基于肠道菌群—代谢物的类风湿性关节炎网络药理学机制研究

Research on the pharmacological mechanism of rheumatoid arthritis network based on gut microbiota-metabolites

  • 摘要: 目的:全面且系统地阐释肠道菌群—代谢物调控网络在类风湿性关节炎(rheumatoid arthritis, RA)发病机制中所起的作用,找出关键分子靶点并挑选出有治疗潜力的候选药物。方法:将RA基因芯片数据中的差异表达基因同加权基因共表达网络分析模块基因整合在一起,借助Swiss Target Prediction(STP)、Similarity Ensemble Approach(SEA)、Gut Mgene数据库来获取肠道菌群代谢物靶基因集,之后与Gene Cards、OMIM、CTD数据库中的RA疾病基因求取交集。运用GO/KEGG功能注释、蛋白质相互作用网络拓扑学评估等办法筛选关键靶标,构建“微生物—代谢产物—基因靶点”多维调控体系,并且利用SwissADME和ADMETlab平台开展药物特性与毒理学评估,依靠分子对接技术验证先导化合物与核心靶点的相互作用,同时利用RA细胞模型,采用半数抑制浓度(IC50)测试、细胞计数试剂盒-8(CCK-8)增殖检测以及集落形成实验等评估候选药物的体外活性。结果:借助多维度分析鉴定出40个共有基因,其中IL6、TNF、IL1β、AKT1TP53被确定为关键调控因子,通路富集结果显示,这些基因明显参与PI3K-Akt、MAPK、TNF信号转导、Th17细胞分化以及NOD样受体通路等RA关键病理过程。研究构建了由154种菌源代谢物、1 518个代谢相关靶点以及1 933个疾病靶点构成的互作网络,揭示Flavonifractor plautiiBlautia sp.等菌群依靠色氨酸、酪氨酸代谢途径调控核心靶点的作用模式,经过药效与毒性综合评价得到有良好成药性的先导化合物,其与IL6、TNF等靶点呈现出较大结合活性。体外研究说明该化合物对滑膜成纤维细胞的IC50值为40.85μmol/L,可剂量依赖性地抑制细胞增殖与集落形成,在≤80μmol/L浓度区间内细胞存活率超过80%,呈现出优良的安全特性。结论:本研究较为全面地指出了肠道菌群借助其代谢产物对免疫—炎症信号轴在RA发病进程中的关键作用机制,所识别出的核心基因网络以及潜在治疗药物3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid,为RA的精准治疗策略给予了科学依据,还为药物再利用研究开拓了新思路。

     

    Abstract: Objective: To comprehensively and systematically elucidate the role of the regulatory network of gutassociated microbiota metabolites(GMMs) on the onset of rheumatoid arthritis(RA) while identifying important molecular targets and choosing potential drug molecules. Methods: The differentially expressed genes derived from the RA gene chip data were combined with the genes from the weighted gene co-expression network analysis module, utilizing databases such as SwissTargetPrediction(STP), Similarity Ensemble Approach(SEA), and GutMgene to derive the target gene set associated with gut microbiota metabolites. After that, the intersection between the above data with RA-associated genes obtained from GeneCards, OMIM and CTD was identified. GO/KEGG functional annotation and topological evaluation of protein-protein interaction networks were used to filter key targets. A multi-dimensional regulatory framework of "micro-organism-metabolite-gene target" was established, and drug characteristics and toxicity profiles were assessed using SwissADME and ADMETlab platforms. Molecular docking studies were carried out to validate the interaction of the selected lead compounds and core targets. At the same time, using a RA cell model, the in vitro activity of the candidate drugs was evaluated in synovial fibroblasts through half-maximal inhibitory concentration(IC50), cell counting kit-8(CCK-8) proliferation assay, clonogenic assay and other methods. Results: A total of 40 common genes were successfully identified through multi-dimensional analysis, in which IL6, TNF, IL1β, AKT1 and TP53 were confirmed to be key regulatory factors. The pathway enrichment results indicated that these genes were significantly involved in everal critical pathological processes of RA, including PI3K-Akt, MAPK, TNF signaling transduction, Th17 cell differentiation and NOD-like receptor pathways. An interaction network containing 154 bacterial metabolites, 1, 518 metabolism-related targets and 1, 933 disease-related targets was constructed, which highlighted the regulatory role of Flavonifractor plautii and Blautia sp. in modulating core targets. These microbiota regulated the action mode of the core target via tryptophan and tyrosine metabolic pathways. The assessment of efficacy and toxicity led to the identification of lead compounds with good drugability, which exhibited a significant binding activity to targets like IL6 and TNF. This compound had an IC50 value of 40.85 μmol/L for synovial fibroblasts based on in vitro studies and could inhibit cell proliferation and colony formation in a dose-dependent manner. When the concentration was no more than 80 μmol/L, the survival rate of cells was over 80%, showing excellent safety characteristics. Conclusion: This study systematically elucidates the key mechanism by which the gut microbiota regulates the immune-inflammatory signaling axis in the pathogenesis of RA through its metabolites. The identified core gene network and the candidate drug 3-(4-Hydroxyphenyl)propionic acid provide a scientific basis for precision treatment strategies of RA and open up new avenues for drug repurposing research.

     

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