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Kubickova B, Martinkova S, Bohaciakova D, Nezvedova M, Liu R, Brozman O, Spáčil Z, Hilscherova K. Effects of all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acid on differentiating human neural stem cells in vitro. Toxicology 2023; 487:153461. [PMID: 36805303 PMCID: PMC10019519 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153461] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Cyanobacterial blooms are known sources of environmentally-occurring retinoid compounds, including all-trans and 9-cis retinoic acids (RAs). The developmental hazard for aquatic organisms has been described, while the implications for human health hazard assessment are not yet sufficiently characterized. Here, we employ a human neural stem cell model that can differentiate in vitro into a mixed culture of neurons and glia. Cells were exposed to non-cytotoxic 8-1000 nM all-trans or 9-cis RA for 9-18 days (DIV13 and DIV22, respectively). Impact on biomarkers was analyzed on gene expression (RT-qPCR) and protein level (western blot and proteomics) at both time points; network patterning (immunofluorescence) on DIV22. RA exposure significantly concentration-dependently increased gene expression of retinoic acid receptors and the metabolizing enzyme CYP26A1, confirming the chemical-specific response of the model. Expression of thyroid hormone signaling-related genes remained mostly unchanged. Markers of neural progenitors/stem cells (PAX6, SOX1, SOX2, NESTIN) were decreased with increasing RA concentrations, though a basal population remained. Neural markers (DCX, TUJ1, MAP2, NeuN, SYP) remained unchanged or were decreased at high concentrations (200-1000 nM). Conversely, (astro-)glial marker S100β was increased concentration-dependently on DIV22. Together, the biomarker analysis indicates an RA-dependent promotion of glial cell fates over neural differentiation, despite the increased abundance of neural protein biomarkers during differentiation. Interestingly, RA exposure induced substantial changes to the cell culture morphology: while low concentrations resulted in a network-like differentiation pattern, high concentrations (200-1000 nM RA) almost completely prevented such network patterning. After functional confirmation for implications in network function, such morphological features could present a proxy for network formation assessment, an apical key event in (neuro-)developmental Adverse Outcome Pathways. The described application of a human in vitro model for (developmental) neurotoxicity to emerging environmentally-relevant retinoids contributes to the evidence-base for the use of differentiating human in vitro models for human health hazard and risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Kubickova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Sarka Martinkova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Dasa Bohaciakova
- Masaryk University, Faculty of Medicine, Department of Histology and Embryology, Kamenice 3, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Marketa Nezvedova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Runze Liu
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Ondrej Brozman
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdeněk Spáčil
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Klara Hilscherova
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, Brno, Czech Republic.
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2
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Fan P, Wang Y, Xu M, Han X, Liu Y. The Application of Brain Organoids in Assessing Neural Toxicity. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:799397. [PMID: 35221913 PMCID: PMC8864968 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.799397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The human brain is a complicated and precisely organized organ. Exogenous chemicals, such as pollutants, drugs, and industrial chemicals, may affect the biological processes of the brain or its function and eventually lead to neurological diseases. Animal models may not fully recapitulate the human brain for testing neural toxicity. Brain organoids with self-assembled three-dimensional (3D) structures provide opportunities to generate relevant tests or predictions of human neurotoxicity. In this study, we reviewed recent advances in brain organoid techniques and their application in assessing neural toxicants. We hope this review provides new insights for further progress in brain organoid application in the screening studies of neural toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pan Fan
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - YuanHao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Min Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiao Han
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Institute for Stem Cell and Neural Regeneration, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Key Laboratory of Targeted Intervention of Cardiovascular Disease, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardiovascular Disease Translational Medicine, School of Pharmacy, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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3
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Application of the Pluripotent Stem Cells and Genomics in Cardiovascular Research-What We Have Learnt and Not Learnt until Now. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113112. [PMID: 34831333 PMCID: PMC8623147 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 11/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Personalized regenerative medicine and biomedical research have been galvanized and revolutionized by human pluripotent stem cells in combination with recent advances in genomics, artificial intelligence, and genome engineering. More recently, we have witnessed the unprecedented breakthrough life-saving translation of mRNA-based vaccines for COVID-19 to contain the global pandemic and the investment in billions of US dollars in space exploration projects and the blooming space-tourism industry fueled by the latest reusable space vessels. Now, it is time to examine where the translation of pluripotent stem cell research stands currently, which has been touted for more than the last two decades to cure and treat millions of patients with severe debilitating degenerative diseases and tissue injuries. This review attempts to highlight the accomplishments of pluripotent stem cell research together with cutting-edge genomics and genome editing tools and, also, the promises that have still not been transformed into clinical applications, with cardiovascular research as a case example. This review also brings to our attention the scientific and socioeconomic challenges that need to be effectively addressed to see the full potential of pluripotent stem cells at the clinical bedside.
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An adverse outcome pathway on the disruption of retinoic acid metabolism leading to developmental craniofacial defects. Toxicology 2021; 458:152843. [PMID: 34186166 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2021.152843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a conceptual framework that links a molecular initiating event (MIE) via intermediate key events (KEs) with adverse effects (adverse outcomes, AO) relevant for risk assessment, through defined KE relationships (KERs). The aim of the present work is to describe a linear AOP, supported by experimental data, for skeletal craniofacial defects as the AO. This AO was selected in view of its relative high incidence in humans and the suspected relation to chemical exposure. We focused on inhibition of CYP26, a retinoic acid (RA) metabolizing enzyme, as MIE, based on robust previously published data. Conazoles were selected as representative stressors. Intermediate KEs are RA disbalance, aberrant HOX gene expression, disrupted specification, migration, and differentiation of neural crest cells, and branchial arch dysmorphology. We described the biological basis of the postulated events and conducted weight of evidence (WoE) assessments. The biological plausibility and the overall empirical evidence were assessed as high and moderate, respectively, the latter taking into consideration the moderate evidence for concordance of dose-response and temporal relationships. Finally, the essentiality assessment of the KEs, considered as high, supported the robustness of the presented AOP. This AOP, which appears of relevance to humans, thus contributes to mechanistic underpinning of selected test methods, thereby supporting their application in integrated new approach test methodologies and strategies and application in a regulatory context.
