Yougui Pill in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation:network pharmacological analysis of active ingredients and potential targets / 中国组织工程研究

BACKGROUND:Yougui Pill is a famous formula of the Chinese traditional medicine,which has good efficacy for lumbar disc herniation due to kidney yang insufficiency. OBJECTIVE:To investigate the potential targets and mechanism of action of Yougui Pill in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation by using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology,and verified by animal experiments. METHODS:(1)Network pharmacological analysis:We obtained the active ingredients and targets of Yougui Pill from TCMSP and other databases,collected genes related to lumbar disc herniation from GeneCards database,and took the intersection of the two for the topological analysis to derive the main active ingredients and core therapeutic targets.Gene ontology function analysis and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes pathway enrichment analysis were performed using R software.(2)Molecular docking:Autodock and Pymol software were utilized for the prediction of molecular binding energy of TCM active ingredients to core therapeutic targets.(3)Animal experiments:Eighteen Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into a control group,a degeneration group and a Yougui Pill group,with 6 rats in each group.A rat model of intervertebral disc degeneration was prepared by fiber puncture method in the degeneration and Yougui Pill groups.At 2 weeks after modeling,Yougui Pill was given by gavage in the Yougui Pill group,once a day for 2 consecutive weeks.The level of tumor necrosis factor-α in serum was detected by the ELISA method,and morphological changes of the annulus fibrosus and nucleus pulposus cells were observed using hematoxylin-eosin staining. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:There were 90 active ingredients and 64 targets,and the main active ingredients were found to be quercetin,kaempferol,β-carotene,soybean flavonoid,and 4'-O-methylnyasol.The core targets of Yougui Pill for the treatment of lumbar disc herniation were interleukin 6,tumor necrosis factor-α,AKT1,interleukin 1B,and vascular endothelial growth factor A.Enrichment analysis revealed that the intersecting genes might be expressed through the interleukin-17 signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway,MAPK signaling pathway,PI3K-AKT signaling pathway,and other signaling pathways to improve intervertebral disc degeneration.The molecular docking test verified that quercetin,kaempferol,and β-carotene had strong binding ability to the core targets.Animal experiments showed that the level of serum tumor necrosis factor α in the degeneration group was higher than that in the control group(P<0.05),and the level of serum tumor necrosis factor α in the Yougui Pill group was lower than that in the degeneration group(P<0.05).Hematoxylin-eosin staining showed that the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs and the structure of the nucleus pulposus in the degeneration group were destroyed,and the number of nucleus pulposus cells was reduced;there was a tendency to reconstructing the fibrous annulus of the intervertebral discs in the Yougui Pill group,and the number of nucleus pulposus cells increased compared with the degeneration group.To conclude,Yougui Pill may treat lumbar disc herniation by improving disc degeneration through the effects of quercetin,kaempferol,beta-carotene and other key active ingredients on core targets such as tumor necrosis factor.

Status quo of current clinical drug regimens for small cell lung cancer and new progress in the potential target drug therapeutic regimens / 中国药房

Small cell lung cancer （SCLC） accounts for about 15% in lung cancer and is highly malignant， heterogeneous and invasive. Etoposide combined with platinum-based chemotherapy is the basis of standard first-line treatment for extensive-stage SCLC， but suffers from the problem of susceptibility to drug resistance and relapse. In recent years， the emergence of new immunological drugs and novel cytotoxic drugs has improved the survival of SCLC patients to a certain extent， especially bringing therapeutic hope to patients with relapsed/refractory SCLC. In this paper， we review the current clinical drug regimens and the new progress of potential target drug therapeutic regimens for the treatment of SCLC. At present， the first-， second- and third-line schemes of SCLC include etoposide+carboplatin， atezolizumab+etoposide+platinum， adebrelimab， topotecan， docetaxel， etc.； the current drug targets for the treatment of SCLC mainly focus on topoisomerase Ⅱ/Ⅰ， DNA， the immune checkpoint molecules programmed death-1/programmed death-ligand 1， tubulin， etc. The potential target drug therapeutic options include alisertib+ paclitaxel， rovalpituzumab， APG-1252， etc.， and mainly focus on DNA damage response pathways and immune pathways， which can achieve the prolongation of patient survival by exerting anti-tumor effects through aurora kinase A and other potential targets.

