Liu Zi-Hao, Li Shuang-Yang, Li Bi-Jun, Zhang Fan, Li Xiang-Guang, Li Xuan, Zheng Jie
Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, School of Biomedical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou, PR China.
Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tenth Affiliated Hospital, Southern Medical University (Dongguan People's Hospital), Dongguan, Guangdong, PR China.
Cell Biochem Biophys. 2025 Aug 9. doi: 10.1007/s12013-025-01835-x.
Wuzi Yanzong Pill (WZYZP) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula extensively used in China to treat male reproductive dysfunction, with a specific focus on invigorating the kidney. Despite its observed efficacy, the exact mechanisms and therapeutic targets remain unclear. The primary goal of this study is to elucidate the potential molecular targets and underlying mechanisms of WZYZP in the treatment of asthenozoospermia (AZS). It will be achieved through the integration of network pharmacology and bioinformatics analyses in a comprehensive and systematic approach. This study employed bioinformatics analysis and network pharmacology methodologies, encompassing: construction of protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks; development of 'Ingredients-Potential Target Genes-Signaling Pathways' (IPS) networks; Gene Ontology (GO) functional annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis; differential gene analysis; molecular docking; and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). Through network pharmacology analysis, we identified 485 potential targets of WZYZP. Cross-referencing with disease databases resulted in 57 intersecting targets pertinent to both WZYZP and AZS. Construction of the IPS network further determined eight core candidate targets: PIK3R1, MAPK3, GSK3B, AKT1, MAPK14, ESR1, ESR2, and CYP17A1. GO and KEGG pathway enrichment analyses highlighted significant involvement in prolactin signaling, endocrine resistance, and estrogen signaling pathways. Molecular docking and MDS confirmed stable binding of WZYZP components to all eight core targets. Our findings suggest that WZYZP may exert therapeutic effects in AZS by targeting eight pivotal genes (PIK3R1, MAPK3, GSK3B, AKT1, MAPK14, ESR1, ESR2, and CYP17A1). This is achieved through modulation of prolactin signaling, estrogen signaling, and endocrine resistance, thereby inhibiting inflammatory damage, antagonizing apoptotic signaling, maintaining hormonal homeostasis, and restoring metabolic imbalance.
五子衍宗丸(WZYZP)是一种在中国广泛用于治疗男性生殖功能障碍的中药配方,尤其侧重于补肾。尽管其疗效已得到观察,但其确切机制和治疗靶点仍不清楚。本研究的主要目的是阐明五子衍宗丸治疗弱精子症(AZS)的潜在分子靶点和潜在机制。这将通过综合系统的网络药理学和生物信息学分析来实现。本研究采用生物信息学分析和网络药理学方法,包括:构建蛋白质-蛋白质相互作用(PPI)网络;开发“成分-潜在靶基因-信号通路”(IPS)网络;基因本体(GO)功能注释和京都基因与基因组百科全书(KEGG)通路富集分析;差异基因分析;分子对接;以及分子动力学模拟(MDS)。通过网络药理学分析,我们确定了五子衍宗丸的485个潜在靶点。与疾病数据库交叉参考后,得到了57个与五子衍宗丸和弱精子症相关的交集靶点。IPS网络的构建进一步确定了八个核心候选靶点:PIK3R1、MAPK3、GSK3B、AKT1、MAPK14、ESR1、ESR2和CYP17A1。GO和KEGG通路富集分析突出了其在催乳素信号传导、内分泌抵抗和雌激素信号通路中的显著参与。分子对接和MDS证实了五子衍宗丸成分与所有八个核心靶点的稳定结合。我们的研究结果表明,五子衍宗丸可能通过靶向八个关键基因(PIK3R1、MAPK3、GSK3B、AKT1、MAPK14、ESR1、ESR2和CYP17A1)对弱精子症发挥治疗作用。这是通过调节催乳素信号传导、雌激素信号传导和内分泌抵抗来实现的,从而抑制炎症损伤、拮抗凋亡信号、维持激素稳态并恢复代谢失衡。
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