Network Pharmacology, Molecular Docking and Experimental Exploring Molecular Mechanisms of Yinqiao Anti-Epidemic Formula in Regulating Mucosal Immune System of Respiratory Tract
刊名 Agricultural Biotechnology
作者 Heng XU, Fangyuan LI, Guoqiang LIANG, Jie YUAN ,Xiudao SONG, Yunhai ZHOU, Hui ZHU, Yichao YAN ,Tingting WU
作者单位 Suzhou TCM Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine;Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine,
DOI DOI:10.19759/j.cnki.2164-4993.2023.04.017
年份 2023
刊期 4
页码 75-84
关键词 Respiratory passage mucosal immune system, ; RMIS, ; Network pharmacology, ; Molecular docking, ; ACE/ACE2, Yinqiao anti-epidemic formula (YQAEF)
摘要 [Objectives]To explore the molecular mechanisms of Yinqiao anti-epidemic formula(YQAEF)in regulating mucosal immune system of respiratory tract.[Methods]The active components of YQAEF were obtained from the TCMSP database,and RMIS targets were obtained from the GeneCards database.A"YQAEF components-RMIS targets-pathways"network was constructed by analyzing the above data to screen core targets for molecular docking verification.A mouse model of acute upper respiratory tract infection(AURI)was developed.Based on the experimental models,the key pathway target genes screened by network pharmacology were verified in vivo.[Results]The main active components of YQAEF involved in the regulation of the RMIS included quercetin,acetic acid,and raffinose.Key targets,such as angiotensin-converting enzyme(ACE),galactosidase alpha(GLA),matrix metalloproteinase 2(MMP2),Serpin Family E Member 1(SERPINE1),and myeloperoxidase(MPO)and important viral infection and endocrine resistance signaling pathways were included in the regulation of the RMIS with YQAEF.Molecular docking assays showed that the key targets had good binding activities with the components of YQAEF.Based on the results of network pharmacology,key target proteins in ACE,GLA,MMP2,SERPINE1,and MPO were selected for experimental verification.The results showed that ACE/ACE2 and MPO expressions were increased in the oral and throat mucosa of the AURI mice.Under YQAEF treatment,the expression levels of ACE/ACE2 and MPO were decreased.[Conclusions]This study revealed the mechanism of YQAEF in the regulation of RMIS,which is associated with multiple components,targets,and pathways.Further experiments confirmed that YQAEF interfered with MPO and ACE/ACE2 signaling pathways to regulate the RMIS in the oral and throat mucosa tissue of mice with AURI,and provide a new direction for exploring the potential antiviral mechanism of YQAEF.