Exploring the potential mechanisms of acetyl tributyl citrate exposure on osteoarthritis based on novel network toxicology

The toxic side effects of acetyl tributyl citrate (ATBC) on humans are concerning, but studies related to its effects on osteoarthritis (OA) are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the potential targets and mechanisms of action of ATBC in OA through network toxicology. We obtained ATBC-related targets from the ChEMBL, Swiss Target Prediction, and STITCH databases and OA-related targets from the GeneCards, DisGeNET, and OMIM databases and identified overlapping targets. Core targets (key molecules in the progression of diseases) were determined via the STRING database and Cytoscape software, followed by further Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses to determine potential mechanisms in depth. Moreover, a gene interaction and competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) network for the core targets was constructed. Additionally, the expression levels of the core targets were preliminarily validated using single-cell data from the GEO database. Furthermore, in-depth validation of the core targets was carried out through molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. A total of 132 overlapping targets between ATBC and OA were identified, and six core targets (TP53, EZH2, HDAC1, HDAC2, SIRT1, and SMARCA4) were further screened. The results of the enrichment analysis revealed that the core pathways related to the effect of ATBC on OA mainly involved key signaling cascades, including the thyroid hormone signaling pathway, the Notch signaling pathway, and cellular senescence. Single-cell analysis revealed that the core target is expressed in different cell subpopulations. Molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation results indicate that there is a stable binding interaction between ATBC and the core target. This study provides a theoretical foundation for the molecular mechanisms of OA triggered by ATBC, highlighting the value of network toxicology in assessing the toxicity of emerging environmental pollutants. However, further clinical and experimental investigations are needed to validate these findings.