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Abed H, Radha R, Anjum S, Paul V, AlSawaftah N, Pitt WG, Ashammakhi N, Husseini GA. Targeted Cancer Therapy-on-A-Chip. Adv Healthc Mater 2024:e2400833. [PMID: 39101627 DOI: 10.1002/adhm.202400833] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024]
Abstract
Targeted cancer therapy (TCT) is gaining increased interest because it reduces the risks of adverse side effects by specifically treating tumor cells. TCT testing has traditionally been performed using two-dimensional (2D) cell culture and animal studies. Organ-on-a-chip (OoC) platforms have been developed to recapitulate cancer in vitro, as cancer-on-a-chip (CoC), and used for chemotherapeutics development and testing. This review explores the use of CoCs to both develop and test TCTs, with a focus on three main aspects, the use of CoCs to identify target biomarkers for TCT development, the use of CoCs to test free, un-encapsulated TCTs, and the use of CoCs to test encapsulated TCTs. Despite current challenges such as system scaling, and testing externally triggered TCTs, TCToC shows a promising future to serve as a supportive, pre-clinical platform to expedite TCT development and bench-to-bedside translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Abed
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Remya Radha
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Shabana Anjum
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Vinod Paul
- Materials Science and Engineering PhD program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - Nour AlSawaftah
- Materials Science and Engineering PhD program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
| | - William G Pitt
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, 84602, USA
| | - Nureddin Ashammakhi
- Institute for Quantitative Health Science and Engineering (IQ) and Department of Biomedical Engineering (BME), Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1600, USA
| | - Ghaleb A Husseini
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
- Materials Science and Engineering PhD program, College of Arts and Sciences, American University of Sharjah, Sharjah, UAE
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2
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Burden N, Brown RJ, Smith R, Brescia S, Goodband T, Guerrero-Limón G, Kent L, Marty S, Pearson A, van der Mescht M, Saunders LJ, Sewell F, Wang N, Wheeler JR. Resource and animal use implications of the proposed REACH information requirements for endocrine disruptor assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 151:105671. [PMID: 38968967 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 06/10/2024] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Revised information requirements for endocrine disruptor (ED) assessment of chemicals under the European Union's Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) Regulation have been proposed. Implementation will substantially increase demands for new data to inform ED assessment. This article evaluates the potential animal use and financial resource associated with two proposed ED policy options, and highlights areas where further clarification is warranted. This evaluation demonstrates that studies potentially conducted to meet the proposed requirements could use tens of millions of animals, and that the approach is unlikely to be feasible in practice. Given the challenges with implementing either policy option and the need to minimise the reliance on animal testing, further consideration and clarification is needed on several aspects prior to implementation of the requirements. This includes how testing will be prioritised in a proportionate approach; how to harness new approach methodologies to waive higher-tier animal testing; and need for provision of clear guidance particularly in applying weight-of-evidence approaches. There is now a clear opportunity for the European Commission to lead the way in developing a robust and transparent ED assessment process for industrial chemicals which fully implements replacement, refinement, and reduction of the use of animals (the 3Rs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalie Burden
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK.
| | - Rebecca J Brown
- Wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Rhiannon Smith
- Wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire, SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Susy Brescia
- Chemicals Regulation Division, Health and Safety Executive, Redgrave Court, Bootle, Merseyside, L20 7HS, UK
| | - Tracey Goodband
- Smithers ERS Limited, 108 Woodfield Drive, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, HG1 4LS, UK
| | | | - Lauren Kent
- Corteva Agriscience, Regulatory Innovation Centre, 101E Park Drive, Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire, OX14 4RY, UK
| | - Sue Marty
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI, USA
| | - Audrey Pearson
- Environment Agency, Red Kite House, Wallingford, Oxfordshire, OX10 8BD, UK
| | | | | | - Fiona Sewell
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London, NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Neil Wang
- Syensqo, 52, Rue de La Haie Coq, 93300, Aubervilliers, France
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB, Bergen op Zoom, the Netherlands
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3
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Abdel-Haq H. Feasibility of Using a Type I IFN-Based Non-Animal Approach to Predict Vaccine Efficacy and Safety Profiles. Vaccines (Basel) 2024; 12:583. [PMID: 38932312 PMCID: PMC11209158 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines12060583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2024] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Animal-based tests are used for the control of vaccine quality. However, because highly purified and safe vaccines are now available, alternative approaches that can replace or reduce animal use for the assessment of vaccine outcomes must be established. In vitro tests for vaccine quality control exist and have already been implemented. However, these tests are specifically designed for some next-generation vaccines, and this makes them not readily available for testing other vaccines. Therefore, universal non-animal tests are still needed. Specific signatures of the innate immune response could represent a promising approach to predict the outcome of vaccines by non-animal methods. Type I interferons (IFNs) have multiple immunomodulatory activities, which are exerted through effectors called interferon stimulated genes (ISGs), and are one of the most important immune signatures that might provide potential candidate molecular biomarkers for this purpose. This paper will mainly examine if this idea might be feasible by analyzing all relevant published studies that have provided type I IFN-related biomarkers for evaluating the safety and efficacy profiles of vaccines using an advanced transcriptomic approach as an alternative to the animal methods. Results revealed that such an approach could potentially provide biomarkers predictive of vaccine outcomes after addressing some limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanin Abdel-Haq
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161 Rome, Italy
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4
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Aurisano N, Fantke P, Chiu WA, Judson R, Jang S, Unnikrishnan A, Jolliet O. Probabilistic Reference and 10% Effect Concentrations for Characterizing Inhalation Non-cancer and Developmental/Reproductive Effects for 2,160 Substances. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8278-8288. [PMID: 38697947 PMCID: PMC11097392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00207] [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: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Chemicals assessment and management frameworks rely on regulatory toxicity values, which are based on points of departure (POD) identified following rigorous dose-response assessments. Yet, regulatory PODs and toxicity values for inhalation exposure (i.e., reference concentrations [RfCs]) are available for only ∼200 chemicals. To address this gap, we applied a workflow to determine surrogate inhalation route PODs and corresponding toxicity values, where regulatory assessments are lacking. We curated and selected inhalation in vivo data from the U.S. EPA's ToxValDB and adjusted reported effect values to chronic human equivalent benchmark concentrations (BMCh) following the WHO/IPCS framework. Using ToxValDB chemicals with existing PODs associated with regulatory toxicity values, we found that the 25th %-ile of a chemical's BMCh distribution (POD p 25 BMC h ) could serve as a suitable surrogate for regulatory PODs (Q2 ≥ 0.76, RSE ≤ 0.82 log10 units). We applied this approach to derive POD p 25 BMC h for 2,095 substances with general non-cancer toxicity effects and 638 substances with reproductive/developmental toxicity effects, yielding a total coverage of 2,160 substances. From these POD p 25 BMC h , we derived probabilistic RfCs and human population effect concentrations. With this work, we have expanded the number of chemicals with toxicity values available, thereby enabling a much broader coverage for inhalation risk and impact assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Department
of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United
States
| | - Richard Judson
- National
Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Suji Jang
- Department
of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United
States
| | - Aswani Unnikrishnan
- National
Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
- Department
of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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5
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Corton JC, Matteo G, Chorley B, Liu J, Vallanat B, Everett L, Atlas E, Meier MJ, Williams A, Yauk CL. A 50-gene biomarker identifies estrogen receptor-modulating chemicals in a microarray compendium. Chem Biol Interact 2024; 394:110952. [PMID: 38570061 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2024.110952] [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: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
High throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) profiling has the potential to rapidly and comprehensively identify molecular targets of environmental chemicals that can be linked to adverse outcomes. We describe here the construction and characterization of a 50-gene expression biomarker designed to identify estrogen receptor (ER) active chemicals in HTTr datasets. Using microarray comparisons, the genes in the biomarker were identified as those that exhibited consistent directional changes when ER was activated (4 ER agonists; 4 ESR1 gene constitutively active mutants) and opposite directional changes when ER was suppressed (4 antagonist treatments; 4 ESR1 knockdown experiments). The biomarker was evaluated as a predictive tool using the Running Fisher algorithm by comparison to annotated gene expression microarray datasets including those evaluating the transcriptional effects of hormones and chemicals in MCF-7 cells. Depending on the reference dataset used, the biomarker had a predictive accuracy for activation of up to 96%. To demonstrate applicability for HTTr data analysis, the biomarker was used to identify ER activators in a set of 15 chemicals that are considered potential bisphenol A (BPA) alternatives examined at up to 10 concentrations in MCF-7 cells and analyzed by full-genome TempO-Seq. Using benchmark dose (BMD) modeling, the biomarker genes stratified the ER potency of BPA alternatives consistent with previous studies. These results demonstrate that the ER biomarker can be used to accurately identify ER activators in transcript profile data derived from MCF-7 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Geronimo Matteo
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada; Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
| | - Brian Chorley
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Jie Liu
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Beena Vallanat
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Logan Everett
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Ella Atlas
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Matthew J Meier
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - Carole Lyn Yauk
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, K1N 6N5, Canada.
