Cross-organ effects of drug intervention: indirect pharmacology.
10.19540/j.cnki.cjcmm.20250521.401
- Author:
Jia-Bo WANG
1
;
Hai-Yu XU
2
;
Hong-Jun YANG
3
;
Xiao-He XIAO
4
;
Jin-Zhou TIAN
5
Author Information
1. School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Capital Medical University Beijing 100069, China.
2. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700, China School of Pharmacy, Liaoning University of Traditional Chinese Medicine Dalian 116600, China.
3. Institute of Chinese Materia Medica, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences Beijing 100700, China.
4. Military Institute of Chinese Medicine, Chinese PLA General Hospital Beijing 100039, China.
5. Dongzhimen Hospital, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine Beijing 100700, China.
- Publication Type:English Abstract
- Keywords:
cross-organ intervention;
indirect action;
inter-organ cross-talk;
intermediate substance;
systems medicine
- MeSH:
Humans;
Medicine, Chinese Traditional;
Drugs, Chinese Herbal/pharmacology*;
Animals
- From:
China Journal of Chinese Materia Medica
2025;50(13):3549-3555
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
With the continuous advancement of medical research, it is increasingly recognized that the human body functions as a highly coordinated complex system, and the development of diseases often involves intricate interactions among multiple subsystems, including organs, tissues, and cells. Conventional pharmacological research, which primarily focuses on isolated subsystems, tends to emphasize direct interactions between drugs and the molecular targets in diseased organs. However, this approach often falls short in addressing the multifaceted challenges posed by complex diseases such as metabolic disorders, autoimmune diseases, cancers, and aging. In recent years, inter-organ cross-talk and its role in diseases progression, as well as cross-organ effects of drug intervention, have gained significant attention. This has highlighted the potential for treating complex diseases through holistic regulation of multiple organs. Traditional Chinese medicine(TCM) has long embraced a holistic and systemic approach for treatment, with concepts such as the interdependence and mutual restraint of the five Zang organs, the interconnection of Zang organs and Fu organs, treating the Zang organ diseases by regulating the Fu organs, treating the child organ diseases to cure the parent organs, and treating upper organ diseases by regulating lower organs. These concepts provide valuable insights into exploring the pathways and molecular mechanisms underlying inter-organ cross-talk. Building on our previous work on indirect actions of TCM, this paper introduces the concept of indirect pharmacology mediated by intermediate substances, as a new extension of classical pharmacology. This approach aims to offer new perspectives and innovative ideas for understanding inter-organ cross-talk and discovering cross-organ therapeutic strategies.
