED COMPLEMENTARY AND ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE : ECAM 2022; 2022:2996878. [PMID: 36479180 PMCID: PMC9722288 DOI: 10.1155/2022/2996878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a long-term, distressing, and age-related interstitial lung disease characterized by a complicated etiology and irreversible progression. Fritillaria thunbergii Miq. (Zhe Beimu, ZBM) is frequently used for its heat-clearing and phlegm-resolving properties in herbal compounds for the treatment of IPF. However, the specific mechanisms underlying the effects of ZBM against IPF have not yet been reported. In this study, we applied a systematic analysis strategy based on network pharmacology to explore the probable core targets and major pathways of ZBM against IPF. In addition, molecular docking simulation and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) were performed to preliminarily investigate the possible mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of ZBM on IPF. We collected a total of 86 components of ZBM and used network pharmacology analysis to screen nine presumptive targets of ZBM against IPF. The molecular-docking results indicated that the components of ZBM exhibited good binding activity with presumptive targets. The qRT-PCR results also suggested that ZBM may partly alleviate IPF by regulating the expression of presumptive targets. This study laid the foundation for further clinical applications of ZBM and the development of IPF-related therapeutic products.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gonghao Xu
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Siwen Feng
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Rui Sun
- School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Qi Ding
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518118, China
| | - Yuanyuan Shi
- Shenzhen Research Institute, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Shenzhen 518118, China
- School of Chinese Materia Medica, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100029, China
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Jiang H, Mao T, Liu Y, Tan X, Sun Z, Cheng Y, Han X, Zhang Y, Wang J, Shi L, Guo Y, Li J, Han H. Protective Effects and Mechanisms of Yinchen Linggui Zhugan Decoction in HFD-Induced Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Rats Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:908128. [PMID: 35721171 PMCID: PMC9202027 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.908128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic liver disease, characterized by excessive accumulation of hepatocyte fat. However, there is no exact and effective pharmacotherapy for NAFLD. Yinchen linggui zhugan decoction (YLZD) has been widely used to treat NAFLD. Nevertheless, its pharmacological and molecular mechanisms have not been clearly elucidated. This study was carried out to investigate the active components of YLZD and explore its potential mechanisms for treating NAFLD by network pharmacology and experimental verification. The results showed that a total of 120 active components of YLZD and 365 targets were retrieved through databases, and the main active ingredients of YLZD consisted of chlorogenic acid, emodin, aloe-emodin, rhein, and geniposide. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed fundamental roles of TNF, PI3K/AKT, HIF-1α, and insulin resistance signaling pathways in the treatment of NAFLD by YLZD. Moreover, our experimental verification results showed that YLZD improved the liver pathological and cholesterol level, and reduced the expressions of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB, CCL2, and CXCL10 in NAFLD rats, which all belonged to TNF signaling pathway. The molecular docking confirmed the correlation between the four core components (chlorogenic acid, emodin, rhein, and geniposide) and key factors (TNF-α, IL-6, and NF-κB) in TNF signaling pathway. In conclusion, the present study systematically clarified the protective mechanisms of YLZD against NAFLD through targeting the TNF signaling pathway, and provided new ideas for the drug research of this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Jiang
- School of Graduate, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.,Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Tangyou Mao
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuyue Liu
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiang Tan
- Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Zhongmei Sun
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuan Cheng
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiao Han
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiali Wang
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Shi
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Guo
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Junxiang Li
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Haixiao Han
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Zhang A, Zou Y, Xu Q, Tian S, Wang J, Li Y, Dong R, Zhang L, Jiang J, Wang L, Tao K, Meng Z, Liu Y. Investigation of the Pharmacological Effect and Mechanism of Jinbei Oral Liquid in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Using Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:919388. [PMID: 35784749 PMCID: PMC9240387 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.919388] [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: 04/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Overview: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a disease caused by many factors, eventually resulting in lung function failure. Jinbei oral liquid (JBOL) is a traditional Chinese clinical medicine used to treat pulmonary diseases. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanism of the action of JBOL on IPF remain unclear. This study investigated the protective effects and mechanism of the action of JBOL on IPF using network pharmacology analysis, followed by in vivo and in vitro experimental validation. Methods: The components of JBOL and their targets were screened using the TCMSP database. IPF-associated genes were obtained using DisGeNET and Drugbank. The common targets of JBOL and IPF were identified with the STRING database, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. GO and KEGG analyses were performed. Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with bleomycin (BLM) to establish an IPF model and treated orally with JBOL at doses of 5.4, 10.8, and 21.6 ml/kg. A dose of 54 mg/kg of pirfenidone was used as a control. All rats were treated for 28 successive days. Dynamic pulmonary compliance (Cdyn), minute ventilation volume (MVV), vital capacity (VC), and lung resistance (LR) were used to evaluate the efficacy of JBOL. TGF-β-treated A549 cells were exposed to JBOL, and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) changes were assessed. Western blots were performed. Results: Two hundred seventy-eight compounds and 374 targets were screened, and 103 targets related to IPF were identified. Core targets, including MAPK1 (ERK2), MAPK14 (p38), JUN, IL-6, AKT, and others, were identified by constructing a PPI network. Several pathways were involved, including the MAPK pathway. Experimentally, JBOL increased the levels of the pulmonary function indices (Cdyn, MVV, and VC) in a dose-dependent manner and reduced the RL level in the BLM-treated rats. JBOL increased the epithelial marker E-cadherin and suppressed the mesenchymal marker vimentin expression in the TGF-β-treated A549 cells. The suppression of ERK1/2, JNK, and p38 phosphorylation by JBOL was validated. Conclusion: JBOL had therapeutic effects against IPF by regulating pulmonary function and EMT through a systemic network mechanism, thus supporting the need for future clinical trials of JBOL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aijun Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Yixuan Zou
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Qingcui Xu
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Shuo Tian
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Yilin Li
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Renchao Dong
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
| | - Liangzong Zhang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Juanjuan Jiang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Lili Wang
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Kai Tao
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Zhaoqing Meng
- Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, Shandong Hongji-tang Pharmaceutical Group Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Yanqiu Liu
- Shandong University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jinan, China
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