1.Exploring the mechanism of Erigeron breviscapus in the treatment of ischemic stroke based on network pharmacology and molecular docking technology
Zhaoda DUAN ; Jianxiang WANG ; Dongyao XU ; Yujia YANG ; Chunyun WU ; Wenji JIA
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2023;39(6):689-695
Objective:To explore the potential molecular mechanism of Erigeron breviscapus in the prevention and treatment of ischemic stroke through network pharmaco-molecular docking.Methods:The Chinese Herbal Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Platform(TCMSP)database provided active ingredients and potential targets of Erigeron breviscapus.Ischemic stroke-related targets were searched through the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man(OMIM)database,the bioinformatics and chemoinformatics(DrugBank)database and human gene comprehensive database(GeneCards).The targets criteria were de-weighted by the Protein Data Bank(Uniprot)and imported into the Venny online platform to obtain the intersecting targets of both.The intersecting targets were visualized by STRING database and Cytoscape 3.7.1 software for protein-protein interaction(PPI),followed by the enrichment analysis of intersection targets for gene ontology(GO)function and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes(KEGG)pathway.AutoDock Vina1.5.6 software was used to verify the molecular docking of key active ingredients and core targets and realize the vi-sualization of docking results.Results:Eleven active ingredients and 176 targets were obtained.There were 690 targets ischemic stroke-related targets and 69 intersection targets.Through PPI network,10 core genes were screened according to the degree value,including tumor necrosis factor(TNF),interleukin-6(IL-6),serine/threonine protein kinase 1(AKT1),interleukin-1β(IL-1β)and vascular endothelial growth factor A(VEGFA).KEGG enrichment included the advanced glycation end products-receptor(AGE-RAGE)signaling pathway,interleukin-17(IL-17)signaling pathway,tumor necrosis factor(TNF)signaling pathway,etc.The top 3 active ingredients and the top 5 target proteins were selected according to the degree value,and the molecular docking results demonstrated a considerable binding ability.Conclusion:Erigeron breviscapus in the treatment of ischemic stroke may work through multiple active ingredients,such as quercetin,kakaferol,and luteolin,which act on TNF,IL-6,AKT1,IL-1β,and VEGFA,and through a varie-ty of signaling pathways such as IL-17,TNF,etc.showing the characteristics of multi-components,multi-targets,and multi-pathways.
2.The effects of cannabidiol on the expression of NLRP3 inflammasome following multiple cerebral concussions in rats
Chunze YU ; Lifang YANG ; Zhaoda DUAN ; Yujia YANG ; Chunyun WU ; Jianyun YU ; Li YANG
Chinese Journal of Neuroanatomy 2024;40(1):98-104
Objective:To investigate the effects of cannabidiol(CBD)on the NOD-like receptor protein 3(NLRP3)inflammasome in the brains of rats with multiple cerebral concussions(MCC).Methods:Rats were subjec-ted to the MCC model and divided into Sham,MCC,vehicle(MCC+TW),CBD-L(10 mg/kg),and CBD-H(40 mg/kg)groups.Immunofluorescence double staining was used to observe changes in NLRP3 and microglial cells in the brain,and Western Blot was performed to detect the expression changes of the NLRP3 inflammasome.Results:A sig-nificant increase in lectin-positive microglial cells of the cortex with enlarged cell bodies and elevated immunofluores-cence intensity of NLRP3 in the activated microglial cells was revealed by immunofluorescence double staining following MCC(P<0.05).The immunofluorescence intensity of NLRP3 in the activated microglial cells was downregulated by the administration of CBD,with a more pronounced effect observed in the CBD-H group compared to the CBD-L group(P<0.05).The expression of NLRP3,caspase-1,and apoptosis-associated speck-like protein(ASC)in the cortex,hippocampus,and basal ganglia of rats following MCC was significantly increased,as shown by Western Blot analysis(P<0.05),and cortical areas are more elevated.The expression of these proteins in different brain regions was reduced by CBD-10 and CBD-40 intervention(P<0.05).Conclusion:Cannabidiol can reduce the inflammatory response of multiple cerebral concussions rats through NLRP3 inflammasome and protect nerve tissue.