4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is widely used as a UV-B filter in various sunscreens, cosmetics, and other sectors, such as plastics. Their exposure can lead to various health-related issues such as reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and so on. 4-MBC is exposed to humans primarily by dermal exposure and also by ingestion. Thus, it is necessary to assess the health risks associated with 4-MBC. Most of the risk assessment studies for 4-MBC were conducted in animal models, there are limitations while conducting risk assessment studies via in vitro or in vivo methods. The key objective of the present study was to evaluate the risk associated with 4-MBC using network toxicology and molecular docking. The sequential steps of in-silico studies in this study included ADMET prediction and, acquisition of separate target libraries for both the pollutant and the disease, followed by finding out the common core target of 4-MBC-induced hepatotoxicity in human and predicting the related pathway to the core target and their interaction with 4-MBC. The molecular docking result revealed the interaction of 4-MBC with STAT3, ABCB1, CYP2C19, and NR1H4. STAT3 had the highest binding energy (−6.014 Kcal/mol) and formed an H-bond with the GLN A:448 residue on the protein, affecting cellular functions like activation, proliferation, immunology, and inflammation. The key finding of the present work revealed that exposure to 4-MBC causes human hepatotoxicity. Hence, our research findings can be used as a base for risk assessment related to 4-MBC-induced human hepatotoxicity and further risk characterization and management.

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Investigation of Human Hepatotoxicity Linked to the Environmental Contaminant 4-MBC by Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking Methodologies

  • Vedika Jain,
  • Sharda Bharti

摘要

4-Methylbenzylidene camphor (4-MBC) is widely used as a UV-B filter in various sunscreens, cosmetics, and other sectors, such as plastics. Their exposure can lead to various health-related issues such as reproductive toxicity, endocrine disruption, and so on. 4-MBC is exposed to humans primarily by dermal exposure and also by ingestion. Thus, it is necessary to assess the health risks associated with 4-MBC. Most of the risk assessment studies for 4-MBC were conducted in animal models, there are limitations while conducting risk assessment studies via in vitro or in vivo methods. The key objective of the present study was to evaluate the risk associated with 4-MBC using network toxicology and molecular docking. The sequential steps of in-silico studies in this study included ADMET prediction and, acquisition of separate target libraries for both the pollutant and the disease, followed by finding out the common core target of 4-MBC-induced hepatotoxicity in human and predicting the related pathway to the core target and their interaction with 4-MBC. The molecular docking result revealed the interaction of 4-MBC with STAT3, ABCB1, CYP2C19, and NR1H4. STAT3 had the highest binding energy (−6.014 Kcal/mol) and formed an H-bond with the GLN A:448 residue on the protein, affecting cellular functions like activation, proliferation, immunology, and inflammation. The key finding of the present work revealed that exposure to 4-MBC causes human hepatotoxicity. Hence, our research findings can be used as a base for risk assessment related to 4-MBC-induced human hepatotoxicity and further risk characterization and management.