Proteomics study on the hepatoprotective effects of traditional Chinese medicine formulae Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang by a combination of two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight mass spectrom

Proteomics can bring breakthroughs in the study of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Yin-Chen-Hao-Tang (YCHT), a famous TCM formulae, has been used to alleviate various types of liver injury. However, the underlying mechanisms and drug targets of YCHT associated with the hepatic injury are largely unknown. To identify the possible target proteins of YCHT, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis (2-DE)-based proteomics was performed and proteins altered after YCHT treatment were identified by MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS. Interestingly, 15 modulated proteins were identified, out of which 7 were found to be significantly altered by YCHT. YCHT treatment caused a statistically significant down-regulation of zinc finger protein 407, haptoglobin, macroglobulin, alpha-1-antitrypsin; significant up-regulation of transthyretin, vitamin D-binding protein, and prothrombin, appear to be involved in metabolism, energy generation, chaperone, antioxidation, signal transduction, protein folding and apoptosis. Finally, interaction network from 7 differentially expressed protein to the signal-related proteins was established using bioinformatic analysis. Of note, these signal-related proteins could be included in a network together with 7 proteins through direct interaction or only one intermediate partner. Functional pathway analysis suggested that these proteins were closely related in the protein-protein interaction network and the modulation of multiple vital physiological pathways. Thus, our data will help to understand the molecular mechanisms of hepatoprotective effects of YCHT.

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► Possible target proteins of YCHT were identified by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF/TOF-MS.
► Total proteins were extracted, 2-DE conducted and analyzed by PDQuest software.
► Seven modulated proteins were found to be significantly altered by YCHT.
► Interaction network to the signal-related proteins was established using bioinformatic analysis.
► Proteomics could be used in the future to improve study of TCM.