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Su M, Li X, Li Z, Hua C, Shang P, Zhao J, Liu K, Xie F. Design of a microfluidic lung chip and its application in assessing the toxicity of formaldehyde. Toxicol Mech Methods 2023; 33:427-436. [PMID: 36573377 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2022.2159903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
In this work, a microfluidic lung chip with membrane supporting cell growth that can produce multiple concentration gradients of gas and liquid is introduced. The chip is composed of a gas gradient layer in the upper part, a porous membrane supporting cell growth in the middle and a liquid gradient layer in the lower part. The gas-liquid interface environment of the cells on the membrane can expose the cells to the gas in the upper layer and the liquid in the lower layer at the same time. Then, the chip is applied to the toxicity testing of formaldehyde in A549 cells. The results showed that at 6 × 10-5 mol/L formaldehyde, the survival rate of the cells in four channels were 90, 87, 81, and 71%, which shows a dose-response trend under the influence of different concentrations of formaldehyde. ROS staining results also showed that formaldehyde exposure at 6 × 10-5 mol/L lead to the increase of ROS level in the cells. These results suggest that the chip based on cell growth on membrane could be used for toxicological evaluation of environmental polluting gases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Man Su
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Xiang Li
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Zezhi Li
- Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing, P. R. China
| | - Chenfeng Hua
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Pingping Shang
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Junwei Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Kejian Liu
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
| | - Fuwei Xie
- Key Laboratory of Tobacco Chemistry, Zhengzhou Tobacco Research Institute of CNTC, Zhengzhou, P. R. China
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Barguilla I, Maguer-Satta V, Guyot B, Pastor S, Marcos R, Hernández A. In Vitro Approaches to Determine the Potential Carcinogenic Risk of Environmental Pollutants. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097851. [PMID: 37175558 PMCID: PMC10178670 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
One important environmental/health challenge is to determine, in a feasible way, the potential carcinogenic risk associated with environmental agents/exposures. Since a significant proportion of tumors have an environmental origin, detecting the potential carcinogenic risk of environmental agents is mandatory, as regulated by national and international agencies. The challenge mainly implies finding a way of how to overcome the inefficiencies of long-term trials with rodents when thousands of agents/exposures need to be tested. To such an end, the use of in vitro cell transformation assays (CTAs) was proposed, but the existing prevalidated CTAs do not cover the complexity associated with carcinogenesis processes and present serious limitations. To overcome such limitations, we propose to use a battery of assays covering most of the hallmarks of the carcinogenesis process. For the first time, we grouped such assays as early, intermediate, or advanced biomarkers which allow for the identification of the cells in the initiation, promotion or aggressive stages of tumorigenesis. Our proposal, as a novelty, points out that using a battery containing assays from all three groups can identify if a certain agent/exposure can pose a carcinogenic risk; furthermore, it can gather mechanistic insights into the mode of the action of a specific carcinogen. This structured battery could be very useful for any type of in vitro study, containing human cell lines aiming to detect the potential carcinogenic risks of environmental agents/exposures. In fact, here, we include examples in which these approaches were successfully applied. Finally, we provide a series of advantages that, we believe, contribute to the suitability of our proposed approach for the evaluation of exposure-induced carcinogenic effects and for the development of an alternative strategy for conducting an exposure risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Barguilla
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
- CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | | | - Boris Guyot
- CNRS UMR5286, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, 69008 Lyon, France
| | - Susana Pastor
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Ricard Marcos
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
| | - Alba Hernández
- Group of Mutagenesis, Department of Genetics and Microbiology, Faculty of Biosciences, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Cerdanyola del Vallès, Spain
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EU’s next generation risk assessment: hurdles and opportunities for new approach methodologies. J Verbrauch Lebensm 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s00003-022-01403-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe EU’s decision to ban animal testing for toxicity testing, has positively influenced the pace of developing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). This development also supports replacing animal methods in other forms of risk assessment (RA), such as for oral-toxicity testing. This study aims to identify the hurdles and opportunities for validation and implementation of NAMs in the current EU’s chemical RA. Through conducting semi-structured interviews with 14 stakeholders, experiences and perspectives about the validation and implementation of NAMs in RA for orally ingested chemicals were analyzed. Stakeholders considered the use of NAMs for RA processes both a cultural and generational issue. Both were perceived as hurdles for reaching the next generation RA approach. The differing views on NAMs originated from experience and stakeholder positions, but communication and collaboration on developing future RA approaches could support overcoming this skepticism. Irrespectively of their background, all interviewees were generally optimistic that NAMs will support the development of more accurate and sustainable RA. This research highlights the need for the EU to adjust legislation and guidance documents to shift in testing requirements from the traditional overexposure approach to more predictive, mechanistic testing in RA, which will take time. This study, however, shows that—when all stakeholders engage in communication and confidence building—NAMs can already play an important role in reducing and refining animal testing.