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Rosner A, Armengaud J, Ballarin L, Barnay-Verdier S, Cima F, Coelho AV, Domart-Coulon I, Drobne D, Genevière AM, Jemec Kokalj A, Kotlarska E, Lyons DM, Mass T, Paz G, Pazdro K, Perić L, Ramšak A, Rakers S, Rinkevich B, Spagnuolo A, Sugni M, Cambier S. Stem cells of aquatic invertebrates as an advanced tool for assessing ecotoxicological impacts. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 771:144565. [PMID: 33736145 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144565] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 12/10/2020] [Accepted: 12/13/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Environmental stressors are assessed through methods that quantify their impacts on a wide range of metrics including species density, growth rates, reproduction, behaviour and physiology, as on host-pathogen interactions and immunocompetence. Environmental stress may induce additional sublethal effects, like mutations and epigenetic signatures affecting offspring via germline mediated transgenerational inheritance, shaping phenotypic plasticity, increasing disease susceptibility, tissue pathologies, changes in social behaviour and biological invasions. The growing diversity of pollutants released into aquatic environments requires the development of a reliable, standardised and 3R (replacement, reduction and refinement of animals in research) compliant in vitro toolbox. The tools have to be in line with REACH regulation 1907/2006/EC, aiming to improve strategies for potential ecotoxicological risks assessment and monitoring of chemicals threatening human health and aquatic environments. Aquatic invertebrates' adult stem cells (ASCs) are numerous and can be pluripotent, as illustrated by high regeneration ability documented in many of these taxa. This is of further importance as in many aquatic invertebrate taxa, ASCs are able to differentiate into germ cells. Here we propose that ASCs from key aquatic invertebrates may be harnessed for applicable and standardised new tests in ecotoxicology. As part of this approach, a battery of modern techniques and endpoints are proposed to be tested for their ability to correctly identify environmental stresses posed by emerging contaminants in aquatic environments. Consequently, we briefly describe the current status of the available toxicity testing and biota-based monitoring strategies in aquatic environmental ecotoxicology and highlight some of the associated open issues such as replicability, consistency and reliability in the outcomes, for understanding and assessing the impacts of various chemicals on organisms and on the entire aquatic environment. Following this, we describe the benefits of aquatic invertebrate ASC-based tools for better addressing ecotoxicological questions, along with the current obstacles and possible overhaul approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amalia Rosner
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 8030, Tel Shikmona, Haifa 3108001, Israel.
| | - Jean Armengaud
- Université Paris-Saclay, CEA, INRAE, Département Médicaments et Technologies pour la Santé (DMTS), SPI, F-30200 Bagnols-sur-Cèze, France.
| | - Loriano Ballarin
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Stéphanie Barnay-Verdier
- Sorbonne Université; CNRS, INSERM, Université Côte d'Azur, Institute for Research on Cancer and Aging Nice, F-06107 Nice, France.
| | - Francesca Cima
- Department of Biology, University of Padova, via Ugo Bassi 58/B, 35121 Padova, Italy.
| | - Ana Varela Coelho
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. da República, 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Isabelle Domart-Coulon
- Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, CNRS, Microorganism Communication and Adaptation Molecules MCAM, Paris F-75005, France.
| | - Damjana Drobne
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111,D, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Anne-Marie Genevière
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, Integrative Biology of Marine Organisms, BIOM, F-6650 Banyuls-sur-mer, France.
| | - Anita Jemec Kokalj
- University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Department of Biology, Večna pot 111,D, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Ewa Kotlarska
- Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland.
| | - Daniel Mark Lyons
- Center for Marine Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, G. Paliaga 5, HR-52210 Rovinj, Croatia.
| | - Tali Mass
- Marine Biology Department, Leon H. Charney School of Marine Sciences, 199 Aba Khoushy Ave, University of Haifa, 3498838, Israel.
| | - Guy Paz
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 8030, Tel Shikmona, Haifa 3108001, Israel.
| | - Ksenia Pazdro
- Institute of Oceanology of the Polish Academy of Sciences, Powstańców Warszawy 55, 81-712 Sopot, Poland
| | - Lorena Perić
- Rudjer Boskovic Institute, Laboratory for Aquaculture and Pathology of Aquaculture Organisms, Bijenička cesta 54, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Andreja Ramšak
- National Institute of Biology, Marine Biology Station, Fornače 41, 6330 Piran, Slovenia.
| | | | - Baruch Rinkevich
- Israel Oceanographic and Limnological Research, National Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 8030, Tel Shikmona, Haifa 3108001, Israel.
| | - Antonietta Spagnuolo
- Department of Biology and Evolution of Marine Organisms, Stazione Zoologica Anton Dohrn, Villa Comunale, 80121 Napoli, Italy.
| | - Michela Sugni
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of Milan, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Sébastien Cambier
- Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology, 5, avenue des Hauts-Fourneaux, L-4362 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
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Briganti F, Sun H, Wei W, Wu J, Zhu C, Liss M, Karakikes I, Rego S, Cipriano A, Snyder M, Meder B, Xu Z, Millat G, Gotthardt M, Mercola M, Steinmetz LM. iPSC Modeling of RBM20-Deficient DCM Identifies Upregulation of RBM20 as a Therapeutic Strategy. Cell Rep 2021; 32:108117. [PMID: 32905764 PMCID: PMC8168789 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2020] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology and directed differentiation of iPSCs into cardiomyocytes (iPSC-CMs) make it possible to model genetic heart disease in vitro. We apply CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing technology to introduce three RBM20 mutations in iPSCs and differentiate them into iPSC-CMs to establish an in vitro model of RBM20 mutant dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). In iPSC-CMs harboring a known causal RBM20 variant, the splicing of RBM20 target genes, calcium handling, and contractility are impaired consistent with the disease manifestation in patients. A variant (Pro633Leu) identified by exome sequencing of patient genomes displays the same disease phenotypes, thus establishing this variant as disease causing. We find that all-trans retinoic acid upregulates RBM20 expression and reverts the splicing, calcium handling, and contractility defects in iPSC-CMs with different causal RBM20 mutations. These results suggest that pharmacological upregulation of RBM20 expression is a promising therapeutic strategy for DCM patients with a heterozygous mutation in RBM20. Briganti et al. use iPSC and CRISPR/Cas9 to create a model of RBM20-deficient dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) that recapitulates mRNA splicing and contractile defects of the disease. They evaluate pharmacological upregulation of RBM20 as a therapeutic strategy. All-trans retinoic acid upregulates RBM20 expression and ameliorates the in vitro hallmarks of disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Briganti
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany; Collaboration for joint PhD degree between EMBL and Heidelberg University, Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Han Sun
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Wu Wei
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Jingyan Wu
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Chenchen Zhu
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Martin Liss
- Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Cell Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ioannis Karakikes
- Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Shannon Rego
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Andrea Cipriano
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Michael Snyder
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Benjamin Meder
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; Institute for Cardiomyopathies Heidelberg and Department of Internal Medicine III, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zhenyu Xu
- SOPHiA Genetics, St. Sulpice, Switzerland
| | - Gilles Millat
- Laboratoire de Cardiogénétique Moléculaire, Centre de Biologie et Pathologie Est, Hospices Civils de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Michael Gotthardt
- Neuromuscular and Cardiovascular Cell Biology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany; Department of Cardiology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany; DZHK: German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Mark Mercola
- Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
| | - Lars M Steinmetz
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, Heidelberg, Germany; Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Cardiovascular Institute and Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA; DZHK: German Center for Cardiovascular Research, Partner Site EMBL Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.
