Volume 4,Issue 3
Identification of Key Targets for Proton Pump Inhibitors Induced Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Based on Pharmacovigilance and Network Toxicology Analysis
Objective: Although previous studies have demonstrated that proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) can induce tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN), the specific mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. Methods: We integrated data from Q1 2004 to Q4 2025 in the FAERS database; the associations between PPIs and TIN were quantified by four disproportionality algorithms. The potential targets for PPIs-induced TIN were identified by combining network toxicology and protein-protein interaction networks. Moreover, molecular docking between key targets and PPIs was conducted. Results: Five PPIs had significantly associated with TIN: lansoprazole (ROR = 49.13, 95% CI = 46.51-51.90), pantoprazole (ROR = 33.71, 95% CI = 31.73-35.82), dexlansoprazole (ROR = 32.39, 95% CI = 27.86-37.65), omeprazole (ROR = 30.12, 95% CI = 28.45-31.88), and esomeprazole (ROR = 26.77, 95% CI = 25.58-28.02). Three key targets for PPI-induced TIN were determined: CDC42, PDGFRA, and MAPK8. Among these targets, the binding between CDC42 and esomeprazole was the most stable (binding energy: -7.44 kcal/mol). Conclusion: These findings suggest that PPIs may trigger TIN through multi-target interactions. This study provides potential mechanistic clues and novel targets for the early warning and precise intervention of PPI-related kidney injury.
[1] Hyodo T, Hara S, Goto S, et al., 2024, Immunohistological Analysis Reveals IgG1-Dominant Immunophenotype of Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Unassociated with IgG4-Related Diseases. International Urology and Nephrology, 56(7): 2363–2369.
[2] Sahutoglu T, Perazella M, 2025, Update on Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis: Clinical Features, Immunologic Insights, and Diagnostic and Treatment Approaches. Kidney International Reports, 10(6): 1643–1656.
[3] Pan X, Guo Z, Zheng Y, et al., 2025, Effects of Fourteen Essential Minerals and Vitamins on Acute and Chronic Tubulointerstitial Nephritis: A Multivariate Mendelian Randomization Study. Hereditas, 162(1): 63.
[4] Ho H, Shirakawa H, 2022, Oxidative Stress and Mitochondrial Dysfunction in Chronic Kidney Disease. Cells, 12(1): 88.
[5] Standardization of Uveitis Nomenclature (SUN) Working Group, 2021, Classification Criteria for Tubulointerstitial Nephritis with Uveitis Syndrome. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 228: 255–261.
[6] Torigoe K, Yoshida Y, Sakamoto R, et al., 2023, Improvement in Tubulointerstitial Nephritis with Glucocorticoid Therapy in an Anorexia Nervosa Patient. Journal of Medical Cases, 14(9–10): 344–349.
[7] Yin Y, Shu Y, Zhu J, et al., 2022, A Real-World Pharmacovigilance Study of FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) Events for Osimertinib. Scientific Reports, 12(1): 19555.
[8] Horinouchi Y, Ikeda Y, Fukushima K, et al., 2018, Renoprotective Effects of a Factor Xa Inhibitor: Fusion of Basic Research and a Database Analysis. Scientific Reports, 8(1): 10858.
[9] Huang S, 2023, Efficient Analysis of Toxicity and Mechanisms of Environmental Pollutants with Network Toxicology and Molecular Docking Strategy: Acetyl Tributyl Citrate as an Example. Science of the Total Environment, 905: 167904.
[10] Zhao Z, Du J, Wang Q, et al., 2023, An Integrated Strategy Combining Network Toxicology and Feature-Based Molecular Networking for Exploring Hepatotoxic Constituents and Mechanism of Epimedii Folium-Induced Hepatotoxicity In Vitro. Food and Chemical Toxicology, 176: 113785.
[11] Zhang L, Mao W, Liu D, et al., 2023, Risk Factors for Drug-Related Acute Pancreatitis: An Analysis of the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Frontiers in Pharmacology, 14: 1231320.
[12] Wang J, Zhang Z, Liu X, et al., 2024, Exploring Novel Adverse Events of Nefecon. Kidney International Reports, 9(9): 2705–2717.
[13] Tveden-Nyborg P, Bergmann T, Jessen N, et al., 2025, BCPT 2026 Policy for Experimental and Clinical Studies. Basic & Clinical Pharmacology & Toxicology, 137(6): e70159.
[14] Jiang Y, Zhou L, Shen Y, et al., 2024, Safety Assessment of Brexpiprazole: Real-World Adverse Event Analysis from the FAERS Database. Journal of Affective Disorders, 346: 223–229.
