Combined with elastic network model (ENM), the perturbation response scanning (PRS) has emerged as a robust technique for pinpointing allosteric interactions within proteins. Here, we proposed the PRS analysis of drug-target networks (DTNs), which could provide a promising avenue in network medicine. We demonstrated the utility of the method by introducing a deep learning and network perturbation-based framework, for drug repurposing of multiple sclerosis (MS). First, the MS comorbidity network was constructed by performing a random walk with restart algorithm based on shared genes between MS and other diseases as seed nodes. Then, based on topological analysis and functional annotation, the neurotransmission module was identified as the "therapeutic module" of MS. Further, perturbation scores of drugs on the module were calculated by constructing the DTN and introducing the PRS analysis, giving a list of repurposable drugs for MS. Mechanism of action analysis both at pathway and structural levels screened dihydroergocristine as a candidate drug of MS by targeting a serotonin receptor of serotonin 2B receptor (HTR2B). Finally, we established a cuprizone-induced chronic mouse model to evaluate the alteration of HTR2B in mouse brain regions and observed that HTR2B was significantly reduced in the cuprizone-induced mouse cortex. These findings proved that the network perturbation modeling is a promising avenue for drug repurposing of MS. As a useful systematic method, our approach can also be used to discover the new molecular mechanism and provide effective candidate drugs for other complex diseases.

Diabetic kidney disease is one of the complications of diabetes,which can progress to end-stage renal disease.In recent years,it has been found that miRNAs have become a research hotspot,with miRNA-21 regulating transforming growth factor β1(TGF-β1)/Smads,phosphoinositide 3-kinase(PI3K)/protein kinase B(AKT),Wnt/β-catenin and other signaling pathways to promote the progress of diabetic kidney disease.Studies have showed that traditional Chinese medicine has a regulatory effect on the expression of miRNA-21 and can target miRNA-21 to regulate TGF-β1/Smads,phosphatase and tensin homolog/PI3K/AKT/mammalian target of rapamycin(mTOR),peroxisome proliferator activated receptors and other signal transduction pathways to trigger signal cascade reactions,which intervene in pathological processes such as fibrosis,inflammation,oxidative stress and autophagy.In this article,the role of miRNA-21 in diabetic kidney disease and the intervention of traditional Chinese medicine were summarized,in order to provide some reference for the treatment of diabetic kidney disease and the development of new drugs.