Single-Cell RNA Sequencing, Cell Communication, and Network Pharmacology Reveal the Potential Mechanism of

backgroundHepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a prevalent form of primary liver malignancy, arises from liver-specific hepatocytes.

methodsActive ingredients of Climbing senecio were collected from four online databases and mapped to relevant target databases to obtain predicted targets. After recognizing the key pathways through which Climbing senecio acts in HCC. Gene expression data from GSE54238 Underwent differential expression and weighted gene correlation network analyses to identify HCC-related genes. The "Climbing senecio-Hepatocellular Carcinoma Targets" network was constructed using Cytoscape 3.10.1 software, followed by topology analysis to identify core genes. The expression and distribution of key targets were evaluated, and the differential expression of each key target between normal and diseased samples was calculated. Moreover, single-cell data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GSE202642) were used to assess the distribution of Climbing senecio's bioactive targets within major HCC clusters. An intersection analysis of these clusters with pharmacological targets and HCC-related genes identified Climbing senecio's primary targets for this disease. Cell communication, receiver operating characteristic (ROC)analysis, survival analysis, immune filtration analysis, and molecular docking studies were conducted for detailed characterization.

resultsEleven components of Climbing senecio were identified, along with 520 relevant targets, 300 differentially expressed genes, and 3765 co-expression module genes associated with HCC.

conclusionsThis study revealed that Climbing senecio may target multiple pathways and genes in the process of regulating HCC and exert potential drug effects through a multi-target mechanism, which provides a new idea for the treatment of HCC. However, the research is predicated on network database analysis and bioinformatics, offering insights into HCC therapeutic potential while emphasizing the need for further validation.