Exploring the Potential Molecular Mechanism of Sijunzi Decoction in the Treatment of Non-Segmental Vitiligo Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

Background: Non-segmental vitiligo is a common decolorized skin disease. The purpose of this study was to reveal the active components of Sijunzi decoction (SJZD) and the target genes for the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo. Methods: Based on TCMSP and GEO databases, effective components and targets of SJZD in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo were revealed by network pharmacology. GO and KEGG were used to analyze the biological functions of SJZD targets. The Cytoscape-cytoHubba plugin was used to identify hub target genes. SsGSEA method was used to analyze the infiltration level of immune cells in non-segmental vitiligo. Molecular docking was performed to predict the interaction between active compounds and hub target genes. Finally, real-time PCR detection was also performed. Results: It was found that 104 active compounds may be effective ingredients in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo. These 104 compounds acted on 42 differentially expressed target genes. KEGG analysis showed that target genes were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways such as MAPK and TNF signaling pathways. A total of 6 hub target genes (AKT1, CASP3, PPARG, SIRT1, TNF and TP53) were identified using the Cytoscape-cytoHubba plugin. Molecular docking showed that active compounds quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin and naringenin had good binding to hub target genes. We also found that Type 2 T helper cells, CD56bright natural killer cell and CD56dim natural killer cell infiltration levels were abnormal in non-segmental vitiligo and correlated with AKT1. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that quercetin, kaempferol, formononetin and naringenin in SJZD may play an important role in the treatment of non-segmental vitiligo by acting on AKT1, CASP3, PPARG, SIRT1, TNF and TP53 to regulate immune cell infiltration and multiple signaling pathways.

Balneotherapy with Chinese herbal medicine prolongs the remission period in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

This study aimed to evaluate whether the supplementary balneotherapy with Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) could facilitate the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris and thus be beneficial for long-term remission from the symptoms. Two hundred psoriasis vulgaris patients with moderate-to-severe plaque psoriasis from January 2013 to June 2014 were evenly divided into two groups: the consolidated therapy group (CTG) and unconsolidated therapy group (UTG); the remission period of the two groups was compared. There was no significant difference in Psoriasis Area Severity Index (PASI) score between the two groups at the beginning and the end of the treatment. However, the average remission time in CTG was 10.99 months, which was significantly longer than that of 7.94 months in UTG (P = .001). After a correction of age, course of disease, skin type as well as PASI baseline value using a COX model, we found that the risk of recurrence of psoriasis vulgaris in UTG was higher than that in the CTG (P < .001). No adverse reactions were discovered when combing the two treatments together. The combined treatment of CHM balneotherapy and narrowband ultraviolet B could significantly prolong the remission time in patients with psoriasis vulgaris.

NEAT1/miR-23a-3p/KLF3: a novel regulatory axis in melanoma cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: Melanoma is an extremely aggressive malignant skin tumor with high mortality. Many types of long noncoding RNAs and microRNAs have been reported to be associated with the oncogenesis of melanoma. However, a novel lncRNA-NEAT has not been thoroughly investigated in melanoma cancer. The purposes of this study were to investigate the underlying molecular mechanism in a novel couple of lnc-NEAT1 and miR-23a-3p, as well as the function role of KLF3 in the regulation of melanoma cancer. METHODS: 28 groups of tumor tissues and normal tissues were obtained from melanoma cancer patients. We performed a series of experiments and analysis, including RT-qPCR, western blots, CCK-8 assay, and migration/invasion assay, to investigate the expressions of NEAT1, miR-23a-5p and KLF3, cell viabilities, and tumor growth in vivo. RESULTS: In this study, we observed that the expression of NEAT1 was significantly upregulated in melanoma tissues, which remarkedly promoted the cells' proliferation, cell migration, and invasion in melanoma cell lines. Besides, NEAT1 could directly bind to miR-23a-3p, which was found to reverse the effect caused by NEAT1. MiR-23a-3p was discovered to bind to 3'UTR of KLF3, which reduced KLF3 expression. In addition, the overexpression of KLF3 could lower the effects of miR-23a-3p caused on melanoma cancer cell development. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrated that NEAT1 could sponge miR-23a-3p and functions via the expression of KLF3. This axis of NEAT1/miR-23a-5p/KLF3 could together regulate melanoma cancer proliferation. This might provide a new therapeutic strategy for melanoma skin cancer.Trial registration HBTCM38574839, registered 12 October 2012.