Conducting bioinformatics analysis to predict sulforaphane-triggered adverse outcome pathways in healthy human cells

Dragica Bozic; Katarina Živančević; Katarina Baralić; Evica Antonijević Miljaković; Aleksandra Buha Djordjević; Marijana Ćurčić; Zorica Bulat; Biljana Antonijević; Danijela Đukić-Ćosić

doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114316

Conducting bioinformatics analysis to predict sulforaphane-triggered adverse outcome pathways in healthy human cells

Biomed Pharmacother. 2023 Apr:160:114316. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114316. Epub 2023 Feb 1.

Authors

Dragica Bozic¹, Katarina Živančević², Katarina Baralić³, Evica Antonijević Miljaković³, Aleksandra Buha Djordjević³, Marijana Ćurčić³, Zorica Bulat³, Biljana Antonijević³, Danijela Đukić-Ćosić³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", Toxicological Risk Assessment Center, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia. Electronic address: djorgovanovic@pharmacy.bg.ac.rs.
² Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", Toxicological Risk Assessment Center, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia; University of Belgrade - Faculty of Biology, Institute of Physiology and Biochemistry "Ivan Djaja", Center for Laser Microscopy, Studentski trg 16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia.
³ Department of Toxicology "Akademik Danilo Soldatović", Toxicological Risk Assessment Center, University of Belgrade - Faculty of Pharmacy, Vojvode Stepe 450, 11221 Belgrade, Serbia.

PMID: 36731342
DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2023.114316

Abstract

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a naturally occurring molecule present in plants from Brassica family. It becomes bioactive after hydrolytic reaction mediated by myrosinase or human gastrointestinal microbiota. Sulforaphane gained scientific popularity due to its antioxidant and anti-cancer properties. However, its toxicity profile and potential to cause adverse effects remain largely unidentified. Thus, this study aimed to generate SFN-triggered adverse outcome pathway (AOP) by looking at the relationship between SFN-chemical structure and its toxicity, as well as SFN-gene interactions. Quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) analysis identified 2 toxophores (Derek Nexus software) that have the potential to cause chromosomal damage and skin sensitization in mammals or mutagenicity in bacteria. Data extracted from Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) linked SFN with previously proposed outcomes via gene interactions. The total of 11 and 146 genes connected SFN with chromosomal damage and skin diseases, respectively. However, network analysis (NetworkAnalyst tool) revealed that these genes function in wider networks containing 490 and 1986 nodes, respectively. The over-representation analysis (ExpressAnalyst tool) pointed out crucial biological pathways regulated by SFN-interfering genes. These pathways are uploaded to AOP-helpFinder tool which found the 2321 connections between 19 enriched pathways and SFN which were further considered as key events. Two major, interconnected AOPs were generated: first starting from disruption of biological pathways involved in cell cycle and cell proliferation leading to increased apoptosis, and the second one connecting activated immune system signaling pathways to inflammation and apoptosis. In both cases, chromosomal damage and/or skin diseases such as dermatitis or psoriasis appear as adverse outcomes.

Keywords: Adverse outcome pathway; Chromosomal damage; Skin diseases; Sulforaphane; Toxicology systems approach.

MeSH terms

Adverse Outcome Pathways*
Animals
Apoptosis
Humans
Isothiocyanates / pharmacology
Mammals
Signal Transduction
Sulfoxides

Substances

sulforaphane
Isothiocyanates
Sulfoxides