A network-based approach to identify deregulated pathways and drug effects in metabolic syndrome.

TLDR: A systems biology approach based on network analysis is introduced to investigate deregulated biological processes and subsequently identify drug repurposing candidates and suggest BTK inhibitor ibrutinib to be a promising treatment through its obesity-associated inflammation lowering effect.

Abstract: Metabolic syndrome is a pathological condition characterized by obesity, hyperglycemia, hypertension, elevated levels of triglycerides and low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol that increase cardiovascular disease risk and type 2 diabetes. Although numerous predisposing genetic risk factors have been identified, the biological mechanisms underlying this complex phenotype are not fully elucidated. Here we introduce a systems biology approach based on network analysis to investigate deregulated biological processes and subsequently identify drug repurposing candidates. A proximity score describing the interaction between drugs and pathways is defined by combining topological and functional similarities. The results of this computational framework highlight a prominent role of the immune system in metabolic syndrome and suggest a potential use of the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib as a novel pharmacological treatment. An experimental validation using a high fat diet-induced obesity model in zebrafish larvae shows the effectiveness of ibrutinib in lowering the inflammatory load due to macrophage accumulation. Metabolic syndrome is characterized by complex phenotypes that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes. Here the authors’ integrative network analysis suggests BTK inhibitor ibrutinib to be a promising treatment through its obesity-associated inflammation lowering effect.