Network Pharmacology Approach to Explore Mechanisms of Qizhu Granules for Treatment of Diabetic Nephropathy / 中国实验方剂学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To explore the mechanism of Qizhu granules in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy by using network pharmacology. Method:The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database （TCMSP） and The Encyclopedia of Traditional Chinese Medicine（ETCM） database were used to screen out the chemical constituents and protein targets of each drug in the Qizhu granules based on oral bioavailability and drug-like properties. The protein target was standardized into the corresponding gene name through the UniProt database. Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man（OMIM）， DisGeNET， Therapeutic Target Database （TTD）， ETCM database were used to search for related targets of diabetic nephropathy， after the intersection of the two， construct a protein interaction network through protein interaction database （STRING）， use Cytoscape to analyze the core target of the network， and the relevant targets were analyzed by KOBAS 3.0 database for Gene Ontology （GO） pathway enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes （KEGG） pathway enrichment analysis. Result:A total of 93 chemical components were obtained from Qizhu granules， involving 254 targets， and 607 targets related to diabetic nephropathy. After the intersection， 76 sputum granules were determined to treat diabetic nephropathy， including protein kinase B1 （Akt1）， vascular endothelial growth factor （VEGFA）， interleukin （IL）-6， tumor necrosis factor （TNF）， mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 （MAPK1）， matrix metalloproteinase （MMP）-9 and other core targets， after GO analysis and KEGG analysis， Qizhu granules can affect cellular response to nitrogen compound， regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolic process and other biological processes， regulate advanced glycation end product （AGE）/advanced glycation end product receptor （RAGE） signaling pathway in diabetic complications， fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis， IL-17 signaling pathways， HIF-1 signaling pathways TNF signaling pathways and other pathways. Conclusion:The therapeutic effect of Qizhu granules on diabetic nephropathy may affect Akt1，VEGFA， IL-6， TNF， MAPK1， MMP-9 and other targets， and regulate AGE/RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications， fluid shear stress and atherosclerosis， IL-17 signaling pathways， hypoxia-inducing factor-1（HIF-1）signaling pathways TNF signaling pathways and other pathways， which can provide a theoretical reference for further basic experimental research.