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6
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Nelms MD, Antonijevic T, Ring C, Harris DL, Bever RJ, Lynn SG, Williams D, Chappell G, Boyles R, Borghoff S, Edwards SW, Markey K. Chemistry domain of applicability evaluation against existing estrogen receptor high-throughput assay-based activity models. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1346767. [PMID: 38694816 PMCID: PMC11061348 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1346767] [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: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) Tier 1 assays are used to screen for potential endocrine system-disrupting chemicals. A model integrating data from 16 high-throughput screening assays to predict estrogen receptor (ER) agonism has been proposed as an alternative to some low-throughput Tier 1 assays. Later work demonstrated that as few as four assays could replicate the ER agonism predictions from the full model with 98% sensitivity and 92% specificity. The current study utilized chemical clustering to illustrate the coverage of the EDSP Universe of Chemicals (UoC) tested in the existing ER pathway models and to investigate the utility of chemical clustering to evaluate the screening approach using an existing 4-assay model as a test case. Although the full original assay battery is no longer available, the demonstrated contribution of chemical clustering is broadly applicable to assay sets, chemical inventories, and models, and the data analysis used can also be applied to future evaluation of minimal assay models for consideration in screening. Methods Chemical structures were collected for 6,947 substances via the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard from the over 10,000 UoC and grouped based on structural similarity, generating 826 chemical clusters. Of the 1,812 substances run in the original ER model, 1,730 substances had a single, clearly defined structure. The ER model chemicals with a clearly defined structure that were not present in the EDSP UoC were assigned to chemical clusters using a k-nearest neighbors approach, resulting in 557 EDSP UoC clusters containing at least one ER model chemical. Results and Discussion Performance of an existing 4-assay model in comparison with the existing full ER agonist model was analyzed as related to chemical clustering. This was a case study, and a similar analysis can be performed with any subset model in which the same chemicals (or subset of chemicals) are screened. Of the 365 clusters containing >1 ER model chemical, 321 did not have any chemicals predicted to be agonists by the full ER agonist model. The best 4-assay subset ER agonist model disagreed with the full ER agonist model by predicting agonist activity for 122 chemicals from 91 of the 321 clusters. There were 44 clusters with at least two chemicals and at least one agonist based upon the full ER agonist model, which allowed accuracy predictions on a per-cluster basis. The accuracy of the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model ranged from 50% to 100% across these 44 clusters, with 32 clusters having accuracy ≥90%. Overall, the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model resulted in 122 false-positive and only 2 false-negative predictions compared with the full ER agonist model. Most false positives (89) were active in only two of the four assays, whereas all but 11 true positive chemicals were active in at least three assays. False positive chemicals also tended to have lower area under the curve (AUC) values, with 110 out of 122 false positives having an AUC value below 0.214, which is lower than 75% of the positives as predicted by the full ER agonist model. Many false positives demonstrated borderline activity. The median AUC value for the 122 false positives from the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model was 0.138, whereas the threshold for an active prediction is 0.1. Conclusion Our results show that the existing 4-assay model performs well across a range of structurally diverse chemicals. Although this is a descriptive analysis of previous results, several concepts can be applied to any screening model used in the future. First, the clustering of the chemicals provides a means of ensuring that future screening evaluations consider the broad chemical space represented by the EDSP UoC. The clusters can also assist in prioritizing future chemicals for screening in specific clusters based on the activity of known chemicals in those clusters. The clustering approach can be useful in providing a framework to evaluate which portions of the EDSP UoC chemical space are reliably covered by in silico and in vitro approaches and where predictions from either method alone or both methods combined are most reliable. The lessons learned from this case study can be easily applied to future evaluations of model applicability and screening to evaluate future datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Nelms
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | | | - Danni L. Harris
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Ronnie Joe Bever
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
| | - David Williams
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Rebecca Boyles
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Susan Borghoff
- ToxStrategies, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Kristan Markey
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
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7
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Foster C, Wignall J, Kovach S, Choksi N, Allen D, Trgovcich J, Rochester JR, Ceger P, Daniel A, Hamm J, Truax J, Blake B, McIntyre B, Sutherland V, Stout MD, Kleinstreuer N. Standardizing Extracted Data Using Automated Application of Controlled Vocabularies. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:27006. [PMID: 38349723 PMCID: PMC10863721 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extraction of toxicological end points from primary sources is a central component of systematic reviews and human health risk assessments. To ensure optimal use of these data, consistent language should be used for end point descriptions. However, primary source language describing treatment-related end points can vary greatly, resulting in large labor efforts to manually standardize extractions before data are fit for use. OBJECTIVES To minimize these labor efforts, we applied an augmented intelligence approach and developed automated tools to support standardization of extracted information via application of preexisting controlled vocabularies. METHODS We created and applied a harmonized controlled vocabulary crosswalk, consisting of Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) codes, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) DevTox harmonized terms, and The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) end point vocabularies, to roughly 34,000 extractions from prenatal developmental toxicology studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and 6,400 extractions from European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) prenatal developmental toxicology studies, all recorded based on the original study report language. RESULTS We automatically applied standardized controlled vocabulary terms to 75% of the NTP extracted end points and 57% of the ECHA extracted end points. Of all the standardized extracted end points, about half (51%) required manual review for potential extraneous matches or inaccuracies. Extracted end points that were not mapped to standardized terms tended to be too general or required human logic to find a good match. We estimate that this augmented intelligence approach saved > 350 hours of manual effort and yielded valuable resources including a controlled vocabulary crosswalk, organized related terms lists, code for implementing an automated mapping workflow, and a computationally accessible dataset. DISCUSSION Augmenting manual efforts with automation tools increased the efficiency of producing a findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) dataset of regulatory guideline studies. This open-source approach can be readily applied to other legacy developmental toxicology datasets, and the code design is customizable for other study types. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13215.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Neepa Choksi
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dave Allen
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Amber Daniel
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jon Hamm
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jim Truax
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bevin Blake
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Barry McIntyre
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vicki Sutherland
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew D. Stout
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), DTT, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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8
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Hamm JT, Hsieh JH, Roberts GK, Collins B, Gorospe J, Sparrow B, Walker NJ, Truong L, Tanguay RL, Dyballa S, Miñana R, Schiavone V, Terriente J, Weiner A, Muriana A, Quevedo C, Ryan KR. Interlaboratory Study on Zebrafish in Toxicology: Systematic Evaluation of the Application of Zebrafish in Toxicology's (SEAZIT's) Evaluation of Developmental Toxicity. TOXICS 2024; 12:93. [PMID: 38276729 PMCID: PMC10820928 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12010093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 01/04/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Embryonic zebrafish represent a useful test system to screen substances for their ability to perturb development. The exposure scenarios, endpoints captured, and data analysis vary among the laboratories who conduct screening. A lack of harmonization impedes the comparison of the substance potency and toxicity outcomes across laboratories and may hinder the broader adoption of this model for regulatory use. The Systematic Evaluation of the Application of Zebrafish in Toxicology (SEAZIT) initiative was developed to investigate the sources of variability in toxicity testing. This initiative involved an interlaboratory study to determine whether experimental parameters altered the developmental toxicity of a set of 42 substances (3 tested in duplicate) in three diverse laboratories. An initial dose-range-finding study using in-house protocols was followed by a definitive study using four experimental conditions: chorion-on and chorion-off using both static and static renewal exposures. We observed reasonable agreement across the three laboratories as 33 of 42 test substances (78.6%) had the same activity call. However, the differences in potency seen using variable in-house protocols emphasizes the importance of harmonization of the exposure variables under evaluation in the second phase of this study. The outcome of the Def will facilitate future practical discussions on harmonization within the zebrafish research community.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon T. Hamm
- Inotiv, P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jui-Hua Hsieh
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Georgia K. Roberts
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Bradley Collins
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jenni Gorospe
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH 43201, USA
| | | | - Nigel J. Walker
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Lisa Truong
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, The Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | - Robyn L. Tanguay
- Department of Environmental and Molecular Toxicology, The Sinnhuber Aquatic Research Laboratory, The Environmental Health Sciences Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA
| | | | - Rafael Miñana
- ZeClinics SL., 08980 Barcelona, Spain
- CTI Laboratory Services Spain SL., 48160 Bilbao, Spain
| | | | | | - Andrea Weiner
- BBD BioPhenix SL. (Biobide), 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
| | | | - Celia Quevedo
- BBD BioPhenix SL. (Biobide), 20009 San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Kristen R. Ryan
- Division of Translational Toxicology, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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9
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Harrill JA, Everett LJ, Haggard DE, Bundy JL, Willis CM, Shah I, Friedman KP, Basili D, Middleton A, Judson RS. Exploring the effects of experimental parameters and data modeling approaches on in vitro transcriptomic point-of-departure estimates. Toxicology 2024; 501:153694. [PMID: 38043774 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153694] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 11/29/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023]
Abstract
Multiple new approach methods (NAMs) are being developed to rapidly screen large numbers of chemicals to aid in hazard evaluation and risk assessments. High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) in human cell lines has been proposed as a first-tier screening approach for determining the types of bioactivity a chemical can cause (activation of specific targets vs. generalized cell stress) and for calculating transcriptional points of departure (tPODs) based on changes in gene expression. In the present study, we examine a range of computational methods to calculate tPODs from HTTr data, using six data sets in which MCF7 cells cultured in two different media formulations were treated with a panel of 44 chemicals for 3 different exposure durations (6, 12, 24 hr). The tPOD calculation methods use data at the level of individual genes and gene set signatures, and compare data processed using the ToxCast Pipeline 2 (tcplfit2), BMDExpress and PLIER (Pathway Level Information ExtractoR). Methods were evaluated by comparing to in vitro PODs from a validated set of high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for a set of estrogenic compounds. Key findings include: (1) for a given chemical and set of experimental conditions, tPODs calculated by different methods can vary by several orders of magnitude; (2) tPODs are at least as sensitive to computational methods as to experimental conditions; (3) in comparison to an external reference set of PODs, some methods give generally higher values, principally PLIER and BMDExpress; and (4) the tPODs from HTTr in this one cell type are mostly higher than the overall PODs from a broad battery of targeted in vitro ToxCast assays, reflecting the need to test chemicals in multiple cell types and readout technologies for in vitro hazard screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua A Harrill
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Logan J Everett
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Derik E Haggard
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), USA
| | - Joseph L Bundy
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Clinton M Willis
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU), USA
| | - Imran Shah
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Danilo Basili
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Alistair Middleton
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Richard S Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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10
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Najjar A, Wilm A, Meinhardt J, Mueller N, Boettcher M, Ebmeyer J, Schepky A, Lange D. Evaluation of new alternative methods for the identification of estrogenic, androgenic and steroidogenic effects: a comparative in vitro/in silico study. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:251-266. [PMID: 37819454 PMCID: PMC10761396 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03616-y] [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: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/13/2023]
Abstract
A suite of in vitro assays and in silico models were evaluated to identify which best detected the endocrine-disrupting (ED) potential of 10 test chemicals according to their estrogenic, androgenic and steroidogenic (EAS) potential compared to the outcomes from ToxCast. In vitro methods included receptor-binding, CALUX transactivation, H295R steroidogenesis, aromatase activity inhibition and the Yeast oestrogen (YES) and Yeast androgen screen (YAS) assays. The impact of metabolism was also evaluated. The YES/YAS assays exhibited a high sensitivity for ER effects and, despite some challenges in predicting AR effects, is a good initial screening assay. Results from receptor-binding and CALUX assays generally correlated and were in accordance with classifications based on ToxCast assays. ER agonism and AR antagonism of benzyl butyl phthalate were abolished when CALUX assays included liver S9. In silico final calls were mostly in agreement with the in vitro assays, and predicted ER and AR effects well. The efficiency of the in silico models (reflecting applicability domains or inconclusive results) was 43-100%. The percentage of correct calls for ER (50-100%), AR (57-100%) and aromatase (33-100%) effects when compared to the final ToxCast call covered a wide range from highly reliable to less reliable models. In conclusion, Danish (Q)SAR, Opera, ADMET Lab LBD and ProToxII models demonstrated the best overall performance for ER and AR effects. These can be combined with the YES/YAS assays in an initial screen of chemicals in the early tiers of an NGRA to inform on the MoA and the design of mechanistic in vitro assays used later in the assessment. Inhibition of aromatase was best predicted by the Vega, AdmetLab and ProToxII models. Other mechanisms and exposure should be considered when making a conclusion with respect to ED effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Najjar
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany.
| | - A Wilm
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - J Meinhardt
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - N Mueller
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - M Boettcher
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - J Ebmeyer
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - A Schepky
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
| | - D Lange
- Beiersdorf AG, Beiersdorfstr. 1-9, 20245, Hamburg, Germany
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11
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Fan F, Wu G, Yang Y, Liu F, Qian Y, Yu Q, Ren H, Geng J. A Graph Neural Network Model with a Transparent Decision-Making Process Defines the Applicability Domain for Environmental Estrogen Screening. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:18236-18245. [PMID: 37749748 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c04571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The application of deep learning (DL) models for screening environmental estrogens (EEs) for the sound management of chemicals has garnered significant attention. However, the currently available DL model for screening EEs lacks both a transparent decision-making process and effective applicability domain (AD) characterization, making the reliability of its prediction results uncertain and limiting its practical applications. To address this issue, a graph neural network (GNN) model was developed to screen EEs, achieving accuracy rates of 88.9% and 92.5% on the internal and external test sets, respectively. The decision-making process of the GNN model was explored through the network-like similarity graphs (NSGs) based on the model features (FT). We discovered that the accuracy of the predictions is dependent on the feature distribution of compounds in NSGs. An AD characterization method called ADFT was proposed, which excludes predictions falling outside of the model's prediction range, leading to a 15% improvement in the F1 score of the GNN model. The GNN model with the AD method may serve as an efficient tool for screening EEs, identifying 800 potential EEs in the Inventory of Existing Chemical Substances of China. Additionally, this study offers new insights into comprehending the decision-making process of DL models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Gang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yining Yang
- School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Fu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Yuli Qian
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Qingmiao Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
| | - Hongqiang Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
| | - Jinju Geng
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, P. R. China
- Key Laboratory of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region's Eco-Environment, Ministry of Education, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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12
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Brown RJ, Panter GH, Burden N, Salinas ER, Weltje L, Wheeler JR, Wolf Y, Lagadic L. Are changes in vitellogenin concentrations in fish reliable indicators of chemical-induced endocrine activity? ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2023; 266:115563. [PMID: 37827093 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 10/08/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker for endocrine activity, is a mechanistic component of the regulatory assessment of potential endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals. This review of VTG data is based on changes reported for 106 substances in standard fish species. High intra-study and inter-laboratory variability in VTG concentrations was confirmed, as well as discrepancies in interpretation of results based on large differences between fish in the dilution water versus solvent control, or due to the presence of outlier measurements. VTG responses in fish were ranked against predictions for estrogen receptor agonist activity and aromatase inhibition from bioactivity model output and ToxCast in vitro assay results, respectively. These endocrine mechanisms explained most of the VTG responses in the absence of systemic toxicity, the magnitude of the VTG response being proportional to the in vitro potency. Interpretation of the VTG data was sometimes confounded by an alternative endocrine mechanism of action. There was evidence for both false positive and negative responses for VTG synthesis, but overall, it was rare for substances without endocrine activity in vitro to cause a concentration-dependent VTG response in fish in the absence of systemic toxicity. To increase confidence in the VTG results, we recommend improvements in the VTG measurement methodologies and greater transparency in reporting of VTG data (including quality control criteria for assay performance). This review supports the application of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) by demonstrating that endocrine activity in vitro from mammalian cell lines is predictive for in vivo VTG response in fish, suggesting that in vitro mechanistic data could be used more broadly in decision-making to help reduce animal testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca J Brown
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK.
