Login Register Cart 0
Generic placeholder image

Current Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1389-2010
ISSN (Online): 1873-4316

Back
Journal Home About Journal Editorial Board Journal Insight Current Issue Volumes/Issues
Subscribe
Research Article

The Treatment of Tubal Inflammatory Infertility using Yinjia Tablets through EGFR/MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway based on Network Pharmacology

Author(s): Yefang Huang, Zhelin He, Hang Zhou, Yi Wen, Xiaoli Ji, Weijun Ding, Boyu Zhu, Yongqing Zhang, Ying Tan, Kun Yang and Yan Wang*

Volume 25, Issue 4, 2024

Published on: 16 October, 2023

Page: [499 - 509] Pages: 11

DOI: 10.2174/0113892010234591230919074245

Price: $65

Abstract

Background: Salpingitis obstructive infertility (SOI) refers to infertility caused by abnormal conditions such as tubal adhesion and blockage caused by acute and chronic salpingitis. SOI has a serious impact on women's physical and mental health and family harmony, and it is a clinical problem that needs to be solved urgently.

Objective: The purpose of the present study was to explore the potential pharmacological mechanisms of the Yinjia tablets (Yin Jia Pian, YJP) on tubal inflammation.

Methods: Networks of YJP-associated targets and tubal inflammation-related genes were constructed through the STRING database. Potential targets and pathway enrichment analysis related to the therapeutic efficacy of YJP were identified using Cytoscape and Database for Annotation, Visualization, and Integrated Discovery (metascape). E. coli was used to establish a rat model of tubal inflammation and to validate the predictions of network pharmacology and the therapeutic efficacy of YJP. H&E staining was used to observe the pathological changes in fallopian tubes. TEM observation of the ultrastructure of the fallopian tubes. ELISA was used to detect the changes of IL-6 and TNF-α in fallopian tubes. Immunohistochemistry was used to detect the expression of ESR1. The changes of Bcl-2, ERK1/2, p-ERK1/2, MEK, p-MEK, EGFR, and p-EGFR were detected by western blot.

Results: Through database analysis, it was found that YJP shared 105 identical targets with the disease. Network pharmacology analysis showed that IL-6, TNF, and EGFR belong to the top 5 core proteins associated with salpingitis, and EGFR/MEK/ERK may be the main pathway involved. The E. coli-induced disease rat model of fallopian tube tissue showed damage, mitochondrial disruption, and increased levels of the inflammatory factors IL-6 and TNF-α. Tubal inflammatory infertility rats have increased expression of Bcl-2, p-ERK1/2, p-MEK, and p-EGFR, and decreased expression of ESR1. In vivo, experiments showed that YJP improved damage of tissue, inhibited shedding of tubal cilia, and suppressed the inflammatory response of the body. Furthermore, YJP inhibited EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling, inhibited the apoptotic protein Bcl-2, and upregulated ESR1.

Conclusion: This study revealed that YJP Reducing tubal inflammation and promoting tissue repair may be associated with inhibition of the EGFR/MEK/ERK signaling pathway.