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Primavessy D, Metz J, Schnur S, Schneider M, Lehr CM, Hittinger M. Pulmonary in vitro instruments for the replacement of animal experiments. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2021; 168:62-75. [PMID: 34438019 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2021.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2021] [Revised: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Advanced in vitro systems often combine a mechanical-physical instrument with a biological component e.g. cell culture models. For testing of aerosols, it is of advantage to consider aerosol behavior, particle deposition and lung region specific cell lines. Although there are many good reviews on the selection of cell cultures, articles on instruments are rare. This article focuses on the development of in vitro instruments targeting the exposure of aerosols on cell cultures. In this context, guidelines for toxicity investigation are taken into account as the aim of new methods must be the prediction of human relevant data and the replacement of existing animal experiments. We provide an overview on development history of research-based instruments from a pharmaceutical point of view. The standardized commercial devices resulting from the research-based instruments are presented and the future perspectives on pulmonary in vitro devices are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Primavessy
- Department of Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany.
| | - Julia Metz
- Department of Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Sabrina Schnur
- Department of Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marc Schneider
- Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Claus-Michael Lehr
- Department of Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany; Department of Pharmacy, Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany; Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS), Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Marius Hittinger
- Department of Drug Delivery, PharmBioTec Research and Development GmbH, Saarbrücken, Germany; 3RProducts Marius Hittinger, Blieskastel, Germany
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Neurotoxicity and underlying cellular changes of 21 mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:591-615. [PMID: 33512557 PMCID: PMC7870626 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02970-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (cI) by rotenone and methyl-phenylpyridinium (MPP +) leads to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in man and rodents. To formally describe this mechanism of toxicity, an adverse outcome pathway (AOP:3) has been developed that implies that any inhibitor of cI, or possibly of other parts of the respiratory chain, would have the potential to trigger parkinsonian motor deficits. We used here 21 pesticides, all of which are described in the literature as mitochondrial inhibitors, to study the general applicability of AOP:3 or of in vitro assays that are assessing its activation. Five cI, three complex II (cII), and five complex III (cIII) inhibitors were characterized in detail in human dopaminergic neuronal cell cultures. The NeuriTox assay, examining neurite damage in LUHMES cells, was used as in vitro proxy of the adverse outcome (AO), i.e., of dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This test provided data on whether test compounds were unspecific cytotoxicants or specifically neurotoxic, and it yielded potency data with respect to neurite degeneration. The pesticide panel was also examined in assays for the sequential key events (KE) leading to the AO, i.e., mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disturbed proteostasis. Data from KE assays were compared to the NeuriTox data (AO). The cII-inhibitory pesticides tested here did not appear to trigger the AOP:3 at all. Some of the cI/cIII inhibitors showed a consistent AOP activation response in all assays, while others did not. In general, there was a clear hierarchy of assay sensitivity: changes of gene expression (biomarker of neuronal stress) correlated well with NeuriTox data; mitochondrial failure (measured both by a mitochondrial membrane potential-sensitive dye and a respirometric assay) was about 10–260 times more sensitive than neurite damage (AO); cI/cIII activity was sometimes affected at > 1000 times lower concentrations than the neurites. These data suggest that the use of AOP:3 for hazard assessment has a number of caveats: (i) specific parkinsonian neurodegeneration cannot be easily predicted from assays of mitochondrial dysfunction; (ii) deriving a point-of-departure for risk assessment from early KE assays may overestimate toxicant potency. Comparison of 21 data-rich mitochondrial toxicants for neurotoxicity Quantitative comparison of key event triggering thresholds for AOP:3 Comparison of two cell models and two exposure times for neurotoxicity Comparison of transcriptome changes and classical key event measures for sensitivity