| | - Grace H Panter
- wca, Brunel House, Volunteer Way, Faringdon, Oxfordshire SN7 7YR, UK
| | - Natalie Burden
- NC3Rs, Gibbs Building, 215 Euston Road, London NW1 2BE, UK
| | - Edward R Salinas
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany; Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions - Ecotoxicology, Speyerer Strasse 2, 67117 Limburgerhof, Germany
| | - James R Wheeler
- Corteva Agriscience, Zuid-Oostsingel 24D, 4611 BB Bergen op Zoom, The Netherlands
| | - Yvonne Wolf
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Bayer AG, R&D, Crop Science Division, Environmental Safety, Alfred-Nobel Strasse 50, 40789 Monheim am Rhein, Germany
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13
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Onyango DO, Selman BG, Rose JL, Ellison CA, Nash JF. Comparison between endocrine activity assessed using ToxCast/Tox21 database and human plasma concentration of sunscreen active ingredients/UV filters. Toxicol Sci 2023; 196:25-37. [PMID: 37561120 PMCID: PMC10613966 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad082] [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] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Sunscreen products are composed of ultraviolet (UV) filters and formulated to reduce exposure to sunlight thereby lessening skin damage. Concerns have been raised regarding the toxicity and potential endocrine disrupting (ED) effects of UV filters. The ToxCast/Tox21 program, that is, CompTox, is a high-throughput in vitro screening database of chemicals that identify adverse outcome pathways, key events, and ED potential of chemicals. Using the ToxCast/Tox21 database, octisalate, homosalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, octinoxate, and avobenzone, 6 commonly used organic UV filters, were found to have been evaluated. These UV filters showed low potency in these bioassays with most activity detected above the range of the cytotoxic burst. The pathways that were most affected were the cell cycle and the nuclear receptor pathways. Most activity was observed in liver and kidney-based bioassays. These organic filters and their metabolites showed relatively weak ED activity when tested in bioassays measuring estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), thyroid receptor, and steroidogenesis activity. Except for oxybenzone, all activity in the endocrine assays occurred at concentrations greater than the cytotoxic burst. Moreover, except for oxybenzone, plasma concentrations (Cmax) measured in humans were at least 100× lower than bioactive (AC50/ACC) concentrations that produced a response in ToxCast/Tox21 assays. These data are consistent with in vivo animal/human studies showing weak or negligible endocrine activity. In sum, when considered as part of a weight-of-evidence assessment and compared with measured plasma concentrations, the results show these organic UV filters have low intrinsic biological activity and risk of toxicity including endocrine disruption in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- David O Onyango
- Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - Bastian G Selman
- Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - Jane L Rose
- Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - Corie A Ellison
- Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - J F Nash
- Global Product Stewardship, The Procter & Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
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14
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Eytcheson SA, Olker JH, Friedman KP, Hornung MW, Degitz SJ. Assessing utility of thyroid in vitro screening assays through comparisons to observed impacts in vivo. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 144:105491. [PMID: 37666444 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105491] [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: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/06/2023]
Abstract
To better understand endocrine disruption, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (USEPA) Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) utilizes a two-tiered approach to investigate the potential of a chemical to interact with the estrogen, androgen, or thyroid systems. As in vivo testing lacks the throughput to address data gaps on endocrine bioactivity for thousands of chemicals, in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) methods are being developed to screen larger chemical libraries. The primary objective of this work was to investigate for how many of the 52 chemicals with weight-of-evidence (WoE) determinations from EDSP Tier 1 screening there are available in vitro HTS data supporting a thyroid impact. HTS data from the USEPA ToxCast program and the EDSP WoE were collected for this analysis. Considering the complexity of endocrine disruption and interpreting HTS data, concordance between in vitro activity and in vivo effects ranges from 58 to 78%. Based on this evaluation, we conclude that the current suite of HTS assays is beneficial for prioritizing chemicals for further inquiry; however, without a more detailed analysis, one cannot conclude whether HTS results are the primary mode-of-action. Furthermore, development of in vitro assays for additional thyroid-relevant molecular initiating events is required to effectively predict in vivo thyroid impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie A Eytcheson
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, USA; U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Jennifer H Olker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA
| | - Michael W Hornung
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA
| | - Sigmund J Degitz
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804, USA.
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15
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Nelson LM, Spencer H, Hijane K, Thinuan P, Nelson CW, Vincent AJ, Gordon CM, Plant TM, Fazeli PK. My 28 Days - a global digital women's health initiative for evaluation and management of secondary amenorrhea: case report and literature review. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1227253. [PMID: 37772077 PMCID: PMC10523024 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1227253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There is a need to close the gap between knowledge and action in health care. Effective care requires a convenient and reliable distribution process. As global internet and mobile communication increase capacity, innovative approaches to digital health education platforms and care delivery are feasible. We report the case of a young African woman who developed acute secondary amenorrhea at age 18. Subsequently, she experienced a 10-year delay in the diagnosis of the underlying cause. A global digital medical hub focused on women's health and secondary amenorrhea could reduce the chance of such mismanagement. Such a hub would establish more efficient information integration and exchange processes to better serve patients, family caregivers, health care providers, and investigators. Here, we show proof of concept for a global digital medical hub for women's health. First, we describe the physiological control systems that govern the normal menstrual cycle, and review the pathophysiology and management of secondary amenorrhea. The symptom may lead to broad and profound health implications for the patient and extended family members. In specific situations, there may be significant morbidity related to estradiol deficiency: (1) reduced bone mineral density, 2) cardiovascular disease, and 3) cognitive decline. Using primary ovarian insufficiency (POI) as the paradigm condition, the Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation has been able to address the specific global educational needs of these women. The Foundation did this by creating a professionally managed Facebook group specifically for these women. POI most commonly presents with secondary amenorrhea. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of conducting a natural history study on secondary amenorrhea with international reach to be coordinated by a global digital medical hub. Such an approach takes full advantage of internet and mobile device communication systems. We refer to this global digital women's health initiative as My 28 Days®.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lawrence M. Nelson
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Hillary Spencer
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Karima Hijane
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Payom Thinuan
- Faculty of Nursing, Boromarajonani College of Nursing Nakhon, Lampang, Thailand
| | - Chaninan W. Nelson
- Digital Women's Health Initiative, Mary Elizabeth Conover Foundation, Tysons, VA, United States
| | - Amanda J. Vincent
- Monash Centre for Health Research and Implementation (MCHRI), Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Catherine M. Gordon
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Tony M. Plant
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
| | - Pouneh K. Fazeli
- Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, United States
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16
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Russo D, Aleksunes LM, Goyak K, Qian H, Zhu H. Integrating Concentration-Dependent Toxicity Data and Toxicokinetics To Inform Hepatotoxicity Response Pathways. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12291-12301. [PMID: 37566783 PMCID: PMC10448720 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c02792] [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: 04/13/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Failure of animal models to predict hepatotoxicity in humans has created a push to develop biological pathway-based alternatives, such as those that use in vitro assays. Public screening programs (e.g., ToxCast/Tox21 programs) have tested thousands of chemicals using in vitro high-throughput screening (HTS) assays. Developing pathway-based models for simple biological pathways, such as endocrine disruption, has proven successful, but development remains a challenge for complex toxicities like hepatotoxicity, due to the many biological events involved. To this goal, we aimed to develop a computational strategy for developing pathway-based models for complex toxicities. Using a database of 2171 chemicals with human hepatotoxicity classifications, we identified 157 out of 1600+ ToxCast/Tox21 HTS assays to be associated with human hepatotoxicity. Then, a computational framework was used to group these assays by biological target or mechanisms into 52 key event (KE) models of hepatotoxicity. KE model output is a KE score summarizing chemical potency against a hepatotoxicity-relevant biological target or mechanism. Grouping hepatotoxic chemicals based on the chemical structure revealed chemical classes with high KE scores plausibly informing their hepatotoxicity mechanisms. Using KE scores and supervised learning to predict in vivo hepatotoxicity, including toxicokinetic information, improved the predictive performance. This new approach can be a universal computational toxicology strategy for various chemical toxicity evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel
P. Russo
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
| | - Lauren M. Aleksunes
- Department
of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Katy Goyak
- ExxonMobil
Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Hua Qian
- ExxonMobil
Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Hao Zhu
- Department
of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Rowan University, Glassboro, New Jersey 08028, United States
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17
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Morshead ML, Jensen KM, Ankley GT, Vliet S, LaLone CA, Aller AV, Watanabe KH, Villeneuve DL. Putative adverse outcome pathway development based on physiological responses of female fathead minnows to model estrogen versus androgen receptor agonists. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 261:106607. [PMID: 37354817 PMCID: PMC10910347 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106607] [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: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Several adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) have linked molecular initiating events like aromatase inhibition, androgen receptor (AR) agonism, and estrogen receptor (ER) antagonism to reproductive impairment in adult fish. Estrogen receptor agonists can also cause adverse reproductive effects, however, the early key events (KEs) in an AOP leading to this are mostly unknown. The primary aim of this study was to develop hypotheses regarding the potential mechanisms through which exposure to ER agonists might lead to reproductive impairment in female fish. Mature fathead minnows were exposed to 1 or 10 ng 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2)/L or 10 or 100 µg bisphenol A (BPA)/L for 14 d. The response to EE2 and BPA was contrasted with the effects of 500 ng/L of 17β-trenbolone (TRB), an AR agonist, as well as TRB combined with the low and high concentrations of EE2 or BPA tested individually. Exposure to 10 ng EE2/L, 100 µg BPA/L, TRB, or the various mixtures with TRB caused significant decreases in plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol. Exposure to TRB alone caused a significant reduction in plasma vitellogenin (VTG), but VTG was unaffected or even increased in females exposed to EE2 or BPA alone or, in most cases, in mixtures with TRB. Over the course of the 14-d exposure, the only treatments that clearly did not affect egg production were 1 ng EE2/L and 10 µg BPA/L. Based on these results and knowledge of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function, we hypothesize an AOP whereby decreased production of maturation-inducing steroid leading to impaired oocyte maturation and ovulation, possibly due to negative feedback or direct inhibitory effects of membrane ER activation, could be responsible for causing adverse reproductive impacts in female fish exposed to ER agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L Morshead
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Sara Vliet
- US EPA, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Karen H Watanabe
- Arizona State University, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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18
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Kelsey JR, Seidel S. Propylene oxide derived glycol ethers: A review of the alkyl glycol ethers potential to cause endocrine disruption. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023:105442. [PMID: 37394030 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
The 'propylene glycol ethers' (PGEs) are a group of chemical solvents and functional fluids produced through the reaction of propylene oxide (PO) and a monoalcohol. PGEs form different structural isomers, with possible permutations increasing with the number of PO units in the molecule. The dominant isomers have only secondary hydroxyl groups and are not able to be metabolized to the acid structures that are associated with reproductive toxicity. There have been published claims that glycol ethers are human endocrine disruptors. This review systematically evaluates all the available and relevant in vitro and in vivo data across the propylene glycol ether family of substances using an approach based around the EFSA/ECHA 2018 guidance for the identification of endocrine disruptors. The conclusion reached is that there is no evidence to show that PGEs target any endocrine organs or perturb endocrine pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Shawn Seidel
- Toxicology and Environmental Research & Consulting, The Dow Chemical Company, 1803 Building, Midland, MI, 48674, USA
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19
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Borgert CJ. Hypothesis-driven weight of evidence evaluation indicates styrene lacks endocrine disruption potential. Crit Rev Toxicol 2023:1-16. [PMID: 37216681 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2022.2112652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Styrene is among the U.S. EPA's List 2 chemicals for Tier 1 endocrine screening subject to the agency's two-tiered Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP). Both U.S. EPA and OECD guidelines require a Weight of Evidence (WoE) to evaluate a chemical's potential for disrupting the endocrine system. Styrene was evaluated for its potential to disrupt estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and steroidogenic (EATS) pathways using a rigorous WoE methodology that included problem formulation, systematic literature search and selection, data quality evaluation, relevance weighting of endpoint data, and application of specific interpretive criteria. Sufficient data were available to assess the endocrine disruptive potential of styrene based on endpoints that would respond to EATS modes of action in some Tier 1-type and many Tier 2-type reproductive, developmental, and repeat dose toxicity studies. Responses to styrene were inconsistent with patterns of responses expected for chemicals and hormones known to operate via EATS MoAs, and thus, styrene cannot be deemed an endocrine disruptor, a potential endocrine disruptor, or to exhibit endocrine disruptive properties. Because Tier 1 EDSP screening results would trigger Tier 2 studies, like those evaluated here, subjecting styrene to further endocrine screening would produce no additional useful information and would be unjustified from animal welfare perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher J Borgert
