Exploring the biomolecular mechanism of resveratrol in the treatment of nephrotic syndrome based on network pharmacology

Abstract

ObjectiveTo investigate the molecular mechanism underlying the therapeutic effect of resveratrol for nephrotic syndrome using various online network pharmacology databases. MethodsGenes related to resveratrol and nephrotic syndrome were downloaded from TCMSP, PubChem, and SwissTargetPrediction databases, and Venny2.1.0 was used to obtain the intersected genes. The protein interaction (PPI) network of the intersected genes was generated using the STRING database. The R package clusterprofiler was used to perform GO and KEGG enrichment analysis of the intersected genes. Cytoscape 3.7.2 software was used to construct compound-target-pathway-disease network models. The effect of resveratrol on HIF-1α protein expression in hypoxic 24 h mpc5 cells was detected by Western blot. ResultsThe intersection of resveratrol and nephrotic syndrome-related genes yielded Seventeen genes. The PPI network indicated that the intersected genes were correlated. Functional enrichment analysis yielded 371 biological processes, 69 molecular functions, 9 cellular components, and 112 related pathways, among which the HIF-1 pathway was the most significantly enriched. Western blot showed that resveratrol significantly reduced HIF-1α protein expression in mpc5 cells after 24 h of hypoxia. Conclusion Resveratrol may act as a therapeutic agent for nephrotic syndrome via the HIF-1 signaling pathway mediated by targeting HIF-1α.