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7
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Cutarelli A, Martínez-Rojas VA, Tata A, Battistella I, Rossi D, Arosio D, Musio C, Conti L. A Monolayer System for the Efficient Generation of Motor Neuron Progenitors and Functional Motor Neurons from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells. Cells 2021; 10:cells10051127. [PMID: 34066970 PMCID: PMC8151197 DOI: 10.3390/cells10051127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Methods for the conversion of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) into motor neurons (MNs) have opened to the generation of patient-derived in vitro systems that can be exploited for MN disease modelling. However, the lack of simplified and consistent protocols and the fact that hiPSC-derived MNs are often functionally immature yet limit the opportunity to fully take advantage of this technology, especially in research aimed at revealing the disease phenotypes that are manifested in functionally mature cells. In this study, we present a robust, optimized monolayer procedure to rapidly convert hiPSCs into enriched populations of motor neuron progenitor cells (MNPCs) that can be further amplified to produce a large number of cells to cover many experimental needs. These MNPCs can be efficiently differentiated towards mature MNs exhibiting functional electrical and pharmacological neuronal properties. Finally, we report that MN cultures can be long-term maintained, thus offering the opportunity to study degenerative phenomena associated with pathologies involving MNs and their functional, networked activity. These results indicate that our optimized procedure enables the efficient and robust generation of large quantities of MNPCs and functional MNs, providing a valid tool for MNs disease modelling and for drug discovery applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Cutarelli
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.C.); (A.T.); (I.B.)
| | - Vladimir A. Martínez-Rojas
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) & LabSSAH, Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), 38123 Trento, Italy; (V.A.M.-R.); (D.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Alice Tata
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.C.); (A.T.); (I.B.)
| | - Ingrid Battistella
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.C.); (A.T.); (I.B.)
| | - Daniela Rossi
- Laboratory for Research on Neurodegenerative Disorders, Istituti Clinici Scientifici Maugeri IRCCS, 27100 Pavia, Italy;
| | - Daniele Arosio
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) & LabSSAH, Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), 38123 Trento, Italy; (V.A.M.-R.); (D.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Carlo Musio
- Institute of Biophysics (IBF), Trento Unit, National Research Council (CNR) & LabSSAH, Bruno Kessler Foundation (FBK), 38123 Trento, Italy; (V.A.M.-R.); (D.A.); (C.M.)
| | - Luciano Conti
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology-CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy; (A.C.); (A.T.); (I.B.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0461-285216
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Retinoids and developmental neurotoxicity: Utilizing toxicogenomics to enhance adverse outcome pathways and testing strategies. Reprod Toxicol 2020; 96:102-113. [PMID: 32544423 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2020] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The use of genomic approaches in toxicological studies has greatly increased our ability to define the molecular profiles of environmental chemicals associated with developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Integration of these approaches with adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), a framework that translates environmental exposures to adverse developmental phenotypes, can potentially inform DNT testing strategies. Here, using retinoic acid (RA) as a case example, we demonstrate that the integration of toxicogenomic profiles into the AOP framework can be used to establish a paradigm for chemical testing. RA is a critical regulatory signaling molecule involved in multiple aspects of mammalian central nervous system (CNS) development, including hindbrain formation/patterning and neuronal differentiation, and imbalances in RA signaling pathways are linked with DNT. While the mechanisms remain unresolved, environmental chemicals can cause DNT by disrupting the RA signaling pathway. First, we reviewed literature evidence of RA and other retinoid exposures and DNT to define a provisional AOP related to imbalances in RA embryonic bioavailability and hindbrain development. Next, by integrating toxicogenomic datasets, we defined a relevant transcriptomic signature associated with RA-induced developmental neurotoxicity (RA-DNT) in human and rodent models that was tested against zebrafish model data, demonstrating potential for integration into an AOP framework. Finally, we demonstrated how these approaches may be systematically utilized to identify chemical hazards by testing the RA-DNT signature against azoles, a proposed class of compounds that alters RA-signaling. The provisional AOP from this study can be expanded in the future to better define DNT biomarkers relevant to RA signaling and toxicity.
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Development of a neural rosette formation assay (RoFA) to identify neurodevelopmental toxicants and to characterize their transcriptome disturbances. Arch Toxicol 2019; 94:151-171. [PMID: 31712839 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02612-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The first in vitro tests for developmental toxicity made use of rodent cells. Newer teratology tests, e.g. developed during the ESNATS project, use human cells and measure mechanistic endpoints (such as transcriptome changes). However, the toxicological implications of mechanistic parameters are hard to judge, without functional/morphological endpoints. To address this issue, we developed a new version of the human stem cell-based test STOP-tox(UKN). For this purpose, the capacity of the cells to self-organize to neural rosettes was assessed as functional endpoint: pluripotent stem cells were allowed to differentiate into neuroepithelial cells for 6 days in the presence or absence of toxicants. Then, both transcriptome changes were measured (standard STOP-tox(UKN)) and cells were allowed to form rosettes. After optimization of staining methods, an imaging algorithm for rosette quantification was implemented and used for an automated rosette formation assay (RoFA). Neural tube toxicants (like valproic acid), which are known to disturb human development at stages when rosette-forming cells are present, were used as positive controls. Established toxicants led to distinctly different tissue organization and differentiation stages. RoFA outcome and transcript changes largely correlated concerning (1) the concentration-dependence, (2) the time dependence, and (3) the set of positive hits identified amongst 24 potential toxicants. Using such comparative data, a prediction model for the RoFA was developed. The comparative analysis was also used to identify gene dysregulations that are particularly predictive for disturbed rosette formation. This 'RoFA predictor gene set' may be used for a simplified and less costly setup of the STOP-tox(UKN) assay.
