Combined effects and potential mechanisms of volatile organic compounds on thyroid disease in the US population: An integrated epidemiological and computational toxicology study

IF 6.2 2区环境科学与生态学 Q1 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety Pub Date : 2025-05-15 DOI:10.1016/j.ecoenv.2025.118337

Qun Lu , Zhilei Mao , Yanling Chen , Kun Zhou

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引用次数: 0

Abstract

Objective

Our study aims to investigate the association between blood VOCs and thyroid diseases in US population and reveal the underlying mechanisms.

Methods

NHANES 2011–2016 data were used to explore the association between blood VOC levels and thyroid disease through Weighted Quantile Sum (WQS) regression, logistic regression, and smooth curve fitting. Dibromochloromethane-related and thyroid disease targets were obtained from TargetNet, SuperPred, GeneCards, and GEO. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed using STRING, and GO/KEGG enrichment analyses were performed using DAVID. Molecular docking and core target validation were carried out with Autodock Vina 1.1.2, GEPIA, and HPA databases.

Results

After adjusting for covariates, higher levels of blood Dibromochloromethane and Chloroform were associated with higher risks of thyroid disease (p < 0.05). We also found nonlinear associations of Dibromochloromethane and Chloroform levels with risk of thyroid disease at lower concentrations (p < 0.05). Ten proteins were identified as core targets for the effects of Dibromochloromethane on thyroid disease, and mainly enriched the Apelin, HIF-1, and Thyroid hormone signaling pathways. External validation revealed upregulation of CTSB, PLAT, and MTOR, and downregulation of SERPINE1, NOS3, with SLC9A1 and XDH being associated with thyroid carcinoma stage.

Conclusion

Positive associations between blood Dibromochloromethane and Chloroform levels and thyroid disease were observed. Dibromochloromethane interacts with core targets such as MTOR, NOS3, and SLC9A1, influencing thyroid disease progression. With the widespread exposure to VOCs worldwide, this will deepen and enrich our understanding of the potential mechanism of Dibromochloromethane in thyroid disease and provide a theoretical basis for subsequent studies.

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挥发性有机化合物对美国人群甲状腺疾病的综合影响和潜在机制：一项综合流行病学和计算毒理学研究

目的探讨美国人群血液中挥发性有机化合物与甲状腺疾病的关系，并揭示其潜在机制。方法采用snhanes 2011-2016数据，通过加权分位数和（WQS）回归、logistic回归和平滑曲线拟合，探讨血液VOC水平与甲状腺疾病的关系。二溴氯甲烷相关和甲状腺疾病靶标来自TargetNet、SuperPred、GeneCards和GEO。使用STRING构建蛋白相互作用（PPI）网络，使用DAVID进行GO/KEGG富集分析。利用Autodock Vina 1.1.2、GEPIA和HPA数据库进行分子对接和核心靶点验证。结果经协变量调整后，血中二溴氯甲烷和氯仿浓度升高与甲状腺疾病风险升高相关（p <； 0.05）。我们还发现在较低浓度下，二溴氯甲烷和氯仿水平与甲状腺疾病风险之间存在非线性关联（p <； 0.05）。10个蛋白被鉴定为二溴氯甲烷对甲状腺疾病影响的核心靶点，主要富集了Apelin、HIF-1和甲状腺激素信号通路。外部验证显示CTSB、PLAT和MTOR上调，SERPINE1、NOS3下调，SLC9A1和XDH与甲状腺癌分期相关。结论血中二溴氯甲烷和氯仿水平与甲状腺疾病呈正相关。二溴氯甲烷与MTOR、NOS3和SLC9A1等核心靶点相互作用，影响甲状腺疾病的进展。随着VOCs在世界范围内的广泛暴露，这将加深和丰富我们对二溴氯甲烷在甲状腺疾病中的潜在机制的认识，并为后续研究提供理论基础。

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来源期刊

Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 环境科学-毒理学

CiteScore

12.10

自引率

5.90%

发文量

1234

审稿时长

88 days

期刊介绍： Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety is a multi-disciplinary journal that focuses on understanding the exposure and effects of environmental contamination on organisms including human health. The scope of the journal covers three main themes. The topics within these themes, indicated below, include (but are not limited to) the following: Ecotoxicology、Environmental Chemistry、Environmental Safety etc.