- Applied Pharmacology and Toxicology Inc, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Physiological Sciences, University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, FL, USA
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20
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Brown EC, Hallinger DR, Simmons SO. High-throughput AR dimerization assay identifies androgen disrupting chemicals and metabolites. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1134783. [PMID: 37082740 PMCID: PMC10112521 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1134783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Analysis of streamlined computational models used to predict androgen disrupting chemicals revealed that assays measuring androgen receptor (AR) cofactor recruitment/dimerization were particularly indispensable to high predictivity, especially for AR antagonists. As the original dimerization assays used to develop the minimal assay models are no longer available, new assays must be established and evaluated as suitable alternatives to assess chemicals beyond the original 1,800+ supported by the current data. Here we present the AR2 assay, which is a stable, cell-based method that uses an enzyme complementation approach.Methods: Bipartite domains of the NanoLuc luciferase enzyme were fused to the human AR to quantitatively measure ligand-dependent AR homodimerization. 128 chemicals with known endocrine activity profiles including 43 AR reference chemicals were screened in agonist and antagonist modes and compared to the legacy assays. Test chemicals were rescreened in both modes using a retrofit method to incorporate robust cytochrome P450 (CYP) metabolism to assess CYP-mediated shifts in bioactivity.Results: The AR2 assay is amenable to high-throughput screening with excellent robust Z’-factors (rZ’) for both agonist (0.94) and antagonist (0.85) modes. The AR2 assay successfully classified known agonists (balanced accuracy = 0.92) and antagonists (balanced accuracy = 0.79–0.88) as well as or better than the legacy assays with equal or higher estimated potencies. The subsequent reevaluation of the 128 chemicals tested in the presence of individual human CYP enzymes changed the activity calls for five compounds and shifted the estimated potencies for several others.Discussion: This study shows the AR2 assay is well suited to replace the previous AR dimerization assays in a revised computational model to predict AR bioactivity for parent chemicals and their metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evan C. Brown
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education Fellow, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Daniel R. Hallinger
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Steven O. Simmons
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: Steven O. Simmons,
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Aurisano N, Jolliet O, Chiu WA, Judson R, Jang S, Unnikrishnan A, Kosnik MB, Fantke P. Probabilistic Points of Departure and Reference Doses for Characterizing Human Noncancer and Developmental/Reproductive Effects for 10,145 Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:37016. [PMID: 36989077 PMCID: PMC10056221 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulatory toxicity values used to assess and manage chemical risks rely on the determination of the point of departure (POD) for a critical effect, which results from a comprehensive and systematic assessment of available toxicity studies. However, regulatory assessments are only available for a small fraction of chemicals. OBJECTIVES Using in vivo experimental animal data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxicity Value Database, we developed a semiautomated approach to determine surrogate oral route PODs, and corresponding toxicity values where regulatory assessments are unavailable. METHODS We developed a curated data set restricted to effect levels, exposure routes, study designs, and species relevant for deriving toxicity values. Effect levels were adjusted to chronic human equivalent benchmark doses (BMDh). We hypothesized that a quantile of the BMDh distribution could serve as a surrogate POD and determined the appropriate quantile by calibration to regulatory PODs. Finally, we characterized uncertainties around the surrogate PODs from intra- and interstudy variability and derived probabilistic toxicity values using a standardized workflow. RESULTS The BMDh distribution for each chemical was adequately fit by a lognormal distribution, and the 25th percentile best predicted the available regulatory PODs [R2≥0.78, residual standard error (RSE)≤0.53 log10 units]. We derived surrogate PODs for 10,145 chemicals from the curated data set, differentiating between general noncancer and reproductive/developmental effects, with typical uncertainties (at 95% confidence) of a factor of 10 and 12, respectively. From these PODs, probabilistic reference doses (1% incidence at 95% confidence), as well as human population effect doses (10% incidence), were derived. DISCUSSION In providing surrogate PODs calibrated to regulatory values and deriving corresponding toxicity values, we have substantially expanded the coverage of chemicals from 744 to 8,023 for general noncancer effects, and from 41 to 6,697 for reproductive/developmental effects. These results can be used across various risk assessment and risk management contexts, from hazardous site and life cycle impact assessments to chemical prioritization and substitution. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11524.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Richard Judson
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Suji Jang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Aswani Unnikrishnan
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marissa B. Kosnik
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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22
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Magurany KA, Chang X, Clewell R, Coecke S, Haugabrooks E, Marty S. A Pragmatic Framework for the Application of New Approach Methodologies in One Health Toxicological Risk Assessment. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:kfad012. [PMID: 36782355 PMCID: PMC10109535 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, industries and regulatory authorities are faced with an urgent need to assess the potential adverse effects of chemicals more efficiently by embracing new approach methodologies (NAMs). NAMs include cell and tissue methods (in vitro), structure-based/toxicokinetic models (in silico), methods that assess toxicant interactions with biological macromolecules (in chemico), and alternative models. Increasing knowledge on chemical toxicokinetics (what the body does with chemicals) and toxicodynamics (what the chemicals do with the body) obtained from in silico and in vitro systems continues to provide opportunities for modernizing chemical risk assessments. However, directly leveraging in vitro and in silico data for derivation of human health-based reference values has not received regulatory acceptance due to uncertainties in extrapolating NAM results to human populations, including metabolism, complex biological pathways, multiple exposures, interindividual susceptibility and vulnerable populations. The objective of this article is to provide a standardized pragmatic framework that applies integrated approaches with a focus on quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) to extrapolate in vitro cellular exposures to human equivalent doses from which human reference values can be derived. The proposed framework intends to systematically account for the complexities in extrapolation and data interpretation to support sound human health safety decisions in diverse industrial sectors (food systems, cosmetics, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc.). Case studies of chemical entities, using new and existing data, are presented to demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework while highlighting potential sources of human population bias and uncertainty, and the importance of Good Method and Reporting Practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rebecca Clewell
- 21st Century Tox Consulting, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, USA
| | - Sandra Coecke
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - Esther Haugabrooks
- Coca-Cola Company (formerly Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), Atlanta, Georgia 30313, USA
| | - Sue Marty
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan 48667, USA
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23
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Saarimäki LA, Morikka J, Pavel A, Korpilähde S, del Giudice G, Federico A, Fratello M, Serra A, Greco D. Toxicogenomics Data for Chemical Safety Assessment and Development of New Approach Methodologies: An Adverse Outcome Pathway-Based Approach. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2203984. [PMID: 36479815 PMCID: PMC9839874 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202203984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Mechanistic toxicology provides a powerful approach to inform on the safety of chemicals and the development of safe-by-design compounds. Although toxicogenomics supports mechanistic evaluation of chemical exposures, its implementation into the regulatory framework is hindered by uncertainties in the analysis and interpretation of such data. The use of mechanistic evidence through the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) concept is promoted for the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) that can reduce animal experimentation. However, to unleash the full potential of AOPs and build confidence into toxicogenomics, robust associations between AOPs and patterns of molecular alteration need to be established. Systematic curation of molecular events to AOPs will create the much-needed link between toxicogenomics and systemic mechanisms depicted by the AOPs. This, in turn, will introduce novel ways of benefitting from the AOPs, including predictive models and targeted assays, while also reducing the need for multiple testing strategies. Hence, a multi-step strategy to annotate AOPs is developed, and the resulting associations are applied to successfully highlight relevant adverse outcomes for chemical exposures with strong in vitro and in vivo convergence, supporting chemical grouping and other data-driven approaches. Finally, a panel of AOP-derived in vitro biomarkers for pulmonary fibrosis (PF) is identified and experimentally validated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Aliisa Saarimäki
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Jack Morikka
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Alisa Pavel
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Seela Korpilähde
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Giusy del Giudice
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Antonio Federico
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Michele Fratello
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
| | - Angela Serra
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
- Tampere Institute for Advanced StudyTampere UniversityKalevantie 4Tampere33100Finland
| | - Dario Greco
- Finnish Hub for Development and Validation of Integrated Approaches (FHAIVE)Faculty of Medicine and Health TechnologyTampere UniversityArvo Ylpön katu 34Tampere33520Finland
- Institute of BiotechnologyUniversity of HelsinkiP.O.Box 56HelsinkiUusimaa00014Finland
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Li HM, Zhang YC, Li YY, Zhu QQ, Li J, Xu HM, Xiong YM, Qin ZF. Low concentrations of benzophenone-type UV-filters impair testis development in the amphibian Xenopus laevis. AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2023; 254:106371. [PMID: 36529091 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2022.106371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Benzophenone-type UV filters (BPs) are ubiquitous contaminants in aquatic environments, possibly posing ecological risks to aquatic populations. So far, little is known about the potential adverse effects of BPs on amphibians. Given their potential estrogenic property, we investigated the detrimental effects of the commonly used BPs, BP-3, BP-2, and BP-1, on testis development in amphibians using Xenopus laevis as a model species. Following exposure to 10, 100, 1000 nM BP-3, BP-2, or BP-1 from stages 45/46 to 52, tadpoles presented morphological abnormal testes, characterized by reduced gonomere size and testis area, coupled with suppressed cell proliferation. Meanwhile, the downregulation of testis-biased gene expression and the upregulation of ovary-biased gene expression were observed in BPs-treated testes. Moreover, the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 significantly antagonized ovary-biased gene upregulation caused by BPs, suggesting that the effects of BPs on testis differentiation could be mediated by ER, at least partially. Of note, the effects of BPs were not concentration-dependent, but the lowest concentration generally exerted significant effects. Altogether, these observations indicate that the three BPs inhibited testis differentiation and exerted feminizing effects. Importantly, when BP-2 exposure was extended to two months post-metamorphosis, testes of froglets were generally less-developed, with relatively fewer spermatocytes, more spermatogonia, and poorly formed seminiferous tubules. Considering the fact that the lowest concentration (10 nM) of BPs in this study are detectable in aquatic environments, we conclude that BP-3, BP-2, and BP-1, even at environmentally relevant concentrations, can retard testis differentiation at pre-metamorphic stages and cause testis dysgenesis after metamorphosis in the amphibian X. laevis. Our findings suggest that ubiquitous BPs in aquatic environments could pose a potential risk to amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Ying-Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Qing-Qing Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jie Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Hai-Ming Xu
- Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yi-Ming Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhan-Fen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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25
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Najjar A, Ellison CA, Gregoire S, Hewitt NJ. Practical application of the interim internal threshold of toxicological concern (iTTC): a case study based on clinical data. Arch Toxicol 2023; 97:155-164. [PMID: 36149470 PMCID: PMC9816204 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03371-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
We present a case study that provides a practical step-by-step example of how the internal Threshold of Toxicological Concern (iTTC) can be used as a tool to refine a TTC-based assessment for dermal exposures to consumer products. The case study uses a theoretical scenario where there are no systemic toxicity data for the case study chemicals (avobenzone, oxybenzone, octocrylene, homosalate, octisalate, octinoxate, and ecamsule). Human dermal pharmacokinetic data following single and repeat dermal exposure to products containing the case study chemicals were obtained from data published by the US FDA. The clinical studies utilized an application procedure that followed maximal use conditions (product applied as 2 mg/cm2 to 75% of the body surface area, 4 times a day). The case study chemicals were first reviewed to determine if they were in the applicability domain of the iTTC, and then, the human plasma concentrations were compared to an iTTC limit of 1 µM. When assessed under maximum usage, the external exposure of all chemicals exceeded the external dose TTC limits. By contrast, the internal exposure to all chemicals, except oxybenzone, was an order of magnitude lower than the 1 µM interim iTTC threshold. This work highlights the importance of understanding internal exposure relative to external dose and how the iTTC can be a valuable tool for assessing low-level internal exposures; additionally, the work demonstrates how to use an iTTC, and highlights considerations and refinement opportunities for the approach.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Corie A Ellison
- The Procter & Gamble Company, 8700 Mason Montgomery Road, Cincinnati, OH, 45040, USA.
