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Updated: Jan 17, 2026

A Novel in vivo Gene Transfer Technique and in vitro Cell Based Assays for the Study of Bone Loss in Musculoskeletal Disorders
Published on: June 8, 2014
Exploring plasticisers-osteoporosis links and mechanisms: a cohort and network toxicology study
Xingyao Yang1, Xin Wang2, Shifu Bao1
1Department of Orthopaedics, Chengdu Fifth People's Hospital, Chengdu, China.
Background:
Plasticisers, widely present in daily life, have been linked to osteoporosis (OP), though the precise mechanisms remain unclear.
Methods:
This study examined the association between mono (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (MEHP) and OP using multivariate logistic regression based on NHANES data. Network toxicology identified key targets and pathways involved in MEHP-induced OP. Molecular docking and dynamics simulations validated the stability of MEHP-target interactions. The effects of MEHP on osteogenic differentiation were further assessed in mouse bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs).
Results:
All logistic regression models confirmed a significant positive correlation between MEHP levels and OP. Network toxicology analysis identified CTSD, SOAT1, and VCP as key targets and the apoptosis pathway as a key mechanism in MEHP-induced OP. Molecular simulations demonstrated stable MEHP binding to these targets. Cellular experiments revealed that MEHP significantly inhibited BMSC osteogenesis by downregulating CTSD and VCP, while SOAT1 showed a weaker correlation.
Conclusion:
MEHP exposure is positively associated with OP risk, with CTSD, VCP, and the apoptosis pathway potentially playing key roles in impairing BMSC osteogenesis.
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