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Zheng S, Liang Y, Xue T, Wang W, Li S, Zhang P, Li X, Cao X, Liu Q, Qi W, Ye Y, Zao X. Application of network pharmacology in traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of digestive system diseases. Front Pharmacol 2024; 15:1412997. [PMID: 39086391 PMCID: PMC11289720 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2024.1412997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
With the general improvement in living standards in recent years, people's living habits, including their dietary habits, have changed. More people around the world do not follow a healthy diet, leading to an increase in morbidity and even mortality due to digestive system diseases, which shows an increasing trend every year. The advantage of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in treating digestive system diseases is evident. Consequently, the mechanisms of action of single Chinese herbs and compound Chinese medicines have become the focus of research. The research method of the network pharmacology system was highly consistent with the holistic concept of TCM, and provided a new perspective and theoretical basis for basic research on digestive system diseases. This article summarizes the common databases currently used in research on TCM. It also briefly introduces the basic methods and technologies of network pharmacology studies. It also summarizes the advancements of network pharmacology technology through a comprehensive literature search on PubMed. Based on this analysis, we further explored the role of TCM in treating digestive system diseases, including chronic gastritis, gastric cancer, ulcerative colitis, and liver cirrhosis. This study provides new ideas and references for treating digestive system diseases with TCM in the future and serves as a reference for relevant researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Zheng
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yijun Liang
- Xiyuan Hospital of China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Tianyu Xue
- First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Size Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Peng Zhang
- Dongfang Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoke Li
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xu Cao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiyao Liu
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Wenying Qi
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yongan Ye
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaobin Zao
- Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Liver Diseases Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of Chinese Internal Medicine of Ministry of Education and Beijing, Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
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Liang X, Li C, Song J, Liu A, Wang C, Wang W, Kang Y, Sun D, Qian J, Zhang X. HucMSC-Exo Promote Mucosal Healing in Experimental Colitis by Accelerating Intestinal Stem Cells and Epithelium Regeneration via Wnt Signaling Pathway. Int J Nanomedicine 2023; 18:2799-2818. [PMID: 37256205 PMCID: PMC10226545 DOI: 10.2147/ijn.s402179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Mucosal healing has emerged as a crucial therapeutic goal for inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). Exosomes (Exo) as a potential acellular candidate for stem cell therapy might be competent to promote mucosal healing, while its mechanism remains unexplored. Methods Exosomes derived from human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells (hucMSCs) were subjected to experimental colitis mice intraperitoneally to estimate the role in mucosal healing and the regeneration of intestinal stem cells (ISCs) and epithelium. The intestinal organoid model of IBD was constructed utilizing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α for subsequent function analysis in vitro. Transcriptome sequencing was performed to decipher the underlying mechanism and Wnt-C59, an oral Wnt inhibitor, was used to confirm that further. Finally, the potential specific components of hucMSC‑exo were investigated based on several existing miRNA expression datasets. Results HucMSC-exo showed striking potential for mucosal healing in colitis mice, characterized by decreased histopathological injuries and neutrophil infiltration as well as improved epithelial integrity. HucMSC-exo up-regulated the expression of leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), a specific marker for ISCs and accelerated the proliferation of intestinal epithelium. HucMSC-exo endowed intestinal organoids with more excellent capacity to grow and bud under TNF-α stimulation. More than that, the fact that hucMSC-exo activated the canonical Wnt signaling pathway to promote mucosal healing was uncovered by not only RNA-sequencing but also relevant experimental data. Finally, bioinformatics analysis of the existing miRNA expression datasets indicated that several miRNAs abundant in hucMSC-exo involved widely in regeneration or repair related biological processes and Wnt signaling pathway might be one of the most important signal transduction pathways. Conclusion Our results suggested that hucMSC-exo could facilitate mucosal healing in experimental colitis by accelerating ISCs and intestinal epithelium regeneration via transferring key miRNAs, which was dependent on the activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaonan Liang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chenyang Li
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jia Song
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Airu Liu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Chen Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenxin Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yaxing Kang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Endocrinology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Donglei Sun
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
| | - Jiaming Qian
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Gastroenterology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaolan Zhang