| | - Sebastien Gregoire
- L'Oreal Research & Innovation, 1, Avenue Eugène Schueller, 93601, Aulnay-sous-Bois, France
| | - Nicola J Hewitt
- Cosmetics Europe, Avenue Herrmann-Debroux 40, 1160, Brussels, Belgium
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26
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Pereira M, Macmillan DS, Willett C, Seidle T. REACHing for solutions: Essential revisions to the EU chemicals regulation to modernise safety assessment. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 136:105278. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
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27
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Daniel AB, Choksi N, Abedini J, Bell S, Ceger P, Cook B, Karmaus AL, Rooney J, To KT, Allen D, Kleinstreuer N. Data curation to support toxicity assessments using the Integrated Chemical Environment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:987848. [PMID: 36408349 PMCID: PMC9669273 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.987848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are exposed to large numbers of chemicals during their daily activities. To assess and understand potential health impacts of chemical exposure, investigators and regulators need access to reliable toxicity data. In particular, reliable toxicity data for a wide range of chemistries are needed to support development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) such as computational models, which offer increased throughput relative to traditional approaches and reduce or replace animal use. NAMs development and evaluation require chemically diverse data sets that are typically constructed by incorporating results from multiple studies into a single, integrated view; however, integrating data is not always a straightforward task. Primary study sources often vary in the way data are organized and reported. Metadata and information needed to support interoperability and provide context are often lacking, which necessitates literature research on the assay prior to attempting data integration. The Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) was developed to support the development, evaluation, and application of NAMs. ICE provides curated toxicity data and computational tools to integrate and explore available information, thus facilitating knowledge discovery and interoperability. This paper describes the data curation workflow for integrating data into ICE. Data destined for ICE undergo rigorous harmonization, standardization, and formatting processes using both automated and manual expert-driven approaches. These processes improve the utility of the data for diverse analyses and facilitate application within ICE or a user's external workflow while preserving data integrity and context. ICE data curation provides the structure, reliability, and accessibility needed for data to support chemical assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neepa Choksi
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Shannon Bell
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Bethany Cook
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - John Rooney
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - David Allen
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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28
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Foster MJ, Patlewicz G, Shah I, Haggard DE, Judson RS, Paul Friedman K. Evaluating structure-based activity in a high-throughput assay for steroid biosynthesis. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 24:1-23. [PMID: 37841081 PMCID: PMC10569244 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Data from a high-throughput human adrenocortical carcinoma assay (HT-H295R) for steroid hormone biosynthesis are available for >2000 chemicals in single concentration and 654 chemicals in multi-concentration (mc). Previously, a metric describing the effect size of a chemical on the biosynthesis of 11 hormones was derived using mc data referred to as the maximum mean Mahalanobis distance (maxmMd). However, mc HT-H295R assay data remain unavailable for many chemicals. This work leverages existing HT-H295R assay data by constructing structure-activity relationships to make predictions for data-poor chemicals, including: (1) identification of individual structural descriptors, known as ToxPrint chemotypes, associated with increased odds of affecting estrogen or androgen synthesis; (2) a random forest (RF) classifier using physicochemical property descriptors to predict HT-H295R maxmMd binary (positive or negative) outcomes; and, (3) a local approach to predict maxmMd binary outcomes using nearest neighbors (NNs) based on two types of chemical fingerprints (chemotype or Morgan). Individual chemotypes demonstrated high specificity (85-98%) for modulators of estrogen and androgen synthesis but with low sensitivity. The best RF model for maxmMd classification included 13 predicted physicochemical descriptors, yielding a balanced accuracy (BA) of 71% with only modest improvement when hundreds of structural features were added. The best two NN models for binary maxmMd prediction demonstrated BAs of 85 and 81% using chemotype and Morgan fingerprints, respectively. Using an external test set of 6302 chemicals (lacking HT-H295R data), 1241 were identified as putative estrogen and androgen modulators. Combined results across the three classification models (global RF model and two local NN models) predict that 1033 of the 6302 chemicals would be more likely to affect HT-H295R bioactivity. Together, these in silico approaches can efficiently prioritize thousands of untested chemicals for screening to further evaluate their effects on steroid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Foster
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
- National Student Services Contractor, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
| | - G Patlewicz
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - I Shah
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - D E Haggard
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - R S Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - K Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
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29
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Shi Z, Xia M, Xiao S, Zhang Q. Identification of nonmonotonic concentration-responses in Tox21 high-throughput screening estrogen receptor assays. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2022; 452:116206. [PMID: 35988584 PMCID: PMC9452481 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2022.116206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2022] [Revised: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
Environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) interfere with the metabolism and actions of endogenous hormones. It has been well documented in numerous in vivo and in vitro studies that EDCs can exhibit nonmonotonic dose response (NMDR) behaviors. Not conforming to the conventional linear or linear-no-threshold response paradigm, these NMDR relationships pose practical challenges to the risk assessment of EDCs. In the meantime, the endocrine signaling pathways and biological mechanisms underpinning NMDR remain incompletely understood. The US Tox21 program has conducted in vitro cell-based high-throughput screening assays for estrogen receptors (ER), androgen receptors, and other nuclear receptors, and screened the 10 K-compound library for potential endocrine activities. Using 15 concentrations across several orders of magnitude of concentration range and run in both agonist and antagonist modes, these Tox21 assay datasets contain valuable quantitative information that can be explored to evaluate the nonlinear effects of EDCs and may infer potential mechanisms. In this study we analyzed the concentration-response curves (CRCs) in all 8 Tox21 ERα and ERβ assays by developing clustering and classification algorithms customized to the datasets to identify various shapes of CRCs. After excluding NMDR curves likely caused by cytotoxicity, luciferase inhibition, or autofluorescence, hundreds of compounds were identified to exhibit Bell or U-shaped CRCs. Bell-shaped CRCs are about 7 times more frequent than U-shaped ones in the Tox21 ER assays. Many compounds exhibit NMDR in at least one assay, and some EDCs well-known for their NMDRs in the literature were also identified, suggesting their nonmonotonic effects may originate at cellular levels involving transcriptional ER signaling. The developed computational methods for NMDR identification in ER assays can be adapted and applied to other high-throughput bioassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Shi
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Menghang Xia
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Shuo Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA.
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Tan H, Wu J, Zhang R, Zhang C, Li W, Chen Q, Zhang X, Yu H, Shi W. Development, Validation, and Application of a Human Reproductive Toxicity Prediction Model Based on Adverse Outcome Pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12391-12403. [PMID: 35960020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of environmental contaminants have been proved to have reproductive toxicity to males and females. However, the unclear toxicological mechanism of reproductive toxicants limits the development of virtual screening methods. By consolidating androgen (AR)-/estrogen receptors (ERs)-mediated adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) with more than 8000 chemical substances, we uncovered relationships between chemical features, a series of pathway-related effects, and reproductive apical outcomes─changes in sex organ weights. An AOP-based computational model named RepTox was developed and evaluated to predict and characterize chemicals' reproductive toxicity for males and females. Results showed that RepTox has three outstanding advantages. (I) Compared with the traditional models (37 and 81% accuracy, respectively), AOP significantly improved the predictive robustness of RepTox (96.3% accuracy). (II) Compared with the application domain (AD) of models based on small in vivo datasets, AOP expanded the ADs of RepTox by 1.65-fold for male and 3.77-fold for female, respectively. (III) RepTox implied that hydrophobicity, cyclopentanol substructure, and several topological indices (e.g., hydrogen-bond acceptors) were important, unbiased features associated with reproductive toxicants. Finally, RepTox was applied to the inventory of existing chemical substances of China and identified 2100 and 7281 potential toxicants to the male and female reproductive systems, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinqiu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qinchang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
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van der Zalm AJ, Barroso J, Browne P, Casey W, Gordon J, Henry TR, Kleinstreuer NC, Lowit AB, Perron M, Clippinger AJ. A framework for establishing scientific confidence in new approach methodologies. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2865-2879. [PMID: 35987941 PMCID: PMC9525335 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03365-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Robust and efficient processes are needed to establish scientific confidence in new approach methodologies (NAMs) if they are to be considered for regulatory applications. NAMs need to be fit for purpose, reliable and, for the assessment of human health effects, provide information relevant to human biology. They must also be independently reviewed and transparently communicated. Ideally, NAM developers should communicate with stakeholders such as regulators and industry to identify the question(s), and specified purpose that the NAM is intended to address, and the context in which it will be used. Assessment of the biological relevance of the NAM should focus on its alignment with human biology, mechanistic understanding, and ability to provide information that leads to health protective decisions, rather than solely comparing NAM-based chemical testing results with those from traditional animal test methods. However, when NAM results are compared to historical animal test results, the variability observed within animal test method results should be used to inform performance benchmarks. Building on previous efforts, this paper proposes a framework comprising five essential elements to establish scientific confidence in NAMs for regulatory use: fitness for purpose, human biological relevance, technical characterization, data integrity and transparency, and independent review. Universal uptake of this framework would facilitate the timely development and use of NAMs by the international community. While this paper focuses on NAMs for assessing human health effects of pesticides and industrial chemicals, many of the suggested elements are expected to apply to other types of chemicals and to ecotoxicological effect assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João Barroso
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Patience Browne
- Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Hazard Assessment and Pesticides Programmes, Environmental Directorate, Paris, France
| | - Warren Casey
- National Institutes of Health, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - John Gordon
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directorate for Health Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Tala R Henry
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nicole C Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Anna B Lowit
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Monique Perron
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington, DC, USA
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32
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Celma A, Gago-Ferrero P, Golovko O, Hernández F, Lai FY, Lundqvist J, Menger F, Sancho JV, Wiberg K, Ahrens L, Bijlsma L. Are preserved coastal water bodies in Spanish Mediterranean basin impacted by human activity? Water quality evaluation using chemical and biological analyses. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 165:107326. [PMID: 35696846 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The Spanish Mediterranean basin is particularly susceptible to climate change and human activities, making it vulnerable to the influence of anthropogenic contaminants. Therefore, conducting comprehensive and exhaustive water quality assessment in relevant water bodies of this basin is pivotal. In this work, surface water samples from coastal lagoons or estuaries were collected across the Spanish Mediterranean coastline and subjected to target and suspect screening of 1,585 organic micropollutants by liquid chromatography coupled to ion mobility separation and high resolution mass spectrometry. In total, 91 organic micropollutants could be confirmed and 5 were tentatively identified, with pharmaceuticals and pesticides being the most prevalent groups of chemicals. Chemical analysis data was compared with data on bioanalysis of those samples (recurrent aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activation, and estrogenic receptor (ER) inhibition in wetland samples affected by wastewater streams). The number of identified organic contaminants containing aromatic rings could explain the AhR activation observed. For the ER antagonistic effects, predictions on estrogenic inhibition potency for the detected compounds were used to explain the activities observed. The integration of chemical analysis with bioanalytical observations allowed a comprehensive overview of the quality of the water bodies under study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alberto Celma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Pablo Gago-Ferrero
- Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA) Severo Ochoa Excellence Center, Spanish Council for Scientific Research (CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, E-08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Oksana Golovko
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Félix Hernández
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Foon Yin Lai
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Johan Lundqvist
- Department of Biomedicine and Veterinary Public Health, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7028, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Frank Menger
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Juan V Sancho
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain
| | - Karin Wiberg
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Box 7050, SE-750 07 Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Lubertus Bijlsma
- Environmental and Public Health Analytical Chemistry, Research Institute for Pesticides and Water, University Jaume I, Castelló E-12071, Spain.
