Biomed Research International
·
2021
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IF 3.411
Ling Kui,Min Li,Xiaonan Yang,Ling Yang,Qinghua Kong,Yunbing Pan,Zetan Xu,Shouling Wang,Dandan Mo,Yang Dong,Yao Liu,Jianhua Miao
Lung cancer is known as the leading cause which presents the highest fatality rate worldwide; non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the most prevalent type of lung carcinoma with high severity and affects 80% of patients with lung malignancies. Up to now, the general treatment for NSCLC includes surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy; however, some therapeutic drugs and approaches could cause side effects and weaken the immune system. The combination of conventional therapies and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) significantly improves treatment efficacy in lung cancer. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the chemical composition and underlying antitumor mechanisms of TCM, so as to get a better understanding of the potential natural ingredient for lung cancer treatment. In this study, we selected 78 TCM to treat NSCLC cell line (A549) and obtained 92 transcriptome data; differential expression and WGCNA were applied to screen the potential natural ingredient and target genes. The sample which was treated with A. pierreana generated the most significant DEG set, including 6130 DEGs, 2479 upregulated, and 3651 downregulated. KEGG pathway analyses found that four pathways (MAPK, NF-kappa B, p53, and TGF-beta signaling pathway) were significantly enriched; 16 genes were significantly regulated in these four pathways. Interestingly, some of them such as EGFR, DUSP4, IL1R1, IL1B, MDM2, CDKNIA, and IDs have been used as the target biomarkers for cancer diagnosis and therapy. In addition, classified samples into 14 groups based on their pharmaceutical effects, WGCNA was used to identify 27 modules. Among them, green and darkgrey were the most relevant modules. Eight genes in the green module and four in darkgrey were identified as hub genes. In conclusion, we screened out three new TCM (B. fruticose, A. pierreana, and S. scandens) that have the potential to develop natural anticancer drugs and obtained the therapeutic targets for NSCLC therapy. Our study provides unique insights to screen the natural components for NSCLC therapy using high-throughput transcriptome analysis.
研究领域:
癌症生物学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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生物信息学
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传统中药
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Microbiology
·
2024
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IF 4
Song Zhenyan,He Jiawei,Yu Wenjing,He Chunxiang,Yang Miao,Li Ping,Li Ze,Jian Gonghui,Cheng Shaowu
Background: Schisanlactone E, also known as XueTongSu (XTS), is an active compound extracted from the traditional Tujia medicine Kadsura heteroclita (“XueTong”). Recent studies highlight its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, yet the mechanisms of XTS’s therapeutic effects on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are unclear. This study aims to elucidate the therapeutic efficacy and mechanisms of XTS in AD.Methods: Ten C57BL/6 mice were assigned to the control group (NC), and twenty APP/PS1 transgenic mice were randomly divided into the model group (M) (10 mice) and the XTS treatment group (Tre) (10 mice). After an acclimatization period of 7 days, intraperitoneal injections were administered over a 60-day treatment period. The NC and M groups received saline, while the Tre group received XTS at 2 mg/kg. Learning and memory abilities were assessed using the Morris Water Maze (MWM) test. Histopathological changes were evaluated using hematoxylin and eosin (HE) and Nissl staining, and immunofluorescence was used to assess pathological products and glial cell activation. Cytokine levels (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) in the hippocampus were quantified by qPCR. 16S rDNA sequencing analyzed gut microbiota metabolic alterations, and metabolomic analysis was performed on cortical samples. The KEGG database was used to analyze the regulatory mechanisms of XTS in AD treatment.Results: XTS significantly improved learning and spatial memory in APP/PS1 mice and ameliorated histopathological changes, reducing Aβ plaque aggregation and glial cell activation. XTS decreased the expression of inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. It also enhanced gut microbiota diversity, notably increasing Akkermansia species, and modulated levels of metabolites such as isosakuranetin, 5-KETE, 4-methylcatechol, and sphinganine. Pathway analysis indicated that XTS regulated carbohydrate metabolism, neuroactive ligand-receptor interactions, and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism, mitigating gut microbiota dysbiosis and metabolic disturbances.Conclusion: XTS ameliorates cognitive deficits, pathological changes, and inflammatory responses in APP/PS1 mice. It significantly modulates the gut microbiota, particularly increasing Akkermansia abundance, and influences levels of key metabolites in both the gut and brain. These findings suggest that XTS exerts anti-AD effects through the microbial-gut-brain axis (MGBA).
