Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity
IntroductionEvidence of the benefits of cordycepin (Cpn) for treating obesity is accumulating, but detailed knowledge of its therapeutic targets and mechanisms remains limited. This study aimed to systematically identify Cpn’s therapeutic targets and pathways in Western diet (WD)-induced obesity usi...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1571480/full |
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| author | Yu Liao Mingchao Wang Fuli Qin Taotao Liu Jiemei Chen |
| author_facet | Yu Liao Mingchao Wang Fuli Qin Taotao Liu Jiemei Chen |
| author_sort | Yu Liao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | IntroductionEvidence of the benefits of cordycepin (Cpn) for treating obesity is accumulating, but detailed knowledge of its therapeutic targets and mechanisms remains limited. This study aimed to systematically identify Cpn’s therapeutic targets and pathways in Western diet (WD)-induced obesity using integrated network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and experimental validation.MethodsA Western diet (WD)-induced mice model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of Cpn in ameliorating obesity. A network pharmacology analysis was then employed to identify the potential anti-obesity targets of Cpn. GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed to elucidate the potential functions of the identified targets, followed by constructing a protein-protein interaction network to screen the core targets. Meanwhile, quantitative transcriptomics was conducted to validate and broaden the network pharmacology findings. Finally, molecular docking and quantitative real-time PCR assay were used for the core target validation.ResultsCpn treatment effectively alleviated obesity-related symptoms in WD-induced mice. The metabolic pathway, insulin signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, and core targets including CPS1, HRAS, MAPK14, PAH, ALDOB, AKT1, GSK3B, HSP90AA1, BHMT2, EGFR, CASP3, MAT1A, APOM, APOA2, APOC3, and APOA1 are involved in regulating the therapeutic effect of Cpn.ConclusionThis study comprehensively uncovers the potential mechanism of Cpn against obesity based on network pharmacology and quantitative transcriptomics, which provides evidence for revealing the pathogenesis of obesity, suggesting that Cpn is a possible lead compound for anti-obesity treatment. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-013b3666aabd4154b75bb221046d541e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
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| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj-art-013b3666aabd4154b75bb221046d541e2025-08-20T03:49:33ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-05-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15714801571480Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesityYu Liao0Mingchao Wang1Fuli Qin2Taotao Liu3Jiemei Chen4Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaInstitute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, ChinaIntroductionEvidence of the benefits of cordycepin (Cpn) for treating obesity is accumulating, but detailed knowledge of its therapeutic targets and mechanisms remains limited. This study aimed to systematically identify Cpn’s therapeutic targets and pathways in Western diet (WD)-induced obesity using integrated network pharmacology, transcriptomics, and experimental validation.MethodsA Western diet (WD)-induced mice model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of Cpn in ameliorating obesity. A network pharmacology analysis was then employed to identify the potential anti-obesity targets of Cpn. GO functional enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis were performed to elucidate the potential functions of the identified targets, followed by constructing a protein-protein interaction network to screen the core targets. Meanwhile, quantitative transcriptomics was conducted to validate and broaden the network pharmacology findings. Finally, molecular docking and quantitative real-time PCR assay were used for the core target validation.ResultsCpn treatment effectively alleviated obesity-related symptoms in WD-induced mice. The metabolic pathway, insulin signaling pathway, HIF-1 signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, and core targets including CPS1, HRAS, MAPK14, PAH, ALDOB, AKT1, GSK3B, HSP90AA1, BHMT2, EGFR, CASP3, MAT1A, APOM, APOA2, APOC3, and APOA1 are involved in regulating the therapeutic effect of Cpn.ConclusionThis study comprehensively uncovers the potential mechanism of Cpn against obesity based on network pharmacology and quantitative transcriptomics, which provides evidence for revealing the pathogenesis of obesity, suggesting that Cpn is a possible lead compound for anti-obesity treatment.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1571480/fullcordycepinobesitynetwork pharmacologyquantitative transcriptomicsmolecular dockingexperimental validation |
| spellingShingle | Yu Liao Mingchao Wang Fuli Qin Taotao Liu Jiemei Chen Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity Frontiers in Pharmacology cordycepin obesity network pharmacology quantitative transcriptomics molecular docking experimental validation |
| title | Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| title_full | Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| title_fullStr | Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| title_full_unstemmed | Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| title_short | Integrating network pharmacology, quantitative transcriptomic analysis, and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| title_sort | integrating network pharmacology quantitative transcriptomic analysis and experimental validation revealed the mechanism of cordycepin in the treatment of obesity |
| topic | cordycepin obesity network pharmacology quantitative transcriptomics molecular docking experimental validation |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1571480/full |
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