- Department of Gastroenterology, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, Hebei Key Laboratory of Gastroenterology, Hebei Institute of Gastroenterology, Hebei Clinical Research Center for Digestive Diseases, Shijiazhuang, Hebei, People’s Republic of China
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3
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Xu Z, Zhang Q, Ding C, Wen F, Sun F, Liu Y, Tao C, Yao J. Beneficial Effects of Hordenine on a Model of Ulcerative Colitis. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062834. [PMID: 36985809 PMCID: PMC10054341 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Hordenine, a phenethylamine alkaloid, is found in a variety of plants and exhibits a broad array of biological activities and pharmacological properties, including anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. However, the efficacy and underlying mechanisms of hordenine in treating ulcerative colitis (UC) remain unclear. To address this, we examined the therapeutic effects of hordenine on dextran sodium sulphate (DSS)-induced UC by comparing disease activity index (DAI), colon length, secretion of inflammatory factors, and degree of colonic histological lesions across diseased mice that were and were not treated with hordenine. We found that hordenine significantly reduced DAI and levels of pro-inflammatory factors, including interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and also alleviated colon tissue oedema, colonic lesions, inflammatory cells infiltration and decreased the number of goblet cells. Moreover, in vitro experiments showed that hordenine protected intestinal epithelial barrier function by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins including ZO-1 and occludin, while also promoting the healing of intestinal mucosa. Using immunohistochemistry and western blotting, we demonstrated that hordenine reduced the expression of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1), sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1), and ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1 (Rac1), and it inhibited the expression of phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (p-STAT3) in colon tissues. Thus, hordenine appears to be effective in UC treatment owing to pharmacological mechanisms that favor mucosal healing and the inhibition of SPHK-1/S1PR1/STAT3 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhengguang Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Qilian Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
- School of Basic Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Ce Ding
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Feifei Wen
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Fang Sun
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
- Jining Key Laboratory of Pharmacology, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Yanzhan Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Chunxue Tao
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
| | - Jing Yao
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
- Jining Key Laboratory of Pharmacology, Jining Medical University, Jining 272067, China
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Zhang Q, Wen F, Sun F, Xu Z, Liu Y, Tao C, Sun F, Jiang M, Yang M, Yao J. Efficacy and Mechanism of Quercetin in the Treatment of Experimental Colitis Using Network Pharmacology Analysis. Molecules 2022; 28:molecules28010146. [PMID: 36615338 PMCID: PMC9822290 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28010146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Quercetin, a flavonoid that is present in vegetables and fruits, has been found to have anti-inflammatory effects. However, the mechanism by which it inhibits colitis is uncertain. This study aimed to explore the effect and pharmacological mechanism of quercetin on dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced ulcerative colitis (UC). Mice were given a 4% (w/v) DSS solution to drink for 7 days, followed by regular water for the following 5 days. Pharmacological mechanisms were predicted by network pharmacology. High-throughput 16S rDNA sequencing was performed to detect changes in the intestinal microbiota composition. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and western blotting were performed to examine the anti-inflammatory role of quercetin in the colon. Quercetin attenuated DSS-induced body weight loss, colon length shortening, and pathological damage to the colon. Quercetin administration modulated the composition of the intestinal microbiota in DSS-induced mice and inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. Network pharmacology revealed that quercetin target genes were enriched in inflammatory and neoplastic processes. Quercetin dramatically inhibited the expression of phosphorylated protein kinase B (AKT) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K). Quercetin has a role in the treatment of UC, with pharmacological mechanisms that involve regulation of the intestinal microbiota, re-establishment of healthy microbiomes that favor mucosal healing, and the inhibition of PI3K/AKT signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qilian Zhang
- School of Basic Medicine, Weifang Medical University, Weifang 261000, China
| | - Feifei Wen
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Fang Sun
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Zhengguang Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Yanzhan Liu
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Chunxue Tao
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Fei Sun
- School of Clinical Medicine, Qilu Medical University, Zibo 255000, China
| | - Mingchao Jiang
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Mingtao Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
| | - Jing Yao
- School of Basic Medicine, Jining Medical University, Jining 272000, China
- Correspondence:
