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Examining the Mechanisms of Huachansu Injection on Liver Cancer through Integrated Bioinformatics Analysis
Chao-Yuan Huang1,2, Yi-Min Cheng1, Wei Li1
1The First Clinical Medical School, Guangzhou University of Chinese Medicine, Guangzhou, China.
Objective:
The objective of this study is to explore the potential anti-liver cancer mechanism of Huachansu injection through integrated bioinformatics analysis.
Methods:
Active ingredients of Huachansu injection (extraction of toad skin) were obtained, and their potential drug targets were predicted via SwissTargetPrediction database. Liver cancer disease targets were identified from the GEO (Gene Expression Omnibus) dataset and four public databases. Then Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network of toad skin was constructed. GO (Gene Ontology) enrichment analysis and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) enrichment analysis were performed subsequently. Finally, molecular docking was performed using Auto Dock Vina.
Results:
In the search for therapeutic targets, twenty active components of toad skin were screened for further study, five hundred and sixty-eight targets of components were identified. In the search for disease targets, three thousand two hundred and twenty-seven genes were identified after removal of duplicated genes, one hundred and fifty-nine genes were up-regulated in liver cancer samples while two hundred and seventy-eight were down-regulated in liver cancer patients. After predicting the therapeutic targets of the components, the results were cross-checked with the disease targets, thirteen up-regulated targets and ten down-regulated targets were obtained. Finally, in the results of molecular docking, seven targets (CDK1, AKR1B1, MMP12, AURKB, CHEK1, AURKA, TTK) were potential up-regulated targets, three targets (SHBG, SRD5A2, NR1I2) were potential down-regulated targets, all of which have the best binding energy and molecular interactions.
Conclusion:
CDK1, AKR1B1, MMP12, AURKB, CHEK1, AURKA, and TTK could be potential upregulated target proteins of Huachansu injection for treating liver cancer. The mechanism of Huachansu injection in the treatment of liver cancer through these up-regulated targets is related to cell cycle, cellular senescence, viral carcinogenesis, p53 signaling pathway. SHBG, SRD5A2, and NR1I2 could be potential down-regulated target proteins of Huachansu injection in treating liver cancer.
Insights
Huachansu injection may treat liver cancer by targeting specific proteins. This study used bioinformatics to identify potential therapeutic targets, revealing key proteins involved in cell cycle and other pathways for further investigation.
Area of Science:
- Integrative bioinformatics
- Traditional Chinese Medicine
- Oncology
Background:
- Huachansu injection, derived from toad skin, is used in traditional medicine.
- Liver cancer remains a significant global health challenge requiring novel therapeutic strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To elucidate the anti-liver cancer mechanism of Huachansu injection.
- To identify potential therapeutic targets using integrated bioinformatics analysis.
Main Methods:
- Prediction of active components' targets using SwissTargetPrediction.
- Identification of liver cancer disease targets from GEO datasets and public databases.
- Construction of Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) networks, Gene Ontology (GO), and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses.
- Molecular docking simulations using Auto Dock Vina.
Main Results:
- Screened 20 active components and identified 568 potential targets.
- Identified 3,227 liver cancer-associated genes, with 159 upregulated and 278 downregulated.
- Cross-referencing revealed 13 upregulated and 10 downregulated targets.
- Molecular docking identified 7 potential upregulated targets (e.g., CDK1, AURKB) and 3 downregulated targets (e.g., SHBG, SRD5A2).
Conclusions:
- CDK1, AKR1B1, MMP12, AURKB, CHEK1, AURKA, and TTK are potential upregulated targets for Huachansu injection in liver cancer treatment.
- The mechanism involves pathways like cell cycle, cellular senescence, and p53 signaling.
- SHBG, SRD5A2, and NR1I2 are identified as potential downregulated targets.
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