EXPLORING THE POTENTIAL OF MORUS ALBA-STEMONA JAPONICA HERB PAIR IN ENHANCING PULMONARY HEALTH AND PERFORMANCE IN ATHLETES: A STUDY BASED ON GEO DATASETS AND NETWORK PHARMACOLOGY

Abstract

Background: Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive lung disease with limited treatment options and a poor prognosis. Recently, the Morus alba-Stemona japonica herb pair (MS) has shown potential efficacy against IPF, but its mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study aims to clarify these mechanisms, especially in the context of enhancing pulmonary function and recovery in athletes. Methods: We employed bioinformatics techniques including multi-database searches, network construction, Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, immune infiltration, and ferroptosis-related gene analysis. These methods helped identify the active components, target genes, and therapeutic mechanisms of MS in treating IPF. Results: GO analysis of 141 intersecting genes between MS and IPF highlighted enrichment in processes such as cellular metabolism, immunity, and cell death. KEGG pathway analysis linked IPF to the IL-17, TNF, and HIF-1 signaling pathways, alongside cellular senescence. Network topology analysis helped pinpoint eight core genes: SELE, MMP1, CCL2, PTGS2, VCAM1, CAV1, SPP1, and PLAU. Immune infiltration analysis showed altered expression of T cells, neutrophils, macrophages, and NK cells in IPF tissues. Additionally, significant correlations were found between core genes and ferroptosis-related genes, notably VCAM1 with CBS and SELE with NFE2L2. Conclusion: This comprehensive study revealed that MS targets multiple pathways and genes associated with IPF, impacting immune cell infiltration and ferroptosis in lung tissues. These findings provide a theoretical foundation for using MS in the pharmacological treatment of IPF and suggest its potential to improve lung health and athletic performance, offering new directions for sports medicine research.