The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking

IntroductionPhthalates (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products since the 1930s, and recent research indicates a significant association between exposure to these substances and the development and progression of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)...

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Main Authors: Ren Li, Bingqing Zheng, Yuqiong Zhang, Lu He, Chaomin Ren, Linlin Guan, Huan Yang, Jiayu Tian, Xingyi Chen, Dongxing Shi, Lifang Zhao, Zhihong Zhang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Pharmacology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1566965/full
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author Ren Li
Ren Li
Ren Li
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Lu He
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
author_facet Ren Li
Ren Li
Ren Li
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Lu He
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
author_sort Ren Li
collection DOAJ
description IntroductionPhthalates (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products since the 1930s, and recent research indicates a significant association between exposure to these substances and the development and progression of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial due to their public health implications.MethodsIn this study, we utilized innovative network toxicology and molecular docking techniques to systematically examine the effects of seven typical phthalates on asthma and COPD. By integrating information from multiple databases, we identified key target genes linked to these compounds and conducted functional enrichment analyses to elucidate their roles in pathological processes.ResultsOur results demonstrate that these phthalates affect the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD by modulating various target genes, including PTGS2, MMP9, and CASP3, which are involved in essential biological pathways such as apoptosis and immune response. Interestingly, certain inflammation-related genes and signaling pathways displayed novel regulatory patterns when exposed to phthalates, revealing new pathological mechanisms. Molecular docking analyses further confirmed stable interactions between phthalates and essential target genes, providing molecular-level insights into their pathogenic mechanisms.DiscussionOverall, this study highlights the harmful impacts of these seven phthalates on asthma and COPD, establishing new connections between the compounds and disease-related genes, and emphasizing their relevance as emerging environmental toxins. These findings provide valuable perspectives for risk assessment and public health policy, underscoring the need for stricter regulations and interventions regarding phthalate exposure.
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spelling doaj-art-50b31b04ee2b4596bb8ca4180de2044a2025-08-20T02:56:58ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122025-03-011610.3389/fphar.2025.15669651566965The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular dockingRen Li0Ren Li1Ren Li2Bingqing Zheng3Bingqing Zheng4Bingqing Zheng5Yuqiong Zhang6Yuqiong Zhang7Yuqiong Zhang8Lu He9Chaomin Ren10Chaomin Ren11Chaomin Ren12Linlin Guan13Linlin Guan14Linlin Guan15Huan Yang16Huan Yang17Huan Yang18Jiayu Tian19Jiayu Tian20Jiayu Tian21Xingyi Chen22Xingyi Chen23Xingyi Chen24Dongxing Shi25Dongxing Shi26Dongxing Shi27Lifang Zhao28Lifang Zhao29Lifang Zhao30Zhihong Zhang31Zhihong Zhang32Zhihong Zhang33Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Public Health Laboratory Sciences, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaDepartment of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaCenter for Ecological Public Health Security of Yellow River Basin, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, ChinaKey Laboratory of Coal Environmental Pathogenicity and Prevention (Shanxi Medical University), Ministry of Education, Taiyuan, ChinaIntroductionPhthalates (PAEs) are widely used plasticizers in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) products since the 1930s, and recent research indicates a significant association between exposure to these substances and the development and progression of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Understanding the underlying mechanisms is crucial due to their public health implications.MethodsIn this study, we utilized innovative network toxicology and molecular docking techniques to systematically examine the effects of seven typical phthalates on asthma and COPD. By integrating information from multiple databases, we identified key target genes linked to these compounds and conducted functional enrichment analyses to elucidate their roles in pathological processes.ResultsOur results demonstrate that these phthalates affect the pathogenesis of asthma and COPD by modulating various target genes, including PTGS2, MMP9, and CASP3, which are involved in essential biological pathways such as apoptosis and immune response. Interestingly, certain inflammation-related genes and signaling pathways displayed novel regulatory patterns when exposed to phthalates, revealing new pathological mechanisms. Molecular docking analyses further confirmed stable interactions between phthalates and essential target genes, providing molecular-level insights into their pathogenic mechanisms.DiscussionOverall, this study highlights the harmful impacts of these seven phthalates on asthma and COPD, establishing new connections between the compounds and disease-related genes, and emphasizing their relevance as emerging environmental toxins. These findings provide valuable perspectives for risk assessment and public health policy, underscoring the need for stricter regulations and interventions regarding phthalate exposure.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1566965/fullphthalatesasthmaCOPDnetwork toxicologymolecular docking
spellingShingle Ren Li
Ren Li
Ren Li
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Bingqing Zheng
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Yuqiong Zhang
Lu He
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Chaomin Ren
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Linlin Guan
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Huan Yang
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Jiayu Tian
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Xingyi Chen
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Dongxing Shi
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Lifang Zhao
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
Zhihong Zhang
The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
Frontiers in Pharmacology
phthalates
asthma
COPD
network toxicology
molecular docking
title The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
title_full The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
title_fullStr The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
title_full_unstemmed The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
title_short The impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
title_sort impact of phthalates on asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a comprehensive analysis based on network toxicology and molecular docking
topic phthalates
asthma
COPD
network toxicology
molecular docking
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2025.1566965/full
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