Wenjie Sun1, Yafeng Chen1, Hongchang Li2, Huan Liu1, Jie Li1, Jian Chen3, Dianxu Feng4. 1. Department of general surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China. 2. Department of general surgery, Minhang District Central Hospital, Shanghai 201100, China. 3. Shanghai TCM-Integrated Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China; Shanghai TCM-Integrated Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai 200082, China; Institute of Vascular Anomalies, Shanghai Academy of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200082, China. Electronic address: alexandercj@126.com. 4. Department of general surgery, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200062, China. Electronic address: fdianxu@163.com.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Dachengqi decoction (DCQD) is a classical prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It has been used to treat abdominal pain and acute pancreatitis (AP) for thousands of years in China. OBJECTIVE: To predict the active components and signaling pathway of DCQD and to further explore the potential molecular mechanism of DCQD as a treatment of AP using network pharmacology. METHODS: Network pharmacology and bioinformatics were used to determine the active components of DCQD and its potential target in the treatment of AP. The AP model was induced by Cerulein (Cer) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The pharmacodynamic basis of DCQD in the treatment of AP was evaluated in vitro and in vivo and Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were used to determine the molecular mechanism of DCQD. RESULTS: Screening using relevant databases and topological analysis revealed 71 active components and 535 potential target proteins in DCQD. In addition, 445 differential genes for AP were also screened. Pathway enrichment analysis, PPI network analysis and transcription factor prediction showed that DCQD played an important role in the PI3K-Akt signal pathway, and 17 DCQD monomers were found in this signal pathway. In the AP model, DCQD promoted pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis, reduction in inflammation, and regulation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. DCQD inhibited the expression of p-AKT and p- NF-kB proteins in pancreatic tissue of the AP model both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that 17 active components of DCQD improve AP by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and promoting apoptosis and suppressing pathological injury and inflammation.
BACKGROUND: Dachengqi decoction (DCQD) is a classical prescription in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). It has been used to treat abdominal pain and acute pancreatitis (AP) for thousands of years in China. OBJECTIVE: To predict the active components and signaling pathway of DCQD and to further explore the potential molecular mechanism of DCQD as a treatment of AP using network pharmacology. METHODS: Network pharmacology and bioinformatics were used to determine the active components of DCQD and its potential target in the treatment of AP. The AP model was induced by Cerulein (Cer) combined with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The pharmacodynamic basis of DCQD in the treatment of AP was evaluated in vitro and in vivo and Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence were used to determine the molecular mechanism of DCQD. RESULTS: Screening using relevant databases and topological analysis revealed 71 active components and 535 potential target proteins in DCQD. In addition, 445 differential genes for AP were also screened. Pathway enrichment analysis, PPI network analysis and transcription factor prediction showed that DCQD played an important role in the PI3K-Akt signal pathway, and 17 DCQD monomers were found in this signal pathway. In the AP model, DCQD promoted pancreatic acinar cell apoptosis, reduction in inflammation, and regulation of the PI3K-AKT signaling pathway. DCQD inhibited the expression of p-AKT and p- NF-kB proteins in pancreatic tissue of the AP model both in vitro and in vivo. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that 17 active components of DCQD improve AP by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and promoting apoptosis and suppressing pathological injury and inflammation.
Authors: Chenyu Ma; Jianlong Wang; Na Zhao; Zhenya Pan; Yi Lu; Miao Cheng; Min Deng Journal: Comput Math Methods Med Date: 2021-12-31 Impact factor: 2.238