Network-based integrated analysis for toxic effects of high-concentration formaldehyde inhalation exposure through the toxicogenomic approach

Abstract

Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent, highly reactive, and toxic environmental pollutant used in various industries and products. Inhaled formaldehyde is a human and animal carcinogen that causes genotoxicity, such as reactive oxygen species formation and DNA damage. This study aimed to identify the toxic effects of inhaled formaldehyde through an integrated toxicogenomic approach utilizing database information. Microarray datasets (GSE7002 and GSE23179) were collected from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and differentially expressed genes were identified. The network analyses led to the construction of the respiratory system-related biological network associated with formaldehyde exposure, and six upregulated hub genes (AREG, CXCL2, HMOX1, PLAUR, PTGS2, and TIMP1) were identified. The expression levels of these genes were verified via qRT-PCR in 3D reconstructed human airway tissues exposed to aerosolized formaldehyde. Furthermore, NRARP was newly found as a potential gene associated with the respiratory and carcinogenic effects of formaldehyde by comparison with human in vivo and in vitro formaldehyde-exposure data. This study improves the understanding of the toxic mechanism of formaldehyde and suggests a more applicable analytic pipeline for predicting the toxic effects of inhaled toxicants.

A bioinformatics framework to identify the biomarkers and potential drugs for the treatment of colorectal cancer

“…Among them, eight drugs/small molecules were confirmed to be related to TIMP1 or CRC. It is reported that exposure to formaldehyde can reduce TIMP1 expression ( Kang et al, 2022 ).…”

Integrative Data Mining Approach: Case Study with Adverse Outcome Pathway Network Leading to Pulmonary Fibrosis

“…Submission of inhalation toxicity data is included for chemicals registered under most international chemical regulations, such as the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) regulation in the European Union (EU) and the Act on Registration and Evaluation of Chemicals in Korea (K-REACH). However, assessing inhalation toxicants is time-consuming, expensive, and technologically demanding . Therefore, to reduce unnecessary experiments, the development of a rapid evaluation approach that can proactively screen for potential inhaled toxic substances is required.…”

“…However, assessing inhalation toxicants is timeconsuming, expensive, and technologically demanding. 5 Therefore, to reduce unnecessary experiments, the development of a rapid evaluation approach that can proactively screen for potential inhaled toxic substances is required.…”

Removal of Chromium (Cr) and Formaldehyde [CH₂O (H−CHO)] from Leather Tannery Effluents Using Electrocoagulation Treatment Process

“…A colorless, toxic, potentially carcinogenic, watersoluble gas, with the formula CH 2 O, having a suffocating odor, usually derived from methyl alcohol by oxidation: used chiefly in aqueous solution, as a disinfectant and preservative, and in the manufacture of various resins and plastics. The toxic effects of formaldehyde and formalin were described in literature such as bronchitis, pneumonia, gastritis, myositis [7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21]. The concept of health security corresponds to the control of risks that can alter the state of human health.…”