Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (Kushen) in treating NSCLC: Insights from miRNA-mRNA network analysis

Integration analysis of miRNA-mRNA uncovers the mechanisms of ochratoxin A-induced hepatotoxicity

Ochratoxin A (OTA), the most toxic member of the ochratoxin family, is frequently detected in contaminated food and beverages, posing substantial health risks to both humans and animals, particularly due to its hepatotoxic effects. Although OTA is known to cause liver damage, the precise molecular mechanisms driving its toxicity remain poorly understood. In this study, we explored the hepatotoxic effects of OTA using LO2 cells and zebrafish models, combining miRNA and mRNA analyses to uncover the underlying mechanisms. Our results demonstrated that OTA significantly suppressed cell proliferation and viability, induced cell cycle arrest, triggered apoptosis and elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in LO2 cells, with analogous apoptotic effects observed in zebrafish larvae. Additionally, miRNA-mRNA analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) were significantly enriched in pathways related to apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, and MAPK signaling. We constructed a potential regulatory network, identifying three key miRNAs (hsa-miR-3065-5p, hsa-miR-520g-3p, and hsa-miR-5698) and three associated hub mRNAs (CACNA1D, CDC6, and E2F1). Moreover, OTA treatment specifically induced p38 phosphorylation without significantly altering the phosphorylation levels of ERK or JNK. Collectively, this study established a comprehensive framework for understanding the hepatotoxic mechanisms of OTA at the miRNA and mRNA levels, providing critical insights into the pathogenesis of hepatotoxicity induced by ochratoxins and contributing to the prevention and management of related diseases.

Unveiling the Mechanism of Compound Ku-Shen Injection in Liver Cancer Treatment through an Ingredient-Target Network Analysis

BACKGROUND

Compound Ku-Shen Injection (CKI) is a traditional Chinese medicine preparation derived from Ku-Shen and Bai-Tu-Ling, commonly used in the adjunctive treatment of advanced cancers, including liver cancer. However, the underlying mechanisms of CKI's effectiveness in cancer treatment are not well defined.

METHODS

This study employs network pharmacology to investigate the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) compatibility theory underlying CKI's action in treating liver cancer, with findings substantiated by molecular docking and in vitro experiments. Sixteen active components were identified from CKI, along with 193 potential targets for treating liver cancer. Key therapeutic target proteins, including EGFR and ESR1, were also identified. KEGG enrichment results showed that the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction, cAMP signaling pathway, and serotonergic synapses make up the key pathway of CKI in the treatment of liver cancer. Molecular docking results confirmed that the key active ingredients effectively bind to the core targets. CCK-8 cytotoxic experiment results show that the CKI key components of oxymatrine and matrine can inhibit the growth of HepG2 liver cancer cell proliferation. A Western blot analysis revealed that oxymatrine suppresses the expression of EGFR, contributing to its therapeutic efficacy against liver cancer.

CONCLUSION

our study elucidated the therapeutic mechanism of CKI in treating liver cancer and unveiled the underlying principles of its TCM compatibility through its mode of action.

Mechanism of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix against ovarian cancer via new pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental verification

The study aims to elucidate the pharmacological mechanisms of Sophorae Flavescentis Radix (SFR, Kushen) against ovarian cancer (OV) by employing an integrated approach that encompasses network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. The effective components and potential targets of SFR were identified through screening the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TSMSP) public database using network pharmacology. Core anti-OV targets were pinpointed using protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks. Datasets from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), the Human Protein Atlas (HPA), and Gene Expression Profiling Interactive Analysis (GEPIA) were used to investigate the mRNA and protein expressions of critical target genes in both normal and cancerous ovarian tissues, alongside their relationship to overall ovarian survival. Functional and pathway enrichment assessments of putative targets were carried out with Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). The assessment of stable binding effects was conducted through molecular docking with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, and validated by anti-OV cell activity. The investigation identified 22 active SFR components yielding 152 potential targets following the intersection with known OV targets. Analysis of PPI network highlighted 13 crucial target genes, including tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-1A (IL-1A). GO enrichment analysis covered 703 biological activities, 72 cellular components, and 144 chemical functions. The KEGG enrichment analysis suggested that anti-cancer effects of SFR are mediated by the TNF, interleukin-17 (IL-17), and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. Molecular docking demonstrated that TNF and IL-1A were stable and strong binding to quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin, indicating that these stable structures significantly inhibited A2780 OV cell viability. This study demonstrated the ability of TNF and IL-1A combined with quercetin, luteolin, and formononetin to decrease the activity of OV cells, suggesting potential therapeutic effect against OV.