基于网络药理学、分子对接及实验验证探讨滋肾健脾化瘀片对糖尿病视网膜病变的干预机制

Exploring the Intervention Mechanism of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets on Diabetic Retinopathy Based on Network Pharmacology,Molecular Docking and Experimental Validation

目的运用网络药理学方法和分子对接技术探讨滋肾健脾化瘀片(山萸肉、三七、黄芪、葛根、鸡血藤、生地黄)治疗糖尿病视网膜病变(DR)的作用机制,并通过体外实验进行验证。方法(1)利用中药系统药理学数据库与分析平台(TCMSP)及BATMAN-TCM数据库筛选滋肾健脾化瘀片的有效成分及其对应的靶点蛋白。利用GeneCards、OMIM及TTD数据库检索DR疾病相关靶点。利用VENNY 2.1.0平台对药物活性成分靶点与DR疾病相关靶点取交集(共同靶点),即为滋肾健脾化瘀片治疗DR的潜在作用靶点。构建“中药-活性成分-共同靶点”网络,筛选出滋肾健脾化瘀片治疗DR的关键活性成分。将共同靶点导入STRING数据库,获取PPI网络关系,并筛选出核心靶点。运用Metascape平台对共同靶点进行GO功能及KEGG通路富集分析。将关键活性成分及核心靶点通过Autodock 4软件进行分子对接验证。(2)制备滋肾健脾化瘀片含药血清及空白血清。将人视网膜微血管内皮细胞(HRmECs)随机分成5组:对照组(低糖DMEM培养基+10%空白血清)、高糖组(高糖DMEM培养基+10%空白血清)及滋肾健脾化瘀片含药血清低、中、高剂量组(高糖DMEM培养基+10%低、中、高剂量含药血清),培养48 h后进行检测。采用CCK-8法检测HRmECs细胞增殖活性;RT-qPCR法检测HRmECs细胞中IL-1β、AKT1、VEGFA、TP53 mRNA表达水平。结果(1)共筛选出滋肾健脾化瘀片治疗DR的潜在作用靶点(共同靶点)74个;9个关键活性成分包括槲皮素、芒柄花黄素、毛地黄黄酮、β谷甾醇、山柰酚、毛蕊异黄酮、γ-氨基丁酸、豆甾醇、异鼠李亭;12个核心靶点:IL-1β、PPARG、NOS3、CXCL8、IL-6、AKT1、TNF、INS、EGF、VEGFA、TP53、PTGS2。GO功能及KEGG富集分析显示核心靶点主要参与了炎症反应、蛋白质磷酸化的正调控、细胞迁移等生物过程,以及NF-κB信号通路、AGE-RAGE信号通路、HIF-1通路、TNF通路、PI3K-AKT通路等。关键活性成分与核心靶点均具有较好的结合亲和力。(2)与对照组比较,高糖组HRmECs细胞活性显著降低(P<0.01);细胞中VEGFA、TP53、IL-1βmRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.01),AKT1 mRNA表达水平显著降低(P<0.01)。与高糖组比较,滋肾健脾化瘀片含药血清低、中、高剂量组的HRmECs细胞活性均显著升高(P<0.05,P<0.01),并呈浓度依赖性;含药血清高剂量组细胞的VEGFA、TP53、IL-1βmRNA表达水平显著降低(P<0.05,P<0.01),而AKT1 mRNA表达水平显著升高(P<0.01)。结论滋肾健脾化瘀片可能通过槲皮素、山柰酚、毛地黄黄酮等多种活性成分,作用于IL-1β、IL-6、VEGFA等核心靶点,以及NF-κB信号通路、AGE-RAGE信号通路、PI3K-AKT通路等关键通路,从而发挥对DR的治疗作用。

Objective To explore the mechanism of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets(Corni Fructus,Notoginseng Radix et Rhizoma,Astragali Radix,Puerariae Lobatae Radix,Spatholobi Caulis,Rehmanniae Radix)in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy(DR)by means of network pharmacology and molecular docking technique,and verified by in vitro experiments.Methods The active components of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets and their corresponding target proteins were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and the BATMAN-TCM database.Drug target proteins were converted to their corresponding gene names through the UniProt database.DR-related targets were searched using"diabetic retinopathy"as a keyword in GeneCards,DrugBank,OMIM,and TTD databases.Common targets between the disease and the drug were identified using the Venny tool.These common targets were analyzed using the String database,a protein-protein interaction(PPI)network was constructed.Topological heterogeneity analysis was performed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 to select core targets and create a PPI network diagram.These common targets were entered into the Metascape database for Gene Ontology(GO)function analysis and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway analysis to identify potential action pathways.Molecular docking of the main active components and core targets was performed using Auto Dock tools software,followed by further experimental validation.The CCK-8 assay was used to assess the effect of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablet medicated serum on the cell viability of Human Retinal Microvascular Endothelial Cells(HRmECs)under high glucose conditions,and RT-qPCR was used to measure the expression of IL-1β,AKT1,VEGFA,and TP53 mRNA in HRmECs.Results(1)The effective components and corresponding target proteins of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets were screened by Traditional Chinese Medicine System Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform(TCMSP)and BATMAN-TCM database.The disease-related targets of DR were searched by GeneCards,OMIM and TTD databases.The use of VENNY platform for drug active components target and DR disease-related target to take intersection(common target),that is,Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets in the treatment of DR potential target.The network of"drugs-active components-common targets"was constructed to screen out the key active components of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets in the treatment of DR.Import the common target into STRING database,obtain the PPI network relationship,and screen out the core target.Metascape platform was used to analyze the GO function and KEGG pathway enrichment of the common targets.The key active components and core targets were verified by Autodock 4 software for molecular docking.(2)The drug-containing serum and blank serum of Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets was prepared.Human retinal microvascular endothelial cells(HRmECs)were randomly divided into 5 groups:the control group(low-sugar DMEM medium+10%blank serum),high-glucose group(high-sugar DMEM medium+10%blank serum)and Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets containing low-,medium-and high-dose serum(high-sugar DMEM medium+10%low-,medium-and high-dose drug containing serum)were detected after 48 hours of culture.The proliferative activity of HRmECs cells was detected by CCK-8 method,and the mRNA expressions of IL-1β,AKT1,VEGFA and TP53 in HRmECs cells were detected by RT-qPCR method.Conclusion Zishen Jianpi Huayu Tablets may act on core targets such as IL-1β,IL-6 and VEGFA,as well as key pathways such as NF-κB signaling pathway,AGE-RAGE signaling pathway and PI3K-AKT pathway through various active components such as quercetin,kaempferol and rehmannia flavonoids,so as to play a therapeutic role in DR.