Exploring the mechanisms of Jiangtang decoction in the treatment of diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology

Background:The purpose of this research is to predict the mechanisms of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction for treating diabetic nephropathy based on network pharmacology,the predicted targets and pathways were validated by celluar experiments.Methods:The active ingredients of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction and their putative targets were collected from TCMSP Database and SwissTargetPrediction platform.Diabetic nephropathy-related targets were excavated from GeneCards and DisGeNET database.Then,the interactions of potential targets of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction with well-known diabetic nephropathy targets were used to construct the protein-protein interaction network by STRING database and Cytoscape,and screened the core targets via topological analysis.Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)enrichment analysis were performed by Metascape platform.Finally,we conducted in vitro experiments to verify this prediction of the network pharmacology.A diabetic nephropathy model was established by treating mesangial cells with D-ribose,in which the therapeutic effects of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction were evaluated.CCK-8 and LDH assay were used to test cell viability and cell toxicity,cell apoptosis was evaluated by Hoechst 33258 staining,AO/EB staining,levels of ROS were detected by fluorescent probe,the expression levels of MAPK signaling pathway-associated proteins and apoptosis-related proteins Bax were measured by western blotting assay.Results:A total of 74 active ingredients contained and 871 potential identified targets were retrieved from databases.Simultaneously,803 diabetic nephropathy-associated targets were also obtained,180 overlapped targets were considered as potential therapeutic targets of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction against diabetic nephropathy.By constructing a protein-protein interaction network and topological analysis,57 core targets were screened.Gene Ontology analysis highlighted 1655 Gene Ontology terms main including apoptotic signaling pathway,regulation of reactive oxygen species metabolic process and positive regulation of cell migration.KEGG enrichment analysis revealed that core targets were enriched mainly in MAPK,AGE-RAGE,TNF,PI3K-Akt signaling pathways.Cellular experiments further demonstrated D-ribose decreased mesangial cells viability,increased LDH release and the ROS level,induced apoptosis and activated the p38/JNK MAPK signal pathways,while the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction could be useful in attenuation of D-ribose-induced damage.Conclusion:Network pharmacology intuitively shows the multi-component,multi-target and multi-pathway therapeutic effects of the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction on diabetic nephropathy.By in vitro experiment,it revealed that the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction has potential therapeutic effects on diabetic nephropathy via alleviating oxidative stress and apoptosis.the experienced prescription Jiangtang decoction treatment significantly inhibited the D-ribose-stimulated JNK and p38 MAPK activation.

The Fang’s hypoglycemic formula improves insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes mellitus by regulating mitochondrial autophagy

Background:To investigate the pharmacological effects of Fangshi Jiangtang decoction(FSJT)on type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)model rats and explore its mechanism of action from the perspective of mitochondrial autophagy.Methods:Sixty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups after one week of adaptive feeding:Control group,T2DM model group,metformin group(0.2 g/kg by gavage),and FSJT low,medium,and high dose groups(9.5,19,38 g/kg by gavage).Except for the Control group,the other five groups were given a high-fat diet.The treatment lasted for 8 weeks,and blood glucose levels were measured weekly.Eight weeks later,blood samples were collected from the rats,and serum was separated for the determination of HbA1c,oral glucose tolerance test,and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index.The pancreas of the rats was collected,weighed,and fixed.The same part of the pancreas was used for hematoxylin-eosin.Kits were used to detect triglycerides,total cholesterol,interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,malondialdehyde,glutathione peroxidase,and superoxide dismutase in pancreatic tissue to assess the effects of FSJT on inflammation and oxidative stress in T2DM rats.Western blot analysis was performed to detect the expression of VDAC1,TOM20,COXⅣ,PINK1,Parkin,beclin1,light chain 3,and selective autophagy adaptor protein P62 to evaluate the effects of FSJT on mitochondrial autophagy in T2DM model rats.Results:Compared with the T2DM model group,FSJT intervention significantly reduced blood glucose,HbA1c,oral glucose tolerance test,and homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance index in T2DM model rats,alleviated pancreatic tissue lesions,reduced levels of total cholesterol,triglycerides,interleukin-1β,interleukin-6,tumor necrosis factor-α,and malondialdehyde,increased glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities,downregulated the expression of VDAC1,TOM20,COXⅣ,and P62 proteins,and upregulated the expression of PINK1,Parkin,Beclin1,and light chain 3 proteins.Conclusion:FSJT can improve insulin resistance in T2DM by promoting the activation of mitochondrial autophagy.