« Previous Next »
Graphical Abstract

[1]
Liu, C.; Qiu, H.; Huang, R.; Chai, H.; Yuan, G.; Shan, S. Therapeutic mechanism and clinical observation of traditional chinese medicine combined with interventional recanalization for tubal infertility. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med., 2021, 2021, 1-10.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/2842250] [PMID: 34754312]
[2]
Gica, N.; Panaitescu, A.M.; Iancu, G.; Botezatu, R.; Peltecu, G.; Gica, C. The role of biological markers in predicting infertility associated with non-obstructive endometriosis. Ginekol. Pol., 2020, 91(4), 189-192.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5603/GP.2020.0039] [PMID: 32374018]
[3]
Adedigba, J.; Idowu, B.; Hermans, S.; Ibitoye, B.; Fawole, O. The relationship between hysterosalpingography findings and female infertility in a Nigerian population. Pol. J. Radiol., 2020, 85(1), 188-195.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.5114/pjr.2020.94488] [PMID: 32419884]
[4]
Lai, Z.Z.; Yang, H.L.; Shi, J.W.; Shen, H.H.; Wang, Y.; Chang, K.K.; Zhang, T.; Ye, J.F.; Sun, J.S.; Qiu, X.M.; Li, M.Q. Protopanaxadiol improves endometriosis associated infertility and miscarriage in sex hormones receptors-dependent and independent manners. Int. J. Biol. Sci., 2021, 17(8), 1878-1894.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7150/ijbs.58657] [PMID: 34131393]
[5]
Liu, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Yang, D.; Xu, C.; Huang, Y.; Qing, Q.; Li, D.; Liao, J.; Ding, Y.; Zhou, J.; Zhang, J.; Sun, C.; Zhou, H. Chlamydia trachomatis and mycoplasma infections in tubal pregnancy. Sci. Rep., 2019, 9(1), 15979.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-52193-7] [PMID: 31685849]
[6]
Hou, S.; Dong, X.; Yang, Z.; Li, Z.; Liu, Q.; Zhong, G. Chlamydial plasmid-encoded virulence factor Pgp3 neutralizes the antichlamydial activity of human cathelicidin LL-37. Infect. Immun., 2015, 83(12), 4701-4709.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.00746-15] [PMID: 26416907]
[7]
Dixon, R.E.; Hwang, S.J.; Hennig, G.W.; Ramsey, K.H.; Schripsema, J.H.; Sanders, K.M.; Ward, S.M. Chlamydia infection causes loss of pacemaker cells and inhibits oocyte transport in the mouse oviduct. Biol. Reprod., 2009, 80(4), 665-673.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1095/biolreprod.108.073833] [PMID: 19109220]
[8]
Guo, L.; Xu, R.; Zhao, Y.; Liu, D.; Liu, Z.; Wang, X.; Chen, H.; Kong, M.G. Gas plasma pre-treatment increases antibiotic sensitivity and persister eradication in methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus. Front. Microbiol., 2018, 9, 537.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2018.00537] [PMID: 29628915]
[9]
Park, C.W.; Bhandari, G.S.; Won, H.; Park, J.H.; Park, D.S. Polyploidy and introgression in invasive giant knotweed (Fallopia sachalinensis) during the colonization of remote volcanic islands. Sci. Rep., 2018, 8(1), 16021.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-34025-2] [PMID: 30375410]
[10]
Liu, H.L.; Weng, S.Y.; Zhang, Y.; Wang, C.X.; Xia, M. Chung Kuo Chung Hsi I Chieh Ho Tsa Chih, 2016, 36(9), 1034-1037. [Efficacy of chinese herbs in multiple paths for tubal factor infertility patients and their effects on serum inflammatory factors]
[PMID: 30645837]
[11]
Rödel, J.; Große, C.; Yu, H.; Wolf, K.; Otto, G.P.; Liebler-Tenorio, E.; Forsbach-Birk, V.; Straube, E. Persistent Chlamydia trachomatis infection of HeLa cells mediates apoptosis resistance through a Chlamydia protease-like activity factor-independent mechanism and induces high mobility group box 1 release. Infect. Immun., 2012, 80(1), 195-205.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1128/IAI.05619-11] [PMID: 22025513]
