Integrated Network Pharmacology and Experimental Validation Approach to Investigate the Mechanisms of in the Treatment of Rheumatoid Arthritis.

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the joints associated with systemic comorbidities. is regarded as an effective traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for the treatment of RA.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Based on network pharmacology and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, 33 RA-related differentially-expressed genes (DEGs) targeting active compounds of were initially screened in our investigation.

RESULTS

Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopaedia of genes and genome (KEGG) analyses found the important involvement of these DEGs in osteoclast differentiation, and finally 5 core DEGs, including NCF4, NFKB1, CYBA, IL-1β and NCF1 were determined through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. We also identified the related active component of include . Finally, in order to experimentally verify these results, a rat model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) was established, and subsequently treated with solution.

CONCLUSION

Similar to the healing effect of Indomethacin, was observed to reduce the levels of inflammatory factors (IL-6 and IL-1β) and osteoclast differentiation-related factors (RANKL, ACP5 and Cathepsin K), which can also reduce the arthritis index score and alleviate the degree of pathological injury of rat ankle joints. The predictions and experimental data uncover the involvement of , an active component of , in regulation of osteoclast differentiation, exerting great medicinal potential in the treatment of RA.