scholarly journals Identification of Tumor Necrosis Factor-Alpha (Tnf-α) Inhibitor in Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking

Author(s):  
Jun Yu ◽  
Peng Zhou

Abstract Background: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba (White peony, WP) in treating rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitor (TNFi) by using network pharmacology and molecular docking. Methods: In this study, the ingredient of WP and the potential targets of RA were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database, GeneCard and OMIM databases, respectively. Establishment of RA-WP potential target genes interaction network using STRING database. Network maps of WP-RA-potential target genes network was constructed using Cytoscape software. gene ontology (GO), and biological pathway (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis were used to further explore the RA mechanism and therapeutic effects of WP. Using molecular docking technology to analyze the optimal effective components from WP to docking with TNF-α. Results: 13 active ingredients and 71 target genes were screened from WP, 49 of which intersect with RA target genes and are considered as potential therapeutic targets.Network pharmacological analysis showed that the WP active ingredients of mairin, DPHCD, (+)-catechin, beta-sitosterol, paeoniflorin, sitosterol, and kaempferol showed better correlation with RA target genes such as PGR, PTGS1, PTGS2, NR3C2, TNFSF15, CHRM2. The signaling pathways of the active ingredients for the treatment of RA are TNF-α signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cell apoptosis, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, mitogen-associated-protein kinase, etc. Molecular docking results suggest that mairin was the most appropriate natural TNFi.Conclusions: Our findings provide the essential role and basis, for further studies into the molecular mechanisms of WP and TNFi development in RA.

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Liang Bai ◽  
Hao Chen ◽  
Peng Zhou ◽  
Jun Yu

Background: This study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanism of Radix Paeoniae Alba (white peony, WP) in treating immune inflammatory diseases of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors (TNFis) by using network pharmacology and molecular docking.Methods: In this study, the ingredient of WP and the potential inflammatory targets of RA were obtained from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systematic Pharmacology Database, GeneCard, and OMIM databases, respectively. The establishment of the RA–WP-potential inflammatory target gene interaction network was accomplished using the STRING database. Network maps of the WP–RA-potential inflammatory target gene network were constructed using Cytoscape software. Gene ontology (GO) and the biological pathway (KEGG) enrichment analyses were used to further explore the RA mechanism and therapeutic effects of WP. Molecular docking technology was used to analyze the optimal effective components from WP for docking with TNF-α.Results: Thirteen active ingredients and 71 target genes were screened from WP, and 49 of the target genes intersected with RA target inflammatory genes and were considered potential therapeutic targets. Network pharmacological analysis showed that the WP active ingredients such as mairin, DPHCD, (+)-catechin, beta-sitosterol, paeoniflorin, sitosterol, and kaempferol showed better correlation with RA inflammatory target genes such as PGR, PTGS1, PTGS2, NR3C2, TNFSF15, and CHRM2, respectively. The immune-inflammatory signaling pathways of the active ingredients for the treatment of RA are the TNF-α signaling pathway, Toll-like receptor signaling pathway, cell apoptosis, interleukin-17 signaling pathway, C-type lectin receptor signaling pathway, mitogen-associated protein kinase, etc. Molecular docking results suggested that mairin was the most appropriate natural TNFis.Conclusion: Our findings provide an essential role and basis for further immune-inflammatory studies into the molecular mechanisms of WP and TNFis development in RA.


2018 ◽  
Vol 39 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Suneer Verma ◽  
Paul De Jesus ◽  
Sumit K. Chanda ◽  
Inder M. Verma

ABSTRACT The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) family of transcription factors plays a central role in coordinating the expression of genes that control inflammation, immune responses, cell proliferation, and a variety of other biological processes. In an attempt to identify novel regulators of this pathway, we performed whole-genome RNA interference (RNAi) screens in physiologically relevant human macrophages in response to lipopolysaccharide and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α). The top hit was SNW1, a splicing factor and transcriptional coactivator. SNW1 does not regulate the cytoplasmic components of the NF-κB pathway but complexes with the NF-κB heterodimer in the nucleus for transcriptional activation. We show that SNW1 detaches from its splicing complex (formed with SNRNP200 and SNRNP220) upon NF-κB activation and binds to NF-κB’s transcriptional elongation partner p-TEFb. We also show that SNW1 is indispensable for the transcriptional elongation of NF-κB target genes such as the interleukin 8 (IL-8) and TNF genes. SNW1 is a unique protein previously shown to be involved in both splicing and transcription, and in this case, its role involves binding to the NF-κB–p-TEFb complex to facilitate transcriptional elongation of some NF-κB target genes.