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Yu W, Zhang Y, Kang C, Zheng Y, Liu X, Liang Z, Yan J. The pharmacological evidence of the chang-yan-ning formula in the treatment of colitis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:1029088. [PMID: 36278202 PMCID: PMC9579319 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1029088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a subtype of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and occurs mainly in the colon. The etiology of UC is rather complex and involves various pathological factors, including genetic susceptibility, dietary intakes, environment, and microbiota. In China, the Chang-Yan-Ning (CYN) formula has been utilized in the clinic to treat gastrointestinal disorders, but its pharmacological evidence remains elusive. The investigation was designed to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms of CYN. Liquid Chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS) was performed to identify the key components in the formula; Network pharmacology analysis was executed to predict the potential targets of CYN; An experimental murine colitis model was established by utilizing 2% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), and CYN was administered for 14 days. The pharmacological mechanism of the CYN formula was corroborated by in-vivo and in-vitro experiments, and high throughput techniques including metabolomics and 16S rRNA sequencing. Results: LC/MS identified the active components in the formula, and network pharmacology analysis predicted 37 hub genes that were involved in tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-17, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) signaling pathways. As evidenced by in-vivo experiments, DSS administration shortened the length of the colon and led to weight loss, with a compromised structure of epithelium, and the CYN formula reversed these pathological symptoms. Moreover, CYN suppressed the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-4, IL-1b, and TNFαin the serum, inhibited the protein abundance of IL17 and HIF-1αand increased PPARγ and CCL2 in the colon, and facilitated the alternative activation of peritoneal macrophages. While peritoneal macrophages of colitis mice enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in murine intestinal organoids, the ROS level remained stable co-cultured with the macrophages of CYN-treated mice. Furthermore, the decreased microbiota richness and diversity and the prevalence of pathogenic taxa in colitis mice were rescued after the CYN treatment. The altered metabolic profile during colitis was also restored after the therapy. We posit that the CYN therapy attenuates the development and progression of colitis by maintaining the homeostasis of immune responses and microbiota.
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Zheng S, Xue T, Wang B, Guo H, Liu Q. Application of network pharmacology in the study of mechanism of Chinese medicine in the treatment of ulcerative colitis: A review. FRONTIERS IN BIOINFORMATICS 2022; 2:928116. [PMID: 36304327 PMCID: PMC9580908 DOI: 10.3389/fbinf.2022.928116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Network pharmacology is a research method based on a multidisciplinary holistic analysis of biological systems, which coincides with the idea of the holistic view of traditional Chinese medicine. In this review, we summarized the use of network pharmacology technology through studying Chinese medicine single medicine or Chinese medicine compound research ideas and methods for the treatment of ulcerative colitis, based on the application of the current network pharmacology in Chinese medicine research, including the important role in the mechanism of the prediction and verification, to search for new ideas for disease diagnosis and treatment, this study summarizes the application of network pharmacology in the treatment of ulcerative colitis in traditional Chinese medicine, including monotherapy and compound therapy, and considers that relevant research studies have fully demonstrated the function characteristics of the multi-component, multi-target, and multi-pathway of traditional Chinese medicine, and can also explain the connotation of “selecting appropriate treatment methods according to the differences and similarities of pathogenesis” of traditional Chinese medicine. Finally, we raised important questions about the prospects and limitations of network pharmacology, such as differences caused by different data collection methods, a considerable lag, and so on.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shihao Zheng
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Tianyu Xue
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Haolin Guo
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
| | - Qiquan Liu
- Graduate School, Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- Department of Spleen and Stomach, First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shijiazhuang, China
- *Correspondence: Qiquan Liu,
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Dong L, Zhang R, Huang Q, Shen Y, Li H, Yu S, Wu Q. Construction, bioinformatics analysis, and validation of competitive endogenous RNA networks in ulcerative colitis. Front Genet 2022; 13:951243. [PMID: 36061211 PMCID: PMC9428148 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.951243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a common chronic disease of the digestive system. Recently, competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) have been increasingly used to reveal key mechanisms for the pathogenesis and treatment of UC. However, the role of ceRNA in UC pathogenesis has not been fully clarified. