Combined Analysis of Network Toxicology and Multiomics Revealed the Potential Mechanism of 6PPDQ-Induced Hepatotoxicity in Mice

Abstract

6PPDQ, a rubber tire-derived environmental pollutant, exhibits significant hepatotoxicity. However, its hepatotoxic mechanisms remain insufficiently studied and systematically evaluated. This study integrated network toxicology, transcriptomics, and metabolomics to investigate its toxicity mechanisms. ADMETlab 3.0 was used to predict physicochemical properties and multiorgan toxicity. The targets related to 6PPDQ and liver injury were obtained from public databases, and a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed to identify key targets. Meanwhile, molecular docking was performed to assess 6PPDQ's binding affinity to core proteins. Transcriptomics and differential gene expression analysis were performed on the livers of Kunming mice exposed to 4 mg/kg 6PPDQ to explore transcriptomic alterations, while metabolomic profiling identified disrupted metabolic pathways. Network toxicology results reveal that 6PPDQ primarily induces hepatotoxicity through apoptosis, inflammation, and lipid metabolic disturbances. Key targets, including P53, Mapk1, Mapk14, Casp8, Traf6, Ripk1, and Tnf, are identified, with strong binding affinities suggesting direct interactions. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses further confirms disruptions in TNF, NF-kappa B, oxidative phosphorylation, autophagy pathways, and glycerolipid metabolism. Overall, this study provides a comprehensive mechanistic framework for 6PPDQ-induced liver injury in mice and provides a new perspective for subsequent studies on the mechanism of 6PPDQ hepatotoxicity.

Keywords: 6PPDQ; hepatotoxicity; metabolomics; network toxicology; transcriptomic.