Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine
BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition with limited effective treatments, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Bioinformatics offers a promising approach to identify new targets by analyzing gene expression and drug interactions.ObjectiveThis study aims t...
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioinformatics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2025.1613985/full |
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| author | Jingmin Zhang Tianwei Meng Weiqi Gao Xinghua Li Juan Xu |
| author_facet | Jingmin Zhang Tianwei Meng Weiqi Gao Xinghua Li Juan Xu |
| author_sort | Jingmin Zhang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | BackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition with limited effective treatments, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Bioinformatics offers a promising approach to identify new targets by analyzing gene expression and drug interactions.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for NAFLD through bioinformatics, focusing on drug repositioning and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) components.MethodsThree NAFLD-related gene expression datasets (GSE260666, GSE126848, GSE135251) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using STRING and visualized with Cytoscape. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed, and drug-gene interactions were explored using the DGIdb database. TCM components were screened via the HERB database, with molecular docking conducted to assess binding affinities.ResultsKey hub genes (CXCL2, CDKN1A, TNFRSF12A, HGFAC) were identified, with significant enrichment in cell proliferation and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Cyclosporine emerged as a potential repurposed drug, while TCM components (curcumin, resveratrol, berberine) showed strong binding affinities to NAFLD targets.ConclusionCyclosporine and TCM compounds are promising candidates for NAFLD treatment, warranting further experimental validation to confirm their therapeutic potential. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0cd05a9b21cf4be4835fc881f6f90c72 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2673-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioinformatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-0cd05a9b21cf4be4835fc881f6f90c722025-08-26T08:53:44ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioinformatics2673-76472025-08-01510.3389/fbinf.2025.16139851613985Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicineJingmin Zhang0Tianwei Meng1Weiqi Gao2Xinghua Li3Juan Xu4Shanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, ChinaHeilongjiang University of Chinese Medicine, Harbin, Heilongjiang, ChinaShanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Pharmacy, Changzhi People’s Hospital, Changzhi, ChinaShanxi Bethune Hospital, Shanxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Third Hospital of Shanxi Medical University, Tongji Shanxi Hospital, Taiyuan, ChinaBackgroundNon-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a prevalent condition with limited effective treatments, necessitating novel therapeutic strategies. Bioinformatics offers a promising approach to identify new targets by analyzing gene expression and drug interactions.ObjectiveThis study aims to identify novel therapeutic targets for NAFLD through bioinformatics, focusing on drug repositioning and traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) components.MethodsThree NAFLD-related gene expression datasets (GSE260666, GSE126848, GSE135251) were analyzed to identify differentially expressed genes. Protein-protein interaction networks were constructed using STRING and visualized with Cytoscape. Pathway enrichment analysis was performed, and drug-gene interactions were explored using the DGIdb database. TCM components were screened via the HERB database, with molecular docking conducted to assess binding affinities.ResultsKey hub genes (CXCL2, CDKN1A, TNFRSF12A, HGFAC) were identified, with significant enrichment in cell proliferation and PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. Cyclosporine emerged as a potential repurposed drug, while TCM components (curcumin, resveratrol, berberine) showed strong binding affinities to NAFLD targets.ConclusionCyclosporine and TCM compounds are promising candidates for NAFLD treatment, warranting further experimental validation to confirm their therapeutic potential.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2025.1613985/fullnon-alcoholic fatty liver diseasebioinformaticsdrug repositioningtraditional Chinese medicinecyclosporine |
| spellingShingle | Jingmin Zhang Tianwei Meng Weiqi Gao Xinghua Li Juan Xu Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine Frontiers in Bioinformatics non-alcoholic fatty liver disease bioinformatics drug repositioning traditional Chinese medicine cyclosporine |
| title | Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine |
| title_full | Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine |
| title_fullStr | Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine |
| title_full_unstemmed | Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine |
| title_short | Identifying novel therapeutic targets for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches: from drug repositioning to traditional Chinese medicine |
| title_sort | identifying novel therapeutic targets for non alcoholic fatty liver disease using bioinformatics approaches from drug repositioning to traditional chinese medicine |
| topic | non-alcoholic fatty liver disease bioinformatics drug repositioning traditional Chinese medicine cyclosporine |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbinf.2025.1613985/full |
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