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10
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Feutz AC, De Geyter C. Accuracy, discriminative properties and reliability of a human ESC-based in vitro toxicity assay to distinguish teratogens responsible for neural tube defects. Arch Toxicol 2019; 93:2375-2384. [PMID: 31401662 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02512-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The poor correlation of developmental toxicity studies in animals with human outcome data has emphasized the need for complementary assays based on human cells and tissues. As neural tube defects represent an important proportion of congenital malformations, we evaluated here the accuracy of a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based assay to predict chemically induced disruption of neural tube formation. As teratogenic compounds, we used cyclopamine (CPA), valproic acid (VPA), ochratoxin A (OTA) and mycophenolic acid (MMF), all suspected or known inducers of human neural tube defects, as well as theophylline and saccharin as negative control compounds. We analyzed their effects on the ability of hES cells to give rise to neural precursors (expressing specific marker Nestin), to form neural tube-like structures (rosettes), and to express specific markers (Sox1, Otx2, Lix1, EvI1, Rspo3) during rosette formation. The results showed that various effects of the selected compounds on early neural development could be specifically revealed in vitro through related alterations of neurogenic differentiation of hESC. Furthermore, it was possible to discriminate toxicants acting at different time points during embryonic development and, therefore, responsible for distinct adverse effects on neural tube formation. By comparing four different hESC lines, we observed a significant (up to fivefold) variability of the line-dependent response to toxicants. We highlight at least two sources of variability: one related to the heterogeneity of hESC lines in culture (stemness/commitment profiles); the second to possible genetically determined differences in individual sensitivity to teratogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne-Catherine Feutz
- Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endocrinology (RME), University Hospital, University of Basel, Vogesenstrasse 134, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,Department of Biomedicine (DBM), University Hospital, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031, Basel, Switzerland.,SCAHT-Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 64, 4055, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Christian De Geyter
- Reproductive Medicine and Gynaecological Endocrinology (RME), University Hospital, University of Basel, Vogesenstrasse 134, 4031, Basel, Switzerland. .,SCAHT-Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology, University of Basel, Missionsstrasse 64, 4055, Basel, Switzerland.
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11
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Li J, Settivari R, LeBaron MJ, Marty MS. An industry perspective: A streamlined screening strategy using alternative models for chemical assessment of developmental neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 2019; 73:17-30. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2019.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 02/14/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
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12
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Chen H, Seifikar H, Larocque N, Kim Y, Khatib I, Fernandez CJ, Abello N, Robinson JF. Using a Multi-Stage hESC Model to Characterize BDE-47 Toxicity during Neurogenesis. Toxicol Sci 2019; 171:221-234. [PMID: 31173147 PMCID: PMC6736394 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2019] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 05/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
While the ramifications associated with polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) exposures during human pregnancy have yet to be determined, increasing evidence in humans and animal models suggests that these compounds cause neurodevelopmental toxicity. Human embryonic stem cell models (hESCs) can be used to study the effects of environmental chemicals throughout the successive stages of neuronal development. Here, using a hESC differentiation model, we investigated the effects of common PBDE congeners (BDE-47 or -99) on the successive stages of early neuronal development. First, we determined the points of vulnerability to PBDEs across four stages of in vitro neural development by using assays to assess for cytotoxicity. Differentiated neural progenitors were identified to be more sensitive to PBDEs than their less differentiated counterparts. In follow-up investigations, we observed BDE-47 to inhibit functional processes critical for neurogenesis (e.g., proliferation, expansion) in hESC-derived neural precursor cells (NPCs) at sub-lethal concentrations. Finally, to determine the mechanism(s) underlying PBDE-toxicity, we conducted global transcriptomic and methylomic analyses of BDE-47. We identified 589 genes to be differentially expressed (DE) due to BDE-47 exposure, including molecules involved in oxidative stress mediation, cell cycle, hormone signaling, steroid metabolism, and neurodevelopmental pathways. In parallel analyses, we identified a broad significant increase in CpG methylation. In summary our results suggest, on a cellular level, PBDEs induce human neurodevelopmental toxicity in a concentration-dependent manner and sensitivity to these compounds is dependent on the developmental stage of exposure. Proposed mRNA and methylomic perturbations may underlie toxicity in early embryonic neuronal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Chen
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Helia Seifikar
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicholas Larocque
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yvonne Kim
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ibrahim Khatib
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Charles J Fernandez
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Nicomedes Abello
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Joshua F Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Liang S, Yin N, Faiola F. Human Pluripotent Stem Cells as Tools for Predicting Developmental Neural Toxicity of Chemicals: Strategies, Applications, and Challenges. Stem Cells Dev 2019; 28:755-768. [PMID: 30990109 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2019.0007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The human central nervous system (CNS) is very sensitive to perturbations, since it performs sophisticated biological processes and requires cooperation from multiple neural cell types. Subtle interference from exogenous chemicals, such as environmental pollutants, industrial chemicals, drug components, food additives, and cosmetic constituents, may initiate severe developmental neural toxicity (DNT). Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-based neural differentiation assays provide effective and promising tools to help evaluate potential DNT caused by those toxicants. In fact, the specification of neural lineages in vitro recapitulates critical CNS developmental processes, such as patterning, differentiation, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis, and myelination. Hence, the established protocols to generate a repertoire of neural derivatives from hPSCs greatly benefit the in vitro evaluation of DNT. In this review, we first dissect the various differentiation protocols inducing neural cells from hPSCs, with an emphasis on the signaling pathways and endpoint markers defining each differentiation stage. We then highlight the studies with hPSC-based protocols predicting developmental neural toxicants, and discuss remaining challenges. We hope this review can provide insights for the further progress of DNT studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxian Liang
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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14
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Abstract
Birth defects are a common occurrence in the United States and worldwide. Currently, evaluation of potential developmental toxicants (i.e., teratogens) relies heavily on animal-based models which do not always adequately mimic human development. In order to address this, researchers are developing in vitro human-based models which utilize human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) to assess the teratogenic potential of chemical substances. The field of human developmental toxicity assays includes a variety of platforms including monolayer, micropattern, embryoid body, and 3D organoid cultures. In this review, we will overview the field of human teratogenic assays, detail the most recent advances, and discuss current limitations and future perspectives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn E Worley
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Biotech 2147, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
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15
