Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41568086›Full record

ArticleTobacco induced diseases2026

Unraveling the mechanisms of nicotine-induced osteoporosis via network toxicology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking.

Song Xu, Guozhu Wang, Jiaxin Liu, Xiongwen Zhang, Xie Dong, Jin Liang, Tao Bai

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Tobacco induced diseases, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

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Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Song XuOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.
Guozhu WangOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.
Jiaxin LiuSchool of Medicine, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, China.
Xiongwen ZhangOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.
Xie DongOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.
Jin LiangOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.
Tao BaiOrthopedic Sugery Division One (Spine&Trauma), Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University, Yuxi City, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionOsteoporosis (OP) is linked to smoking. Nicotine may disrupt bone homeostasis through various pathways, but its molecular mechanisms are unclear. This study aims to explore the molecular networks and key regulatory factors underlying nicotine-induced OP.

methodsNicotine toxicity was assessed via ProTox-3.0, with its Simplified Molecular Input Line Entry System (SMILES) structure retrieved from PubChem. Potential targets were predicted using five databases, including SuperPred. OP-related gene data (GSE56815) were extracted from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and combined with GeneCards and Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) for target screening. Overlapping genes were identified by Venn diagram analysis, followed by protein-protein interaction (PPI) network construction. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses were performed using HipLot, while Hallmark Gene Sets provided insights into key biological pathways. Core targets were screened via Cytoscape 3.9.1, and molecular docking was conducted using AutoDockTools 1.5.7.

resultsIn all, 388 nicotine-associated targets and 1777 OP genes were predicted, with 116 overlapping. Enrichment analyses revealed associations with multiple signaling pathways, particularly those involving apoptosis and estrogen. Eight core targets, including SRC, BCL2, and CASP3, were identified. Molecular docking showed strong binding affinity (approximately -5 kcal/mol), with enhanced binding stability through hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonding.

conclusionsThis study suggests nicotine exacerbates OP by regulating key targets, such as CASP3 and ESR1, and pathways like apoptosis and estrogen signaling. These findings provide insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying nicotine's role in OP and potential therapeutic targets.

Indexed as

bioinformaticsmolecular dockingnetwork toxicologynicotineosteoporosis

Identifiers

PMID41568086
PMCPMC12817853

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.