{"title":"Clinical study, network pharmacology, and molecular docking of Kunxian capsule in treating idiopathic membranous nephropathy.","authors":"Jia Lv, Xinyu Gao, Lihua Liu, Libing He, Geng Tian, Xuehong Lu","doi":"10.3389/fmed.2025.1506972","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Objective: </strong>A new <i>Tripterygium wilfordii</i> preparation called Kunxian capsule (KX) has been approved in China. However, it is still unknown whether KX is safe and effective for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and its therapeutic mechanism of action is unclear.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>We conducted a retrospective study of 39 patients with IMN who received KX to investigate its efficacy and side effects of KX in treating IMN. We also used network pharmacology and molecular docking methods to explore the potential mechanism of action of KX in IMN.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In patients with IMN receiving KX treatment, 24 h urine protein was markedly decreased, whereas serum albumin levels increased. The overall clinical response rate was 79.49% after 6 months of treatment, and there were no significant adverse events. Quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were the main bioactive ingredients of KX in treating IMN. AKT1, IL6, and TNF were core targets. The main potential mechanism of KX in treating IMN were pathways involved in cancer, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, lipid and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking results showed that the binding force between the active ingredient and core target was relatively stable.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>KX is a safe and effective treatment option for IMN and can effectively improve serum albumin and 24 h urine protein levels in patients with IMN. This study preliminarily reveals the possible mechanism of KX in the treatment of IMN and provides a theoretical basis for future clinical research.</p>","PeriodicalId":12488,"journal":{"name":"Frontiers in Medicine","volume":"12 ","pages":"1506972"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11839627/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Frontiers in Medicine","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.3389/fmed.2025.1506972","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/1/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective: A new Tripterygium wilfordii preparation called Kunxian capsule (KX) has been approved in China. However, it is still unknown whether KX is safe and effective for idiopathic membranous nephropathy (IMN) and its therapeutic mechanism of action is unclear.
Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of 39 patients with IMN who received KX to investigate its efficacy and side effects of KX in treating IMN. We also used network pharmacology and molecular docking methods to explore the potential mechanism of action of KX in IMN.
Results: In patients with IMN receiving KX treatment, 24 h urine protein was markedly decreased, whereas serum albumin levels increased. The overall clinical response rate was 79.49% after 6 months of treatment, and there were no significant adverse events. Quercetin, luteolin and kaempferol were the main bioactive ingredients of KX in treating IMN. AKT1, IL6, and TNF were core targets. The main potential mechanism of KX in treating IMN were pathways involved in cancer, the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications, lipid and atherosclerosis. Molecular docking results showed that the binding force between the active ingredient and core target was relatively stable.
Conclusion: KX is a safe and effective treatment option for IMN and can effectively improve serum albumin and 24 h urine protein levels in patients with IMN. This study preliminarily reveals the possible mechanism of KX in the treatment of IMN and provides a theoretical basis for future clinical research.
期刊介绍：
Frontiers in Medicine publishes rigorously peer-reviewed research linking basic research to clinical practice and patient care, as well as translating scientific advances into new therapies and diagnostic tools. Led by an outstanding Editorial Board of international experts, this multidisciplinary open-access journal is at the forefront of disseminating and communicating scientific knowledge and impactful discoveries to researchers, academics, clinicians and the public worldwide.
In addition to papers that provide a link between basic research and clinical practice, a particular emphasis is given to studies that are directly relevant to patient care. In this spirit, the journal publishes the latest research results and medical knowledge that facilitate the translation of scientific advances into new therapies or diagnostic tools. The full listing of the Specialty Sections represented by Frontiers in Medicine is as listed below. As well as the established medical disciplines, Frontiers in Medicine is launching new sections that together will facilitate
- the use of patient-reported outcomes under real world conditions
- the exploitation of big data and the use of novel information and communication tools in the assessment of new medicines
- the scientific bases for guidelines and decisions from regulatory authorities
- access to medicinal products and medical devices worldwide
- addressing the grand health challenges around the world
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