Big data-driven target identification by machine learning: DRD2 as a therapeutic target for psoriasis.
We developed a new machine learning method to predict therapeutic target molecules by searching for potential target proteins of preventive drugs derived from clinical medication history reports and molecular data, and successfully identified DRD2 as a novel therapeutic target for psoriasis. Overall design: Investigation of the effects of quinpirole on imiquimod (IMQ)-induced psoriasis in mice: We employed the IMQ-induced psoriasis mouse model, widely recognized as a representative model for studying psoriasis, to investigate the effects of an agonist for DRD2 on this condition. Female BALB/c mice, aged 10-11 weeks, were utilized. Daily, topical application of IMQ (5% cream) was applied to the shaved dorsal skin of the mice for five consecutive days. Following this procedure, mice were euthanized according to approved protocols, and samples of skin were collected. Quinpirole was used as a DRD2 agonist and was administered intraperitoneally to the mice five times concurrently with the topical IMQ application.