The Potential Mechanisms of Acupuncture in Cardiac Arrhythmias by Bioinformatics

Objective. Bioinformatics and network topology is applied to investigating the potential mechanism of acupuncture and moxibustion in cardiac arrhythmias. Methods. The action targets of Neiguan (PC6) and Xinshu (BL15) were captured by pubmed and China Knowledge Network (CNKI) databases. The GeneCards database was used to screening the arrhythmia-related targets. According to the Venny2.1.0, potential targets of PC6 and BL15 in cardiac arrhythmias were intersect matched. Protein interaction (PPI) network was obtained by STRING database. According to Cytoscape software, the key sub-networks and core targets was obtained. The DAVID database were performed on the Biofunctional (GO) and signaling pathway (KEGG) enrichment analysis of the potential targets of PC6 and BL15 in cardiac arrhythmias. Finally, the enrichment analysis are visualized through the bioinformatics website.Results. 70 targets of the intersection of PC6, BL15 and arrhythmias were screened. 5 core targets were identified to be closely related to arrhythmias in the PPI network, including AKT1, IL-6, VEGFA, TP53 and CASP3. 294 relevant biological processes (BP), 52 molecular function (MF), 47 types of Cellular component (CC) were acquired by GO analysis. 154 signaling pathways were obtain by KEGG pathway enrichment analysis. PC6 and BL15 are mostly involved in PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and biological processes, improving myocardial fibrosis, regulating ion channels and affecting cardiac angiogenesis, in cardiac arrhythmias. Conclusion. PC6 and BL15 may act on AKT1, IL-6, VEGFA, CASP3, TP53 and PI3K-Akt signaling pathway to regulate inflammatory response and myocardial fibrosis for the treatment of arrhythmia. Our study revealed the key targets for the treatment of arrhythmia by PC6 and BL15, providing a theoretical basis to uncover the molecular mechanism of arrhythmia by acupuncture.