mBio ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sun Hwa Lee ◽  
Zsolt Toth ◽  
Lai-Yee Wong ◽  
Kevin Brulois ◽  
Jim Nguyen ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Central to NF-κB signaling pathways is IKKγ/NEMO, a regulatory subunit of the cytoplasmic IκB kinase (IKK) complex, which undergoes various posttranslational modifications, specifically phosphorylation, to regulate its function. Furthermore, Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) FADD-like interleukin-1β (IL-1β) converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (vFLIP) activates the NF-κB signaling pathway by directly interacting with IKKγ/NEMO. However, the exact functions of IKKγ/NEMO phosphorylation and its KvFLIP interaction in NF-κB activation remain elusive. Here, we report two novel phosphorylation sites of IKKγ/NEMO and their negative effect on the IKKγ/NEMO-mediated NF-κB signaling pathway. First, the Src family protein tyrosine kinases (SF-PTKs), including Src, Fyn, Lyn, and Fgr, interact with and phosphorylate tyrosine residue 374 (Y374) of IKKγ/NEMO. Mutation of the Y374 residue to phenylalanine (Y374F) specifically abolished SF-PTK-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation, leading to increased tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB activity. Moreover, our mass spectrometry analysis found that the serine 377 residue (S377) of IKKγ/NEMO underwent robust phosphorylation upon KvFLIP expression. Replacement of the IKKγ/NEMO S377 residue by alanine (S377A) or glutamic acid (S377E) resulted in a significant increase or decrease of NF-κB activity and TNF-α-mediated IL-6 cytokine production, respectively. Our study thus demonstrates that the Y374 or S377 residue located at the C-terminal proline-rich domain of human IKKγ/NEMO undergoes phosphorylation upon TNF-α treatment or KvFLIP expression, respectively, resulting in the suppression of IKKγ/NEMO activity to induce NF-κB activation. This study suggests the potential phosphorylation-mediated feedback negative regulation of IKKγ/NEMO activity in the NF-κB signaling pathway. IMPORTANCE Since unchecked regulation of NF-κB has been linked to uncontrolled proliferation and cell death, the downregulation of the NF-κB signaling pathway is as important as its activation. Specifically, the phosphorylation-mediated modification of IKKγ/NEMO is a critical regulatory mechanism of NF-κB activity. Here, we report two novel phosphorylations of IKKγ/NEMO and their negative effects on the NF-κB signaling pathway. First, the Src family protein tyrosine kinase interacts with and phosphorylates tyrosine residue 374 of IKKγ/NEMO, suppressing tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced NF-κB activity. Additionally, Kaposi’s sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV) FADD-like interleukin-1β (IL-1β) converting enzyme (FLICE) inhibitory protein (KvFLIP) expression induces a robust phosphorylation of the serine 377 residue of IKKγ/NEMO, resulting in a significant decrease of NF-κB activity. Our study thus demonstrates that the Y374 or S377 residue of IKKγ/NEMO undergoes phosphorylation upon TNF-α treatment or KvFLIP expression, respectively, resulting in the suppression of IKKγ/NEMO activity to induce NF-κB activation. This also suggests the potential phosphorylation-mediated feedback negative regulation of IKKγ/NEMO activity in the NF-κB signaling pathway.


2008 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 303-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken Blackwell ◽  
Laiqun Zhang ◽  
Gregory S. Thomas ◽  
Shujie Sun ◽  
Hiroyasu Nakano ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT TRAF2 is an adaptor protein that regulates the activation of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and IκB kinase (IKK) signaling cascades in response to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) stimulation. Although the downstream events in TNF-α signaling are better understood, the membrane-proximal events are still elusive. Here, we demonstrate that TNF-α and cellular stresses induce TRAF2 phosphorylation at serine 11 and that this phosphorylation is required for the expression of a subset of NF-κB target genes. Although TRAF2 phosphorylation had a minimal effect on the TNF-α-induced rapid and transient IKK activation, it was essential for secondary and prolonged IKK activation. Consistent with this, TRAF2 phosphorylation is not required for its recruitment to the TNFR1 complex in response to TNF-α stimulation but is required for its association with a cytoplasmic complex containing RIP1 and IKK. In addition, TRAF2 phosphorylation was essential for the full TNF-α-induced activation of JNK. Notably, TRAF2 phosphorylation increased both basal and inducible c-Jun and NF-κB activities and rendered cells resistant to stress-induced apoptosis. Moreover, TRAF2 was found to be constitutively phosphorylated in some lymphomas. These results unveil a new, finely tuned mechanism for TNF-α-induced IKK activation modulated by TRAF2 phosphorylation and suggest that TRAF2 phosphorylation contributes to elevated levels of basal NF-κB activity in certain human cancers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-18
Author(s):  
Meiqi Wei ◽  
He Li ◽  
Qifang Li ◽  
Yi Qiao ◽  
Qun Ma ◽  
...  

