Targeting Systems: New Strategy for Computational Biology in Traditional Chinese Medicine

Yun WangResearch Center for TCM Information Engineering

Beijing University of Chinese Medicineyunwang@yahoo.cn

Outline

• Background

• Systems: the way for TCM to realize the clinical effects

• Targeting systems

• A Proposed Platform for System-targeting TCM research

• A Simple Example

Background• Purpose 1: Explain the functional mechanism of TCM

• Purpose 2: Provide lead compounds for structure optimization

• Focus on: discovery of active components from TCM

Unfortunately:

• 1. weak effect of the components

• 2. activity dispersion during component separation

• 3. no better than “western medicine”, no better than TCM

• 4. seldom successful stories.

Systems: the way for TCM to realize the clinical effects

• Fact1: Weak effect of components• Fact2: Validated effect of TCM by clinical practice• Inference: Interaction among components

Direct Interaction(seldom)

Indirect Interaction(often)

TCM relatedBiological system

• Systems are the targets of TCM function

TCM function

Targeting systems: interpreting the mechanism of TCM function

Direct Interaction(seldom)

Indirect Interaction(often)

TCM relatedBiological system

Mechanism of TCM function

Targeting systems: bridging biology and TCM theory

Direct Interaction(seldom)

Indirect Interaction(often)

TCM relatedBiological system

TCM function

TCM theory

Targeting systems: providing new cues for the treatment of complex disease

Direct Interaction(seldom)

Indirect Interaction(often)

TCM relatedBiological system

TCM function

TCM theory Validated clinical prescription

Targeting systems: providing new resource for drug development

Direct Interaction(seldom)

Indirect Interaction(often)

TCM relatedBiological system

TCM function

TCM theory Validated clinical prescription

• Impact based molecular target selection• “Remote” interruption of systems• Complex drugs

A Proposed Platform for System-targeting TCM research

Database

TCM pathway

moltargets

Activecompnts

biosystems

Biological Systems related with TCM Prescriptions that Promoting Blood

Circulation and Removing Blood Stasis

Map00590:prostaglandin and leukotriene metabolism

Map00230: purine metablism

Map00100: biosynthesis of steroids

Map00531: glycosaminoglycan degradation

Map00010: glycolysis/gluconeogenesis

Gaëlle Hardy, et. al.Urinary leukotriene E4 excretion is increased in type 1 diabetic patientsA quantification by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry.

Prostaglandins Other Lipid Mediat. 2005. 78(1-4):291-299

220 paper’s title in CNKI contaning:promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis+ diabetes

Thanks for Your Attention!