[Establishment of a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome based on whole-genome transcriptional profiles].
OBJECTIVE
To establish a quantitative mathematical model of Shen-deficiency syndrome of TCM by utilizing whole-genome transcriptional profiles.


METHODS
The 4, 10, 18, 24 months old SD rats were used, 24-months aged rats intervened by Epimedium Flavonoids (EF) were adopted in the experiment. Rats' hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, lymphocytes, bone, liver, and kidney, and spleen were taken for determining whole-genome mRNA expression with gene chip, and a quantitative nerve network model was established by utilizing the gene expression profile of different aged rats, then the model was used to evaluate the effects of EF on Shen-deficiency syndrome.


RESULTS
Totally 199 genes showing age-dependent characteristics were screened out from the 7 kinds of tissue, most of them were neuro-endocrine immune related genes. Evaluation based on the mathematical model showed the age of hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal, liver, kidney, bone, and spleen in the 24-months rats after EF intervention was 12.64, 10.87, 8.10, 12.70, 11.93, 13.14, and 10.13 months, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
A quantitative mathematical model can be established based on the gene expression profile, it is suitable for estimating the efficacy of Shen-tonifying drugs. EF can make the gene expression of elder close to the young state, suggesting that EF has action in improving Shen-deficiency syndrome and delaying senescence.
Shen
Zi-yin
ZY
Institute of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai. ziyinshen@126.com
Zhang
Xin-min
XM
Lin
Wei
W
D000818:Animals; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal / Q000494:pharmacology; D034181:Epimedium / Q000737:chemistry; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013577:Syndrome; D016711:Yang Deficiency / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics / Q000517:prevention & control
D004365:Drugs, Chinese Herbal