[15] Yu G, Wang L, Han Y, et al., 2012, clusterProfiler: An R Package for Comparing Biological Themes Among Gene Clusters. Omics, 16(5): 284–287.
[16] Trott O, Olson A, 2010, AutoDock Vina: Improving the Speed and Accuracy of Docking with a New Scoring Function, Efficient Optimization, and Multithreading. Journal of Computational Chemistry, 31(2): 455–461.
[17] Blank M, Parkin L, Paul C, et al., 2014, A Nationwide Nested Case-Control Study Indicates an Increased Risk of Acute Interstitial Nephritis with Proton Pump Inhibitor Use. Kidney International, 86(4): 837–844.
[18] Luo H, Yi G, Tang H, et al., 2024, Proton Pump Inhibitors May Increase the Risk of Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Patients with Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Prospective Cohort Study. Scientific Reports, 14(1): 18839.
[19] Al-Aly Z, Maddukuri G, Xie Y, 2020, Proton Pump Inhibitors and the Kidney: Implications of Current Evidence for Clinical Practice and When and How to Deprescribe. American Journal of Kidney Diseases, 75(4): 497–507.
[20] Fontecha-Barriuso M, Martín-Sanchez D, Martinez-Moreno J, et al., 2020, Molecular Pathways Driving Omeprazole Nephrotoxicity. Redox Biology, 32: 101464.
[21] Koda R, Watanabe H, Tsuchida M, et al., 2018, Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor (Nivolumab)-Associated Kidney Injury and the Importance of Recognizing Concomitant Medications Known to Cause Acute Tubulointerstitial Nephritis: A Case Report. BMC Nephrology, 19(1): 48.
[22] Raghavan R, Shawar S, 2017, Mechanisms of Drug-Induced Interstitial Nephritis. Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease, 24(2): 64–71.
[23] Parmar M, Kaleem S, Samuganathan P, et al., 2023, Impact of Proton Pump Inhibitors on Kidney Function and Chronic Kidney Disease Progression: A Systematic Review. Cureus, 15(12): e49883.
[24] Targownik L, Fisher D, Saini S, 2022, AGA Clinical Practice Update on De-Prescribing of Proton Pump Inhibitors: Expert Review. Gastroenterology, 162(4): 1334–1342.
[25] Hu X, Gan L, Tang Z, et al., 2024, A Natural Small Molecule Mitigates Kidney Fibrosis by Targeting Cdc42-Mediated GSK-3β/β-Catenin Signaling. Advanced Science (Weinh), 11(13): e2307850.
[26] Zhang Q, Qin Z, Wang Q, et al., 2024, Pharmacokinetic Profiling of ZCL-278, a Cdc42 Inhibitor, and Its Effectiveness Against Chronic Kidney Disease. Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy, 179: 117329.
[27] Toda N, Mori K, Kasahara M, et al., 2017, Crucial Role of Mesangial Cell-Derived Connective Tissue Growth Factor in a Mouse Model of Anti-Glomerular Basement Membrane Glomerulonephritis. Scientific Reports, 7: 42114.
[28] Song K, Qing Y, Guo Q, et al., 2020, PDGFRA in Vascular Adventitial MSCs Promotes Neointima Formation in Arteriovenous Fistula in Chronic Kidney Disease. JCI Insight, 5(21): e137298.
[29] Kanellis J, Ma F, Kandane-Rathnayake R, et al., 2010, JNK Signaling in Human and Experimental Renal Ischaemia/Reperfusion Injury. Nephrology Dialysis Transplantation, 25(9): 2898–2908.
[30] Bruno S, Tapparo M, Collino F, et al., 2017, Renal Regenerative Potential of Different Extracellular Vesicle Populations Derived from Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stromal Cells. Tissue Engineering Part A, 23(21–22): 1262–1273.
[31] Ma M, Luo Q, Fan L, et al., 2022, The Urinary Exosomes Derived from Premature Infants Attenuate Cisplatin-Induced Acute Kidney Injury in Mice via MicroRNA-30a-5p/Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 8 (MAPK8). Bioengineered, 13(1): 1650–1665.
[32] Borekci A, Kuru Bektasoglu P, Somay A, et al., 2025, Esomeprazole’s Antifibrotic Effects on Rats with Epidural Fibrosis. Global Spine Journal, 15(5): 2611–2616.
[33] Hollingsworth S, Dror R, 2018, Molecular Dynamics Simulation for All. Neuron, 99(6): 1129–1143.