Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer

Abstract Background Nomilin is a limonoid compound known for its multiple biological activities, but its role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear. This study aims to uncover the potential therapeutic effect of nomilin on TNBC and elucidate the specific mechanism of its action. Me...

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Main Authors: Zhixuan Wu, Haoyi Xiang, Xiaowu Wang, Rongrong Zhang, Yangyang Guo, Liangchen Qu, Jingyao Zhou, Yanyi Xiao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-09-01
Series:Molecular Medicine
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00928-2
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author Zhixuan Wu
Haoyi Xiang
Xiaowu Wang
Rongrong Zhang
Yangyang Guo
Liangchen Qu
Jingyao Zhou
Yanyi Xiao
author_facet Zhixuan Wu
Haoyi Xiang
Xiaowu Wang
Rongrong Zhang
Yangyang Guo
Liangchen Qu
Jingyao Zhou
Yanyi Xiao
author_sort Zhixuan Wu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Nomilin is a limonoid compound known for its multiple biological activities, but its role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear. This study aims to uncover the potential therapeutic effect of nomilin on TNBC and elucidate the specific mechanism of its action. Methods We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), differential expression analysis, and the GeneCards database to identify potential targets for TNBC. Simultaneously, we utilized the Swiss Target Prediction, ChEMBL, and STITCH databases to identify potential targets of nomilin. The core targets and mechanisms of nomilin against TNBC were predicted through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, molecular docking, and enrichment analysis. The results of the network pharmacology were corroborated by conducting experiments. Results A total of 17,204 TNBC targets were screened, and 301 potential targets of nomilin were identified. Through the PPI network, eight core targets of nomilin against TNBC were pinpointed, namely BCL2, Caspase3, CyclinD1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, KRAS, PARP1, and TNF. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and proteome microarray revealed that nomilin exhibits strong binding activity to these core proteins. Enrichment analysis results indicated that the anti-TNBC effect of nomilin is associated with PI3K/Akt pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that nomilin inhibits TNBC cell proliferation and migration while promoting cell apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conclusion For the first time, the research effectively discovered the objectives and mechanisms of nomilin in combating TNBC using network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, proteome microarray and experimental confirmation, presenting a hopeful approach for treating TNBC. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-b75a4f49b79a46d5a836e307fb36b6222025-08-20T02:17:50ZengBMCMolecular Medicine1528-36582024-09-0130112110.1186/s10020-024-00928-2Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancerZhixuan Wu0Haoyi Xiang1Xiaowu Wang2Rongrong Zhang3Yangyang Guo4Liangchen Qu5Jingyao Zhou6Yanyi Xiao7Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical UniversityZhejiang University School of MedicineDepartment of Burns and Skin Repair Surgery, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical UniversityZhejiang Key Laboratory of Intelligent Cancer Biomarker Discovery and Translation, First Affiliated Hospital, Wenzhou Medical UniversityEmergency Department, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical UniversityPharmacy Department, Taizhou Central HospitalThe Dingli Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical UniversityAbstract Background Nomilin is a limonoid compound known for its multiple biological activities, but its role in triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) remains unclear. This study aims to uncover the potential therapeutic effect of nomilin on TNBC and elucidate the specific mechanism of its action. Methods We employed weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA), differential expression analysis, and the GeneCards database to identify potential targets for TNBC. Simultaneously, we utilized the Swiss Target Prediction, ChEMBL, and STITCH databases to identify potential targets of nomilin. The core targets and mechanisms of nomilin against TNBC were predicted through protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analysis, molecular docking, and enrichment analysis. The results of the network pharmacology were corroborated by conducting experiments. Results A total of 17,204 TNBC targets were screened, and 301 potential targets of nomilin were identified. Through the PPI network, eight core targets of nomilin against TNBC were pinpointed, namely BCL2, Caspase3, CyclinD1, EGFR, HSP90AA1, KRAS, PARP1, and TNF. Molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation and proteome microarray revealed that nomilin exhibits strong binding activity to these core proteins. Enrichment analysis results indicated that the anti-TNBC effect of nomilin is associated with PI3K/Akt pathway. In vitro and in vivo experiments have demonstrated that nomilin inhibits TNBC cell proliferation and migration while promoting cell apoptosis through the PI3K/Akt pathway. Conclusion For the first time, the research effectively discovered the objectives and mechanisms of nomilin in combating TNBC using network pharmacology, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, proteome microarray and experimental confirmation, presenting a hopeful approach for treating TNBC. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00928-2Network pharmacologyMolecular dockingNomilinTriple negative breast cancerPI3K/Akt pathway
spellingShingle Zhixuan Wu
Haoyi Xiang
Xiaowu Wang
Rongrong Zhang
Yangyang Guo
Liangchen Qu
Jingyao Zhou
Yanyi Xiao
Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
Molecular Medicine
Network pharmacology
Molecular docking
Nomilin
Triple negative breast cancer
PI3K/Akt pathway
title Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
title_full Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
title_fullStr Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
title_short Integrating network pharmacology, molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple-negative breast cancer
title_sort integrating network pharmacology molecular docking and experimental verification to explore the therapeutic effect and potential mechanism of nomilin against triple negative breast cancer
topic Network pharmacology
Molecular docking
Nomilin
Triple negative breast cancer
PI3K/Akt pathway
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s10020-024-00928-2
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