Systems bioinformatic approach to determine the pharmacological mechanisms of radix astragali and radix angelicae sinensis in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Yufeng Zhang; Lina Gu; Juan PuYang; Mengying Liu; Qingqing Xia; Weilong Jiang; Mengshu Cao

Articles

Abstract

Pharmacognosy Magazine,2021,17,76,708-718.

DOI:10.4103/pm.pm_9_21

Published:January 2021

Type:Original Article

Authors:

Author(s) affiliations:

Yufeng Zhang¹, Lina Gu², Juan PuYang³, Mengying Liu⁴, Qingqing Xia⁵, Weilong Jiang⁵, Mengshu Cao¹
¹ Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing; Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
² Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine; Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
³ Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, The Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
⁴ Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
⁵ Department of Respiratory Medicine, Jiangyin Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Jiangyin, China

Abstract:

Background: Earlier meta-analysis has publicized that Radix Astragali (RA) and Radix Angelicae sinensis (RAS) are valuable to pulmonary function and exercise capacity in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Objectives: The objective of the study was to regulate the pharmacological mechanism of RA and RAS in IPF treatment. Materials and Methods: Microarray datasets for IPF were examined in the Gene Expression Omnibus database and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were recognized. Active compounds and target genes of RA and RAS were recognized using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology platform. The DEGs were combined with the active target genes to construct a medicine-compound-gene network and a protein–protein interaction network using Cytoscape software. Gene ontology function enrichment and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment were studied using RGUI. A gene-pathway network was established using Cytoscape and molecular docking was done using AutoDock Tool and AutoDock Vina software. Results: We recognized 1566 DEGs and 40 candidate target genes of RA and RAS acting on IPF. The six key active compounds prophesied were quercetin, kaempferol, stigmasterol, 7-O-methylisomucronulatol, formononetin, and beta-sitosterol. Following network construction and enrichment, the two main pathways were acknowledged, namely the tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway and advanced glycation end (AGE) products receptor for AGE signaling pathway. Preliminary molecular docking to confirm interactions between key compounds and their protein targets in the pathways was carried out. Conclusion: The pharmacological mechanisms of RA and RAS in IPF treatment have been further elucidated, which could show valuable in future studies on their mechanisms of action for the treatment of IPF.