Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation
Background: Jiuwan decoction has been used to treat chronic eczema since the Qing Dynasty. According to clinical experience, Shizhenqing granules (SZQG), derived from the Jiuwan decoction, exert beneficial clinical effects on acute eczema and reduce recurrence. Therefore, we elucidated the underlyin...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Heliyon |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402403634X |
| _version_ | 1827294027080269824 |
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| author | Hairong Zhang Zhenbo Li Yike Sun Wenna Li Xiao Sun Yapeng Zhang Leilei Liu Shuran Ma |
| author_facet | Hairong Zhang Zhenbo Li Yike Sun Wenna Li Xiao Sun Yapeng Zhang Leilei Liu Shuran Ma |
| author_sort | Hairong Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Jiuwan decoction has been used to treat chronic eczema since the Qing Dynasty. According to clinical experience, Shizhenqing granules (SZQG), derived from the Jiuwan decoction, exert beneficial clinical effects on acute eczema and reduce recurrence. Therefore, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of SZQG through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. Methods: The main chemical components of SZQG were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). And the targets of SZQG against eczema were screened out through online databases. Then, the regulatory network map of the “herbal compound–potential target” and the target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using by R language. Additionally, the interaction between the active compounds and the targets was verified by molecular docking technology. Finally, an experiment in vivo was used to verify the effect and mechanism of SZQG on eczema. Results: Using UHPLC-MS/MS, 158 main chemical compounds of SZQG were identified, and 72 compounds were selected according to the criteria for further analysis. All 237 potential targets of SZQG in eczema were explored using multiple online databases. The network with 14 core targets was screened out, including STAT3, RELA, TNF, JUN, MAPK3, IL-6, PIK3CA, STAT1, MAPK14, MAPK1, IL-4, NFKBIA, IL1B, and MYC. KEGG analyses indicated that the therapeutic effects of SZQG on eczema were predominantly associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, TNF, MAPK, NF-κB, toll-like receptor, T cell receptor, and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation signaling pathways. Furthermore, the good affinity between the core compounds and core targets was verified by molecular docking technology, particularly for RELA and MAPK. Animal experiments revealed that SZQG downregulated MAPK14, RELA, T-bet, and GATA3 mRNA expression, reduced immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) serum concentrations, and improved eczema-like lesions in model rats. Conclusion: This study identified potential targets and signaling pathways of SZQG in the treatment of eczema, whereby RELA and MAPK14 may constitute the main therapeutic targets of SZQG in cytokine regulation and reduction of inflammatory responses. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:48:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-0969c155714c42d48fa4ee7c4b6d0e69 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2405-8440 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T13:48:54Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Heliyon |
| spelling | doaj.art-0969c155714c42d48fa4ee7c4b6d0e692024-04-04T05:05:15ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402024-03-01106e27603Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validationHairong Zhang0Zhenbo Li1Yike Sun2Wenna Li3Xiao Sun4Yapeng Zhang5Leilei Liu6Shuran Ma7Department of Integrated Chinese and Western Medicine, Yantai Yuhuangding Hospital, Yantai, 264000, Shandong, ChinaOregon College of Oriental Medicine, Portland, OR, 97209, USASchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaDepartment of Acupuncture and Minimally Invasive Oncology, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Third Affiliated Hospital, Beijing, 100029, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, ChinaSchool of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; Corresponding author.School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, 102488, China; Corresponding author.Background: Jiuwan decoction has been used to treat chronic eczema since the Qing Dynasty. According to clinical experience, Shizhenqing granules (SZQG), derived from the Jiuwan decoction, exert beneficial clinical effects on acute eczema and reduce recurrence. Therefore, we elucidated the underlying mechanisms of SZQG through network pharmacology, molecular docking, and experimental validation. Methods: The main chemical components of SZQG were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). And the targets of SZQG against eczema were screened out through online databases. Then, the regulatory network map of the “herbal compound–potential target” and the target protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed. The Gene Ontology (GO) analysis and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses were conducted using by R language. Additionally, the interaction between the active compounds and the targets was verified by molecular docking technology. Finally, an experiment in vivo was used to verify the effect and mechanism of SZQG on eczema. Results: Using UHPLC-MS/MS, 158 main chemical compounds of SZQG were identified, and 72 compounds were selected according to the criteria for further analysis. All 237 potential targets of SZQG in eczema were explored using multiple online databases. The network with 14 core targets was screened out, including STAT3, RELA, TNF, JUN, MAPK3, IL-6, PIK3CA, STAT1, MAPK14, MAPK1, IL-4, NFKBIA, IL1B, and MYC. KEGG analyses indicated that the therapeutic effects of SZQG on eczema were predominantly associated with cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, TNF, MAPK, NF-κB, toll-like receptor, T cell receptor, and Th1 and Th2 cell differentiation signaling pathways. Furthermore, the good affinity between the core compounds and core targets was verified by molecular docking technology, particularly for RELA and MAPK. Animal experiments revealed that SZQG downregulated MAPK14, RELA, T-bet, and GATA3 mRNA expression, reduced immunoglobulin E (IgE) and interleukin-4 (IL-4) serum concentrations, and improved eczema-like lesions in model rats. Conclusion: This study identified potential targets and signaling pathways of SZQG in the treatment of eczema, whereby RELA and MAPK14 may constitute the main therapeutic targets of SZQG in cytokine regulation and reduction of inflammatory responses.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402403634XShizhenqing granulesEczemaNetwork pharmacologyMolecular dockingInflammatory response |
| spellingShingle | Hairong Zhang Zhenbo Li Yike Sun Wenna Li Xiao Sun Yapeng Zhang Leilei Liu Shuran Ma Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation Heliyon Shizhenqing granules Eczema Network pharmacology Molecular docking Inflammatory response |
| title | Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| title_full | Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| title_fullStr | Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| title_short | Mechanisms of action of Shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| title_sort | mechanisms of action of shizhenqing granules for eczema treatment network pharmacology analysis and experimental validation |
| topic | Shizhenqing granules Eczema Network pharmacology Molecular docking Inflammatory response |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S240584402403634X |
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