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Objective To explore the potential targets and synergistic mechanisms of Kushen Decoction for the treatment of cryptosporidiosis using network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. Methods The main active ingredients of Kushen Decoction were captured from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TC-MSP) and the Universal Protein Resource (UniProt) database, and the potential targets were predicted. In addition, the active ingredients of Kushen Decoction that were not included in the TCMSP database were retrieved in CNKI, WanFang Data, CBM, PubMed and Web of Science databases, and the target genes of all supplemented active ingredients were predicted using the online TargetNet database. Network construction and analysis were performed using the Cytoscape software, and cryptosporidiosis-related targets were retrieved in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database and GeneCards database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was created using the STRING database, and the DAVID database was used for GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analyses. The tissue distribution of key targets was investigated using the BioGPS database, and the AutoDockTools software was employed to verify the molecular docking results. Results A total of 38 active ingredients of Kushen Decoction were screened, and the core ingredients included quercetin, (+)-14α-hydroxymatrine and apigenin. A total of 831 targets of Kushen Decoction and 512 cryptosporidiosis-related targets were predicted, and PPI network analysis revealed 69 key targets, including AKT1, TNF and IL-6. There were 303 biological processes, 46 molecular functions and 29 cellular components involved in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis with Kushen Decoction, and 13 KEGG pathways played a therapeutic role in the synergistic mechanisms of multiple targets, such as Toll-like receptor (TLR), nuclear factor kappa B(NF)-κB, nucleotide binding oligomerization domain like receptor (NLR) signal pathways. The core targets were mainly distributed in the hematologic and immune systems. Molecular docking analysis showed that the binding energy between active ingredients and key targets were all less than 0 kJ/mol, indicating the strong binding of ligands to receptors. Conclusions The active ingredients of Kushen Decoction, such as quercetin, (+)-14α-hydroxymatrine and apigenin, may act on targets like AKT1, TNF, IL-6 to modulate TLR, NLR and NF-κB signaling pathways to play a synergistic role in the treatment of cryptosporidiosis in the hematologic and immune system.
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Objective: Jiaotaiwan is a classic prescription in traditional Chinese medicine for insomnia. Modern clinical research has proved its anti-diabetes effect by "the same treatment for different diseases" theory, so it is necessary to study its pharmacological mechanism for anti-diabetes effect. Method: In this study, the integrative pharmacology platform of traditional Chinese medicine (TCMIP) was used to explore the potential target and mechanism of Jiaotaiwan, and construct its core target network for diabetes. Then the enrich analysis of GO and KEGG on key targets was conducted to build the visual multilayer association network of "Jiaotaiwan-active composition-core target-key pathway". Result:28 active ingredients were obtained from Jiaotaiwan in this study. Its anti-diabetes effect was relevant to 187 core targets,including 15 known disease targets such as vasopressin V2 receptor (AVPR2), receptor activity-modifying protein 1 (RAMP1), receptor activity-modifying protein 3 (RAMP3), insulin receptor (INSR), and insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R); as well as 71 predictive drug targets such as cyclin-dependent kinase 9 (CDK9), glucokinase (GCK), NF-kappa-B inhibitor alpha (NFKBIA), NF-kappa-B p100 subunit (NFKB2), and hypoxia inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF1A). Conclusion:The anti-diabetes mechanism of Jiaotaiwan may be associated with activation of adenylate cyclase activity, cellular response to glucagon stimulus, activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activity, endocrine system, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) signaling pathway, Chemokine signaling pathway, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-serine/threonine kinases (PI3K-Akt) signaling pathway and other related biological processes and pathways. This study provides a scientific evidence for further study of the anti-diabetes mechanism of Jiaotaiwan.
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Using column chromatographic and preparative HPLC technologies, we isolated a new sesquiterpene glycoside from the stem of Dendrobium nobile. With spectroscopic techniques including NMR and MS, the new compound was identified as cadalene-12-O-β-D-glucopyranoside. This type of compound was dehydrogenated from cadinane sesquiterpene to achieve a naphthalene ring, and it is rare from a natural resource.
