Danggui Niantong granules in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis - a mechanistic approach using ceRNA networks
Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Context: Danggui Niantong granules (DGNTG), a traditional Chinese medicine, serve as an effective therapeutic agent for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, the comprehensive molecular mechanisms of DGNTG in RA remain unclear. Increasing evidence highlights the significant role of competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) in diagnosing and treating various diseases. Objective: The study aims to explore the molecular mechanism of DGNTG in the treatment of RA through the ceRNA network. Materials and methods: The MH7A cells were divided into control group and DGNTG group (2 and 4 mg/mL).The proliferation, migration and invasion ability of MH7A were accessed using MTT assay, cloning formation, wound-healing assay transwell assay and Western blotting. Subsequently, ceRNA microarray analyses were performed and a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA ternary transcription network was established. The data were validated through qPCR. Results: ). Bioinformatics analyses indicated that DGNTG may exert therapeutic effects through multiple pathways. Furthermore, we constructed a circRNA-miRNA-mRNA network and conducted additional bioinformatics analysis on this network. In addition, we developed a representative ceRNA network and analyzed the correlations among its components. Discussion and conclusions: This study presents evidence that DGNTG exerts anti-RA effects through the inhibition of synoviocyte proliferation, migration and invasion. Additionally, It provided a valuable resource for elucidating the mechanism of action of DGNTG by constructing a competing endogenous RNA network based on transcriptomic data obtained from DGNTG-treated MH7A cells.
Source: Frontiers in Pharmacology
Authors: Yisi Cai, Yanyan Song, Xiaoling Zeng, Gang Liu, Lixia Yuan
Institutions: Southern Medical University, Nanfang Hospital
Language: English
Subfield: Complementary and alternative medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,801
OpenAlex ID: W7128039200