Network pharmacology-based approach to elucidate the pharmacologic mechanisms of natural compounds from Dictyostelium discoideum for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in Alzheimer's disease associated with HSV-1 and CMV coinfection

Oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis have been reported to influence cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD), particularly those infected with herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) or cytomegalovirus (CMV). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of viral infection on oxidative stress markers associated with these pathways in AD patients. A total of 100 adults with mild-to-moderate AD were randomly assigned to a double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial and categorized into three groups: AD (uninfected), AD with HSV-1, and AD with CMV. The primary outcomes included changes in serum inflammatory markers (IL-1β and TNF-α), blood antioxidant and oxidative stress markers-glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), malondialdehyde (MDA), reactive oxygen species (ROS), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), as well as the expression levels of apoptosis-related proteins (BAX and BCL-2). Results showed that, compared to the control group, the AD group exhibited significant alterations in inflammatory and oxidative stress markers. CMV infection led to increased antioxidant enzyme activity and decreased serum inflammatory markers relative to the uninfected AD group. However, there were significant differences in ratio BAX/BCL-2 protein expression between the CMV and HSV-1 groups when compared to the AD group. In conclusion, AD patients infected with HSV-1 or CMV demonstrated distinct alterations in inflammatory, oxidative stress, antioxidant profiles, and apoptosis markers, which may have beneficial implications for circulatory biomarkers and potentially cognitive outcomes in AD.

Network pharmacology approach to unravel the neuroprotective potential of natural products: a narrative review

Aging is a slow and irreversible biological process leading to decreased cell and tissue functions with higher risks of multiple age-related diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases. It is widely accepted that aging represents the leading risk factor for neurodegeneration. The pathogenesis of these diseases involves complex interactions of genetic mutations, environmental factors, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction, which complicate treatment with traditional mono-targeted therapies. Network pharmacology can help identify potential gene or protein targets related to neurodegenerative diseases. Integrating advanced molecular profiling technologies and computer-aided drug design further enhances the potential of network pharmacology, enabling the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets, thus paving the way for precision medicine in neurodegenerative diseases. This review article delves into the application of network pharmacology in understanding and treating neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington's disease, and spinal muscular atrophy. Overall, this article emphasizes the importance of addressing aging as a central factor in developing effective disease-modifying therapies, highlighting how network pharmacology can unravel the complex biological networks associated with aging and pave the way for personalized medical strategies.

Application of Network Pharmacology in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases with Traditional Chinese Medicine

In recent years, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, has exhibited a steadily rising trend, which has posed a major challenge to the global public health. Traditional Chinese medicine, with its multicomponent and multitarget characteristics, offers a promising approach to treating neurodegenerative diseases. However, comprehensively elucidating the complex mechanisms underlying traditional Chinese medicine formulations remains challenging. As an emerging systems biology method, network pharmacology has provided a vital tool for revealing the multitarget mechanisms of traditional Chinese medicine through high-throughput technologies, molecular docking, and network analysis. This paper reviews the advancements in the application of network pharmacology in treating neurodegenerative diseases using traditional Chinese medicine, analyzes the current status of relevant databases and technological methods, discusses the limitations, and proposes future directions to promote the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine and the development of precision medicine.

Multifaceted Actions of Neurosteroids

Background and purpose

Neurosteroids modulate neuronal function and are promising therapeutic agents for neuropsychiatric disorders. Neurosteroid analogues are approved for treating postpartum depression and are of interest in other disorders. GABA-A receptors are well characterized targets of natural neurosteroids, but other biological pathways are likely relevant to therapeutic mechanisms and/or to off-target effects. We performed hypothesis-generating in silico analyses and broad in vitro biological screens to assess the range of actions of neurosteroids analogues of varying structural attributes.

Key Results

We employed in silico molecular similarity analysis and network pharmacology to elucidate likely targets. This analysis confirmed likely targets beyond GABA-A receptors. We then functionally screened 19 distinct neurosteroid structures across 78 targets representing interconnected signaling pathways, complemented with a limited screen of kinase activation. Results revealed unanticipated modulation of targets by neurosteroids with some structural selectivity. Many compounds-initiated androgen receptor translocation with little or no enantioselectivity. Modulation of multiple G-protein receptors was also unexpected.

