Network pharmacology combined with experimental analysis to explore the mechanism of the XinShuaiNing formula on heart failure.

Abstract

This study was conducted to elucidate the mechanism of action of the Traditional Chinese Medicine XinShuaiNing (XSN) formula in CHF based on network pharmacology. A total of 489 compounds in the XSN formula were screened. These compounds predicted 778 targets. A search of CHF yielded 789 corresponding targets, and 151 intersections between the potential targets of the XSN formula and CHF, involving AKT1, AGT, eNOS, and VEGF. Abdominal aortic coarctation (AAC) was used to establish a CHF rat model, and isoproterenol-induced H9c2 cells to establish a myocardial injury cell model. The results showed that the XSN formula downregulated ET-1, BNP, and Hcy and upregulated the ALB levels and also relieved cardiac histopathological damage. The XSN formula reduced the content of pro-inflammatory factors and inhibited the apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. In addition, the expression of fibronectin, α-SMA, collagen 1, and collagen 3 was downregulated by XSN formula treatment, and the fibrotic areas of myocardial tissue were reduced. The XSN formula promoted phosphorylation of AKT1-induced VEGF and eNOS signaling and inhibited AGT signaling. Besides, the XSN formula can affect the apoptosis of H9c2 cells by affecting AKT1, AGT, eNOS, and VEGF. The XSN formula regulates inflammatory factors by inducing phosphorylation of AKT1, upregulating eNOS and VEGF, and downregulating AGT to protect cardiomyocytes from apoptosis and myocardial fibrosis to alleviate CHF. In conclusion, this study identified the target of XSN prescription through network pharmacology screening and experimental validation and confirmed its anti-inflammatory, antiapoptotic, and antifibrotic effects.