title: Prediction of the anti-inflammatory mechanisms of curcumin by module-based protein interaction network analysis.
abstract: Curcumin, the medically active component from Curcuma longa (Turmeric), is widely used to treat inflammatory diseases. Protein interaction network (PIN) analysis was used to predict its mechanisms of molecular action. Targets of curcumin were obtained based on ChEMBL and STITCH databases. Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) were extracted from the String database. The PIN of curcumin was constructed by Cytoscape and the function modules identified by gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis based on molecular complex detection (MCODE). A PIN of curcumin with 482 nodes and 1688 interactions was constructed, which has scale-free, small world and modular properties. Based on analysis of these function modules, the mechanism of curcumin is proposed. Two modules were found to be intimately associated with inflammation. With function modules analysis, the anti-inflammatory effects of curcumin were related to SMAD, ERG and mediation by the TLR family. TLR9 may be a potential target of curcumin to treat inflammation.
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Yanxiong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: School of Chinese Pharmacy, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 100102, China.
authors.forename: Shichao
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sports Sciences and Medicine, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Jan P A
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Baak
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Silei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Yongfeng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Nini
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Wan
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liao
authors.affiliation: State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Systematic Research, Development and Utilization of Chinese Medicine Resources, School of Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu 611137, China.
authors.forename: Chaomei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fu
keywords: Anti-inflammatory; Curcumin; Cytoscape; ETS, erythroblast transformation-specific; GO, gene ontology; Gene ontology  enrichment analysis; IFNs, interferons; IL, interleukin; JAK-STAT, Janus kinase-STAT; MAPK, mitogen-activated protein kinase; MCODE, molecular complex detection; Module; Molecular complex  detection; Molecular mechanism; NF-κB, nuclear factor kappa B; PIN, protein interaction network; PPIs, protein–protein interactions; Protein interaction  network; STATs, signal transducer and activator of transcription complexes; TLR, toll-like receptor