Abstract

Shenqi compound formula has been widely utilized to improve aging-related diabetic nephropathy. Nevertheless, the underlying active ingredients and their molecular mechanisms of action remain doubtful. Thus, we aimed to identify the Shenqi compound formula mechanism involved in diabetic nephropathy treatment using system pharmacology. Candidate constituents and targets of Shenqi compound formula were obtained from traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database. DisGeNET and GeneCards were utilized to build a diabetic nephropathy target database. A interactive network diagram of “drug-active ingredient-target” was fabricated employing Cytoscape. Employing Search Tool for Retrieval of Interacting Genes database, a protein-protein interaction network was established, protein-protein interaction relationships were analyzed, and visual analysis was implemented. Afterwards, gene ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway enrichment analysis were implemented to identify the common targets. Finally, AutoDock Vina and PyMoL were utilized to confirm the molecular docking of key targets. Using electron microscopy, the morphological structure of MPC5 cells was observed. Western blotting was implemented to confirm the protein level in MPC5 cells. A total of 165 bioactive Shenqi formula compounds and 566 related target genes were obtained from traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database. Furthermore, 521 diabetic nephropathy-related target genes were obtained from GeneCard and DisGeNet databases. We observed that Shenqi compound formula and diabetic nephropathy share 130 common target genes, providing a molecular basis to treat diabetic nephropathy with Shenqi compound formula. Protein-protein interaction visualization analysis showed that protein kinase 1, albumin, and insulin were key target genes. The key components apigenin, glycine, and quercetin were obtained using degree values. Enrichment analysis showed that Shenqi compound formula interfered with diabetic nephropathy related signaling. Nephrotic syndrome type 2 and synaptopodin levels were markedly inferior to normal in the high glucose state, but increased after Shenqi compound formula treatment, as determined by Western blotting. Shenqi compound formula treats diabetic nephropathy using multi-component, multi-target, and multi-channel mechanisms. It was demonstrated that Shenqi compound formula has a beneficial effect on diabetes.