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Moné MJ, Pallocca G, Escher SE, Exner T, Herzler M, Bennekou SH, Kamp H, Kroese ED, Leist M, Steger-Hartmann T, van de Water B. Setting the stage for next-generation risk assessment with non-animal approaches: the EU-ToxRisk project experience. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:3581-3592. [PMID: 32886186 PMCID: PMC7502065 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02866-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In 2016, the European Commission launched the EU-ToxRisk research project to develop and promote animal-free approaches in toxicology. The 36 partners of this consortium used in vitro and in silico methods in the context of case studies (CSs). These CSs included both compounds with a highly defined target (e.g. mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors) as well as compounds with poorly defined molecular initiation events (e.g. short-chain branched carboxylic acids). The initial project focus was on developing a science-based strategy for read-across (RAx) as an animal-free approach in chemical risk assessment. Moreover, seamless incorporation of new approach method (NAM) data into this process (= NAM-enhanced RAx) was explored. Here, the EU-ToxRisk consortium has collated its scientific and regulatory learnings from this particular project objective. For all CSs, a mechanistic hypothesis (in the form of an adverse outcome pathway) guided the safety evaluation. ADME data were generated from NAMs and used for comprehensive physiological-based kinetic modelling. Quality assurance and data management were optimized in parallel. Scientific and Regulatory Advisory Boards played a vital role in assessing the practical applicability of the new approaches. In a next step, external stakeholders evaluated the usefulness of NAMs in the context of RAx CSs for regulatory acceptance. For instance, the CSs were included in the OECD CS portfolio for the Integrated Approach to Testing and Assessment project. Feedback from regulators and other stakeholders was collected at several stages. Future chemical safety science projects can draw from this experience to implement systems toxicology-guided, animal-free next-generation risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Moné
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - G Pallocca
- CAAT-Europe at the University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - S E Escher
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
| | - T Exner
- Edelweiss Connect GmbH, Basel, Switzerland
| | - M Herzler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - H Kamp
- BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany
| | - E D Kroese
- TNO Innovation for Life, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel Leist
- CAAT-Europe at the University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department Inaugurated By the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Foundation at the University of Konstanz, University of Konstanz, 78457, Constance, Germany.
| | - T Steger-Hartmann
- Investigational Toxicology, Bayer AG, Pharmaceuticals, Berlin, Germany
| | - B van de Water
- Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands
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The EU-ToxRisk method documentation, data processing and chemical testing pipeline for the regulatory use of new approach methods. Arch Toxicol 2020; 94:2435-2461. [PMID: 32632539 PMCID: PMC7367925 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02802-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Hazard assessment, based on new approach methods (NAM), requires the use of batteries of assays, where individual tests may be contributed by different laboratories. A unified strategy for such collaborative testing is presented. It details all procedures required to allow test information to be usable for integrated hazard assessment, strategic project decisions and/or for regulatory purposes. The EU-ToxRisk project developed a strategy to provide regulatorily valid data, and exemplified this using a panel of > 20 assays (with > 50 individual endpoints), each exposed to 19 well-known test compounds (e.g. rotenone, colchicine, mercury, paracetamol, rifampicine, paraquat, taxol). Examples of strategy implementation are provided for all aspects required to ensure data validity: (i) documentation of test methods in a publicly accessible database; (ii) deposition of standard operating procedures (SOP) at the European Union DB-ALM repository; (iii) test readiness scoring accoding to defined criteria; (iv) disclosure of the pipeline for data processing; (v) link of uncertainty measures and metadata to the data; (vi) definition of test chemicals, their handling and their behavior in test media; (vii) specification of the test purpose and overall evaluation plans. Moreover, data generation was exemplified by providing results from 25 reporter assays. A complete evaluation of the entire test battery will be described elsewhere. A major learning from the retrospective analysis of this large testing project was the need for thorough definitions of the above strategy aspects, ideally in form of a study pre-registration, to allow adequate interpretation of the data and to ensure overall scientific/toxicological validity.
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