Research Articles

Efficacy of glucocorticoids, chloroquine and vitamin A on cytokine release syndrome: a network pharmacology study

  • Jing ZHANG ,
  • Jingjing ZHU ,
  • Siqi HE ,
  • Jianxun WANG
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  • School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China.
Prof. WANG Jianxun, School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing, China. Jianxun.Wang@bucm.edu.cn

Received date: 2021-03-03

  Accepted date: 2021-06-12

  Online published: 2022-01-25

Supported by

“Double-First Class” project of Beijing(1000041510155)

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To verify the efficacy of glucocorticoids, chloroquine and vitamin A in the treatment of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and to investigate the underlying mechanisms, based on network pharmacology.

METHODS: We used network pharmacology analysis and found 20 co-targeted genes of glucocorticoids, chloroquine, vitamin A and CRS. The pharmacological functions and therapeutic pathways of the genes were analyzed by gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment. The candidate naturally bioactive compounds against the key genes were predicted by Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform. The anti-inflammatory activity of luteolin was assessed by real-time polymerase chain reaction.

RESULTS: Among the 20 co-targeted genes of glucocorticoids, chloroquine and vitamin A, interleukin 10 (IL-10), interleukin 2 (IL-2), interleukin 4 (IL-4) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were the key cytokines against CRS. The key pathway involved in the pharmacological mechanism could be cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction pathway, T cell receptor signaling pathway, Janus Kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription signaling pathway and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-protein kinase B signaling pathway. Luteolin targeted by IL-10, IL-4, IL-2 and TNF-α could be one candidate drug for the treatment of CRS.

CONCLUSION: This study comprehensively elucidates the pharmacological mechanism for the treatment of CRS and provides a new method for the discovery of drugs for this disease.

Cite this article

Jing ZHANG , Jingjing ZHU , Siqi HE , Jianxun WANG . Efficacy of glucocorticoids, chloroquine and vitamin A on cytokine release syndrome: a network pharmacology study[J]. Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2022 , 42(1) : 116 -121 . DOI: 10.19852/j.cnki.jtcm.2022.01.008

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