Identifying the mechanisms and molecular targets of Hongjingtian injection on treatment of TGFß1-induced HK-2 cells: coupling network pharmacology with experimental verification.

Background: The study was designed to investigate the mechanism of Hongjingtian injection (HJT) in treating tubulointerstitial fibrosis (TIF) in chronic kidney diseases (CKD) based on network pharmacology and experimental verification. Methods: First, active ingredients of HJT obtained from literature were screened using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) database and putative targets of active ingredients were predicted using the Chemmapper, SEA and Swiss Target Prediction database. Subsequently, the "compound-target" network for HJT was established. In addition, TIF disease targets were obtained from the GEO gene chips (accession number GSE20247). The intersecting targets of HJT and TIF obtained through Venny 2.1.0. The key targets and signaling pathways were determined by protein-protein interaction (PPI) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Finally, quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and Western blot (WB) were used to validate the predicted five key genes targets (GAD1, SPHK1, P4HA2, AKR1B1, PTGES). And immunofluorescence, wound healing assay and transwell assay were used to verify the anti-fibrosis effect of HJT on TGFß1-induced HK-2 cells. Results: The network pharmacology analysis results showed that there are 36 active compounds and 1,044 putative target genes in HJT. HJT may exert its inhibitory effects against TIF by acting on 79 key targets. Besides, KEGG analysis indicated that the anti-TIF effect of HJT was mediated by multiple pathways, such as the metabolic pathway, pathways in cancer and gap junction. Among them, GAD1, SPHK1, P4HA2, AKR1B1 and PTGES are enriched in the metabolic pathway. In vitro induced cell model experiments, the immunofluorescence experience showed that HJT could restore EMT of HK-2 cells. In addition, the qPCR and WB results showed that HJT significantly restored the expression of the SPHK1 in HK-2 cells induced by TGF-ß1. Conclusions: This study comprehensively illuminated the active compounds, potential targets, and molecular mechanism of HJT against TIF. HJT treatment of TIF may reverse EMT caused by TGF-ß1 by targeting SPHK1.

Xuan Fei Bai Du Fang for treating coronavirus disease 2019: A protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a respiratory infectious disease with a high fatality rate. Up to now, there are an estimated 26 million confirmed cases and 865,000 deaths around the world. But no effective way can control this disease. As the country that first discovered and treated the COVID-19, China has formed relatively mature prevention and treatment methods such as "3 prescriptions and 3 drugs." Xuan Fei Bai Du Fang, as a member of "3 prescriptions and 3 drugs," has very good clinical effects. METHODS: The PubMed, EMBASE, ClinicalTrials.gov, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and Wanfang databases were searched for randomized controlled studies published to date. This study only screens clinical randomized controlled trials on QFBDF for COVID-19 to evaluate its efficacy and safety.Import all literatures that meet the requirements into Endnote X9 software. The information was finally cross-checked by 2 reviewers. Papers selected for review were assessed for risk of bias according to the criteria. Quality assessment on design of study, risk of bias, indirectness and imprecision were assessed using the GRADE framework. Where sufficient studies were available, publication bias was assessed visually using funnel plots. Relative risks for primary and secondary outcomes were calculated on an intent-to-treat basis and pooled using random effects meta-analysis. the continuous is expressed by mean difference or standard mean difference, eventually the data is synthesized using a fixed effect model or a random effect model depending on whether or not heterogeneity exists. The heterogeneity of studies will be evaluated by Q-test and I2 statistic with RevMan5.3. RESULTS: The time from a positive diagnosis to a negative result of 2 consecutive nucleic acid tests (not on the same day), cure rate. The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this systematic review is to provide new evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Xuan Fei Bai Du Fang in the treatment of COVID-19. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020213950.

Maxingshigan decoction for treating COVID-19: A protocol for systematic review and meta analysis.

BACKGROUND: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a rapidly spreading disease that has been in a public health emergency of international concern since its outbreak in 2020. Due to the complex pathogenesis and susceptibility of COVID-19, many commonly used drugs for the treatment of COVID-19 have not shown excellent clinical effects. Traditional Chinese medicine has a long clinical history of preventing and treating this respiratory infectious disease. Maxingshigan Decoction (MXSG) is widely used in China to treat COVID-19. However, there is no comprehensive and systematic evidence on the effectiveness and safety of Maxingshigan Decoction. METHODS: PubMed, EMBASE, Clinical Trials, the Cochrane Library, Sino Med, and China National Knowledge Infrastructure up to September 2020. This study only screens clinical randomized controlled trials on MXSG for COVID-19 to evaluate its efficacy and safety. Data were extracted by 1 investigator and checked by an independent investigator. Review Manager 5.3 software was used for the data analysis. The dichotomous data is represented by relative risk, and the continuous is expressed by mean difference or standard mean difference, eventually the data is synthesized using a fixed effect model or a random effect model depending on whether or not heterogeneity exists. RESULTS: The time from a positive diagnosis to a negative result of 2 consecutive nucleic acid tests (not on the same day), cure rate. The results of our research will be published in a peer-reviewed journal. CONCLUSION: The purpose of this systematic review is to provide new evidence for the effectiveness and safety of Maxingshigan decoction in the treatment of COVID-19. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42020211962.