Systems pharmacology approach reveals the antiinflammatory effects of Ampelopsis grossedentata on dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis

Figure 1 Ampelopsis grossedentata improved dextran sulfate sodium-induced inflammatory response in acute colitis mice. A: Body weight was measured every day; B: Disease activity index under DSS stimulation in mice; C: Length of colons and statistical graph; D: HE staining of colons. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^eP < 0.001. 5-ASA: 5-aminosalicylic acid; AMP: Ampelopsis grossedentata; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium.

Figure 2 Candidate compound screening and putative target prediction for ampelopsis grossedentata. A: Chemical structures of active compounds for AMP; B: Compound-target network for AMP. AMP: Ampelopsis grossedentata.

Figure 3 Protein-protein interaction network constitution and identification of candidate targets for ampelopsis grossedentata against ulcerative colitis. A: PPI network was constructed for the putative targets of AMP; B: PPI network was constructed for the known UC-related targets; C: Intersection networks for AMP against UC; D: Enrichment analysis of biological processes for AMP against UC; E: Enrichment analysis of signaling pathways for AMP against UC. AMP: Ampelopsis grossedentata; PPI: Protein-protein interaction; UC: Ulcerative colitis.

Figure 4 Ampelopsis grossedentata could suppress the inflammation-related signaling pathways in dextran sulfate sodium-induced colitis. A: Representative western blot analyses of inflammation-related proteins in colon tissues; B: Statistical graph of western blot analyses, relative protein levels of IRAK1, TRAF2, TRAF6 and NF-κB were determined by normalization to actin, and relative p-IκB level was determined by normalization to IκB; C: mRNA expression of inflammation-related genes in colon tissues, relative mRNA expression levels of IRAK1, TRAF2, TRAF6, IκB and NF-κB were determined by normalization to actin; D: Representative images of anti-NF-κB immunohistochemistry. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^eP < 0.001. AMP: Ampelopsis grossedentata; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium.

Figure 5 Ampelopsis grossedentata has protective effects on ulcerative colitis by inhibiting inflammation. A: mRNA expression of inflammation-related cytokines in colon tissues, with actin used as loading control; B: Relative expression levels of inflammation-related cytokines in serum examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; C: Representative images of anti-TNF-α immunohistochemistry; D: Representative images of anti-IL-1β immunohistochemistry. Data are presented as mean ± SD. ^aP < 0.05, ^bP < 0.01, ^eP < 0.001. AMP: Ampelopsis grossedentata; DSS: Dextran sulfate sodium; UC: Ulcerative colitis.

Figure 6 Schematic diagram of the research methodology and the proposed model of ampelopsis grossedentata acting on ulcerative colitis.