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Corton JC, Liu J, Kleinstreuer N, Gwinn MR, Ryan N. Towards replacement of animal tests with in vitro assays: a gene expression biomarker predicts in vitro and in vivo estrogen receptor activity. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 363:109995. [PMID: 35697134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109995] [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: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) has the potential to support efforts to reduce or replace some animal tests. In past studies, we described a computational approach utilizing a gene expression biomarker consisting of 46 genes to predict estrogen receptor (ER) activity after chemical exposure in ER-positive human breast cancer cells including the MCF-7 cell line. We hypothesized that the biomarker model could identify ER activities of chemicals examined by Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) Tier 1 screening assays in which transcript profiles of the same chemicals were examined in MCF-7 cells. For the 62 chemicals examined including 5 chemicals examined in this study using RNA-Seq, the ER biomarker model accuracy was 1) 97% for in vitro reference chemicals, 2) 76-85% for guideline uterotrophic assays, and 3) 87-88% for guideline and nonguideline uterotrophic assays. For the same chemicals, these accuracies were similar or slightly better than those of the ToxCast ER model based on 18 in vitro assays. The performance of the ER biomarker model indicates that HTTr interpreted using the ER biomarker correctly identifies active and inactive ER reference chemicals. As part of the HTTr screening program the approach could rapidly identify chemicals with potential ER bioactivities for additional screening and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Jie Liu
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Maureen R Gwinn
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Natalia Ryan
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
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34
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Caloni F, De Angelis I, Hartung T. Replacement of animal testing by integrated approaches to testing and assessment (IATA): a call for in vivitrosi. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:1935-1950. [PMID: 35503372 PMCID: PMC9151502 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03299-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Alternative methods to animal use in toxicology are evolving with new advanced tools and multilevel approaches, to answer from one side to 3Rs requirements, and on the other side offering relevant and valid tests for drugs and chemicals, considering also their combination in test strategies, for a proper risk assessment. While stand-alone methods, have demonstrated to be applicable for some specific toxicological predictions with some limitations, the new strategy for the application of New Approach Methods (NAM), to solve complex toxicological endpoints is addressed by Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment (IATA), aka Integrated Testing Strategies (ITS) or Defined Approaches for Testing and Assessment (DA). The central challenge of evidence integration is shared with the needs of risk assessment and systematic reviews of an evidence-based Toxicology. Increasingly, machine learning (aka Artificial Intelligence, AI) lends itself to integrate diverse evidence streams. In this article, we give an overview of the state of the art of alternative methods and IATA in toxicology for regulatory use for various hazards, outlining future orientation and perspectives. We call on leveraging the synergies of integrated approaches and evidence integration from in vivo, in vitro and in silico as true in vivitrosi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Caloni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 10, 20133, Milan, Italy.
| | - Isabella De Angelis
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena, 299, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA.,CAAT Europe, University of Konstanz, 78464, Konstanz, Germany
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35
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Carlson JM, Janulewicz PA, Kleinstreuer NC, Heiger-Bernays W. Impact of High-Throughput Model Parameterization and Data Uncertainty on Thyroid-Based Toxicological Estimates for Pesticide Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5620-5631. [PMID: 35446564 PMCID: PMC9070357 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c07143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/31/2022] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Chemical-induced alteration of maternal thyroid hormone levels may increase the risk of adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring. US federal risk assessments rely almost exclusively on apical endpoints in animal models for deriving points of departure (PODs). New approach methodologies (NAMs) such as high-throughput screening (HTS) and mechanistically informative in vitro human cell-based systems, combined with in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE), supplement in vivo studies and provide an alternative approach to calculate/determine PODs. We examine how parameterization of IVIVE models impacts the comparison between IVIVE-derived equivalent administered doses (EADs) from thyroid-relevant in vitro assays and the POD values that serve as the basis for risk assessments. Pesticide chemicals with thyroid-based in vitro bioactivity data from the US Tox21 HTS program were included (n = 45). Depending on the model structure used for IVIVE analysis, up to 35 chemicals produced EAD values lower than the POD. A total of 10 chemicals produced EAD values higher than the POD regardless of the model structure. The relationship between IVIVE-derived EAD values and the in vivo-derived POD values is highly dependent on model parameterization. Here, we derive a range of potentially thyroid-relevant doses that incorporate uncertainty in modeling choices and in vitro assay data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey M. Carlson
- Environmental
Health Department, Boston University School
of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - Patricia A. Janulewicz
- Environmental
Health Department, Boston University School
of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
| | - Nicole C. Kleinstreuer
- Division
of Intramural Research, Biostatistics and Computational Biology Branch,
and National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation
of Alternative Toxicological Methods, National
Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, 111 T.W. Alexander Drive, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Wendy Heiger-Bernays
- Environmental
Health Department, Boston University School
of Public Health, 715 Albany Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02118, United States
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36
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Ciallella HL, Russo DP, Sharma S, Li Y, Sloter E, Sweet L, Huang H, Zhu H. Predicting Prenatal Developmental Toxicity Based On the Combination of Chemical Structures and Biological Data. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:5984-5998. [PMID: 35451820 PMCID: PMC9191745 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c01040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
For hazard identification, classification, and labeling purposes, animal testing guidelines are required by law to evaluate the developmental toxicity potential of new and existing chemical products. However, guideline developmental toxicity studies are costly, time-consuming, and require many laboratory animals. Computational modeling has emerged as a promising, animal-sparing, and cost-effective method for evaluating the developmental toxicity potential of chemicals, such as endocrine disruptors, without the use of animals. We aimed to develop a predictive and explainable computational model for developmental toxicants. To this end, a comprehensive dataset of 1244 chemicals with developmental toxicity classifications was curated from public repositories and literature sources. Data from 2140 toxicological high-throughput screening assays were extracted from PubChem and the ToxCast program for this dataset and combined with information about 834 chemical fragments to group assays based on their chemical-mechanistic relationships. This effort revealed two assay clusters containing 83 and 76 assays, respectively, with high positive predictive rates for developmental toxicants identified with animal testing guidelines (PPV = 72.4 and 77.3% during cross-validation). These two assay clusters can be used as developmental toxicity models and were applied to predict new chemicals for external validation. This study provides a new strategy for constructing alternative chemical developmental toxicity evaluations that can be replicated for other toxicity modeling studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L. Ciallella
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - Daniel P. Russo
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08102, USA
| | - Swati Sharma
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
| | - Yafan Li
- The Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, OH, 44092, USA
| | - Eddie Sloter
- The Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, OH, 44092, USA
| | - Len Sweet
- The Lubrizol Corporation, Wickliffe, OH, 44092, USA
| | - Heng Huang
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08103, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, 08102, USA
- Corresponding Author333 Hao Zhu, 201 South Broadway, Joint Health Sciences Center, Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey 08103; Telephone: (856) 225-6781;
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37
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Li HM, Li YY, Zhang YC, Li JB, Xu HM, Xiong YM, Qin ZF. Bisphenol B disrupts testis differentiation partly via the estrogen receptor-mediated pathway and subsequently causes testicular dysgenesis in Xenopus laevis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 236:113453. [PMID: 35390692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing concern about adverse effects of bisphenol A alternatives including bisphenol B (BPB) due to their estrogenic activity. However, limited data are available concerning the influences of BPB on male reproductive development in vertebrates, especially in amphibians, which are believed to be susceptible to estrogenic chemicals. The present study investigated the effects of 10, 100 and 1000 nM BPB (2.42, 24.2 and 242 μg/L) on testis development in Xenopus laevis, a model amphibian species for studying gonadal feminization. We found that exposure to BPB from stages 45/46 to 52 resulted in down-regulation of testis-biased gene expression and up-regulation of ovary-biased gene and vitellogenin (vtgb1) expression in gonad-mesonephros complexes (GMCs) of tadpoles at stage 52, coupled with suppressed cell proliferation in testes and reduced gonadal metameres, resembling the effects of 17ß-estradiol. Moreover, an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 antagonized BPB-caused up-regulation of ovary-biased gene and vtgb1 expression to some degree, indicating that the effects of BPB on X. laevis testis differentiation could be partly mediated by ER. All observations demonstrate that early exposure to BPB inhibited testis differentiation and exerted certain feminizing effects during gonadal differentiation. When exposure was extended to post-metamorphosis, testes exhibited histological and morphological abnormalities including segmented, discontinuous and fragmented shapes, besides altered sex-dimorphic gene expression. Notably, most of BPB-caused alterations were not concentration-dependent, but the lowest concentration indeed exerted significant effects. Overall, our study for the first time reveals that low concentrations of BPB can disrupt testis differentiation partly due to its estrogenic activity and subsequently cause testicular dysgenesis after metamorphosis, highlighting its reproductive risk to amphibians and other vertebrates including humans. Our finding also implies that estrogenic chemicals-caused testis differentiation inhibition at tadpole stages could predict later testicular dysgenesis after metamorphosis, meaning a possibility of early detection of abnormal testis development caused by estrogenic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying-Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Jin-Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hai-Ming Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yi-Ming Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhan-Fen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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38
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Read-across and new approach methodologies applied in a 10-step framework for cosmetics safety assessment – A case study with parabens. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 132:105161. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Edwards SW, Nelms M, Hench VK, Ponder J, Sullivan K. Mapping Mechanistic Pathways of Acute Oral Systemic Toxicity Using Chemical Structure and Bioactivity Measurements. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:824094. [PMID: 35295211 PMCID: PMC8915918 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.824094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Regulatory agencies around the world have committed to reducing or eliminating animal testing for establishing chemical safety. Adverse outcome pathways can facilitate replacement by providing a mechanistic framework for identifying the appropriate non-animal methods and connecting them to apical adverse outcomes. This study separated 11,992 chemicals with curated rat oral acute toxicity information into clusters of structurally similar compounds. Each cluster was then assigned one or more ToxCast/Tox21 assays by looking for the minimum number of assays required to record at least one positive hit call below cytotoxicity for all acutely toxic chemicals in the cluster. When structural information is used to select assays for testing, none of the chemicals required more than four assays and 98% required two assays or less. Both the structure-based clusters and activity from the associated assays were significantly associated with the GHS toxicity classification of the chemicals, which suggests that a combination of bioactivity and structural information could be as reproducible as traditional in vivo studies. Predictivity is improved when the in vitro assay directly corresponds to the mechanism of toxicity, but many indirect assays showed promise as well. Given the lower cost of in vitro testing, a small assay battery including both general cytotoxicity assays and two or more orthogonal assays targeting the toxicological mechanism could be used to improve performance further. This approach illustrates the promise of combining existing in silico approaches, such as the Collaborative Acute Toxicity Modeling Suite (CATMoS), with structure-based bioactivity information as part of an efficient tiered testing strategy that can reduce or eliminate animal testing for acute oral toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen W. Edwards
- GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Mark Nelms
- GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Virginia K. Hench
- GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research Center, RTI International, Research Triangle Park, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Jessica Ponder
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Kristie Sullivan
- Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Washington, DC, United States
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40
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Barton-Maclaren TS, Wade M, Basu N, Bayen S, Grundy J, Marlatt V, Moore R, Parent L, Parrott J, Grigorova P, Pinsonnault-Cooper J, Langlois VS. Innovation in regulatory approaches for endocrine disrupting chemicals: The journey to risk assessment modernization in Canada. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 204:112225. [PMID: 34666016 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.112225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 10/12/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Globally, regulatory authorities grapple with the challenge of assessing the hazards and risks to human and ecosystem health that may result from exposure to chemicals that disrupt the normal functioning of endocrine systems. Rapidly increasing number of chemicals in commerce, coupled with the reliance on traditional, costly animal experiments for hazard characterization - often with limited sensitivity to many important mechanisms of endocrine disruption -, presents ongoing challenges for chemical regulation. The consequence is a limited number of chemicals for which there is sufficient data to assess if there is endocrine toxicity and hence few chemicals with thorough hazard characterization. To address this challenge, regulatory assessment of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is benefiting from a revolution in toxicology that focuses on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) to more rapidly identify, prioritize, and assess the potential risks from exposure to chemicals using novel, more efficient, and more mechanistically driven methodologies and tools. Incorporated into Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) and guided by conceptual frameworks such as Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs), emerging approaches focus initially on molecular interactions between the test chemical and potentially vulnerable biological systems instead of the need for animal toxicity data. These new toxicity testing methods can be complemented with in silico and computational toxicology approaches, including those that predict chemical kinetics. Coupled with exposure data, these will inform risk-based decision-making approaches. Canada is part of a global network collaborating on building confidence in the use of NAMs for regulatory assessment of EDCs. Herein, we review the current approaches to EDC regulation globally (mainly from the perspective of human health), and provide a perspective on how the advances for regulatory testing and assessment can be applied and discuss the promises and challenges faced in adopting these novel approaches to minimize risks due to EDC exposure in Canada, and our world.