[12]
Sun, N.; Wei, L.; Chen, D.; Gao, W.; Niu, H.; He, C. Clinical observation of fallopian tube obstruction recanalization by ozone. Pak. J. Med. Sci., 2017, 33(2), 290-294.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.12669/pjms.332.11961] [PMID: 28523024]
[13]
Jin, X.; Shi, Y.I. Isobavachalcone induces the apoptosis of gastric cancer cells via inhibition of the Akt and Erk pathways. Exp. Ther. Med., 2016, 11(2), 403-408.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/etm.2015.2904] [PMID: 26893622]
[14]
Jin, C.; Wu, Z.; Wang, L.; Kanai, Y.; He, X. CYP450s-Activity relations of celastrol to interact with triptolide reveal the reasons of hepatotoxicity of tripterygium wilfordii. Molecules, 2019, 24(11), 2162.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules24112162] [PMID: 31181731]
[15]
Xie, G.; Peng, W.; Li, P.; Xia, Z.; Zhong, Y.; He, F.; Tulake, Y.; Feng, D.; Wang, Y.; Xing, Z. A network pharmacology analysis to explore the effect of astragali radix-radix angelica sinensis on traumatic brain injury. BioMed Res. Int., 2018, 2018, 1-13.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2018/3951783] [PMID: 30596090]
[16]
Hu, M.; Zhang, H.; Feng, B.; Liu, K.; Guo, S. Extraction of polysaccharides from Fomes officinalis Ames and their antitumor activity. Exp. Ther. Med., 2013, 6(2), 451-454.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3892/etm.2013.1163] [PMID: 24137206]
[17]
Wei, Y.; Li, P.; Fan, H.; Sun, E.; Wang, C.; Shu, L.; Liu, W.; Xue, X.; Qian, Q.; Jia, X. Metabolite profiling of four major flavonoids of Herba Epimedii in zebrafish. Molecules, 2012, 17(1), 420-432.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules17010420] [PMID: 22217555]
[18]
Tang, Y.; Zhang, Y.; Li, L.; Xie, Z.; Wen, C.; Huang, L. Kunxian capsule for rheumatoid arthritis: Inhibition of inflammatory network and reducing adverse reactions through drug matching. Front. Pharmacol., 2020, 11, 485.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.00485] [PMID: 32362827]
[19]
Pan, B.; Wang, Y.; Wu, C.; Jia, J.; Huang, C.; Fang, S.; Liu, L. A mechanism of action study on danggui sini decoction to discover its therapeutic effect on gastric cancer. Front. Pharmacol., 2021, 11592903
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2020.592903] [PMID: 33505310]
[20]
Xu, J.; Liu, X.; Luo, L.; Tang, L.; Guo, N.; Liu, M.; Li, H.; Zhang, F.; Zhang, Y.; Li, D.; Zhao, Y.; Wu, H.; Yang, H. A metabonomics investigation into the therapeutic effects of buchang naoxintong capsules on reversing the amino acid-protein interaction network of cerebral ischemia. Oxid. Med. Cell. Longev., 2019, 2019, 1-14.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2019/7258624] [PMID: 31015890]
[21]
Yang, J.; Chi, C.; Liu, Z.; Yang, G.; Shen, Z.J.; Yang, X.J. Ultrastructure damage of oviduct telocytes in rat model of acute salpingitis. J. Cell. Mol. Med., 2015, 19(7), 1720-1728.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.12548] [PMID: 25753567]
[22]
Liang, X.; Luo, C.; Li, Y.; Li, X.; Wang, Q.; Zhang, S.; Sun, Q.; Ma, Y.; Xiong, C.; Zeng, Y. Study on intervention mechanism of yiqi huayu jiedu decoction on ARDS based on network pharmacology. Evid. Based Complement. Alternat. Med., 2020, 2020, 1-16.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/4782470] [PMID: 32849901]
[23]
Xie, D.; Huang, L.; Zhao, G.; Yu, Y.; Gao, J.; Li, H.; Wen, C. Dissecting the underlying pharmaceutical mechanism of chinese traditional medicine yun-pi-yi-shen-tong-du-tang acting on ankylosing spondylitis through systems biology approaches. Sci. Rep., 2017, 7(1), 13436.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13723-3] [PMID: 29044146]
