Effects of tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate on hyperuricemia revealed by network toxicology and in vitro experimental validation

As a commonly used flame retardant in numerous products, it is inevitable that tris(2-chloroethyl)phosphate (TCEP) is released into the surrounding environment during its use. This process gives rise to potential environmental concerns that must be addressed. In recent years, there has been significant interest in the role of TCEP in the development of hyperuricemia (HUA). However, the specific mechanisms by which TCEP contributes to this condition remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we have employed a combination of network toxicology and in vitro experiments to investigate the potential effects of TCEP on HUA and its mechanism of action. Through systematic analysis of GeneCards, OMIM, Swiss Target Prediction, and CHEMBL databases, a total of 242 TCEP-induced HUA targets were identified. Utilizing the STRING and DAVID databases further elucidated the core targets and associated signaling pathways of TCEP in relation to HUA. The molecular docking assay results demonstrated that TCEP exhibits binding activity with the selected targets. In vitro, our findings revealed that TCEP exacerbates HUA by amplifying the inflammatory response and upregulating the mRNA expression levels of GLUT9 and URAT1. The present study provides a new perspective and theoretical basis for the in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of TCEP affecting HUA, and helps to further understand the pathogenesis of HUA and the role of environmental factors.