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Affiliation(s)
- T S Barton-Maclaren
- Existing Substances Risk Assessment Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada.
| | - M Wade
- Environmental Health Centre, Environmental Health, Science and Research Bureau, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - N Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - S Bayen
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Ste Anne de Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - J Grundy
- New Substances Assessment and Control Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - V Marlatt
- Department of Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, BC, Canada
| | - R Moore
- New Substances Assessment and Control Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - L Parent
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TÉLUQ, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - J Parrott
- Water Science and Technology Directorate, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Burlington, ON, Canada
| | - P Grigorova
- Département Science et Technologie, Université TÉLUQ, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - J Pinsonnault-Cooper
- New Substances Assessment and Control Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Canada
| | - V S Langlois
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique (INRS), Centre Eau Terre Environnement, Quebec City, QC, Canada
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Klutzny S, Kornhuber M, Morger A, Schönfelder G, Volkamer A, Oelgeschläger M, Dunst S. Quantitative high-throughput phenotypic screening for environmental estrogens using the E-Morph Screening Assay in combination with in silico predictions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106947. [PMID: 34717173 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental chemicals that interfere with normal estrogen function can lead to adverse health effects, including cancer. High-throughput screening (HTS) approaches facilitate the efficient identification and characterization of such substances. OBJECTIVES We recently described the development of the E-Morph Assay, which measures changes at adherens junctions as a clinically-relevant phenotypic readout for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha signaling activity. Here, we describe its further development and application for automated robotic HTS. METHODS Using the advanced E-Morph Screening Assay, we screened a substance library comprising 430 toxicologically-relevant industrial chemicals, biocides, and plant protection products to identify novel substances with estrogenic activities. Based on the primary screening data and the publicly available ToxCast dataset, we performed an insilico similarity search to identify further substances with potential estrogenic activity for follow-up hit expansion screening, and built seven insilico ER models using the conformal prediction (CP) framework to evaluate the HTS results. RESULTS The primary and hit confirmation screens identified 27 'known' estrogenic substances with potencies correlating very well with the published ToxCast ER Agonist Score (r=+0.95). We additionally detected potential 'novel' estrogenic activities for 10 primary hit substances and for another nine out of 20 structurally similar substances from insilico predictions and follow-up hit expansion screening. The concordance of the E-Morph Screening Assay with the ToxCast ER reference data and the generated CP ER models was 71% and 73%, respectively, with a high predictivity for ER active substances of up to 87%, which is particularly important for regulatory purposes. DISCUSSION These data provide a proof-of-concept for the combination of in vitro HTS approaches with insilico methods (similarity search, CP models) for efficient analysis of large substance libraries in order to prioritize substances with potential estrogenic activity for subsequent testing against higher tier human endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Klutzny
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marja Kornhuber
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Morger
- In silico Toxicology and Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Physiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gilbert Schönfelder
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Volkamer
- In silico Toxicology and Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Physiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dunst
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany.
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Maertens A, Golden E, Luechtefeld TH, Hoffmann S, Tsaioun K, Hartung T. Probabilistic risk assessment - the keystone for the future of toxicology. ALTEX 2022; 39:3-29. [PMID: 35034131 PMCID: PMC8906258 DOI: 10.14573/altex.2201081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Safety sciences must cope with uncertainty of models and results as well as information gaps. Acknowledging this uncer-tainty necessitates embracing probabilities and accepting the remaining risk. Every toxicological tool delivers only probable results. Traditionally, this is taken into account by using uncertainty / assessment factors and worst-case / precautionary approaches and thresholds. Probabilistic methods and Bayesian approaches seek to characterize these uncertainties and promise to support better risk assessment and, thereby, improve risk management decisions. Actual assessments of uncertainty can be more realistic than worst-case scenarios and may allow less conservative safety margins. Most importantly, as soon as we agree on uncertainty, this defines room for improvement and allows a transition from traditional to new approach methods as an engineering exercise. The objective nature of these mathematical tools allows to assign each methodology its fair place in evidence integration, whether in the context of risk assessment, sys-tematic reviews, or in the definition of an integrated testing strategy (ITS) / defined approach (DA) / integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA). This article gives an overview of methods for probabilistic risk assessment and their application for exposure assessment, physiologically-based kinetic modelling, probability of hazard assessment (based on quantitative and read-across based structure-activity relationships, and mechanistic alerts from in vitro studies), indi-vidual susceptibility assessment, and evidence integration. Additional aspects are opportunities for uncertainty analysis of adverse outcome pathways and their relation to thresholds of toxicological concern. In conclusion, probabilistic risk assessment will be key for constructing a new toxicology paradigm - probably!
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Maertens
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Emily Golden
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas H. Luechtefeld
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- ToxTrack, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Sebastian Hoffmann
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- seh consulting + services, Paderborn, Germany
| | - Katya Tsaioun
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
- CAAT Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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Tan H, Chen Q, Hong H, Benfenati E, Gini GC, Zhang X, Yu H, Shi W. Structures of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Correlate with the Activation of 12 Classic Nuclear Receptors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:16552-16562. [PMID: 34859678 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c04997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can inadvertently interact with 12 classic nuclear receptors (NRs) that disrupt the endocrine system and cause adverse effects. There is no widely accepted understanding about what structural features make thousands of EDCs able to activate different NRs as well as how these structural features exert their functions and induce different outcomes at the cellular level. This paper applies the hierarchical characteristic fragment methodology and high-throughput screening molecular docking to comprehensively explore the structural and functional features of EDCs for the 12 NRs based on more than 7000 chemicals from curated datasets. EDCs share three levels of key fragments. The primary and secondary fragments are associated with the binding of EDCs to four groups of receptors: steroidal nuclear receptors (SNRs, including androgen, estrogen, glucocorticoid, mineralocorticoid, and progesterone), retinoic acid receptors, thyroid hormone receptors, and vitamin D receptors. The tertiary fragments determine the activity type by interacting with two key locations in the ligand-binding domains of NRs (N-H5-H3-C and N-H7-H11-C for SNRs and N-H5-H5'-H2'-H3-C and N-H6'-H11-C for non-SNRs). The resulting compiled structural fragments of EDCs together with elucidated compound NR binding modes provide a framework for understanding the interactions between EDCs and NRs, facilitating faster and more accurate screening of EDCs for multiple NRs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Qinchang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Huixiao Hong
- National Center for Toxicological Research, U. S. Food and Drug Administration, 3900 NCTR Road., Jefferson, Arkansas 72079, United States
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via Mario Negri 2, 20156 Milan, Italy
| | - Giuseppina C Gini
- Department of Electronics and Information, Politecnico di Milano, Piazza Leonardo da Vinci 32, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, 210023 Nanjing, China
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Williams AJ, Lambert JC, Thayer K, Dorne JLCM. Sourcing data on chemical properties and hazard data from the US-EPA CompTox Chemicals Dashboard: A practical guide for human risk assessment. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 154:106566. [PMID: 33934018 PMCID: PMC9667884 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106566] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2020] [Revised: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
For the past six decades, human health risk assessment of chemicals has relied on in vivo data from human epidemiological and experimental animal toxicological studies to inform the derivation of non-cancer toxicity values. The ongoing evolution of this risk assessment paradigm in an environmental landscape of data-poor chemicals has highlighted the need to develop and implement non-testing methods, so-called New Approach Methodologies (NAMs). NAMs include a growing number of in silico and in vitro data streams designed to inform hazard properties of chemicals, including kinetics and dynamics at different levels of biological organization, environmental fate and transport, and exposure. NAMs provide a fit-for-purpose science-basis for human hazard and risk characterization of chemicals ranging from data-gap filling applications to broad evidence-based decision-making. Systematic assembly and delivery of empirical and predicted data for chemicals are paramount to advancing chemical evaluation, and software tools serve an essential role in delivering these data to the scientific community. The CompTox Chemicals Dashboard (from here on referred to as the "Dashboard") is one such tool and is a publicly available web-based application developed by the US Environmental Protection Agency to provide access to chemistry, toxicity and exposure information for ~900,000 chemicals. The Dashboard is increasingly becoming a valuable resource for assessors tasked with the evaluation of potential human health risks associated with chemical exposures. In this context, the significant amount of information present in the Dashboard facilitates: 1) assembly of information on physicochemical properties and environmental fate and transport and exposure parameters and metrics; 2) identification of cancer and non-cancer health effects from extant human and experimental animal studies in the public domain and/or information not available in the public domain (i.e., "grey literature"); 3) systematic literature searching and review for developing cancer and non-cancer hazard evidence bases; and 4) access to mechanistic information that can aid or augment the analysis of traditional toxicology evidence bases, or potentially, serve as the primary basis for informing hazard identification and dose-response when traditional bioassay data are lacking. Finally, in silico predictive tools developed to conduct structure-activity or read-across analyses are also available within the Dashboard. This practical tutorial is intended to address key questions from the human health risk assessment community dealing with chemicals in both food and in the environment. Perspectives for future development or refinement of the Dashboard highlight foreseen activities to further support the research and risk assessment community in cancer and non-cancer chemical evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antony J Williams
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Jason C Lambert
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Kris Thayer
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Jean-Lou C M Dorne
- Scientific Committee and Emerging Risks Unit, Department of Risk Assessment and Scientific Assistance, European Food Safety Authority, 43126 Parma, Italy
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Elucidation of Agonist and Antagonist Dynamic Binding Patterns in ER-α by Integration of Molecular Docking, Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Quantum Mechanical Calculations. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179371. [PMID: 34502280 PMCID: PMC8431471 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) is a ligand-dependent transcriptional factor in the nuclear receptor superfamily. Many structures of ERα bound with agonists and antagonists have been determined. However, the dynamic binding patterns of agonists and antagonists in the binding site of ERα remains unclear. Therefore, we performed molecular docking, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, and quantum mechanical calculations to elucidate agonist and antagonist dynamic binding patterns in ERα. 17β-estradiol (E2) and 4-hydroxytamoxifen (OHT) were docked in the ligand binding pockets of the agonist and antagonist bound ERα. The best complex conformations from molecular docking were subjected to 100 nanosecond MD simulations. Hierarchical clustering was conducted to group the structures in the trajectory from MD simulations. The representative structure from each cluster was selected to calculate the binding interaction energy value for elucidation of the dynamic binding patterns of agonists and antagonists in the binding site of ERα. The binding interaction energy analysis revealed that OHT binds ERα more tightly in the antagonist conformer, while E2 prefers the agonist conformer. The results may help identify ERα antagonists as drug candidates and facilitate risk assessment of chemicals through ER-mediated responses.
