FIGURE 3.

The vitamin D receptor is predicted to be an interactor candidate of artesunate (AS). (a) A total of 20 underlying signal molecules were selected via the traditional Chinese medicine systems pharmacology database and analysis platform (TCMSP). (b) Effect of AS on the relative mRNA levels of Vdr (n = 5). (c) Effect of AS on the protein levels of VDR (n = 5). (d) Effect of Vdr siRNA (d1) and Vdr‐KD lentiviral vector (d2) on TNF‐α levels in LPS‐tolerant RAW264.7 cells treated with AS (n = 5). (e) Effect of Vdr‐OE lentiviral vector on TNF‐α level in LPS‐tolerant RAW264.7 cells treated with AS (n = 5). (f1) Schematic diagram of the binding assay designed in our laboratory. (f2) Effect of V_D3 on the binding of AS and VDR tracked by AS fluorophores (n = 5). AS with fluorophore 12‐(7‐oxycoumarinyl‐ethoxy) dihydroartemisinin was named AS I and AS with 12‐(‐1H‐benzo [de] isoquinoline‐1, 3(2H)‐dione‐2‐ethoxy) dihydroartemisinin was named AS II. (g) Effect of V_D3 (100 nM) on TNF‐α levels in LPS‐tolerant RAW264.7 cells treated with AS (n = 5). One‐way ANOVA followed by Tukey's post hoc test; ns, not significant; ^* P < 0.05