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Thorne D, McHugh D, Simms L, Lee KM, Fujimoto H, Moses S, Gaca M. Applying new approach methodologies to assess next-generation tobacco and nicotine products. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1376118. [PMID: 38938663 PMCID: PMC11208635 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1376118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
In vitro toxicology research has accelerated with the use of in silico, computational approaches and human in vitro tissue systems, facilitating major improvements evaluating the safety and health risks of novel consumer products. Innovation in molecular and cellular biology has shifted testing paradigms, with less reliance on low-throughput animal data and greater use of medium- and high-throughput in vitro cellular screening approaches. These new approach methodologies (NAMs) are being implemented in other industry sectors for chemical testing, screening candidate drugs and prototype consumer products, driven by the need for reliable, human-relevant approaches. Routine toxicological methods are largely unchanged since development over 50 years ago, using high-doses and often employing in vivo testing. Several disadvantages are encountered conducting or extrapolating data from animal studies due to differences in metabolism or exposure. The last decade saw considerable advancement in the development of in vitro tools and capabilities, and the challenges of the next decade will be integrating these platforms into applied product testing and acceptance by regulatory bodies. Governmental and validation agencies have launched and applied frameworks and "roadmaps" to support agile validation and acceptance of NAMs. Next-generation tobacco and nicotine products (NGPs) have the potential to offer reduced risks to smokers compared to cigarettes. These include heated tobacco products (HTPs) that heat but do not burn tobacco; vapor products also termed electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), that heat an e-liquid to produce an inhalable aerosol; oral smokeless tobacco products (e.g., Swedish-style snus) and tobacco-free oral nicotine pouches. With the increased availability of NGPs and the requirement of scientific studies to support regulatory approval, NAMs approaches can supplement the assessment of NGPs. This review explores how NAMs can be applied to assess NGPs, highlighting key considerations, including the use of appropriate in vitro model systems, deploying screening approaches for hazard identification, and the importance of test article characterization. The importance and opportunity for fit-for-purpose testing and method standardization are discussed, highlighting the value of industry and cross-industry collaborations. Supporting the development of methods that are accepted by regulatory bodies could lead to the implementation of NAMs for tobacco and nicotine NGP testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Thorne
- BAT (Investments) Ltd., Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
| | - Damian McHugh
- PMI R&D Philip Morris Products S. A., Neuchâtel, Switzerland
| | - Liam Simms
- Imperial Brands, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - K. Monica Lee
- Altria Client Services LLC, Richmond, VA, United States
| | | | | | - Marianna Gaca
- BAT (Investments) Ltd., Southampton, Hampshire, United Kingdom
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2
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Cordery S, Thompson K, Stevenson M, Simms L, Chapman F, Grandolfo E, Malt L, Weaver S, Fearon IM, Nahde T. The Product Science of Electrically Heated Tobacco Products: An Updated Narrative Review of the Scientific Literature. Cureus 2024; 16:e61223. [PMID: 38939262 PMCID: PMC11209752 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.61223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/28/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Heated tobacco products represent a novel category of tobacco products in which a tobacco consumable is heated to a temperature that releases nicotine from the tobacco leaf but not to a temperature sufficient to cause combustion. Heated tobacco products may therefore have the potential to be a less harmful alternative for adult smokers who would otherwise continue to smoke cigarettes, as their use should result in exposure to substantially fewer and lower levels of toxicants. This update represents a two-year extension to our previous narrative review, which covered peer-reviewed journal articles published up to August 31, 2021. The scientific evidence published between 2021 and 2023 continues to indicate that aerosols produced from heated tobacco products contain fewer and substantially lower levels of harmful and potentially harmful constituents and that these observed reductions consistently translate to reduced biological effects in both in vitro and in vivo toxicological studies. Biomarker and clinical data from studies in which product use is controlled within a clinical setting continue to suggest changes in levels of biomarkers of exposure, biomarkers of potential harm, and clinical endpoints indicating the potential for reduced harm with switching to exclusive use of heated tobacco products in adult smokers. Overall, the available peer-reviewed scientific evidence continues to indicate that heated tobacco products offer promise as a potentially less harmful alternative to cigarettes, and as such, the conclusions of our original narrative review remain valid.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Cordery
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Keith Thompson
- Independent Scientific Consultant, Elucid8 Holdings Ltd., Coleraine, GBR
| | - Matthew Stevenson
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Liam Simms
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Fiona Chapman
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Erika Grandolfo
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Layla Malt
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Sarah Weaver
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Plc., Bristol, GBR
