Tianli Pei1, Chunli Zheng2, Chao Huang2, Xuetong Chen2, Zihu Guo2, Yingxue Fu2, Jianling Liu3, Yonghua Wang4. 1. Center of Bioinformatics, College of Life Science, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China; Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, China. 2. Center of Bioinformatics, College of Life Science, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. 3. Key Laboratory of Resource Biology and Biotechnology in Western China, Northwest University, Ministry of Education, China. 4. Center of Bioinformatics, College of Life Science, Northwest A & F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China. Electronic address: yh_wang@nwsuaf.edu.cn.
Abstract
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vitiligo is a depigmentation disorder, which results in substantial cosmetic disfigurement and poses a detriment to patients' physical as well as mental. Now the molecular pathogenesis of vitiligo still remains unclear, which leads to a daunting challenge for vitiligo therapy in modern medicine. Herbal medicines, characterized by multi-compound and multi-target, have long been shown effective in treating vitiligo, but their molecular mechanisms of action also remain ambiguous. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we proposed a systems pharmacology approach using a clinically effective herb formula as a tool to detect the molecular pathogenesis of vitiligo. This study provided an integrative analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and interacting pathways of the Uygur medicine Qubaibabuqi formula for curing Vitiligo. RESULTS: The results show that 56 active ingredients of Qubaibabuqi interacting with 83 therapeutic proteins were identified. And Qubaibabuqi probably participate in immunomodulation, neuromodulation and keratinocytes apoptosis inhibition in treatment of vitiligo by a synergistic/cooperative way. CONCLUSIONS: The drug-target network-based analysis and pathway-based analysis can provide a new approach for understanding the pathogenesis of vitiligo and uncovering the molecular mechanisms of Qubaibabuqi, which will also facilitate the application of traditional Chinese herbs in modern medicine.
ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Vitiligo is a depigmentation disorder, which results in substantial cosmetic disfigurement and poses a detriment to patients' physical as well as mental. Now the molecular pathogenesis of vitiligo still remains unclear, which leads to a daunting challenge for vitiligo therapy in modern medicine. Herbal medicines, characterized by multi-compound and multi-target, have long been shown effective in treating vitiligo, but their molecular mechanisms of action also remain ambiguous. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here we proposed a systems pharmacology approach using a clinically effective herb formula as a tool to detect the molecular pathogenesis of vitiligo. This study provided an integrative analysis of active chemicals, drug targets and interacting pathways of the Uygur medicine Qubaibabuqi formula for curing Vitiligo. RESULTS: The results show that 56 active ingredients of Qubaibabuqi interacting with 83 therapeutic proteins were identified. And Qubaibabuqi probably participate in immunomodulation, neuromodulation and keratinocytes apoptosis inhibition in treatment of vitiligo by a synergistic/cooperative way. CONCLUSIONS: The drug-target network-based analysis and pathway-based analysis can provide a new approach for understanding the pathogenesis of vitiligo and uncovering the molecular mechanisms of Qubaibabuqi, which will also facilitate the application of traditional Chinese herbs in modern medicine.