Investigation on the antitumor effects of paeonol against renal cell carcinoma based on network pharmacology and experimental validation

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most common cancer of the urinary system, the current treatments for RCC are unsatisfactory. Paeonol is the main pharmacologically active ingredient of the traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) moutan cortex (Paeonia suffruticosa Andrews) and Paeonia albiflora Pall, and has been used in TCM to treat various diseases including cancer. However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms of paeonol in RCC have not been investigated yet. This study aimed to explore the potential antitumor effects and mechanisms of paeonol on RCC based on network pharmacology and experimental validation. Network pharmacological analysis was performed to predict the potential targets and mechanism of paeonol against RCC. The antitumor effects and the priority targets of paeonol against RCC were further assessed by in vitro experiments. 104 intersection targets shared by paeonol and RCC were collected, 15 hub genes were obtained, among these genes, VEGFA expression was higher in RCC, and the higher expression of IL-6 or lower expression of AKT1, JUN, MAPK1, and MAPK8 were correlated to the shorter overall survival (OS) in RCC patients. GO and KEGG analyses suggested that the genes were mainly enriched in the positive regulation of cell death and apoptosis pathway. In vitro experiments showed that paeonol inhibited 786-O cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and promoted apoptosis. When 786-O cells were treated with paeonol, the expression of Bax increased while Bcl-2 and VEGFA decreased. The present study demonstrated that paeonol might play an essential role in RCC by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, metastasis, and invasion through the Bcl-2/Bax signaling pathway and VEGFA, providing a theoretical and experimental scientific basis for future investigations of the antitumor effects of paeonol against RCC. [Display omitted] •Network pharmacological analysis proved that paeonol might regulate the progression of RCC.•Paeonol may play an essential role in 786-O cells by regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis, and metastasis.•Providing a theoretical and experimental scientific basis for future investigations of paeonol against RCC.