Putative Adverse Outcome Pathway in Kashin-Beck Disease Suggested by Lipidomics and Network Toxicology - Xi'an City, Shaanxi Province, China, 2023-2025.

WHAT IS ALREADY KNOWN ABOUT THIS TOPIC?: Lipids are key mediators in cartilage degeneration. While T-2 toxin exposure drives Kashin-Beck disease (KBD), systematic metabolic comparisons between KBD and osteoarthritis (OA) are lacking. WHAT IS ADDED BY THIS REPORT?: KBD and OA share cartilage lipid alterations linked to ferroptosis, but KBD exhibits unique changes indicating severe oxidative stress. Furthermore, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) was identified as the candidate molecular target potentially involved in T-2 toxin-induced cartilage damage. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS FOR PUBLIC HEALTH PRACTICE?: Uncovering the adverse outcome pathway of T-2 toxin exposure clarifies KBD pathogenesis. Targeting the PTGS2-mediated signaling pathway may provide a potential strategy for clinical intervention and disease management.