Conclusions and implications

Neurosteroids are ascendant treatments in neuropsychiatry, but their full spectrum of actions remains unclear. This virtual and biological screening discovery approach opens new vistas for exploring mechanism of neurosteroids analogues. The multifaceted approach provides an unbiased, holistic exploration of the potential effects of neurosteroids across various molecular targets and provides a platform for future validation studies to aid drug discovery.

Computational exploration of novel ketoprofen derivatives: Molecular dynamics simulations and MM-PBSA calculations for COX-2 inhibition as promising anti-inflammatory drugs

Computer-aided drug design is widely employed to identify novel compounds for therapeutic applications. Ketoprofen (KTP), a commonly used and marketed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), is effective in treating pain, fever, inflammation, and some cancers. In this research, we explored the behavior of six analogues designed by structurally modifying the KTP molecule. Specifically, KTP-A and KTP-B contain a -CN group at the ortho position, KTP-C and KTP-D have a -CN group at the meta position, and KTP-E and KTP-F feature a -CF3 group at the meta position. To assess these analogues, we conducted molecular dynamics simulations (MD) to study their inhibitory effects on human cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2), providing detailed insights into the structure and dynamics of the protein both with and without ligands. MD simulation, enhanced by technological advances, has proven to be a powerful tool for new drug discovery. We further quantified the binding affinity of these drug molecules toward COX-2 using molecular mechanics Poisson-Boltzmann surface area (MM-PBSA) binding free energy calculations. The dynamic properties were evaluated through analyses of root mean square deviations (RMSD), root mean square fluctuations (RMSF), radius of gyration (Rg), solvent-accessible surface area (SASA), covariance matrix, principal component analysis (PCA), and Gibbs free energy landscapes (FEL). Ultimately, this study confirms that the six KTP derivatives are promising candidates for the treatment of inflammation, with KTP-B standing out as particularly effective.

Indole-based COX-2 inhibitors: A decade of advances in inflammation, cancer, and Alzheimer's therapy

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), a key enzyme in the cyclooxygenase family, is pivotal in producing pro-inflammatory prostaglandins, driving chronic inflammation and related disorders. Targeting COX-2 with selective inhibitors can mitigate these conditions while avoiding the gastrointestinal and hepatotoxic/nephrotoxic side effects of traditional NSAIDs. However, the selectivity towards COX-2 inhibition has been associated with cardiovascular risks, necessitating the discovery of novel molecular scaffolds avoiding CVS side effects. This review focuses on advancements in Indole-based COX-2 inhibitors from 2013 to 2024, emphasizing their potential in treating inflammation, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease. The Indole scaffold, known for its versatility, allows for comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) analysis, facilitating the development of molecules with enhanced selectivity and potency. Molecules having different substituents attached to the Indole scaffold supported by molecular modeling data, is explored in detail. This review provides an concise overview of the pharmacophore profiles of Indole-based chemotherapeutics, contributing to the development of advanced strategies for selective COX-2 inhibition and addressing the challenges and opportunities in the field.

Exploring the Potential Mechanisms of Zhu-Ye-Qing Wine in Preventing Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Diseases Based on Network Pharmacology

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease (CCVD) is a complex disease with a long latency period, and the most effective diagnosis and treatment methods are risk assessment and preventive interventions before onset. According to traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), Zhu-Ye-Qing wine (ZYQW) has the effect of invigorating blood and removing blood stasis. However, whether ZYQW can improve the progression of CCVD has not been reported. This study aims to explore the possible mechanism of ZYQW on CCVD through network pharmacology, and finally 249 potential targets of ZYQW and 2080 potential targets of CCVD are obtained. The key targets mainly include MAPK3, TP53, RELA, MAPK1 and AKT1. The main KEGG pathways include TNF signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis pathway signaling pathway. The components in ZYQW are identified by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-CQE-CQE-MS/MS). Through network pharmacology, molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, the potential key components and prevention mechanisms of ZYQW in the prevention of CCVD are determined. ZYQW may be an effective and safe health food for the prevention of CCVD, providing guidance and basis for the further development of medicinal foods.