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Li H, Zhang J, Chen S, Wang F, Zhang T, Niswander L. Genetic contribution of retinoid-related genes to neural tube defects. Hum Mutat 2018; 39:550-562. [PMID: 29297599 PMCID: PMC5839987 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Revised: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 12/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Rare variants are considered underlying causes of complex diseases. The complex and severe group of disorders called neural tube defects (NTDs) results from failure of the neural tube to close during early embryogenesis. Neural tube closure requires the coordination of numerous signaling pathways, including the precise regulation of retinoic acid (RA) concentration, which is controlled by enzymes involved in RA synthesis and degradation. Here, we used a case-control mutation screen study to reveal rare variants in retinoid-related genes in a Han Chinese NTD population by sequencing six genes in 355 NTD cases and 225 controls. More specific rare variants were found in exonic and upstream regions in NTD cases. The RA-responsive genes CYP26A1, CRABP1, and ALDH1A2 harbored NTD-specific rare variants in their upstream regions. Unexpectedly, the majority of missense variants in NTD cases were found in CYP26B1, which encodes a RA degradation enzyme, whereas no missense variants in this gene were found in controls. Functional analysis indicated that the CYP26B1 NTD variants were inefficient in the degradation of RA using assays of RA-induced transcription and RA-initiated neuronal differentiation. Our study supports the contribution of rare variants in RA-related genes to the etiology of human NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huili Li
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Shuyuan Chen
- Department of Pediatrics, XiangYa Hospital of Central South University, Changsha 410008, China
| | - Fang Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing 100020, China
| | - Lee Niswander
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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16
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Bal-Price A, Hogberg HT, Crofton KM, Daneshian M, FitzGerald RE, Fritsche E, Heinonen T, Hougaard Bennekou S, Klima S, Piersma AH, Sachana M, Shafer TJ, Terron A, Monnet-Tschudi F, Viviani B, Waldmann T, Westerink RHS, Wilks MF, Witters H, Zurich MG, Leist M. Recommendation on test readiness criteria for new approach methods in toxicology: Exemplified for developmental neurotoxicity. ALTEX-ALTERNATIVES TO ANIMAL EXPERIMENTATION 2018; 35:306-352. [PMID: 29485663 DOI: 10.14573/altex.1712081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Accepted: 01/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Multiple non-animal-based test methods have never been formally validated. In order to use such new approach methods (NAMs) in a regulatory context, criteria to define their readiness are necessary. The field of developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing is used to exemplify the application of readiness criteria. The costs and number of untested chemicals are overwhelming for in vivo DNT testing. Thus, there is a need for inexpensive, high-throughput NAMs, to obtain initial information on potential hazards, and to allow prioritization for further testing. A background on the regulatory and scientific status of DNT testing is provided showing different types of test readiness levels, depending on the intended use of data from NAMs. Readiness criteria, compiled during a stakeholder workshop, uniting scientists from academia, industry and regulatory authorities are presented. An important step beyond the listing of criteria, was the suggestion for a preliminary scoring scheme. On this basis a (semi)-quantitative analysis process was assembled on test readiness of 17 NAMs with respect to various uses (e.g. prioritization/screening, risk assessment). The scoring results suggest that several assays are currently at high readiness levels. Therefore, suggestions are made on how DNT NAMs may be assembled into an integrated approach to testing and assessment (IATA). In parallel, the testing state in these assays was compiled for more than 1000 compounds. Finally, a vision is presented on how further NAM development may be guided by knowledge of signaling pathways necessary for brain development, DNT pathophysiology, and relevant adverse outcome pathways (AOP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (EC JRC), Ispra (VA), Italy
| | - Helena T Hogberg
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Kevin M Crofton
- National Centre for Computational Toxicology, US EPA, RTP, Washington, NC, USA
| | - Mardas Daneshian
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Rex E FitzGerald
- Swiss Centre for Human Applied Toxicology, SCAHT, University of Basle, Switzerland
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF - Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine & Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Tuula Heinonen
- Finnish Centre for Alternative Methods (FICAM), University of Tampere, Tampere, Finland
| | | | - Stefanie Klima
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- RIVM, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, and Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Magdalini Sachana
- Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Paris, France
| | - Timothy J Shafer
- National Centre for Computational Toxicology, US EPA, RTP, Washington, NC, USA
| | | | - Florianne Monnet-Tschudi
- Swiss Centre for Human Applied Toxicology, SCAHT, University of Basle, Switzerland.,Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Barbara Viviani
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Italy
| | - Tanja Waldmann
- In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Remco H S Westerink
- Neurotoxicology Research Group, Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Martin F Wilks
- Swiss Centre for Human Applied Toxicology, SCAHT, University of Basle, Switzerland
| | - Hilda Witters
- VITO, Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Unit Environmental Risk and Health, Mol, Belgium
| | - Marie-Gabrielle Zurich
- Swiss Centre for Human Applied Toxicology, SCAHT, University of Basle, Switzerland.,Department of Physiology, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Marcel Leist
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing, CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,In vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
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17
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Abstract
The genome revolution represents a complete change on our view of biological systems. The quantitative determination of changes in all major molecular components of the living cells, the "omics" approach, opened whole new fields for all health sciences. Genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics, and others, together with appropriate prediction and modeling tools, will mark the future of developmental toxicity assessment both for wildlife and humans. This is especially true for disciplines, like teratology, which rely on studies in model organisms, as studies at lower levels of organization are difficult to implement. Rodents and frogs have been the favorite models for studying human reproductive and developmental disorders for decades. Recently, the study of the development of zebrafish embryos (ZE) is becoming a major alternative tool to adult animal testing. ZE intrinsic characteristics makes this model a unique system to analyze in vivo developmental alterations that only can be studied applying in toto approaches. Moreover, under actual legislations, ZE is considered as a replacement model (and therefore, excluded from animal welfare regulations) during the first 5 days after fertilization. Here we review the most important components of the zebrafish toolbox available for analyzing early stages of embryotoxic events that could eventually lead to teratogenesis.
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18
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Attoff K, Gliga A, Lundqvist J, Norinder U, Forsby A. Whole genome microarray analysis of neural progenitor C17.2 cells during differentiation and validation of 30 neural mRNA biomarkers for estimation of developmental neurotoxicity. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0190066. [PMID: 29261810 PMCID: PMC5738075 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0190066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Accepted: 12/07/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite its high relevance, developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is one of the least studied forms of toxicity. Current guidelines for DNT testing are based on in vivo testing and they require extensive resources. Transcriptomic approaches using relevant in vitro models have been suggested as a useful tool for identifying possible DNT-generating compounds. In this study, we performed whole genome microarray analysis on the murine progenitor cell line C17.2 following 5 and 10 days of differentiation. We identified 30 genes that are strongly associated with neural differentiation. The C17.2 cell line can be differentiated into a co-culture of both neurons and neuroglial cells, giving a more relevant picture of the brain than using neuronal cells alone. Among the most highly upregulated genes were genes involved in neurogenesis (CHRDL1), axonal guidance (BMP4), neuronal connectivity (PLXDC2), axonogenesis (RTN4R) and astrocyte differentiation (S100B). The 30 biomarkers were further validated by exposure to non-cytotoxic concentrations of two DNT-inducing compounds (valproic acid and methylmercury) and one neurotoxic chemical possessing a possible DNT activity (acrylamide). Twenty-eight of the 30 biomarkers were altered by at least one of the neurotoxic substances, proving the importance of these biomarkers during differentiation. These results suggest that gene expression profiling using a predefined set of biomarkers could be used as a sensitive tool for initial DNT screening of chemicals. Using a predefined set of mRNA biomarkers, instead of the whole genome, makes this model affordable and high-throughput. The use of such models could help speed up the initial screening of substances, possibly indicating alerts that need to be further studied in more sophisticated models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristina Attoff