The mechanism of action of Fuzi-Lizhong pill in treatment of ulcerative colitis based on network pharmacology-molecular docking / 药学学报

Network pharmacology and bioinformatics technology were used to predict the mechanism of action of Fuzi-Lizhong pill (FLP) in the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). 26 components (23 prototype compounds and 3 metabolites) in the blood of FLP were selected as the research objects. PharmMapper database, SwissTargetPrediction platform, GeneCards and OMIM database were used to screen and predict potential targets of FLP in blood. The protein-protein interaction network model was constructed by using String database and Cytoscape software. DAVID platform, KEGG and Reactome databases were used for GO analysis and pathway analysis of potential targets. Network of drug ingredients-targets-pathways was constructed by Cytoscape software. AutoDock vina software was used to dock the molecules of the absorbed ingredients of FLP in blood with the key targets. 82 potential targets of FLP for treatment of UC were obtained. Potential targets mainly involve biological processes such as response to organic substance, regulation of apoptosis, regulation of programmed cell death, which played roles in the treatment of UC by adjusting pathways in cancer, Colorectal cancer, Vascular endothelial growth factor signaling pathway, Mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway, arachidonic acid metabolism and the other signal pathways. From the perspective of network pharmacology, this study predicted the mechanisms of action of FLP in treating UC, indicating that FLP in treating UC had the characteristics of multiple ingredients, multiple targets and multiple pathways, which laid a foundation for further research.

Mechanism of Shenqi Jiangtang Granules in treatment of type 2 diabetes based on network pharmacology / 中草药

Objective: To explore the mechanism of Shenqi Jiangtang Granules in treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus by network pharmacology. Methods: The active components and targets of Shenqi Jiangtang Granules and targets associated with type 2 diabetes were obtained by literature mining and database. Enrichr database was used to analyze gene ontology enrichment and Kyoto gene and genome encyclopedia. In addition, Cytoscape 3.5.1 software was used to draw network interaction diagrams, and imageGP tool was used to draw GO and KEGG bubble diagrams. Results: A total of 43 key active ingredients and 30 key targets were obtained. GO enrichment analysis included 918 items, including 56 cell component (CC) entries, 99 molecular function (MF) entries, and 763 biological process (BP) entries. CC entries were related to axonal membrane, nuclear transcription factor complex, RNA polymerase Ⅱ transcription factor complex, nuclear euchromatin, and platelet α granule. MF entries were mainly related to MAP kinase activity, vascular endothelial growth factor receptor binding and other aspects. BP entries were related to biological processes, mainly including angiogenesis, foam cell differentiation, and cellular response to interleukin-21. The KEGG pathway enrichment analysis included 105 KEGG pathways, which were closely related to IL-17 signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, VEGF signaling pathway, mitophagy and other signaling pathways. Conclusion: Shenqi Jiangtang Granules may play a role in treatment of type 2 diabetes by acting on neuroendocrine disorders, insulin resistance, oxidative stress, inflammation, and other related protein targets and pathways.

Material basis and mechanism of Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid on hand, foot and mouth disease based on network pharmacology and molecular docking / 中国中药杂志

This paper aimed to investigate the active components and molecular mechanism of Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid on hand, foot and mouth disease(HFMD) based on network pharmacology and molecular docking methods. The potential active components of 8 herbs in Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid were selected through Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database(TCMSP), Batman database and relevant literature consultation. Then related targets for the medicine were analyzed through PubChem and Swiss Target Prediction database, while related targets for HFMD were analyzed through GeneCards platform. The common targets for medicine and disease were put into STRING database to obtain the potential targets of Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid for treatment of HFMD. The Cytoscape software was used to establish the "herbs-components-targets-disease" network. The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was constructed based on STRING platform and Cytoscape software to screen the core targets. Based on Metascape platform, GO function enrichment analysis and KEGG signal pathway enrichment analysis were carried out. The main active components and potential key targets of Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid were verified by molecular docking with Autodock vina 1.1.2 software. A total of 118 potential active components and 123 potential targets for treatment of HFMD were collected. PPI network indicated a total of 23 key targets, such as AKT1, MAPK1, IL6, VEGFA, EGFR, TNF, HRAS, CCND1, and CXCL8. GO function enrichment analysis results showed that there were 381 GO biological processes, 127 GO cellular components, and 117 GO molecular functions(P<0.01). KEGG enrichment analysis showed that 116 signal pathways were obtained(P<0.01), and the results showed that it was mainly associated with TNF signal pathway, IL-17 signal pathway, inflammatory mediator regulation of TRP channels, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction. Molecular docking results showed that the main active components all had a high binding ability with the main potential key targets. This study preliminarily investigated the multi-pathways, multi-targets and multi-components molecular mechanism of Xiao'er Resuqing Oral Liquid for treatment of HFMD, providing theoretical references for further researches on its active components and action mechanism.

