Network pharmacological analysis on the mechanism of Coix seed decoction for osteoarthritis of the knee

Based on network pharmacology methods, we explored the mechanism of the classic Chinese medicine formula Coix seed decoction (CSD) in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA). We searched each single drug in the CSD in the traditional Chinese medicine systematic pharmacology database in turn to obtain information on the active ingredients and target proteins of the CSD, and obtain the name of the genes corresponding to the target proteins through the UniProt database. We collected KOA-related genes from DisGeNET, GeneCards, comparative toxicogenomics database, and MalaCards database. The Venny online tool identified potential therapeutic targets by intersecting CSD and KOA target genes, while gene ontology and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis was performed using the Oebiotech Cloud Platform. A protein-protein interaction network was established using the String database; a “CSD-active ingredient-target gene-KOA” network plot was constructed using Cytoscape 3.9.1 software and screened for key targets and hub targets. Finally, molecular docking was performed for hub genes with high Degree values. A total of 227 effective target genes for CSD and 8816 KOA-related target genes were obtained, as well as 191 cross-target genes for CSD and KOA. We screened 37 key gene targets and identified the top 10 hub target genes in descending order of Degree value using protein-protein interaction and Cytoscape 3.9.1 software (TNF, IL-6, MMP-9, IL-1β, AKT-1, VEGFα, STAT-3, PTGS-2, IL-4, TP53). Gene ontology analysis showed that the biological process of CSD treatment of KOA mainly involves cytokine-mediated signaling pathway, negative regulation of apoptotic process, cellular response to hypoxia, cellular response to cadmium ion, response to estradiol, and extrinsic apoptotic signaling pathway in absence of ligand. Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes analysis revealed major signaling pathways including Cellular senescence, TNF signaling pathway, and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway. The molecular docking results show that the core components bind well to the core targets. In conclusion, CSD may exert therapeutic effects on KOA by inhibiting pathological processes such as inflammatory response, apoptosis, cellular senescence, and oxidative stress.