Iran J Biotechnol. 2026 Oct 1;24(4):e4417. doi: 10.30498/ijb.2026.580398.4417. eCollection 2026 Oct.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Kuanxiong aerosol (KX) has been used in ischemic cardiovascular diseases, but its potential molecular targets and pathway-level associations in post-myocardial infarction heart failure (post-MI HF) remain insufficiently characterized.
OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to identify and prioritize putative KX-related molecular targets and signaling pathways associated with post-MI HF by integrating network pharmacology, WGCNA, immune infiltration analysis, and transcriptomic correlation analysis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrieved KX components from published data, predicted their targets using SwissTargetPrediction, and collected post-MI HF-related genes from GeneCards, OMIM, and DigSee. Using network pharmacology and WGCNA on GSE59867 (80 samples), we screened KX-related targets. Enrichment analyses (KEGG/GSEA) and immune infiltration correlations (ssGSEA) were performed. Key targets were then cross-validated with disease-regulated genes.
RESULTS: Among 215 overlapping targets, calcium, HIF-1, and MAPK signaling were top hits. Two targets, CCR2 and PTPN22, showed significant immune-cell correlations (CCR2 with neutrophils: r=0.62, P<0.001; PTPN22 with NK cells: r=0.48, P<0.05). CCR2 also correlated with MIR21 (r=0.59, P=0.00024) and TTN (r=-0.48, P=0.0039). GSEA linked CCR2 to NOTCH and PTPN22 to PPAR signaling.
CONCLUSION: CCR2 and PTPN22 are credible molecular targets for KX in post-MI HF. From a biotechnology standpoint, these findings support developing targeted immunomodulators (e.g., CCR2 antagonists or PTPN22 activity modulators) or engineered aerosol formulations. Further validation in engineered heart tissue models or bioreactor-based assays is needed before clinical translation.
PMID:42928728 | PMC:PMC13695770 | DOI:10.30498/ijb.2026.580398.4417