Background. Gegen Qinlian (GGQL) decoction is a common Chinese herbal compound for the treatment of ulcerative colitis (UC). In this study, we aimed to identify its molecular target and the mechanism involved in UC treatment by network pharmacology and molecular docking. Material and Methods. The active ingredients of Puerariae, Scutellariae, Coptis, and Glycyrrhiza were screened using the TCMSP platform with drug ‐ like   properties   DL ≥ 0.18 and oral   availability   OB ≥ 30 % . To find the intersection genes and construct the TCM compound-disease regulatory network, the molecular targets were determined in the UniProt database and then compared with the UC disease differential genes with P value < 0.005 and ∣ log 2   fold   change ∣ > 1 obtained in the GEO database. The intersection genes were subjected to protein-protein interaction (PPI) construction and Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. After screening the key active ingredients and target genes, the AutoDock software was used for molecular docking, and the best binding target was selected for molecular docking to verify the binding activity. Results. A total of 146 active compounds were screened, and quercetin, kaempferol, wogonin, and stigmasterol were identified as the active ingredients with the highest associated targets, and NOS2, PPARG, and MMP1 were the targets associated with the maximum number of active ingredients. Through topological analysis, 32 strongly associated proteins were found, of which EGFR, PPARG, ESR1, HSP90AA1, MYC, HSPA5, AR, AKT1, and RELA were predicted targets of the traditional Chinese medicine, and PPARG was also an intersection gene. It was speculated that these targets were the key to the use of GGQL in UC treatment. GO enrichment results showed significant enrichment of biological processes, such as oxygen levels, leukocyte migration, collagen metabolic processes, and nutritional coping. KEGG enrichment showed that genes were particularly enriched in the IL-17 signaling pathway, AGE-RAGE signaling pathway, toll-like receptor signaling pathway, tumor necrosis factor signaling pathway, transcriptional deregulation in cancer, and other pathways. Molecular docking results showed that key components in GGQL had good potential to bind to the target genes MMP3, IL1B, NOS2, HMOX1, PPARG, and PLAU. Conclusion. GGQL may play a role in the treatment of ulcerative colitis by anti-inflammation, antioxidation, and inhibition of cancer gene transcription.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zaizhong Wang ◽  
Lulu Cheng ◽  
Zhigang Shang ◽  
Zhihui Li ◽  
Yuping Zhao ◽  
...  

Objective: To analyze the key targets and potential mechanisms underlying the volatile components of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi acting on gliomas through network pharmacology combined with biological experiments.Methods: We have extracted the volatile components of Scutellaria baicalensis by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and determined the active components related to the onset and development of gliomas by combining the results with the data from the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database. We screened the same targets for the extracted active components and gliomas through network pharmacology and then constructed a protein-protein interaction network. Using a Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis, we analyzed the protein effects and regulatory pathways of the common targets. Lastly, we employed ELISA and Western blot in verifying the key targets in the regulatory pathway.Results: We ultimately determined that the active component in S. baicalensis Georgi related to the onset and development of gliomas was Wogonin. The results of the network pharmacology revealed 85 targets for glioma and Wogonin. We used gene ontology to analyze these target genes and found that they involved 30 functions, such as phosphatidylinositol phosphokinase activation, while the KEGG analysis showed that there were 10 regulatory pathways involved. Through the following analysis, we found that most of the key target genes are distributed in the PI3K-Akt and interleukin 17 signaling pathways. We then cultured U251 glioma cells for the experiments. Compared with the control group, no significant change was noted in the caspase-3 expression; however, cleaved caspase-3 expression increased significantly and was dose-dependent on Wogonin. The expression of Bad and Bcl-2 with 25 μM of Wogonin has remained unchanged, but when the Wogonin dose was increased to 100 μM, the expression of Bad and Bcl-2 was noted to change significantly (Bad was significantly upregulated, while Bcl-2 was significantly downregulated) and was dose-dependent on Wogonin. The ELISA results showed that, compared with the control group, the secretion of tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1β, and IL-6 decreased as the Wogonin concentration increased. Tumor necrosis factor alpha downregulation had no significant dose-dependent effect on Wogonin, the inhibitory effect of 25 μM of Wogonin on IL-6 was not significant, and IL-1β downregulation had a significant dose-dependent effect on Wogonin.Conclusion: Wogonin might promote the apoptosis of glioma cells by upregulating proapoptotic factors, downregulating antiapoptotic factors, and inhibiting the inflammatory response, thereby inhibiting glioma progression.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wenna Gao ◽  
Ruilin Zhu ◽  
liu yang