Energy metabolism disorder and diseases: from effects to potential targets / 药学学报

Cellular energy metabolism disorder caused by dysfunction of nutrient utilization and mitochondrial damage contributes to a variety of diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, metabolic diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. Understanding the effects of energy metabolism on diseases will help to improve our knowledge about disease etiology and may serve to develop strategies to delay disease progress. There are many compounds developed for targeting energy metabolism disorders, such as small molecules targeting the 18 kDa transporter (TSPO) for treatment of Alzheimer's disease, glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues for treatment of Parkinson's disease, inhibitors of glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1) and lactate dehydrogenase A for treatment of tumors, the fibroblast growth factors based treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D), selective ligands of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-β/δ for treatment of cardiovascular diseases. We review here the abnormal energy metabolism of common energy metabolism disorder-related diseases, summarize the potential targets that may be used for new drug discovery, and the strategies for alleviating the disease process by improving energy metabolism.

The mechanism of active ingredients in Salicornia europaea in treatment of diabetes based on pharmacological network / 中成药

AIM To develop a pharmacological network screening method in predicting the potential target,active ingredients and pathway of Salicornia europaea L.for the treatment of diabetes,and to uncover its underlying multi-component,multi-target,multi-pathway mechanism.METHODS Information about fifteen kinds of bioactive chemical constituents of Salicornia europaea L.acquired from a large amount of literature were used to predict the targets according to PharmMapper Server,and such a prediction was also subjected to the screening of the antidiabetes drug targets approved by FDA in the DrugBank database.The relevant information of potential target and pathway was obtained by MAS 3.0 biomolecule function software.Cytoscape software was used to construct the Salicornia europaea L.ingredients-targets-pathways network.RESULTS Fifteen major active ingredients of Salicornia europaea L.affecting in a total of 86 pathways (VEGF signaling pathway,Fc epsilon RI signaling pathway,T cell receptor signaling pathway,etc),including the 30 particular diabetes-related pathways of MAP2K1,MAPK,GSK3B,AKT,etc.,fully demonstrated the multi-component,multi-target,multi-pathway mechanism of Salicornia europaea L.in the treatment of diabetes and its complications,through regulating immune,lipid metabolism,inflammation,apoptosis and other processes.CONCLUSION Given the new understanding in analyzing the scientific connotation of anti-diabetes effect,and the complex system of Salicornia europaea L.,this paper highlights the direction for the next step in the validation experiment of its target and mechanism.

Study of Waternut Herb Extract on Aβ SAMP8 Damage of Mouse Hippocampal neurons and the Protective Effect of Metabolomic Study / 现代生物医学进展

Objective:To study the metabolic mechanism of protective effect of waternut herb extract on primary Aβ SAMP8 damage of mouse hippocampal neurons by metabolic footprinting.Methods:MTT assay was used to determine the proliferation of primary hippocampal neurons in SAMP8 mice with Aβ damage,the effect for the first time on the basis of metabolic footprinting evaluation waternut herb extract.Focus on key metabolic pathways and related metabolic targets,mechanism of primary Aβ SAMP8 damage of mouse hippocampal neurons and pathogenesis of watemut herb extract.Results:MTT assay was used to measure the rate of cell proliferation.The results showed that the cell viability of the primary hippocampal neurons was significantly decreased in the Aβ SAMP8 mice.The study found that metabolic footprinting,compared with littermate wild-type mice,neuronal cell metabolism Aβ SAMP8 damage of mouse anomalies mainly concentrated in the metabolism of folic acid and taufine metabolism associated with nerve cells,by high-throughput mass spectrometric analysis and literature database retrieval to determine the 3 differential metabolites,respectively is L-disodoum alanine (L-Cysteic acid),dihydrofolate (Dihydrofolate),acid (Chorismate),the branch of small molecule metabolites through extract intervention after Amakusa callback trend obviously.Conclusion:the therapeutic effect of watemut herb extract on Aβ SAMP8 damage of mouse primary hippocampal neurons to a certain extent,3 biomarkers of this discovery may be a potential target of Aβ SAMP8 damage of mouse primary hippocampal neurons in the pathogenesis of waternut herb extract,given after these markers were callback trend in different degree,suggesting that watemut herb extract could regulate metabolism related enzymes and metabolic pathways to protect the purpose,to provide the experimental basis for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease watemut herb extract.