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- * E-mail:
| | - Anda Gliga
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jessica Lundqvist
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swetox, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Ulf Norinder
- Swetox, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Anna Forsby
- Department of Neurochemistry, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
- Swetox, Karolinska Institutet, Unit of Toxicology Sciences, Södertälje, Sweden
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19
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New insights into the pharmacogenomics of antidepressant response from the GENDEP and STAR*D studies: rare variant analysis and high-density imputation. THE PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL 2017; 18:413-421. [DOI: 10.1038/tpj.2017.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 06/02/2017] [Accepted: 06/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
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20
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Abstract
The development of stem cell biology has revolutionized regenerative medicine and its clinical applications. Another aspect through which stem cells would benefit human health is their use in toxicology. In fact, owing to their ability to differentiate into all the lineages of the human body, including germ cells, stem cells, and, in particular, pluripotent stem cells, can be utilized for the assessment, in vitro, of embryonic, developmental, reproductive, organ, and functional toxicities, relevant to human physiology, without employing live animal tests and with the possibility of high throughput applications. Thus, stem cell toxicology would tremendously assist in the toxicological evaluation of the increasing number of synthetic chemicals that we are exposed to, of which toxicity information is limited. In this review, we introduce stem cell toxicology, as an emerging branch of in vitro toxicology, which offers quick and efficient alternatives to traditional toxicology assessments. We first discuss the development of stem cell toxicology, and we then emphasize its advantages and highlight the achievements of human pluripotent stem cell-based toxicity research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyu Liu
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China .,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Nuoya Yin
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China .,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Francesco Faiola
- 1 State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences , Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China .,2 College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing, P.R. China
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21
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DMRTC2, PAX7, BRACHYURY/T and TERT Are Implicated in Male Germ Cell Development Following Curative Hormone Treatment for Cryptorchidism-Induced Infertility. Genes (Basel) 2017; 8:genes8100267. [PMID: 29019938 PMCID: PMC5664117 DOI: 10.3390/genes8100267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 09/25/2017] [Accepted: 10/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Defective mini-puberty results in insufficient testosterone secretion that impairs the differentiation of gonocytes into dark-type (Ad) spermatogonia. The differentiation of gonocytes into Ad spermatogonia can be induced by administration of the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist, GnRHa (Buserelin, INN)). Nothing is known about the mechanism that underlies successful GnRHa treatment in the germ cells. Using RNA-sequencing of testicular biopsies, we recently examined RNA profiles of testes with and without GnRHa treatment. Here, we focused on the expression patterns of known gene markers for gonocytes and spermatogonia, and found that DMRTC2, PAX7, BRACHYURY/T, and TERT were associated with defective mini-puberty and were responsive to GnRHa. These results indicate novel testosterone-dependent genes and provide valuable insight into the transcriptional response to both defective mini-puberty and curative GnRHa treatment, which prevents infertility in man with one or both undescended (cryptorchid) testes.
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22
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Electrophysiological investigation of human embryonic stem cell derived neurospheres using a novel spike detection algorithm. Biosens Bioelectron 2017; 100:462-468. [PMID: 28963963 DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2017.09.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/18/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Microelectrode array (MEA) technology in combination with three-dimensional (3D) neuronal cell models derived from human embryonic stem cells (hESC) provide an excellent tool for neurotoxicity screening. Yet, there are significant challenges in terms of data processing and analysis, since neuronal signals have very small amplitudes and the 3D structure enhances the level of background noise. Thus, neuronal signal analysis requires the application of highly sophisticated algorithms. In this study, we present a new approach optimized for the detection of spikes recorded from 3D neurospheres (NS) with a very low signal-to-noise ratio. This was achieved by extending simple threshold-based spike detection utilizing a highly sensitive algorithm named SWTTEO. This analysis procedure was applied to data obtained from hESC-derived NS grown on MEA chips. Specifically, we examined changes in the activity pattern occurring within the first ten days of electrical activity. We further analyzed the response of NS to the GABA receptor antagonist bicuculline. With this new algorithm method we obtained more reliable results compared to the simple threshold-based spike detection.
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23
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Palmer JA, Smith AM, Egnash LA, Colwell MR, Donley ELR, Kirchner FR, Burrier RE. A human induced pluripotent stem cell-based in vitro assay predicts developmental toxicity through a retinoic acid receptor-mediated pathway for a series of related retinoid analogues. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 73:350-361. [PMID: 28746836 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.07.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2017] [Revised: 07/11/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The relative developmental toxicity potency of a series of retinoid analogues was evaluated using a human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell assay that measures changes in the biomarkers ornithine and cystine. Analogue potency was predicted, based on the assay endpoint of the ornithine/cystine (o/c) ratio, to be all-trans-retinoic acid>TTNPB>13-cis-retinoic acid≈9-cis-retinoic acid>acitretin>etretinate>retinol. These rankings correlate with in vivo data and demonstrate successful application of the assay to rank a series of related toxic and non-toxic compounds. The retinoic acid receptor α (RARα)-selective antagonist Ro 41-5253 inhibited the cystine perturbation caused by all-trans-retinoic acid, TTNPB, 13-cis-retinoic acid, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and acitretin. Ornithine was altered independent of RARα in all retinoids except acitretin. These results suggest a role for an RARα-mediated mechanism in retinoid-induced developmental toxicity through altered cystine metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica A Palmer
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
| | - Alan M Smith
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
| | - Laura A Egnash
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
| | - Michael R Colwell
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
| | | | - Fred R Kirchner
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
| | - Robert E Burrier
- Stemina Biomarker Discovery, Inc., 504 S. Rosa Rd., Madison, WI 53719, USA.