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Deisenroth C, DeGroot DE, Zurlinden T, Eicher A, McCord J, Lee MY, Carmichael P, Thomas RS. The Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes Platform Retrofits an Estrogen Receptor Transactivation Assay With Metabolic Competence. Toxicol Sci 2021; 178:281-301. [PMID: 32991717 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The U.S. EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program utilizes data across the ToxCast/Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) programs to evaluate the biological effects of potential endocrine active substances. A potential limitation to the use of in vitro assay data in regulatory decision-making is the lack of coverage for xenobiotic metabolic processes. Both hepatic- and peripheral-tissue metabolism can yield metabolites that exhibit greater activity than the parent compound (bioactivation) or are inactive (bioinactivation) for a given biological target. Interpretation of biological effect data for both putative endocrine active substances, as well as other chemicals, screened in HTS assays may benefit from the addition of xenobiotic metabolic capabilities to decrease the uncertainty in predicting potential hazards to human health. The objective of this study was to develop an approach to retrofit existing HTS assays with hepatic metabolism. The Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes (AIME) platform encapsulates hepatic S9 fractions in alginate microspheres attached to 96-well peg lids. Functional characterization across a panel of reference substrates for phase I cytochrome P450 enzymes revealed substrate depletion with expected metabolite accumulation. Performance of the AIME method in the VM7Luc estrogen receptor transactivation assay was evaluated across 15 reference chemicals and 48 test chemicals that yield metabolites previously identified as estrogen receptor active or inactive. The results demonstrate the utility of applying the AIME method for identification of false-positive and false-negative target assay effects, reprioritization of hazard based on metabolism-dependent bioactivity, and enhanced in vivo concordance with the rodent uterotrophic bioassay. Integration of the AIME metabolism method may prove useful for future biochemical and cell-based HTS applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Deisenroth
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Danica E DeGroot
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Todd Zurlinden
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Andrew Eicher
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - James McCord
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Mi-Young Lee
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science, Park, Bedford, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Paul Carmichael
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science, Park, Bedford, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Russell S Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
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Dent MP, Vaillancourt E, Thomas RS, Carmichael PL, Ouedraogo G, Kojima H, Barroso J, Ansell J, Barton-Maclaren TS, Bennekou SH, Boekelheide K, Ezendam J, Field J, Fitzpatrick S, Hatao M, Kreiling R, Lorencini M, Mahony C, Montemayor B, Mazaro-Costa R, Oliveira J, Rogiers V, Smegal D, Taalman R, Tokura Y, Verma R, Willett C, Yang C. Paving the way for application of next generation risk assessment to safety decision-making for cosmetic ingredients. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2021; 125:105026. [PMID: 34389358 PMCID: PMC8547713 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2021.105026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 07/22/2021] [Accepted: 08/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Next generation risk assessment (NGRA) is an exposure-led, hypothesis-driven approach that has the potential to support animal-free safety decision-making. However, significant effort is needed to develop and test the in vitro and in silico (computational) approaches that underpin NGRA to enable confident application in a regulatory context. A workshop was held in Montreal in 2019 to discuss where effort needs to be focussed and to agree on the steps needed to ensure safety decisions made on cosmetic ingredients are robust and protective. Workshop participants explored whether NGRA for cosmetic ingredients can be protective of human health, and reviewed examples of NGRA for cosmetic ingredients. From the limited examples available, it is clear that NGRA is still in its infancy, and further case studies are needed to determine whether safety decisions are sufficiently protective and not overly conservative. Seven areas were identified to help progress application of NGRA, including further investments in case studies that elaborate on scenarios frequently encountered by industry and regulators, including those where a ‘high risk’ conclusion would be expected. These will provide confidence that the tools and approaches can reliably discern differing levels of risk. Furthermore, frameworks to guide performance and reporting should be developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Dent
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, UK.
| | - E Vaillancourt
- Health Canada, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, 269 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - R S Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research, Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - P L Carmichael
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, UK.
| | - G Ouedraogo
- l'Oréal, Research and Development, Paris, France.
| | - H Kojima
- National Institute of Health Sciences, 1-18-1 Kamiyoga, Setagaya-ku, 158-8501, Tokyo, Japan.
| | - J Barroso
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, VA, Italy.
| | - J Ansell
- US Personal Care Products Council (PCPC), 1620 L St. NW, Suite 1200, Washington, D.C, 20036, USA.
| | - T S Barton-Maclaren
- Health Canada, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, 269 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - S H Bennekou
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark (DTU), Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - K Boekelheide
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA.
| | - J Ezendam
- National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands.
| | - J Field
- Health Canada, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, 269 Laurier Ave. W., Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada.
| | - S Fitzpatrick
- US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
| | - M Hatao
- Japan Cosmetic Industry Association (JCIA), Metro City Kamiyacho 6F, 5-1-5, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 105-0001 Japan.
| | - R Kreiling
- Clariant Produkte (Deutschland) GmbH, Am Unisyspark 1, 65843, Sulzbach, Germany.
| | - M Lorencini
- Grupo Boticário, Research & Development, São José dos Pinhais, Brazil.
| | - C Mahony
- Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Ltd, Reading, RG2 0RX, UK.
| | - B Montemayor
- Cosmetics Alliance Canada, 420 Britannia Road East Suite 102, Mississauga, ON L4Z 3L5, Canada.
| | - R Mazaro-Costa
- Departament of Pharmacology, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Goiânia, GO, 74.690-900, Brazil.
| | - J Oliveira
- Brazilian Health Regulatory Agency (ANVISA), Gerência de Produtos de Higiene, Perfumes, Cosméticos e Saneantes, Setor de Indústria e Abastecimento (SIA), Trecho 5, Área Especial 57, CEP 71205-050, Brasília, DF, Brazil.
| | - V Rogiers
- Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.
| | - D Smegal
- US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
| | - R Taalman
- Cosmetics Europe, Avenue Herrmann-Debroux 40, 1160 Auderghem, Belgium.
| | - Y Tokura
- Allergic Disease Research Center, Chutoen General Medical Center, Kakegawa, Japan.
| | - R Verma
- US Food and Drug Administration (US FDA), Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN), 5001 Campus Drive, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
| | - C Willett
- Humane Society International, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - C Yang
- Taiwan Cosmetic Industry Association (TWCIA), 8F No. 136, Bo'ai Rd., Zhongzheng Dist., Taipei City, 100, Taiwan, ROC.
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Ciallella HL, Russo DP, Aleksunes LM, Grimm FA, Zhu H. Revealing Adverse Outcome Pathways from Public High-Throughput Screening Data to Evaluate New Toxicants by a Knowledge-Based Deep Neural Network Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10875-10887. [PMID: 34304572 PMCID: PMC8713073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Traditional experimental testing to identify endocrine disruptors that enhance estrogenic signaling relies on expensive and labor-intensive experiments. We sought to design a knowledge-based deep neural network (k-DNN) approach to reveal and organize public high-throughput screening data for compounds with nuclear estrogen receptor α and β (ERα and ERβ) binding potentials. The target activity was rodent uterotrophic bioactivity driven by ERα/ERβ activations. After training, the resultant network successfully inferred critical relationships among ERα/ERβ target bioassays, shown as weights of 6521 edges between 1071 neurons. The resultant network uses an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework to mimic the signaling pathway initiated by ERα and identify compounds that mimic endogenous estrogens (i.e., estrogen mimetics). The k-DNN can predict estrogen mimetics by activating neurons representing several events in the ERα/ERβ signaling pathway. Therefore, this virtual pathway model, starting from a compound's chemistry initiating ERα activation and ending with rodent uterotrophic bioactivity, can efficiently and accurately prioritize new estrogen mimetics (AUC = 0.864-0.927). This k-DNN method is a potential universal computational toxicology strategy to utilize public high-throughput screening data to characterize hazards and prioritize potentially toxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Ciallella
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
| | - Daniel P Russo
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
| | - Lauren M Aleksunes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Fabian A Grimm
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Hao Zhu
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
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Duijndam B, Goudriaan A, van den Hoorn T, van der Stel W, Le Dévédec S, Bouwman P, van der Laan JW, van de Water B. Physiologically Relevant Estrogen Receptor Alpha Pathway Reporters for Single-Cell Imaging-Based Carcinogenic Hazard Assessment of Estrogenic Compounds. Toxicol Sci 2021; 181:187-198. [PMID: 33769548 PMCID: PMC8163057 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Estrogen receptor alpha (ERα) belongs to the nuclear hormone receptor family of ligand-inducible transcription factors and regulates gene networks in biological processes such as cell growth and proliferation. Disruption of these networks by chemical compounds with estrogenic activity can result in adverse outcomes such as unscheduled cell proliferation, ultimately culminating in tumor formation. To distinguish disruptive activation from normal physiological responses, it is essential to quantify relationships between different key events leading to a particular adverse outcome. For this purpose, we established fluorescent protein MCF7 reporter cell lines for ERα-induced proliferation by bacterial artificial chromosome-based tagging of 3 ERα target genes: GREB1, PGR, and TFF1. These target genes are inducible by the non-genotoxic carcinogen and ERα agonist 17β-estradiol in an ERα-dependent manner and are essential for ERα-dependent cell-cycle progression and proliferation. The 3 GFP reporter cell lines were characterized in detail and showed different activation dynamics upon exposure to 17β-estradiol. In addition, they demonstrated specific activation in response to other established reference estrogenic compounds of different potencies, with similar sensitivities as validated OECD test methods. This study shows that these fluorescent reporter cell lines can be used to monitor the spatial and temporal dynamics of ERα pathway activation at the single-cell level for more mechanistic insight, thereby allowing a detailed assessment of the potential carcinogenic activity of estrogenic compounds in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Duijndam
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands.,Section on Pharmacology, Toxicology and Kinetics, Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht 3531AH, The Netherlands
| | - Annabel Goudriaan
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands
| | - Tineke van den Hoorn
- Section on Pharmacology, Toxicology and Kinetics, Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht 3531AH, The Netherlands
| | - Wanda van der Stel
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands
| | - Sylvia Le Dévédec
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Bouwman
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Willem van der Laan
- Section on Pharmacology, Toxicology and Kinetics, Medicines Evaluation Board, Utrecht 3531AH, The Netherlands
| | - Bob van de Water
- Division of Drug Discovery & Safety, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden 2333CC, The Netherlands
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