| | - Ian M Fearon
- Scientific Research, whatIF? Consulting Ltd., Harwell, GBR
| | - Thomas Nahde
- Group Science and Regulatory Affairs, Imperial Brands Reemtsma, Hamburg, DEU
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Cochrane S, Rajagopal R, Sheffield D, Stewart F, Hathaway L, Barnes NM, Qureshi O, Gordon J. Impact of a varied set of stimuli on a suite of immunological parameters within peripheral blood mononuclear cells: toward a non-animal approach for assessing immune modulation by materials intended for human use. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1335110. [PMID: 38737195 PMCID: PMC11082367 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1335110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction: In toxicology, steps are being taken towards more mechanism-focused and human relevant approaches to risk assessment, requiring new approaches and methods. Additionally, there is increasing emphasis by regulators on risk assessment of immunotoxicity. Methods: Here we present data from a peripheral blood mononuclear cell (PBMC) system whereby a varied set of stimuli, including those against the TCR and Toll-like receptors, enable readouts of cytokine and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production with monocyte, T cell and B cell viability, proliferation, and associated activation markers. In addition to results on the impact of the stimuli used, initial profiling data for a case study chemical, curcumin, is presented, illustrating how the system can be used to generate information on the impact of exogenous materials on three major constituent immune cell subsets for use in risk assessment and to direct follow-on studies. Results: The different stimuli drove distinct responses, not only in relation to the "quantity" of the response but also the "quality". Curcumin had a limited impact on the B cell parameters measured, with the stimuli used, and it was noted that in contrast to T cells where there was either no impact or a reduction in viability and proliferation with increasing concentration, for B cells there was a small but significant increase in both measurements at curcumin concentrations below 20 µM. Similarly, whilst expression of activation markers by T cells was reduced by the highest concentration of curcumin, they were increased in B cells. Curcumin only impacted the viability of stimulated monocytes at the highest concentration and had differential impact on different activation markers. Levels of all cytokines and PGE2 were reduced at higher concentrations. Discussion: Although the platform has certain limitations, it nevertheless enables assessment of healthy baseline monocyte, T-, and B-cell responses, and scrutiny of the impact of different stimuli to detect potential immune suppression or enhancement from exogenous materials. In the case of curcumin, a pattern of responses indicative of immune suppressive / anti-inflammatory effects was detected. It is an accessible, highly modifiable system that can be used to screen materials and guide further studies, providing a holistic, integrated picture of effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Cochrane
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, United Kingdom
| | - Ramya Rajagopal
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, United Kingdom
| | - David Sheffield
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, United Kingdom
| | - Fay Stewart
- Celentyx Ltd., Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Lindsay Hathaway
- Celentyx Ltd., Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Nicholas M. Barnes
- Celentyx Ltd., Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Institute for Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Omar Qureshi
- Celentyx Ltd., Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - John Gordon
- Celentyx Ltd., Birmingham Research Park, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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Chapman F, Pour SJ, Wieczorek R, Trelles Sticken E, Budde J, Röwer K, Otte S, Mason E, Czekala L, Nahde T, O'Connell G, Simms L, Stevenson M. Twenty-eight day repeated exposure of human 3D bronchial epithelial model to heated tobacco aerosols indicates decreased toxicological responses compared to cigarette smoke. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1076752. [PMID: 36875887 PMCID: PMC9979258 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1076752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tobacco harm reduction (THR) involves providing adult smokers with potentially reduced harm modes of nicotine delivery as alternatives to smoking combustible cigarettes. Heated tobacco products (HTPs) form a category with THR potential due to their ability to deliver nicotine and flavours through heating, not burning, tobacco. By eliminating burning, heated tobacco does not produce smoke but an aerosol which contains fewer and lower levels of harmful chemicals compared to cigarette smoke. In this study we assessed the in vitro toxicological profiles of two prototype HTPs' aerosols compared to the 1R6F reference cigarette using the 3D human (bronchial) MucilAir™ model. To increase consumer relevance, whole aerosol/smoke exposures were delivered repeatedly across a 28 day period (16, 32, or 48 puffs per exposure). Cytotoxicity (LDH secretion), histology (Alcian Blue/H&E; Muc5AC; FoxJ1 staining), cilia active area and beat frequency and inflammatory marker (IL-6; IL-8; MMP-1; MMP-3; MMP-9; TNFα) levels were assessed. Diluted 1R6F smoke consistently induced greater and earlier effects compared to the prototype HTP aerosols across the endpoints, and in a puff dependent manner. Although some significant changes across the endpoints were induced by exposure to the HTPs, these were substantially less pronounced and less frequently observed, with apparent adaptive responses occurring over the experimental period. Furthermore, these differences between the two product categories were observed at a greater dilution (and generally lower nicotine delivery range) for 1R6F (1R6F smoke diluted 1/14, HTP aerosols diluted 1/2, with air). Overall, the findings demonstrate the THR potential of the prototype HTPs through demonstrated substantial reductions in toxicological outcomes in in vitro 3D human lung models.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Karin Röwer