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Aim To observe the analgesic effect of doxorubicin ( DOX) on chronic sciatic nerve constric-tion injury (CCI) rat model, and analyze the underly-ing mechanism from the ultrastructure of sciatic nerve ganglion and the expressions of some apoptotic pro-teins.Methods A total of 60 SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: sham operation group ( Sham ) , CCI model group ( Model ) , sham operation+DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group ( Sham+DOX) , CCI mod-el +DOX 5 mg· kg -1 group (Model+DOX).DOX was given by caudal vein injection after model estab-lishment .Sham group and model group were given the same amount of saline . The mechanical withdrawal threshold and thermal withdrawal latency were deter-mined by behavioral test .The ultrastructural changes of L4-5 DRG were examined by light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy , respectively .The pro-tein expression levels of Bax , Bcl-2 , PKCɑ, PKCδand PKCε in DRG tissues were determined by Western blot.Results The fluorescence of DOX was found in DRG after DOX was given intravenously .In compari-son with sham group , the thermal and mechanical pain thresholds had no obvious changes in sham +DOX group, while the thresholds were decreased obviously seven days after surgery in model group .In comparison with model group , the pain thresholds in model +DOX group increased significantly , which lasted for the en-tire observation time of six days .The ultra-structure of tissues was damaged obviously in both sham +DOX group and model+DOX group.The protein expression of Bax/Bcl-2 increased, while the expressions of PKCδand PKCεdecreased with DOX injection .Conclusions DOX can retrograde and reach the DRG tissues after intravenous administration . The attenuation effect of DOX on neuropathic pain is related to the apoptosis in-duced by the down-regulation of PKCδ and PKCε in DRG cells.
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In this study, seven bibenzyl compounds were isolated from the stem of Dendrobium nobile by silica gel, MCI column chromatographic and preparative HPLC technology. By using spectroscopic techniques including NMR and MS, these compounds were identified as 4, α-dihydroxy-3, 5, 3'-trimethoxybibenzyl (1), 4, 5-dihydroxy-3, 3', α-trimethoxybibenzyl (2), 4, 4'-dihydroxy-3, 5, 3'-trimethoxybibenzyl (3), 4, 5-dihydroxy-3, 3'-dimethoxybibenzyl (4), 4, 3'-dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxybibenzyl (5), 5, 4'-dihydroxy-3, 3'-dimethoxybibenzyl (6) and 5, 3'-dihydroxy-3-methoxybibenzyl (7). Compound 1 is a new compound and compound 4 was isolated from this plant for the first time.
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To explore the anti-atherosclerotic mechanism of active component compatibility of Danshen and Shanzha (SC121) based on network pharmacology and in vitro research validation with cell model. On one hand, according to the chemical structures and pharmacological activities of the compounds reported in Danshen and Shanzha, 5 compounds, i.e., salvianolic acid B, tanshinone ⅡA, tanshinol, epicatechin and procyanidin B2 were chosen and used for network pharmacology analysis. Then the TCMSP（http://lsp.nwsuaf.edu.cn/tcmsp.php）was used for finding the network targets for 5 compounds from SC121. The signaling pathway associated with cardiovascular disease was analyzed by KEGG mapping, the biological process associated with cardiovascular disease was analyzed by Uniprot. And, the mechanism of SC121 was predicted by network pharmacology. In vitro cell model was subsequently performed for validation. HUVEC and RAW264.7 cell injuries and foam cell formation were constructed by ox-LDL, and the intervention effects of SC121 were assayed. The result showed that SC121 not only alleviated the damage of HUVEC and RAW264.7, lowered the ROS level, but also decreased the area of foam cell in a dose-dependent manner, which indicated that SC121 could inhibit the damage of endothelial cells and lower the oxidative stress. The experimental data validated the prediction of network pharmacology, and elucidated the mechanism of SC121's effect on AS.
