The mechanism of curcumin inhibiting the proliferation of clear cell renal cell carcinoma based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics / 西安交通大学学报(医学版)

ABSTRACT

【Objective】 To explore and verify the mechanism of curcumin’s inhibition of the proliferation of renal clear cell carcinoma （RCCC） based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics. 【Methods】 We screened common target genes of RCCC and curcumin from PharmMapper and GeneCards databases. We used TCGA database data analysis to screen out common target genes which not only differentially expressed between RCCC tissue samples and normal tissue samples but also affected prognosis. We also used STRING platform to construct curcumin-RCCC targets interaction network， used R software to perform GO biological process analysis and KEGG pathway enrichment analysis based on the above-mentioned screening target proteins. After curcumin and/or active oxygen inhibitor N-acetyl-L-cysteine （NAC） were incubated in renal cancer 786-O and ACHN cells， CCK8 was used to detect the effects of different concentrations of curcumin on cell proliferation and cell viability. Reactive oxygen detection kit （DCFH-DA） was used to detect the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species， and malondialdehyde （MDA） determination kit （TBA method） to detect intracellular malondialdehyde changes. 【Results】 PharmMapper website and GeneCards database screened out 109 common targets of curcumin and RCCC. TCGA database data analysis screened out 37 differentially expressed genes （DEGs） that might affect the overall survival of patients. The core target proteins of curcumin screened out by protein-protein interaction （PPI） that inhibited the biological behavior of RCCC mainly involved CASP3， EGFR， CHEK1， HSP90AA1， and AR. GO enrichment analysis identified 213 items， mainly including reactive oxygen species metabolic process， response to steroid hormones， fibrinolysis and other biologically active processes. KEGG enrichment analysis identified 24 items， which were mainly related to pyruvate metabolism， glycolysis/gluconeogenesis， FoxO signaling pathway， colorectal cancer， tyrosine metabolism， IL-17 signaling pathway， apoptosis and other signaling pathways. Curcumin reduced the cell viability of 786-O and ACHN in a time- and dose-dependent manner （P<0.05）. After curcumin was incubated with kidney cancer cells， the level of reactive oxygen species and MDA increased significantly （P<0.05）. The addition of NAC reversed the effect of curcumin on the cell viability of 786-O and ACHN cells （P<0.05）. 【Conclusion】 Curcumin may participate in the oxidative stress pathway to inhibit the proliferation of renal cell carcinoma.