研究领域:
神经科学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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微生物学
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代谢组学
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DOI
高影响因子
JOURNAL OF PHARMACEUTICAL AND BIOMEDICAL ANALYSIS
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2023
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IF 3.4
Yao Wang,Lili Liu,Cheng Cheng,Shuxuan Wang,Qirui Zhai,Yunyang Song,Ronghua Dai
Zishen Pill (ZSP) is a traditional Chinese medicine that is frequently used to treat Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH), however its specific mechanism of action and active ingredients are yet unknown. We used a combination of serum pharmacochemistry and network pharmacology and a series of biochemical assays to explore the action mechanism of ZSP in the treatment of BPH. The BPH rat model was created using testosterone propionate , and following oral ZSP administration, the components of ZSP in rat serum were detected by UPLC-Q-Exactive Orbitrap/MS method. A "component-target-disease" network and PPI networks were constructed on this foundation. The primary mechanism of ZSP decreasing BPH in rats was studied by KEGG pathway and GO analysis. Finally, the potential pathways and key targets were further verified in vivo by molecular biology and immunological methods . 46 substances were charactered from rat serum, and 164 anti-BPH targets were screened from the database. According to network pharmacology, the primary targets were CASP3, STAT3, JUN, and PTGS2/COX2. Three related pathways (PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor resistance) were closely related to the therapeutic effects of ZSP. The findings of molecular biology demonstrated that ZSP may bring Bcl-2, BAX, CASP3, COX2, and 5LOX protein and gene expression in BPH rats appreciably closer to that of normal rats. Additionally, ZSP can lessen the expression of inflammatory cytokines in BPH rats, including VEGF, TNF-α, CCL5, and interleukin. Conclusion The above results suggest that ZSP may reduce BPH through inflammation/immunity and apoptosis/proliferation-related pathways. This study offers a fresh approach to investigate the basic pharmacological effects and mechanism of ZSP in the treatment of BPH.
研究领域:
药理学
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中医药
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分子生物学
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免疫学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY
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2020
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IF 3.263
Zi-Yuan Wang,Zheng-Meng Jiang,Ping-Ting Xiao,Ying-Qun Jiang,Wen-Jin Liu,E-Hu Liu
Obesity is one of the main causes of human cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases . Baicalin , a bioactive flavonoid isolated from the herbal medicine Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi, is reported to ameliorate obesity and hyperlipidemia . However, its mechanism remains unclear. Here, we used network pharmacology to explore the potential mechanism of baicalin on a system level. First, we predicted the targets of baicalin and diseases, and then protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed. Moreover, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment was performed via the Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (DAVID) server. Lastly, we confirmed the results of the network analysis by palmitic acid (PA) treated human hepatoma cells (HepG2) in vitro . The results indicated that 37 targets related to obesity treated by baicalin were predicted by network pharmacology, and top 10 related pathways were extracted by the KEGG database. Baicalin treatment could reduce triglyceride (TG) contents and lipid droplet accumulation in PA-treated HepG2 cells. The anti-obesity effects of baicalin might be due to the up-regulation of solute carrier family 2 member 1 (SLC2A1) and down-regulation of tumor necrosis factor (TNF), nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 (NFKB1), sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1 (SREBF1), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma and caspase 3 (CASP3). Our results indicated that baicalin may regulate key inflammatory markers, adipogenesis process, and apoptosis for treatment of obesity.
研究领域:
药理学
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分子生物学
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细胞生物学
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生物信息学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
Frontiers in Pharmacology
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2022
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IF 5.988
Zijie Wang,Anan Jiang,Hongmei Xiao,Xiaofan Yuan,Shaoru Zhang,Xinyue Qin
Objective: To study the potential targets and molecular mechanisms of Fritiliariae Irrhosae Bulbus (FIB) in the treatment of ischemic strokes based on a network pharmacology strategy, with a combination of molecular docking and animal experiments.Methods: The active components and targets of FIB were screened by TCMSP database and TCMIP database, and the related targets of ischemic strokes were screened by GeneCards, OMIM, CTD, and DrugBank, then the intersection targets of the two were taken. The protein interaction network was constructed by STRING, the PPI network diagram was drawn by using Cytoscape software, and the key targets of FIB treatment of ischemic strokes were analyzed by MCODE. The DAVID database was used for GO and KEGG enrichment analysis, and the potential pathway of FIB against ischemic strokes was obtained. Molecular docking was performed by using AutoDock Tools 1.5.6 software. Finally, a mouse model of ischemic stroke was established, and the results of network pharmacology were verified by in vivo experiments. Realtime Polymerase Chain Reaction was used to detect the expression levels of relevant mRNAs in the mouse brain tissue. Western blot was used to detect the expression levels of related proteins in the mouse brain tissue.Results: 13 kinds of active components of FIB were screened, 31 targets were found in the intersection of FIB and ischemic strokes, 10 key targets were obtained by MCODE analysis, 236 biological processes were involved in GO enrichment analysis, and key targets of KEGG enrichment analysis were mainly concentrated in Neuroactive light receptor interaction, Calcium signaling pathway, Cholinergic synapse, Hepatitis B, Apoptosis—multiple specifications, Pathways in cancer and other significantly related pathways. There was good binding activity between the screened main active components and target proteins when molecular docking was performed. Animal experiments showed that the infarct volume of brain tissue in the FIB treatment group was considerably reduced. RT-qPCR and the results of Western Blot showed that FIB could inhibit the expression of active-Caspase3, HSP90AA1, phosphorylated C-JUN, and COX2.Conclusion: Based on network pharmacology, the effect of FIB in the treatment of ischemic strokes was discussed through the multi-component-multi-target-multi-pathway. The therapeutic effect and potential mechanisms of FIB on ischemic strokes were preliminarily explored, which provided a ground work for further researches on the pharmacodynamic material basis, mechanism of action and clinical application.