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24
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Ramos-Ibeas P, Barandalla M, Colleoni S, Lazzari G. Pyruvate antioxidant roles in human fibroblasts and embryonic stem cells. Mol Cell Biochem 2017; 429:137-150. [PMID: 28247212 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-017-2942-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 01/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Oxidative stress has been related to multiple diseases, especially during early embryonic development, when environmental alterations can lead to long-term deleterious effects. In vitro studies of oxidative stress have been mainly focused on somatic cells, but embryonic stem cells (ESCs) represent a promising model of early embryonic development as they are the in vitro equivalent to pluripotent cells in the embryo. Human fibroblasts and ESCs were exposed to different pro-oxidant agents (hydrogen peroxide, tert-butyl hydroperoxide (TBHP), and rotenone) and antioxidants (sodium pyruvate, N-acetylcysteine, Trolox, and sodium selenite) during a 72 h oxidative stress treatment. Then, cell viability, oxidative stress, mitochondrial activity, and gene expression were analyzed, focusing on the antioxidant effect of pyruvate. Pyruvate protected both somatic and pluripotent cells against different pro-oxidant agents, showing strong ROS scavenging capacity, protecting mitochondrial membrane potential, and regulating gene expression and cell metabolism through different mechanisms in fibroblasts and ESCs. In fibroblasts, pyruvate avoided NFKβ nuclear translocation and the upregulation of genes related to the oxidative stress response, while in ESCs pyruvate stimulated the expression of genes involved in anaerobic glycolysis. Fibroblasts and ESCs reacted in different ways to oxidative stress and antioxidant treatment, and pyruvate was the most complete antioxidant, protecting both cell types at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Barandalla
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Silvia Colleoni
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy
| | - Giovanna Lazzari
- Avantea, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, 26100, Cremona, Italy
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25
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Waldmann T, Grinberg M, König A, Rempel E, Schildknecht S, Henry M, Holzer AK, Dreser N, Shinde V, Sachinidis A, Rahnenführer J, Hengstler JG, Leist M. Stem Cell Transcriptome Responses and Corresponding Biomarkers That Indicate the Transition from Adaptive Responses to Cytotoxicity. Chem Res Toxicol 2016; 30:905-922. [PMID: 28001369 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.6b00259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Analysis of transcriptome changes has become an established method to characterize the reaction of cells to toxicants. Such experiments are mostly performed at compound concentrations close to the cytotoxicity threshold. At present, little information is available on concentration-dependent features of transcriptome changes, in particular, at the transition from noncytotoxic concentrations to conditions that are associated with cell death. Thus, it is unclear in how far cell death confounds the results of transcriptome studies. To explore this gap of knowledge, we treated pluripotent stem cells differentiating to human neuroepithelial cells (UKN1 assay) for short periods (48 h) with increasing concentrations of valproic acid (VPA) and methyl mercury (MeHg), two compounds with vastly different modes of action. We developed various visualization tools to describe cellular responses, and the overall response was classified as "tolerance" (minor transcriptome changes), "functional adaptation" (moderate/strong transcriptome responses, but no cytotoxicity), and "degeneration". The latter two conditions were compared, using various statistical approaches. We identified (i) genes regulated at cytotoxic, but not at noncytotoxic, concentrations and (ii) KEGG pathways, gene ontology term groups, and superordinate biological processes that were only regulated at cytotoxic concentrations. The consensus markers and processes found after 48 h treatment were then overlaid with those found after prolonged (6 days) treatment. The study highlights the importance of careful concentration selection and of controlling viability for transcriptome studies. Moreover, it allowed identification of 39 candidate "biomarkers of cytotoxicity". These could serve to provide alerts that data sets of interest may have been affected by cell death in the model system studied.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanja Waldmann
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair Foundation, University of Konstanz , 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Marianna Grinberg
- Department of Statistics, Technical University of Dortmund , D-44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - André König
- Department of Statistics, Technical University of Dortmund , D-44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Eugen Rempel
- Department of Statistics, Technical University of Dortmund , D-44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stefan Schildknecht
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair Foundation, University of Konstanz , 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Margit Henry
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne (UKK) , D-50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Anna-Katharina Holzer
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair Foundation, University of Konstanz , 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Nadine Dreser
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair Foundation, University of Konstanz , 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Vaibhav Shinde
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne (UKK) , D-50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne (UKK) , D-50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Jörg Rahnenführer
- Department of Statistics, Technical University of Dortmund , D-44221 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Jan G Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), Technical University of Dortmund , D-44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, Department inaugurated by the Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair Foundation, University of Konstanz , 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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26
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Yao X, Yin N, Faiola F. Stem cell toxicology: a powerful tool to assess pollution effects on human health. Natl Sci Rev 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nww089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractEnvironmental pollution is a global problem; the lack of comprehensive toxicological assessments may lead to increased health risks. To fully understand the health effects of pollution, it is paramount to implement fast, efficient and specific toxicity screening that relies on human models rather than on time-consuming, expensive and often inaccurate tests involving live animals. Human stem cell toxicology represents a valid alternative to traditional toxicity assays because it takes advantage of the ability of stem cells to differentiate into multiple cell types and tissues of the human body. Thus, this branch of toxicology provides a possibility to assess cellular, embryonic, developmental, reproductive and functional toxicity in vitro within a single system highly relevant to human physiology. In this review, we describe the development, performance and future perspectives of stem cell toxicology, with an emphasis on how it can meet the increasing challenges posed by environmental pollution in the modern world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinglei Yao
- Stake 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
| | - Nuoya Yin
- Stake 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
| | - Francesco Faiola
- Stake 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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27
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Wu X, Majumder A, Webb R, Stice SL. High content imaging quantification of multiple in vitro human neurogenesis events after neurotoxin exposure. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2016; 17:62. [PMID: 27903287 PMCID: PMC5131404 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-016-0107-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2016] [Accepted: 11/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Our objective was to test neural active compounds in a human developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) model that represents neural tube stages of vulnerability. Previously we showed that 14 days in vitro (DIV 14) was sufficient to generate cryopreserved neuronal cells for post thaw neurite recovery assays. However, short exposure and assessment may not detect toxicants that affect an early neurogenesis continuum, from a mitotic human neural progenitor (hNP) cell population through the course of neurite outgrowth in differentiating neurons. Therefore, we continuously exposed differentiating hNP cells from DIV 0 through DIV 14 to known toxicants and endocrine active compounds in order to assess at DIV 14 effects of these compounds in a human DNT maturation model for neurogenesis. Methods The Human DNT continuum (DIV 0 to DIV 14) was determined using immunocytochemistry for SOX1+ (proliferating hNP) and HuC/D+ (post mitotic neurons). The cumulative effects of five compounds was observed on neurite outgrowth in (βIII-tubulin+) and (HuC/D+) cells using high content imaging. All data were analyzed using a one-way ANOVA with a significance threshold of p < 0.05. Results During maturation in vitro, the neural cultures transitioned from uniform hNP cells (DIV 0) to predominantly mature post mitotic neuronal neurons (HuC/D+, 65%; DIV14) but also maintained a smaller population of hNP cells (SOX1+). Using this DNT maturation model system, Bis-1, testosterone, and β-estradiol inhibited neuronal maturation at micromolar levels but were unaffected by acetaminophen. β-estradiol also disrupted neurite extension at 10 μM. Treating cells in this window with Bisphenol A (BPA) significantly inhibited neurite outgrowth and branching in these continuum cultures but only at the highest concentrations tested (10 μM). Conclusions Cumulative effects of neurotoxicant exposure during a maturation continuum altered human neurogenesis at lower exposure levels than observed in acute exposure of static cryopreserved neurite recovery neurons cultures. Unlike prior acute studies, β-estradiol was highly toxic when present throughout the continuum and cytotoxicity was manifested starting early in the continuum via a non-estrogen receptor α (ER α) mechanism. Therefore, the effect of neural developmental neurotoxins can and should be determined during the dynamic process of human neural maturation. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s40360-016-0107-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xian Wu
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.,Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | | | - Robin Webb
- Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Steven L Stice
- Interdisciplinary Toxicology Program, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,Regenerative Bioscience Center, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA. .,ArunA Biomedical, Athens, GA, 30602, USA.
