Shugan Jieyu Capsule modulates STAT3 to alleviate non-suicidal self-injury in adolescents: Integrative insights from psychological, network pharmacology, and experimental analyses

IF 1.9 4区医学 Q3 INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE

European Journal of Integrative Medicine Pub Date : 2025-05-29 DOI:10.1016/j.eujim.2025.102506

Yilin Liu , Yuanling Chen , Zhichao Guo , Wenzhi Wu , Xinling Zhao , Yatang Chen , Fuyi Qin , Xinrui Li , Yuan Fang , Jia Wen , Xi Hou , Yongchuan Chen , Rui Bai , Hua Lv , Yong Zeng

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Introduction

This investigation examines the interplay between non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI), comorbid addiction, and depressive symptomology in adolescent populations. It evaluates the potential clinical utility of Shugan Jieyu Capsule (SJC) in mitigating NSSI behaviors by addressing underlying addictive tendencies, alongside its practical implementation in routine care settings. To achieve these aims, this investigation employs an integrative framework combining psychological survey research, network pharmacology, and experimental validation to investigate the mechanistic interplay between alcohol addiction and NSSI in adolescents.

Methods

A cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 1401 adolescents in Southwest China was conducted to assess behavioral associations. Meanwhile, protein-protein interaction (PPI) networks were constructed for SJC-related role factors and addiction-associated molecules using multi-database integration. Core targets were prioritized through network convergence analysis, followed by functional enrichment to delineate biological pathways. Clinical NSSI samples were analyzed to validate the differential expression of candidate biomarkers. The diagnostic utility and therapeutic potential of SJC modulation in NSSI were evaluated via receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and molecular docking simulations, respectively.

Results

Psychometric evaluations revealed robust correlations among alcohol use disorder, depressive symptomology, and NSSI in adolescent cohorts. Network pharmacology profiling of SJC identified 13 active ingredients of SJC and 40 potential targets related to addiction. The RT-qPCR detected significantly altered expression of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from NSSI patients compared with age-matched controls. ROC analysis and molecular docking simulations collectively validated STAT3 dysregulation as a candidate diagnostic and therapeutic biomarker for NSSI.

Conclusion

The development of NSSI in adolescents is correlated with depressive symptoms and alcohol addiction. SJC, a clinically used antidepressant, has the potential to treat NSSI by acting on the addiction-related gene STAT3.

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疏肝解郁胶囊调节STAT3减轻青少年非自杀性自伤：来自心理学、网络药理学和实验分析的综合见解

本研究探讨了青少年人群中非自杀性自伤（NSSI）、共病成瘾和抑郁症状之间的相互作用。本研究评估了舒肝解郁胶囊（SJC）通过解决潜在的成瘾倾向来减轻自伤行为的潜在临床应用，以及它在日常护理环境中的实际应用。为了达到这些目的，本研究采用心理调查研究、网络药理学和实验验证相结合的综合框架来研究青少年酒精成瘾与自伤之间的机制相互作用。方法采用横断面问卷调查法对西南地区1401名青少年进行行为关联分析。同时，利用多数据库集成技术构建sjc相关作用因子和成瘾相关分子的蛋白-蛋白相互作用（PPI）网络。通过网络收敛分析对核心靶点进行优先排序，然后通过功能富集来描述生物学途径。对临床自伤样本进行分析，以验证候选生物标志物的差异表达。分别通过受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线分析和分子对接模拟来评估SJC调节在自伤中的诊断价值和治疗潜力。结果心理计量学评估显示青少年群体中酒精使用障碍、抑郁症状和自伤之间存在显著相关性。SJC的网络药理学分析鉴定出SJC的13种有效成分和40种与成瘾相关的潜在靶点。RT-qPCR检测到，与年龄匹配的对照组相比，自伤患者外周血单个核细胞中信号传感器和转录激活因子3 （STAT3）的表达显著改变。ROC分析和分子对接模拟共同验证了STAT3失调是自伤诊断和治疗的候选生物标志物。结论青少年自伤的发生与抑郁症状和酒精成瘾有关。SJC是一种临床使用的抗抑郁药，有可能通过作用于成瘾相关基因STAT3来治疗自伤。

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

European Journal of Integrative Medicine INTEGRATIVE & COMPLEMENTARY MEDICINE-

CiteScore

4.70

自引率

4.00%

发文量

102

审稿时长

33 days

期刊介绍： The European Journal of Integrative Medicine (EuJIM) considers manuscripts from a wide range of complementary and integrative health care disciplines, with a particular focus on whole systems approaches, public health, self management and traditional medical systems. The journal strives to connect conventional medicine and evidence based complementary medicine. We encourage submissions reporting research with relevance for integrative clinical practice and interprofessional education. EuJIM aims to be of interest to both conventional and integrative audiences, including healthcare practitioners, researchers, health care organisations, educationalists, and all those who seek objective and critical information on integrative medicine. To achieve this aim EuJIM provides an innovative international and interdisciplinary platform linking researchers and clinicians. The journal focuses primarily on original research articles including systematic reviews, randomized controlled trials, other clinical studies, qualitative, observational and epidemiological studies. In addition we welcome short reviews, opinion articles and contributions relating to health services and policy, health economics and psychology.