ARTICLE
20 October 2026

Identification of Key Targets for Proton Pump Inhibitors Induced Tubulointerstitial Nephritis Based on Pharmacovigilance and Network Toxicology Analysis

Haolong Li1,2 ,  Zhu Wang2 ,  Hui Liang2
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1 Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen 518055, Guangdong, China
2 Department of Urology, The Longhua Affiliated Hospital (People’s Hospital of Longhua), School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518109, Guangdong, China
© 2026 by the Author(s). Licensee: Bio-Byword Scientific Publishing Pty Ltd, Australia. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License ( https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ )
Abstract

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.

Keywords
FAERS
Proton pump inhibitors
Tubulointerstitial nephritis
Network toxicology
Key target
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