Evodiamine attenuates silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis via PI3K/AKT pathway suppression: Integrated computational and experimental validation.

Background: Silicosis, a devastating occupational lung disease caused by silica dust inhalation, lacks effective treatment options. Evodiamine (Evo), a bioactive alkaloid, has demonstrated anti-fibrotic potential in various diseases; however, its efficacy in silicosis and underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to systematically investigate Evo's therapeutic effects and mechanisms against silicosis.

Methods: Potential targets of Evo and silicosis were identified through mining of public databases. A Protein-Protein Interaction (PPI) network was created using Cytoscape, followed by Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analysis. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to validate the binding ability of Evo with putative targets. An in vivo silicotic mice model was established to evaluate the anti-fibrotic effects and mechanism of Evo against silicosis.

Results: In total, 265 Evo targets and 270 silicosis-associated targets were identified. Among them, 33 targets were found to overlap. Integrative analysis of molecular docking, dynamics simulations, and KEGG pathways revealed key targets including AKT1, MAPK3, IL6, SRC, VEGFA, PTGS2, and STAT3, with the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway emerging as a critical mediator of Evo's anti-fibrotic effects. The efficacy of Evo was further validated using lung tissues from silicotic mice treated with Evo.

Conclusion: This multifaceted study provides compelling evidence for Evo's therapeutic potential in mitigating silica-induced pulmonary fibrosis, primarily through modulation of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. Our findings not only advance the understanding of Evo's anti-fibrotic properties but also open new avenues for innovative silicosis treatments.