[24]
Zhu, N.; Hou, J. Molecular mechanism of the anti-inflammatory effects of Sophorae Flavescentis Aiton identified by network pharmacology. Sci. Rep., 2021, 11(1), 1005.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-80297-y] [PMID: 33441867]
[25]
Li, X.; Wei, S.; Niu, S.; Ma, X.; Li, H.; Jing, M.; Zhao, Y. Network pharmacology prediction and molecular docking-based strategy to explore the potential mechanism of Huanglian Jiedu Decoction against sepsis. Comput. Biol. Med., 2022, 144105389
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.compbiomed.2022.105389] [PMID: 35303581]
[26]
Killeen, M.J. Linder, M.; Pontoniere, P.; Crea, R. NF-κβ signaling and chronic inflammatory diseases: Exploring the potential of natural products to drive new therapeutic opportunities. Drug Discov. Today, 2014, 19(4), 373-378.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drudis.2013.11.002] [PMID: 24246683]
[27]
Zheng, J.; Fan, R.; Wu, H.; Yao, H.; Yan, Y.; Liu, J.; Ran, L.; Sun, Z.; Yi, L.; Dang, L.; Gan, P.; Zheng, P.; Yang, T.; Zhang, Y.; Tang, T.; Wang, Y. Directed self-assembly of herbal small molecules into sustained release hydrogels for treating neural inflammation. Nat. Commun., 2019, 10(1), 1604.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-09601-3] [PMID: 30962431]
[28]
Theoduloz, C.; Delporte, C.; Valenzuela-Barra, G.; Silva, X.; Cádiz, S.; Bustamante, F.; Pertino, M.; Schmeda-Hirschmann, G. Topical anti-inflammatory activity of new hybrid molecules of terpenes and synthetic drugs. Molecules, 2015, 20(6), 11219-11235.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/molecules200611219] [PMID: 26096431]
[29]
Umberto Meduri, G.; Bell, W.; Sinclair, S.; Annane, D. Pathophysiology of acute respiratory distress syndrome. Glucocorticoid receptor-mediated regulation of inflammation and response to prolonged glucocorticoid treatment. Presse Med., 2011, 40(12), e543-e560.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.lpm.2011.04.023] [PMID: 22088618]
[30]
Chen, W.; Jiao, X.; Zhang, J.; Wang, L.; Yu, X. Vitamin D deficiency and high serum IL-6 concentration as risk factors for tubal factor infertility in Chinese women. Nutrition, 2018, 49, 24-31.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.nut.2017.11.016] [PMID: 29571607]
[31]
Eisermann, J.; Gast, M.J.; Pineda, J.; Odem, R.R.; Collins, J.L. Tumor necrosis factor in peritoneal fluid of women undergoing laparoscopic surgery. Fertil. Steril., 1988, 50(4), 573-579.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0015-0282(16)60185-1] [PMID: 2971579]
[32]
Sikora, J.; Mielczarek-Palacz, A.; Kondera-Anasz, Z. Imbalance in cytokines from interleukin-1 family - role in pathogenesis of endometriosis. Am. J. Reprod. Immunol., 2012, 68(2), 138-145.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0897.2012.01147.x] [PMID: 22537218]
[33]
Du, W.; Erden, O.; Pang, Q. TNF-α signaling in fanconi anemia. Blood Cells Mol. Dis., 2014, 52(1), 2-11.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.bcmd.2013.06.005] [PMID: 23890415]
[34]
Song, J.P.; Chen, X.; Yang, G.; Geng, X.R. Corticotropin releasing hormone activates CD14 + cells to induce endothelial barrier dysfunction. Cell Biol. Int., 2013, 37(10), 1055-1060.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/cbin.10133] [PMID: 23686762]
[35]
Mcgee, Z.A.; Jensen, R.L.; Clemens, C.M.; Taylor-Robinson, D.; Johnson, A.P.; Gregg, C.R. Gonococcal infection of human fallopian tube mucosa in organ culture: relationship of mucosal tissue TNF-alpha concentration to sloughing of ciliated cells. Sex. Transm. Dis., 1999, 26(3), 160-165.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1097/00007435-199903000-00007] [PMID: 10100774]
[36]
