Network pharmacology and bioinformatics analysis identify potential therapeutic effects of berberine on colon cancer complicated with radiation enteritis

作者：Ziqiao Yan, Hongyang Yu, Liangliang Zhang, Zebin Liao, Xiangwei Ge, Yuguo Wang, Peiyu Tian, Zhexin Ni, Yongqi Dou, Yue Gao · 发表于：Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1097/hm9.0000000000000121 · 被引用次数：9 · 研究领域：Berberine and alkaloids research、Plant-based Medicinal Research、Effects of Radiation Exposure

Objective: Patients with colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) who undergo radiation therapy develop radiation enteritis (RE). The predictive value of RE in COAD is yet to be established. Berberine, an active compound derived from the traditional Chinese medicinal plant, Coptis chinensis , has notable anti-inflammatory properties and offers protection to the intestinal mucosa. This study aimed to evaluate the possible therapeutic effect and mechanism of berberine as a treatment for COAD complicated with RE (COAD&RE). Methods: Relevant genetic features of diverse COAD&RE populations were analyzed using bioinformatics and the Cox proportional hazards regression model. The therapeutic targets of berberine were predicted using network pharmacology and molecular docking. In vivo and in vitro experiments were conducted to validate the core genes identified using molecular docking. Results: RE has a certain impact on the prognosis of COAD and berberine may play an important role in the treatment of COAD&RE. In addition, we identified five core therapeutic targets of berberine by network pharmacology and molecular docking: CCND1, MYC, AR, LEP, and CYP19A1. In vivo experiments showed that berberine increased short-term survival rate, body weight, and intestinal epithelial cell recovery in mice after radiation. In an in vitro study, berberine promoted the proliferation of human intestinal epithelial cells and enhanced the radiosensitivity of HT29 cells after radiation, and the relati...