Network pharmacology-oriented identification of key proteins and signaling pathways targeted by Xihuang pill in the treatment of breast cancer

Abstract

Purpose: The compound traditional Chinese medicine Xihuang pill (XHP) has been adopted to treat breast cancer (BC) for centuries, but its specific mechanism of action is unclear. Materials and Methods: The active ingredients and related targets of XHP were screened using the TCMSP and TCMID databases. GSE139038 was downloaded from the GEO database, and differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were analyzed. The intersection of targets and DEGs were chosen to build an ingredients–target genes network. Protein–protein interaction network construction and functional enrichment analysis of target genes were conducted. Results: A PPI network of 37 targets was constructed, and seven core nodes (FOS, MYC, JUN, PPARG, MMP9, PTGS2, SERPINE1) were identified. Functional enrichment analysis revealed that the aforementioned targets were mainly enriched in the IL-17, toll-like receptor, and tumor necrosis factor signaling pathways, which are deeply involved in the inflammatory microenvironment of tumors. Conclusion: This network pharmacology study indicated that XHP can inhibit the development of BC by targeting a variety of proteins and signaling pathways involved in the inflammatory microenvironment.