Background: Mounting evidence has suggested tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) can promote the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR), and TNF-α gene variants may influence DR risk. However, the results are quite different. Objectives: To comprehensively address this issue, we performed the meta-analysis to evaluate the association of TNF-α-308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphism with DR. Method: Data were retrieved in a systematic manner and analyzed using STATA Statistical Software. Crude odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of associations. Allelic and genotypic comparisons between cases and controls were evaluated. Results: For the TNF-α-308 G/A polymorphism, overall analysis suggested a marginal association with DR [the OR(95%CI) of (GA versus GG), (GA + AA) versus GG, and (A versus G) are 1.21(1.04, 1.41), 1.20(1.03, 1.39), and 1.14(1.01, 1.30), respectively]. And the subgroup analysis indicated an enhanced association among the European population. For the TNF-α-238 G/A polymorphism, there was mild correlation in the entire group [the OR(95%CI) of (GA versus GG) is 1.55(1.14,2.11) ], which was strengthened among the Asian population. Conclusion: The meta-analysis suggested that -308 A and -238 A allele in TNF-α gene potentially increased DR risk and showed a discrepancy in different ethnicities.


2021 ◽  
Vol 80 (Suppl 1) ◽  
pp. 318.1-318
Author(s):  
D. Santos Oliveira ◽  
A. Martins ◽  
F. R. Martins ◽  
F. Oliveira Pinheiro ◽  
M. Rato ◽  
...  

Background:Anti-tumour necrosis factor alpha (anti-TNF-α) therapy is commonly used to treat inflammatory conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Autoantibodies namely antinuclear antibodies (ANA) induced by these treatments are well established. However, anti-TNF-α-induced systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is rarely described and its incidence is yet unknown.Objectives:This study aimed to determine the prevalence of ANA seroconversion and to characterize the development of SLE induced by anti-TNF-α therapy in patients with RA over time.Methods:An observational retrospective cohort study was conducted with at least one year of follow-up. Patients with diagnosis of RA, according to American College of Rheumatology criteria (ACR), and registered on Rheumatic Diseases Portuguese Register (Reuma.pt) who started their first anti-TNFα between 2003 and 2019 were included. Patients with positive ANA (titer ≥100) and/or positive double-strand DNA (dsDNA) antibodies and/or with a diagnosis of SLE at their first visit were excluded. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data were obtained by consulting Reuma.pt. As there are no recognized criteria for drug-induced SLE, the diagnosis of SLE induced by anti-TNF-α was considered if there is a temporal relationship between clinical manifestations and anti-TNF-α-therapy, the presence of at least 1 serologic ACR criteria (ANA or anti-dsDNA) and at least 1 nonserologic ACR criteria (arthritis, serositis, hematologic disorder or malar rash) [1]. Continuous variables are presented with mean, standard deviation, median, quartile 1 and quartile 3. Categorical variables are presented with absolute and relative frequencies.Results:A total of 211 patients (mean age of 49.9±10.9 years old; 84.4% female) were included with a median follow-up time of 6 [3-14] years. We found a seroconversion rate for ANA of 75.4% (n=159) with median treatment duration of 31 [8.5-70.5] months. The most common titre was 1/100 with diffuse and speckled patterns. ANA seroconversion was higher for etanercept (47.8%, n=76) than with adalimumab (23.9%, n=38), infliximab (13.8%, n=22), golimumab (12.6%, n=20) or certolizumab (1.9%, n=3). SLE induced by anti-TNF-α occurred in two patients (0.9%) with erosive and seropositive (rheumatoid factor and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies) RA previously treated with two conventional synthetic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs, including methotrexate. The first patient, a female with 66 years old and 17 years of disease duration, developed SLE after 16 months of infliximab, with constitutional symptoms, abrupt worsening of polyarthritis, ANA titer of 1/320 diffuse pattern and positive dsDNA (248 UI/mL) antibodies. The second patient, a woman with 43 years old and 11 years of disease duration, developed SLE after 41 months of adalimumab with malar rash and ANA titer of 1/320 diffuse pattern, positive dsDNA (285 UI/mL), positive anti-histone antibodies and hypocomplementemia. In these two cases, anti-TNF-α therapy was stopped and recovery was spontaneous without treatment. The first patient switched to adalimumab and the second switched to golimumab without recurrence of SLE for more than ten years.Conclusion:We found a high rate of ANA seroconversion induced by anti-TNFα therapy in patients with RA. However, similar to previous literature, only 0.9% of patients developed SLE with mild manifestations without major organ involvement. Although the drug with the highest ANA seroconversion rate was etanercept, those responsible for induced SLE were infliximab and adalimumab. Patients improved after discontinuation of therapy and tolerated an alternative anti-TNF-α drug without recurrence of induced SLE over time. Therefore, ANA and SLE induced by anti-TNF-α should be considered and reported in the follow-up of RA patients. Further research is needed to explore the impact of this adverse event on the outcomes of treatment over time.References:[1]Hochberg MC. Arthritis Rheum. 1997;40(9):1725.Disclosure of Interests:None declared


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