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The preventive effects of aspirin on preeclampsia based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 36, pages 753–759 (2022)Cite this article

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Abstract

This study aimed to reveal the key targets and molecular mechanisms of aspirin in preventing preeclampsia. We used bioinformatics databases to collect the candidate targets for aspirin and preeclampsia. The biological functions and signaling pathways of the intersecting targets were analyzed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG). Then, the hub targets were identified by cytoscape plugin cytoHubba from the protein–protein interaction network. We collected 90 targets for aspirin in preventing preeclampsia. The biological processes of the intersecting targets are mainly involved in xenobiotic metabolic process, inflammatory response, negative regulation of apoptotic process, and protein phosphorylation. The highly enriched pathways were FoxO signaling pathway, circadian rhythm, insulin resistance, arachidonic acid metabolism, and drug metabolism-cytochrome P450. The hub targets for aspirin in preventing preeclampsia were tumor protein p53 (TP53), C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8), mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAPK3), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), mitogen-activated protein kinase 14 (MAPK14), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), estrogen receptor (ESR1), and prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2). Molecular docking results showed good bindings between the proteins and aspirin. In conclusion, these findings highlight the key targets and molecular mechanisms of aspirin in preventing preeclampsia.

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Fig. 1: Venn diagram of preeclampsia and aspirin targets.
Fig. 2: Top 20 biological processes and KEGG signaling pathways of the intersecting targets.
Fig. 3: Protein–protein interaction network and hub targets.
Fig. 4: Molecular docking of aspirin and proteins.

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Funding

This work was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81903696 to Jiejie Zhang; No. 81974236 to Weishe Zhang) and Postdoctoral Foundation of Xiangya Hospital Central South University (No. 2209090555067 to Jiejie Zhang).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Obstetrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China

    Jiejie Zhang, Jingrui Huang, Yanhua Zhao & Weishe Zhang

  2. Hunan Engineering Research Center of Early Life Development and Disease Prevention, Changsha, China

    Jiejie Zhang & Weishe Zhang

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  1. Jiejie Zhang
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  2. Jingrui Huang
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Contributions

Jiejie Zhang and Jingrui Huang analyzed the data. Jiejie Zhang drafted the paper. Yanhua Zhao and Weishe Zhang were responsible for design and co-ordination of the project and preparation of the manuscript. All authors reviewed and approved submission of the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Weishe Zhang.

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Zhang, J., Huang, J., Zhao, Y. et al. The preventive effects of aspirin on preeclampsia based on network pharmacology and bioinformatics. J Hum Hypertens 36, 753–759 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-021-00568-7

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