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<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the optimal conditions for establishing insulin-resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes.</p><p><b>METHOS</b>Dexamethason (DEX), 3-isobutyl-methylxanthine (IBMX) and different concentrations of insulin (10(-8), 10(-7), and 10(-6) mol·L(-1)) were used to induce 3T3-L1 preadipocytes into mature adipocytes identified by oil red O staining. We established insulin- resistant 3T3-L1 adipocytes cell model (IR-3T3-L1) by exposing the cells to 1µmol·L(-1) DEX, and the changes of glucose concen- tration in the cell culture were determined by glucose oxidase-peroxidase (GOD-POD) assay.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Treatment of 3T3-L1 cells with DEX, IBMX and 10(-6) mol·L(-1)) insulin for 9 days resulted in the differentiation of >90% of the cells into mature adipocytes. IR-3T3-L1 cells cultured for 96 h in the culture media containing 1 µmol·L(-1) DEX showed significantly increased glucose consumption (P=0.0003) as compared with the control group at 36 h (P<0.001).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>3T3-L1 cells can be induced into mature adipocytes by exposure to 1 µmol·L(-1) DEX, 0.5 mmol·L(-1) IBMX and 10(-6) mol·L(-1)) insulin. A 96 h exposure to 1 µmol·L(-1) DEX can induce 3T3-L1 adipocytes to acquire insulin resistance that can be maintained for 36 h.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Mice , 1-Methyl-3-isobutylxanthine , Chemistry , 3T3-L1 Cells , Adipocytes , Cell Biology , Cell Differentiation , Culture Media , Chemistry , Dexamethasone , Chemistry , Glucose , Chemistry , Insulin , Chemistry , Insulin ResistanceABSTRACT
It is now well established that inflammation plays an important role in the development of numerous chronic metabolic diseases including insulin resistance (IR) and type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Skeletal muscle is responsible for 75% of total insulin-dependent glucose uptake; consequently, skeletal muscle IR is considered to be the primary defect of systemic IR development. Our pre- vious study has shown that rutaecarpine (Rut) can benefit blood lipid profile, mitigate inflammation, and improve kidney, liver, pan- creas pathology status of T2DM rats. However, the effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines in the development of IR-skeletal muscle cells have not been studied. Thus, our objective was to investigate effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines interleukiri (IL)-1, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α in insulin resistant primary skeletal muscle cells (IR-PSMC). Primary cultures of skeletal muscle cells were prepared from 5 neonate SD rats, and the primary rat skeletal muscle cells were identified by cell morphology, effect of ru- taecarpine on cell proliferation by MTT assay. IR-PSMC cells were induced by palmitic acid (PA), the glucose concentration was measured by glucose oxidase and peroxidase (GOD-POD) method. The effects of Rut on inflammatory cytokines IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in IR-PSMC cells were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The results show that the primary skeletal muscle cells from neonatal rat cultured for 2-4 days, parallel alignment regularly, and cultured for 7 days, cells fused and myotube formed. It was shown that Rut in concentration 0-180. 0 μmol x L(-1) possessed no cytotoxic effect towards cultured primary skeletal muscle cells. However, after 24 h exposure to 0.6 mmol x L(-1) PA, primary skeletal muscle cells were able to induce a state of insulin resistance. The results obtained indicated significant decrease (P < 0.05 to P < 0.001) IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α production by cultured IR-PSMC cells when incubating 24 hours with Rut, beginning from 20 to 180.0 μmol x L(-1). IL-1, IL-6 and TNF-α in the Rut treated groups were dose-dependently decreased compared with that in the IR-PSMC control group. Our results demonstrated that the Rut promoted glucose consumption and improved insulin resistance possibly through suppression of inflammatory cytokines in the IR-PSMC cells.