Tomas, A.; Futter, C.E.; Eden, E.R. EGF receptor trafficking: Consequences for signaling and cancer. Trends Cell Biol., 2014, 24(1), 26-34.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tcb.2013.11.002] [PMID: 24295852]
[37]
Zhu, M.; Iwano, T.; Takeda, S. Estrogen and EGFR pathways regulate notch signaling in opposing directions for multi-ciliogenesis in the fallopian tube. Cells, 2019, 8(8), 933.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/cells8080933] [PMID: 31430961]
[38]
Ellington, J.E. The bovine oviduct and its role in reproduction: A review of the literature. Cornell Vet., 1991, 81(3), 313-328.
[PMID: 1879144]
[39]
Halbert, S.A.; Tam, P.Y.; Blandau, R.J. Egg transport in the rabbit oviduct: The roles of cilia and muscle. Science, 1976, 191(4231), 1052-1053.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1126/science.1251215] [PMID: 1251215]
[40]
Mulatu, G. Antibacterial activities of calpurnia aurea against selected animal pathogenic bacterial strains. Adv. Pharmacol. Pharm. Sci., 2020, 2020, 1-9.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2020/8840468] [PMID: 33283189]
[41]
Frates, M.C.; Doubilet, P.M.; Durfee, S.M.; Di Salvo, D.N.; Laing, F.C.; Brown, D.L.; Benson, C.B.; Hill, J.A. Sonographic and doppler characteristics of the corpus luteum: Can they predict pregnancy outcome? J. Ultrasound Med., 2001, 20(8), 821-827.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.7863/jum.2001.20.8.821] [PMID: 11503918]
[42]
Guo, F.; Zhang, H.; Jia, Z.; Cui, M.; Tian, J. Chemoresistance and targeting of growth factors/cytokines signalling pathways: towards the development of effective therapeutic strategy for endometrial cancer. Am. J. Cancer Res., 2018, 8(7), 1317-1331.
[PMID: 30094104]
[43]
Bai, X.S.; Zhang, C.; Peng, R.; Jiang, G.Q.; Jin, S.J.; Wang, Q.; Ke, A.W.; Bai, D.S. RNF128 Promotes Malignant Behaviors via EGFR/MEK/ERK Pathway in Hepatocellular Carcinoma. OncoTargets Ther., 2020, 13, 10129-10141.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.2147/OTT.S269606] [PMID: 33116595]
[44]
Wu, W. Gao, H.; Li, X.; Peng, S.; Yu, J.; Liu, N.; Zhan, G.; Zhu, Y.; Wang, K.; Guo, X. β-hCG promotes epithelial ovarian cancer metastasis through ERK/MMP2 signaling pathway. Cell Cycle, 2019, 18(1), 46-59.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/15384101.2018.1558869] [PMID: 30582718]
[45]
Hu, Y.; Yang, L.; Yang, Y.; Han, Y.; Wang, Y.; Liu, W.; Zuo, J. Oncogenic role of mortalin contributes to ovarian tumorigenesis by activating the MAPK – ERK pathway. J. Cell. Mol. Med., 2016, 20(11), 2111-2121.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jcmm.12905] [PMID: 27374312]
[46]
Cerny, K.L.; Ribeiro, R.A.C.; Jeoung, M.; Ko, C.; Bridges, P.J. Estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1)-Dependent regulation of the mouse oviductal transcriptome. PLoS One, 2016, 11(1)e0147685
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147685] [PMID: 26808832]
[47]
Winuthayanon, W.; Lierz, S.L.; Delarosa, K.C.; Sampels, S.R.; Donoghue, L.J.; Hewitt, S.C.; Korach, K.S. Juxtacrine activity of estrogen receptor α in uterine stromal cells is necessary for estrogen-induced epithelial cell proliferation. Sci. Rep., 2017, 7(1), 8377.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-07728-1] [PMID: 28827707]
[48]
Hockenbery, D.M.; Zutter, M.; Hickey, W.; Nahm, M.; Korsmeyer, S.J. BCL2 protein is topographically restricted in tissues characterized by apoptotic cell death. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 1991, 88(16), 6961-6965.
[http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.88.16.6961] [PMID: 1871110]

Rights & Permissions Print Cite
© 2024 Bentham Science Publishers | Privacy Policy