Network pharmacology-based investigation and experimental validation of the therapeutic potential and molecular mechanism of Danshen Chuanxiongqin injection in acute pancreatitis

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Danshen Chuanxiong Injection (DCI) has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of acute pancreatitis (AP); however, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying its therapeutic effects remain incompletely understood.

OBJECTIVE:

In this study, we employed network pharmacology analysis to comprehensively investigate the active components, potential targets, and signaling pathways involved in DCI-mediated treatment of AP.

METHODS:

We utilized the mouse pancreatic acinar cell line 266-6 to establish an cholecystokinin (CCK)-induced AP cell injury model and evaluated cell viability using the Cell counting kit-8 assay. Western blotting and quantitative PCR were employed to determine the expression levels of key target proteins and genes.

RESULTS:

Network pharmacology analysis identified a total of 144 active components and 430 potential targets within DCI. By integrating data from public databases, we identified 762 AP-related genes. Among these, we identified 93 potential targets that may be involved in the therapeutic effects of DCI for AP. These targets were significantly enriched in biological processes such as oxidative stress, regulation of cytokine production, leukocyte migration, and the TNF signaling pathway. Molecular docking studies revealed a high binding affinity between the active components and the key targets AKT1 and NFKBA, indicative of potential interaction. Additionally, CCK-induced acinar cell injury led to upregulation of AKT1, NFKBA, and P53 proteins, as well as TNF, IL6, and MMP9 genes. Conversely, treatment with DCI dose-dependently attenuated CCK-induced acinar cell injury and restored the expression levels of the aforementioned proteins and genes.

CONCLUSION:

Overall, this study provides a comprehensive understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of DCI in the treatment of AP. Our findings confirm the protective effect of DCI against CCK-induced acinar cell injury and its regulation of key targets.