Subject(s)
Animals , Female , Male , Rats , Cell Proliferation , Cytokines , Metabolism , Glucose , Metabolism , Indole Alkaloids , Pharmacology , Inflammation , Metabolism , Insulin Resistance , Muscle, Skeletal , Cell Biology , Metabolism , Quinazolines , PharmacologyABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the effect of active components of Danshen and Shanzha of different matching proportions on atherosclerosis (AS), in the expectation of obtaining the optimum combination method.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Atherosclerotic rats were fed with high fat diet, and injected with vitamin D3 and ovalbumin. Aqueous extracts of Danshen (DSA) and Shanzha (SZA) and lipophilic extracts of danshen (DSL) were adopted for a low, medium and high-dose orthogonal experiment, to observe the effect of their different matching proportions on lipid level, oxidative stress, endothelial function and inflammatory reaction. The principal component analysis and cluster analysis were adopted for the multi-objective optimization of experimental results.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Compared with the model group, all of samples with different proportions of DSA, DSL and SZA showed effect in lowering lipid level, scavenging free radicals, reducing endothelial dysfunction and inhibiting inflammation. According to the variance analysis, DSA2-SZA2-DSL1, DSA3-SZA2-DSL1, DSA3-SZA3 -DSL3 and DSA3-SZA1-DSL1 were the optimal proportions for lowering lipid level, scavenging free radicals, reducing endothelial dysfunction and inhibiting inflammation, respectively. According to the results of the multi-objective optimization, DSA2-SZA1-DSL2 was the optimal proportions of anti-AS.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>All of active components of Danshen and Shanzha of different matching proportions show the anti-AS effect in rats to varying degrees, but with different focus in different matching proportions.</p>
Subject(s)
Animals , Male , Rats , Anti-Inflammatory Agents , Pharmacology , Antioxidants , Pharmacology , Atherosclerosis , Drug Therapy , Drugs, Chinese Herbal , Therapeutic Uses , Endothelium, Vascular , Lipids , Blood , Phenanthrolines , Therapeutic Uses , Phytotherapy , Salvia miltiorrhiza , ChemistryABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To develop a best method of constructing influenza NP fusion gene containing enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP).</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The full-length NP gene of influenza A was amplified by RT-PCR and was inserted into an eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1 in order to construct a fusion gene of pEGFP-N1-NP using three different methods. Method one, NP gene containing restriction endonucleases and pEGFP-N1 were both digested using the same restrict enzymes and ligated, yielding the fusion gene of pEGFP-N1-NP. Method two, NP gene was cloned into pMD19-T Vector to construct a plasmid of pMD19-T-NP. The pMD19-T-NP cloned into pEGFP-N1 to construct the fusion gene of pEGFP-N1-NP; Method three, NP gene containing restriction endonucleases was cloned into pMD19-T Simple Vector to construct a plasmid of pMD19-T-NP. The pMD19-T-NP cloned into pEGFP-N1 to construct the fusion gene of pEGFP-N1-NP.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The fusion gene of recombinant eukaryotic expression vector pEGFP-N1-NP was successfully constructed by using method three.</p><p><b>CONCLUSIONS</b>The full-length NP gene is obtained and its fusion gene of recombinant eukaryotic expression plasmid is successfully constructed. This study provides foundation for further understanding the biological function of NP protein and the mechanism of diseases induced by influenza A virus.</p>
Subject(s)
Artificial Gene Fusion , Cloning, Molecular , Genetic Vectors , Green Fluorescent Proteins , Genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , RNA-Binding Proteins , Genetics , Viral Core Proteins , GeneticsABSTRACT
<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To establish a LC-MS/MS method for determining the concentration of tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin of refined coronary cataplasm in rabbit plasma, in order to determine the concentration of the three main ingredients in blood after transdermal administration and calculate their pharmacokinetic parameters.</p><p><b>METHOD</b>Rabbits were given refined coronary cataplasm on the basis of 15 g x kg(-1) by transdermal administration to detect the plasma concentration of the three main ingredients using LC-MS/MS. Winnonlin software was used to calculate their major pharmacokinetic parameters.</p><p><b>RESULT</b>Tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin showed good linearity (r>0.999) at 1-100, 50-1 000, 10-1 000 microg x L(-1) respectively in plasma, with average recovery rate of 96.57%, 91.90%, 95.93%, respectively. The RSD within day were less than 15%. After transdermal administration of refined coronary cataplasm in rabbits, the main pharmacokinetic parameters of tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B or paeoniflorin were as follows: Cmax (20.85 +/- 12.68), (636.25 +/- 386.91), (787.80 +/- 395.64) microg x L(-1); Tmax (0.49 +/- 0.28), (0.44 +/- 0.27), (0.46 +/- 0.30) h.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The LC-MS/MS method is highly selective and sensitive to determine the concentration of samples in rabbit plasma. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of tanshinone IIA, salvianolic acid B and paeoniflorin are suitable to assess the percutaneous absorption of refined coronary cataplasm.</p>