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Otte
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Thomas Nahde
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | | | - Liam Simms
- Imperial Brands PLC, Bristol, United Kingdom
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Houck KA, Friedman KP, Feshuk M, Patlewicz G, Smeltz M, Clifton MS, Wetmore BA, Velichko S, Berenyi A, Berg EL. Evaluation of 147 perfluoroalkyl substances for immunotoxic and other (patho)physiological activities through phenotypic screening of human primary cells. ALTEX 2022; 40:248–270. [PMID: 36129398 PMCID: PMC10331698 DOI: 10.14573/altex.2203041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A structurally diverse set of 147 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) was screened in a panel of 12 human primary cell systems by measuring 148 biomarkers relevant to (patho)physiological pathways to inform hypotheses about potential mechanistic effects of data-poor PFAS in human model systems. This analysis focused on immunosuppressive activity, which was previously reported as an in vivo effect of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), by comparing PFAS responses to four pharmacological immunosuppressants. The PFOS response profile had little correlation with reference immunosuppressants, suggesting in vivo activity does not occur by similar mechanisms. The PFOA response profile did share features with the profile of dexamethasone, although some distinct features were lacking. Other PFAS, including 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropyl acrylate, demonstrated more similarity to the reference immunosuppressants but with additional activities not found in the reference immunosuppressive drugs. Correlation of PFAS profiles with a database of environmental chemical responses and pharmacological probes identified potential mechanisms of bioactivity for some PFAS, including responses similar to ubiquitin ligase inhibitors, deubiquitylating enzyme (DUB) inhibitors, and thioredoxin reductase inhibitors. Approximately 21% of the 147 PFAS with confirmed sample quality were bioactive at nominal testing concentrations in the 1-60 micromolar range in these human primary cell systems. These data provide new hypotheses for mechanisms of action for a subset of PFAS and may further aid in development of a PFAS categorization strategy useful in safety assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keith A Houck
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Madison Feshuk
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Grace Patlewicz
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Marci Smeltz
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - M Scott Clifton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Barbara A Wetmore
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
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Simms L, Yu F, Palmer J, Rudd K, Sticken ET, Wieczorek R, Chapman F, Czekala L, Stevenson M, O’Connell G. Use of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes to Predict the Cardiotoxicity Potential of Next Generation Nicotine Products. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:747508. [PMID: 35295225 PMCID: PMC8915889 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.747508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2021] [Accepted: 01/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Combustible cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for cardiovascular disease. By contrast, the cardiotoxicity potential of non-combustible next generation nicotine products (NGPs), which includes heated tobacco products (HTPs) and electronic vaping products (EVPs), and how this compares relative to combustible cigarettes is currently an area of scientific exploration. As such, there is a need for a rapid screening assay to assess this endpoint. The Cardio quickPredict is a metabolomics biomarker-based assay that uses human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CM) to screen for potential structural and functional cardiac toxicants based on the changes of four metabolites, lactic acid, arachidonic acid, thymidine, and 2′-deoxycytidine. The study aims were to investigate the cardiotoxicity potential of NGPs compared to cigarettes, in addition to nicotine. To accomplish this, hiPSC-CM were exposed to smoke or aerosol bubbled PBS samples: reference cigarette (1R6F); three variants of HTP; and three EVP variants. The 1R6F bPBS was the most active, having cardiotoxic potential at 0.3–0.6% bPBS (0.4–0.9 μg/mL nicotine), followed by HTP, which displayed cardiotoxic potential at a 10 times higher concentration, 3.3% bPBS (4.1 μg/mL nicotine). Both 1R6F and HTP bPBS (at 10-fold higher concentration than 1R6F) affected all four predictive metabolites, whereas none of the EVP bPBS samples were active in the assay up to the maximal concentration tested (10% bPBS). Nicotine tested on its own was predicted to have cardiotoxic potential at concentrations greater than 80 μg/mL, which is higher than expected physiological levels associated with combustible cigarette smoking. The application of this rapid screening assay to NGP research and the associated findings adds to the weight-of-evidence indicating that NGPs have a tobacco harm reduction potential when compared to combustible cigarettes. Additionally, this technique was shown to be sensitive and robust for the assessment of different NGPs and may be considered as part of a larger overall scientific framework for NGP assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam Simms
- Imperial Brands PLC, Bristol, United Kingdom
- *Correspondence: Liam Simms,
| | - Fan Yu
- Imperial Brands PLC, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Palmer
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery Inc., Madison, WI, United States
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