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA ceRNA network in UC and identify potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Materials and Methods: An integrative analysis of mRNA, microRNA (miRNA), and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) files downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) was performed. Differentially expressed mRNA (DE-mRNAs), miRNA (DE-miRNAs), and lncRNA (DE-lncRNAs) were investigated between the normal and UC groups by the limma package. A weighted correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was used to identify the relative model for constructing the ceRNA network, and, concurrently, miRWalk and DIANA-LncBase databases were used for target prediction. Consecutively, the Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) pathway, and Reactome pathway enrichment analyses, protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, Cytohubba, and ClueGO were performed to identify hub genes. Additionally, we examined the immune infiltration characteristics of UC and the correlation between hub genes and immune cells using the immuCellAI database. Finally, the expression of potential biomarkers of ceRNA was validated via qRT-PCR in an experimental UC model induced by dextran sulfate sodium (DSS). Result: The ceRNA network was constructed by combining four mRNAs, two miRNAs, and two lncRNAs, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis showed that two mRNAs (CTLA4 and STAT1) had high diagnostic accuracy (area under the curve [AUC] > 0.9). Furthermore, CTLA4 up-regulation was positively correlated with the infiltration of immune cells. Finally, as a result of this DSS-induced experimental UC model, CTLA4, MIAT, and several associate genes expression were consistent with the results of previous bioinformatics analysis, which proved our hypothesis. Conclusion: The investigation of the ceRNA network in this study could provide insight into UC pathogenesis. CTLA4, which has immune-related properties, can be a potential biomarker in UC, and MIAT/miR-422a/CTLA4 ceRNA networks may play important roles in UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Longcong Dong
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Ruibin Zhang
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qin Huang
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Yuan Shen
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Hongying Li
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuguang Yu
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Qiaofeng Wu
- Acupuncture and Tuina College, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
- Acupuncture and Chronobiology Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Chengdu, China
- *Correspondence: Qiaofeng Wu,
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Shou X, Wang Y, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Yang Y, Duan C, Yang Y, Jia Q, Yuan G, Shi J, Shi S, Cui H, Hu Y. Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Analysis on Molecular Mechanism of Qingzi Zhitong Decoction in the Treatment of Ulcerative Colitis. Front Pharmacol 2022; 13:727608. [PMID: 35237152 PMCID: PMC8883437 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.727608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a disease with complex pathological mechanisms. We explored the potential molecular mechanisms behind the therapeutic functions of Qingzi Zhitong decoction (QZZTD) in the treatment of UC by network pharmacology and molecular docking. QZZTD is a formula of Chinese traditional medicine consisting of 10 herbs. The potential active ingredients of QZZTD and their target genes were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform database, and UC-related target genes were obtained from GeneCards and OMIM databases. A total of 138 co-identified target genes were obtained by plotting the intersection target Venn diagram, and then the STRING database and Cytoscape software were used to establish protein-protein interaction networks and herb-ingredient-target networks. Four key active compounds and nine key proteins were identified. Then, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses showed that the biological functions of potential target genes were associated with DNA transcription, signaling receptor and ligand activity, cytokine activity, cellular autophagy, and antioxidant pathways, with related pathways involving the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-Akt signaling pathway, advanced glycosylation end product (AGE)-RAGE signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor (TNF) signaling pathway, and IL-17 signaling pathway. Moreover, the binding activities of key target genes and essential active compounds of Chinese herbal medicines in QZZTD were further validated by molecular docking. This demonstrated that quercetin, luteolin, hyndarin, and beta-sitosterol had good binding to eight key proteins, and Akt1 was the target protein with the best binding activity, suggesting that Akt1 could be the essential mediator responsible for signaling transduction after QZZTD administration. The rat experiment verified that QZZTD inhibited PI3K-Akt pathway activation and reduced inflammation in UC. In conclusion, our study suggested four potential key active components, including quercetin, were identified in QZZTD, which could interact with Akt1 and modulate the activation of the PI3K-Akt pathway. The other three pathways may also be involved in the signaling transduction induced by QZZTD in the treatment of UC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xintian Shou
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yumeng Wang
- Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Xuesong Zhang
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yanju Zhang
- National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Yang
- National Center for Children's Health, Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Chenglin Duan
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yihan Yang
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Qiulei Jia
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Guozhen Yuan
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Jingjing Shi
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Shuqing Shi
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China.,Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hanming Cui
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanhui Hu
- China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Guang'anmen Hospital, Beijing, China
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