Integrating network pharmacology with microRNA microarray analysis to identify the role of miRNAs in thrombosis treated by the Dahuang Zhechong pill

Rui Shi; Shan Gao; Huichao Huang; Ke Jiang; Dongsheng Wang

doi:10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108338

Integrating network pharmacology with microRNA microarray analysis to identify the role of miRNAs in thrombosis treated by the Dahuang Zhechong pill

Comput Biol Med. 2024 May:173:108338. doi: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108338. Epub 2024 Mar 19.

Authors

Rui Shi¹, Shan Gao², Huichao Huang³, Ke Jiang², Dongsheng Wang⁴

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China. Electronic address: litmus3@163.com.
² Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.
³ Department of Infectious Disease, NHC Key Laboratory of Cancer Proteomics, Laboratory of Structural Biology, National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410008, China.
⁴ Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China; Hunan Key Laboratory of Traditional Chinese Medicine for Gan of State Administration, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China. Electronic address: wdsh66@aliyun.com.

PMID: 38531252
DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2024.108338

Abstract

Background: Thrombotic diseases are the leading causes of death worldwide, urging for improvements in treatment strategies. Dahuang Zhechong pill (DHZCP) is a traditional Chinese medicine widely used for treating thrombotic diseases; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. This study aimed to explore the potential mechanisms of DHZCP in treating thrombosis with a focus on bioinformatics and miRNAs.

Methods: We used network pharmacology to explore the targets of thrombosis treated with DHZCP and performed microarray analysis to acquire miRNA profiles and predict the target genes in thrombin-stimulated MEG-01 cells treated with DHZCP. Based on the overlapping of targets, we carried out a component-target-miRNA network and enrichment analysis and validated the selected miRNAs and mRNAs using quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction.

Results: Our data showed 850 targets of 230 active ingredients of DHZCP and 1214 thrombosis-related genes; 235 targets were common. We identified 32 miRNAs that were regulated by thrombin stimulation but regulated reversely by DHZCP treatment in MEG-01 cells, and predicted 1846 targets with function annotation. We analyzed conjointly 23 integrating targets from network pharmacology and microarray. HIF1A, PIK3CA, MAPK1 and BCL2L1 emerged as key nodes in the network diagrams. We confirmed the differential expression of seven miRNAs, one mRNA (BCL2L1) and platelet surface protein.

Conclusions: This study showed that miRNAs and their targets, such as BCL2L1, played crucial roles in platelet activation during DHZCP intervention in thrombosis, highlighting their potential to alleviate platelet activation and increase cell apoptosis. The study's findings could help develop new strategies for improving thrombosis treatment.

Keywords: BCL2 like 1; Dahuang Zhechong pill; Network pharmacology; Platelet activation; Thrombosis; miRNA microarray.

MeSH terms

Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / pharmacology
Drugs, Chinese Herbal* / therapeutic use
MicroRNAs* / genetics
Microarray Analysis
Network Pharmacology
Thrombin / pharmacology

Substances

Dahuang Zhechong pill
MicroRNAs
Thrombin
Drugs, Chinese Herbal