Network pharmacology combined with the GEO database to predict the therapeutic effect of the Chinese herbal compound Biyusan on systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a complex pathogenesis, and current treatments are faced with problems such as high costs and limited accessibility, particularly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including the prescription Biyusan, has shown potential as a cost-effective and accessible alternative. Methods: This study explores the therapeutic mechanisms of Biyusan, composed of Glycyrrhiza uralensis and Indigo naturalis, by integrating network pharmacology and GEO database analysis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by the GEO2R tool. Targets for Biyusan were predicted by the website SwissTargetPrediction. The intersection between DEGs and Biyusan targets were extracted. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses for the intersection genes were performed. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) network and component–gene–pathway (CGP) network were constructed by STRING and Cytoscape. Molecular docking was performed by AutoDock Vina. Results: Through differential gene expression analysis, target prediction, and molecular docking, we identified 24 overlapping genes between Biyusan’s targets and SLE-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Enrichment analyses revealed key pathways involving inflammation, immune regulation, and pDC (plasmacytoid dendritic cell) activation, which are critical in SLE progression. Six hub genes (SRC, JAK2, CCR3, CASP3, FGFR1, and CXCR2) and six core components of Biyusan exhibited strong binding affinities, suggesting multitarget therapeutic potential. Conclusions: The results highlight Biyusan’s role in modulating inflammation-related pathways and offer a novel approach for SLE treatment, bridging traditional medicine and modern computational methods. Further experimental and clinical validation is warranted to confirm its efficacy and safety.