基于网络药理学分析芪贞元丹治疗动脉粥样硬化的作用机制*

目的: 基于网络药理学方法,探究中药复方芪贞元丹治疗动脉粥样硬化(AS)潜在的作用靶点和分子机制。方法: 查找TCMSP数据库,获得中药复方芪贞元丹中黄芪、女贞子、延胡索、丹参的活性成分和靶点,在OMIM等数据库中检索AS的靶点,使用Cytoscape绘图工具构建分子网络;检索STRING数据库并绘制PPI网络图,获取芪贞元丹治疗AS的关键靶点;并上传至Metascape数据平台对其进行GO和KEGG分析。结果: 芪贞元丹与AS有交集靶点118个,作为干预AS的作用靶点。芪贞元丹对抗AS可能与细胞因子介导、细胞因子受体结合等GO过程相关。KEGG富集结果显示155条通路与AS相关,主要涉及PI3K-Akt、HIF-1、NF-κB通路和炎症性肠病相关通路。结论: 通过网络药理学实验初步揭示芪贞元丹复方治疗AS的作用机制,复方中的槲皮素、山奈酚等活性成分作用于IL-6、PI3K-Akt等靶点,通过抗细胞凋亡、抑制氧化应激、抑制炎症反应等发挥抗AS作用,证明芪贞元丹复方治疗AS是多成分、多靶点、多途径协同作用的过程。

Potential molecular mechanisms of QiZhenYuanDan in treatment of atherosclerosis based on network pharmacology

Objective: By means of network pharmacology, potential targets and molecular pathways of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of atherosclerosis (AS) were studied. Methods: TCMSP database was used to obtain the main active components and target information of Astragali Radix, Fructus Ligustri Lucidi, Corydalis Rhizoma and Salvia Miltiorrhiza in QiZhenYuanDan. Disease targets were retrieved by OMIM and other databases. Molecular networks were constructed using Cytoscape. STRING database was searched and PPI network diagram was drawn to obtain the key targets of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of AS; and the targets were uploaded to Metascape data platform for GO and KEGG analysis. Results: There were 118 targets of intersection between QiZhenYuanDan and AS, which were used as the predicted targets of QiZhenYuanDan on AS. GO analysis showed that the biological functions of QiZhenYuanDan in the treatment of AS targets mainly involved biological processes, such as the cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, cytokine receptor binding. KEGG pathway was mainly enriched in 155 signaling pathways, including PI3K-Akt, HIF-1, NF-κB signal pathway and inflammatory bowel disease pathway. Conclusion: Based on the result of network pharmacology study, the mechanisms of Qizhenyuandan for AS treatment was preliminarily revealed. The active ingredients such as quercetin and kaempferol act on targets such as IL-6 and PI3K-Akt, and exert anti-AS effects by inhibiting apoptosis, oxidative stress, as well as inflammatory responses. Our result indicates that QiZhenYuanDan exhibits anti-AS effect via a multi-component, multi-target and multi-route synergistic process.