基于网络药理学与实验验证探讨凉膈散加减方治疗急性呼吸窘迫综合征的作用机制

Mechanism of modified Liangge San in treatment of acute respiratory distress syndrome based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

基于网络药理学策略,结合分子对接和体外实验验证,研究凉膈散加减方(modified Liangge San, MLGS)治疗急性呼吸窘迫综合征(acute respiratory distress syndrome, ARDS)的潜在靶点和分子机制。在TCMSP数据库筛选MLGS的活性成分及靶点,整合GeneCards、DisGeNET数据库得到ARDS疾病靶点,两者取交集得到MLGS治疗ARDS的潜在靶点。利用Cytoscape 3.7.2软件构建MLGS的“中药-活性成分-靶点的网络”及“MLGS治疗ARDS的调控网络”,在STRING数据库制作蛋白质相互作用网络,使用Metascape数据库对共同靶点靶点进行GO功能富集分析和KEGG通路富集分析,使用分子对接及体外实验对分析结果进行验证。共筛选得到MLGS活性成分211个、关键靶点54个;GO富集分析得到GO条目(P<0.05)709个,包括生物过程(BP)457个、细胞成分(CC)50个和分子功能(MF)98个,主要涉及对脂多糖、对活性氧的反应、凋亡信号通路;KEGG通路富集分析共得到266条通路,主要涉及癌症信号通路、AGE-RAGE信号通路、流体剪切应力与动脉粥样硬化、癌症中的蛋白聚糖通路、NF-κB信号通路等。分子对接显示主要活性成分与核心靶点结合稳定,实验证明MLGS可抑制活性氧的生成及NF-κB信号通路的激活,减少细胞凋亡。该研究表明,MLGS可通过其包含的汉黄芩素、木犀草素等多种活性成分干预NF-κB等多种信号通路,抑制炎症反应、氧化应激,减少细胞凋亡,从而治疗ARDS。

A network pharmacology-based strategy combined with molecular docking and in vitro validation was employed to investigate potential targets and molecular mechanisms of modified Liangge San(MLGS) against acute respiratory distress syndrome(ARDS). Active ingredients and corresponding targets of MLGS were screened out on the Traditional Chinese Medicines Systems Pharmacology(TCMSP) database, and the disease targets of ARDS were obtained by integrating GeneCards and DisGeNET database. The two were intersected to obtain the potential targets of MLGS against ARDS. Cytoscape 3.7.2 was used to construct a "Chinese medicine-active ingredient-target network" of MLGS and a "regulatory network of MLGS against ARDS". The protein-protein interaction(PPI) network was created on the STRING database platform, and the Metascape database was used to carry out Gene Ontology(GO) function enrichment analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. Subsequently, molecular docking and in vitro experiments were performed to further verify the above findings. A total of 211 active ingredients of MLGS and 54 key targets were obtained. The GO enrichment analysis obtained 709 GO entries(P<0.05), including 457 biological processes(BP), 50 cell components(CC), and 98 molecular functions(MF), mainly involved in lipopolysaccharides, response to reactive oxygen species, and apoptosis signal pathways. KEGG pathway enrichment analysis obtained 266 pathways, mainly involved in the cancer signaling pathways, advanced glycation end-products and their receptors(AGE-RAGE) signaling pathways, fluid shear stress, atherosclerosis, proteoglycan pathway in cancer, nuclear and factor kappa B(NF-κB) signaling pathway. Molecular docking showed that the main active ingredients bound steadily with the targets. The experiments proved that MLGS inhibited the generation of reactive oxygen species and the activation of NF-κB signaling pathway, thereby reducing apoptosis. The study shows that MLGS, through its multiple active ingredients including wogonin and luteolin, can treat ARDS by intervening in various signaling pathways such as NF-κB, inhibiting the inflammatory response and oxidative stress, and reducing apoptosis.