The Metabolomic Study of Learning and Memory Function of APP/PS1 Double Transgenic Mice Improved by Gouteng San / 现代生物医学进展

Objective:The non targeted high-throughput urine metabolomics technology was used to study the pathogenesis of APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice and the mechanism of action of Gouteng san.Methods:5-month-old APP/PS 1 double transgenic mice were test with Morris water maze for spatial learning ability.Then we employed the non targeted high-throughput urine metabolomics technology to study the pathogenesis of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice based on the metabolic network.The focus investigation of the key pathways and the observation of the treatment by Morris water maze and metabolic level have been used after spatial learning ability damaged confirmed.Results:The comparison between APP/PS1 double transgenic mice and normal mice suggested that a significant longer was existed in former,which was call-back by Gouteng san.With the non targeted high-throughput urine metabolomics analysis and pathway focused analysis,we found certain signals from metabolic profiling,which was identified to be 6 biomarkers associated with learning and memory function by mass spectrometry analysis or authoritative database.Respectively,they were taurine,pteroylglutamic acid,neopterin,glutaurine,2-oxoglutarate and dihydroneopterin.They were mainly related to taurine metabolism and folate metabolism and represented an effective callback.Conclusion:Gouteng san possess a favorable effect on learning and memory ability of APP/PS1 double transgenic mice,6 biomarkers may be a potential target for the pathogenesis of APP/PSI double transgenic mice and provide experimental basis for the study of Gouteng san.

Mcl-1 as a potential therapeutic target for human hepatocelluar carcinoma / 华中科技大学学报（医学）（英德文版）

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer-related mortality in part due to its high resistance to chemotherapeutic drugs. The anti-apoptotic Mcl-1 expression has been reported as a resistance factor in various types of tumors. Here, we investigated the expression of Mcl-1 in hepatoma cells and HCC tissues and its relationship with p53, and analyzed the possibility of the gene as a molecular target for HCC therapy. HCC specimens of 30 patients were examined by immunohistochemistry for Mcl-1 and p53 expression. Mcl-1 expression in hepatoma cell lines was measured by RT-PCR and Western blotting. The suppression of Mcl-1 by RNA interference or specific phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, LY294002, was evaluated as monotherapy, and it was combined with mitomycin C (MMC) in treating hepatoma cell line HepG2. Cell viability and apoptosis were assessed by MTT and FACS analysis. Finally, changes of Mcl-1 or p53 expression in various hepatoma cell lines were examined after transfection with Mcl-1 siRNA, the Mcl-1 expression plasmid, or the wide-type p53 expression plasmid, respectively. Mcl-1 protein was remarkably enhanced in HCC tissues as compared with adjacent non-tumor liver tissues. In addition, Mcl-1 was prominently expressed in HepG2 and Hep3B cells, weakly in SMMC7721 cells, and not in L02 cells. P53 protein was also overexpressed in HCC tissues and there was a significant correlation between the expression of p53 and Mcl-1. Silencing Mcl-1 by RNAi or LY294002 downregulated Mcl-1 expression and led to decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis. Combination of MMC and Mcl-1 RNAi or LY294002 exhibited a significant chemosensitizing effect. The expression of p53 was not influenced by Mcl-1 siRNA in HepG2 cells or transfection with the Mcl-1 expression plasmid in L02 cells. Furthermore, the expression of Mcl-1 in Hep3B cells was also not significantly changed after transfection with the wild-type p53 expression plasmid. It is concluded that Mcl-1 is overexpressed in HCC tissues. The mechanisms by which silencing Mcl-1 sensitizes hepatoma cells towards chemotherapy may be not attributed to the upregulated expression of p53 but the dysfunction of p53 through Mcl-1/p53 interaction. Mcl-1 may be a potential target of gene therapy for HCC.