研究领域:
药理学
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神经科学
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分子生物学
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生物信息学
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实验医学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
PHOTOCHEMICAL & PHOTOBIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
·
2023
·Vol. 22
·期 4
·905-917
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IF 3.1
Wen Ying,Zeng Liyun,Chen Qitong,Li Yitong,Fu Mengdie,Wang Zixin,Liu Hong,Li Xiejia,Huang Peng,Wu Wei,Zou Qiongyan,Yi Wenjun
Background The aim of this study was to identify changes in gene expression before and after 5-aminolevulinic acid-mediated photodynamic therapy (5-ALA-PDT) and to investigate the potential mechanism of 5-ALA-PDT based on ribonucleic acid sequencing (RNA-Seq) analysis. Methods Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) primary cells were isolated from surgically excised specimens and exposed to laser light. The transcription profiles of SHPT primary cells were identified through RNA-Seq. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified. Enrichment of functions and signaling pathway analysis were performed based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and western blot analysis were used to validate genes based on RNA-Seq results. Results In total, 1320 DEGs were identified, of which 1019 genes were upregulated and 301 genes were downregulated. GO and KEGG pathway analyses identified significantly enriched pathways in DEGs, including TGF beta in extracellular matrix (ECM), negative regulation of triglyceride biosynthetic process, protein heterodimerization activity, systemic lupus erythematosus, ECM–receptor interaction, focal adhesion and protein digestion and absorption. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network analyses identified potential heat shock protein (HSP) interactions among the DEGs. Eight HSP genes were also identified that were most likely involved in 5-ALA-PDT, which were further validated by RT-qPCR and western blotting. Conclusions The findings of this descriptive study reveal changes in the transcriptome profile during 5-ALA-PDT, suggesting that gene expression and mutation, signaling pathways, and the molecular network are altered in SHPT primary cells. The above findings provide new insight for further studies on the mechanisms underlying 5-ALA-PDT in SHPT. Graphical abstract
研究领域:
转录组学
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光动力疗法
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内分泌学
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分子生物学
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产品关联
DOI
PubMed
高影响因子
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
·
2024
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IF 2.5
Shuangliu Chen,Yalan Pan,Yang Guo,Xiaoxian Sun,Xue Bai,Mengmin Liu,Lining Wang,Jiřimutu Xiao,Cheng Chen,Yong Ma
This study utilized bioinformatics and data mining techniques to explore the molecular mechanism of curcumin in treating osteoporosis (OP) through the lens of ferroptosis, thereby identifying novel therapeutic targets. The datasets GSE35958, GSE35956, GSE7429, and GSE7158 were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. GSE35958 and GSE35956 were employed as training sets for data integration, while GSE7429 and GSE7158 served as independent validation sets. Through retrieval from the FerrDb database, iron death-related genes (FRGs) were identified, and the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were intersected to obtain differentially expressed FRGs (DEFRGs). Subsequently, Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were conducted, followed by the construction of a Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network to identify Hub genes. The DGIdb database was utilized to predict candidate drugs associated with the Hub genes, and molecular docking and in vitro experiments confirmed that curcumin targets the Hub genes EGFR and PTGS2.Through in vitro testing of curcumin on BMSC cells, researchers examined cell vitality, iron death, osteogenic differentiation, mineralization, and the impact on EGFR and PTGS2 levels. The analysis yielded 2212 DEGs, 484 FRGs, with 45 FDEGs at the intersection. GO analysis revealed involvement in regulating mitochondrial proteins, amino acid transport across plasma membranes, and protein ubiquitination. KEGG pathway analysis indicated associations with iron death, FoxO signaling, mTOR signaling, cell aging, osteoclast differentiation, and GSH metabolism. Utilizing the MCC algorithm, five Hub genes were identified: MAPK3, PTGS2, TGFB1, CYBB, and EGFR, showing diagnostic potential for iron death. Curcumin displayed affinity for EGFR and PTGS2, mitigating iron-induced effects on BMSCs such as increased reactive oxygen species, Fe3+ levels, and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential. Furthermore, curcumin reversed these effects, suggesting EGFR and PTGS2 as targets for curcumin to inhibit BMSC ferroptosis and potentially delay osteoporosis development. Maintaining iron homeostasis and targeting BMSC ferroptosis could offer therapeutic avenues for iron overload-induced osteoporosis.
研究领域:
生物信息学
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药理学
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分子生物学
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医学遗传学
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DOI
PubMed
高影响因子