Potential key targets and mechanism of the Mizuhopecten yessoensis derived ACE inhibitory peptide Asn-Cys-Trp (NCW) via network pharmacology and molecular docking

Mizuhopecten yessoensis-derived angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptide Asn-Cys-Trp (NCW) has been found that had a significantly in vivo antihypertensive effect. However, the special mechanism of peptide NCW for lowing blood pressure has not been fully elucidated. This study aimed to screen the key targets and elucidate the antihypertensive mechanism of based on the network pharmacology and molecular docking. A total of 70 potential antihypertensive targets of peptide NCW were identified, which were mainly enriched in Regulation of blood pressure, Positive regulation of smooth muscle cell proliferation, and other biological processes; Plasma membrane, Extracellular exosome, and other cellular components; Endopeptidase activity, Zinc ion binding, and other molecular functions. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis showed that lipid and atherosclerosis pathway, relaxin signaling pathway, and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway were the key pathways for peptide NCW to regulate the potential antihypertensive targets. Eleven potential key antihypertensive targets were screened via topology analysis of protein and protein interaction network, i.e., albumin (ALB), matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP9), MMP2, insulin like growth factor 1, AKT serine/threonine kinase 1 (IGF1), ACE, nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3), peroxisome proliferator activated receptor gamma (PPARG), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), catalase (CAT), and renin (REN). In addition, molecular docking results showed that the peptide NCW had high affinities with these potential key antihypertensive targets, and hydrogen bonds were the key interaction forces between the peptide NCW and targets. This study provided a theoretical basis for the multi-target and multi-pathway prevention and improvement of hypertension with peptide NCW.