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28
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Barandalla M, Colleoni S, Lazzari G. Differential Response of Human Embryonic Stem and Somatic Cells to Non-Cytotoxic Hydrogen Peroxide Exposure: An Attempt to Model In Vitro the Effects of Oxidative Stress on the Early Embryo. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016; 5. [PMID: 27774366 DOI: 10.4172/2168-9296.1000177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Human Embryonic Stem Cells (hESCs) potentially offer a unique in vitro model to study how an adverse environment during the early developmental stages post-fertilization can affect the physiology of the undifferentiated embryonic stem cells existing in the early embryo and predispose to long term effects on the offspring, according to the Developmental Origins of Health and Disease (DOHaD) concept. A number of unfavourable conditions can affect the development of the early embryo inducing oxidative stress both in vivo, for instance in gestational diabetes and in vitro, when embryos are derived from Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). Therefore, the aim of this study was the development of a novel in vitro model to analyse the effects of oxidative stress and the antioxidant response against Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) in embryonic stem cells in comparison with somatic cells, fibroblasts and endothelial cells. To this purpose we designed an in vitro protocol based on hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) treatment of 72 h, in order to better resemble the period of embryonic development from the early cleavages to the blastocyst stage. We demonstrate that H2O2 treatment induces the modification of crucial oxidative stress biomarkers like ROS and lipid peroxidation levels, and mobilizes several antioxidant enzymes through NFkβ translocation. Moreover we show differences between somatic and embryonic cells in their antioxidant response towards H2O2 induced damage. Therefore this study presents a promising in vitro model to investigate the effects of oxidative stress conditions on early human embryonic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Barandalla
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, via Porcellasco 7/f, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - S Colleoni
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, via Porcellasco 7/f, 26100 Cremona, Italy
| | - G Lazzari
- Avantea srl, Laboratory of Reproductive Technologies, via Porcellasco 7/f, 26100 Cremona, Italy
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29
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Emergence of undifferentiated colonies from mouse embryonic stem cells undergoing differentiation by retinoic acid treatment. In Vitro Cell Dev Biol Anim 2016; 52:616-24. [PMID: 27130680 DOI: 10.1007/s11626-016-0013-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2016] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is one of the most potent inducers of differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, previous studies show that RA treatment of cells cultured in the presence of a leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) also result in the upregulation of a gene called Zscan4, whose transient expression is a marker for undifferentiated ESCs. We explored the balance between these two seemingly antagonistic effects of RA. ESCs indeed differentiated in the presence of LIF after RA treatment, but colonies of undifferentiated ESCs eventually emerged from these differentiated cells - even in the presence of RA. These colonies, named secondary colonies, consist of three cell types: typical undifferentiated ESCs expressing pluripotency genes such as Pou5f1, Sox2, and Nanog; cells expressing Zscan4; and endodermal-like cells located at the periphery of the colony. The capacity to form secondary colonies was confirmed for all eight tested ESC lines. Cells from the secondary colonies - after transfer to the standard ESC medium - retained pluripotency, judged by their strong alkaline phosphatase (ALP) staining, typical colony morphology, gene expression profile, stable karyotype, capacity to differentiate into all three germ layers in embryoid body formation assays, and successful contribution to chimeras after injection into blastocysts. Based on flow cytometry analysis (FACS), the proportion of Zscan4-positive cells in secondary colonies was higher than in standard ESC colonies, which may explain the capacity of ESCs to resist the differentiating effects of RA and instead form secondary colonies of undifferentiated ESCs. This hypothesis is supported by cell-lineage tracing analysis, which showed that most cells in the secondary colonies were descendents of cells transiently expressing Zscan4.
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30
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Robinson JF, Gormley MJ, Fisher SJ. A genomics-based framework for identifying biomarkers of human neurodevelopmental toxicity. Reprod Toxicol 2016; 60:1-10. [PMID: 26827931 PMCID: PMC4867143 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2016.01.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cell (hESC) neural differentiation models have tremendous potential for evaluating environmental compounds in terms of their ability to induce neurodevelopmental toxicity. Genomic based-approaches are being applied to identify changes underlying normal human development (in vitro and in vivo) and the effects of environmental exposures. Here, we investigated whether mechanisms that are shared between hESC neural differentiation model systems and human embryos are candidate biomarkers of developmental toxicities for neurogenesis. We conducted a meta-analysis of transcriptomic datasets with the goal of identifying differentially expressed genes that were common to the hESC-model and human embryos. The overlapping NeuroDevelopmental Biomarker (NDB) gene set contained 304 genes which were enriched for their roles in neurogenesis. These genes were investigated for their utility as candidate biomarkers in the context of toxicogenomic studies focused on the effects of retinoic acid, valproic acid, or carbamazepine in hESC models of neurodifferentiation. The results revealed genes, including 13 common targets of the 3 compounds, that were candidate biomarkers of neurotoxicity in hESC-based studies of environmental toxicants.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Robinson
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; The Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States.
| | - M J Gormley
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; The Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States
| | - S J Fisher
- Center for Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; The Eli & Edythe Broad Center for Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Department of Anatomy, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States; Human Embryonic Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), United States
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31
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Rempel E, Hoelting L, Waldmann T, Balmer NV, Schildknecht S, Grinberg M, Das Gaspar JA, Shinde V, Stöber R, Marchan R, van Thriel C, Liebing J, Meisig J, Blüthgen N, Sachinidis A, Rahnenführer J, Hengstler JG, Leist M. A transcriptome-based classifier to identify developmental toxicants by stem cell testing: design, validation and optimization for histone deacetylase inhibitors. Arch Toxicol 2015; 89:1599-618. [PMID: 26272509 PMCID: PMC4551554 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-015-1573-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2015] [Accepted: 07/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Test systems to identify developmental toxicants are urgently needed. A combination of human stem cell technology and transcriptome analysis was to provide a proof of concept that toxicants with a related mode of action can be identified and grouped for read-across. We chose a test system of developmental toxicity, related to the generation of neuroectoderm from pluripotent stem cells (UKN1), and exposed cells for 6 days to the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi) valproic acid, trichostatin A, vorinostat, belinostat, panobinostat and entinostat. To provide insight into their toxic action, we identified HDACi consensus genes, assigned them to superordinate biological processes and mapped them to a human transcription factor network constructed from hundreds of transcriptome data sets. We also tested a heterogeneous group of ‘mercurials’ (methylmercury, thimerosal, mercury(II)chloride, mercury(II)bromide, 4-chloromercuribenzoic acid, phenylmercuric acid). Microarray data were compared at the highest non-cytotoxic concentration for all 12 toxicants. A support vector machine (SVM)-based classifier predicted all HDACi correctly. For validation, the classifier was applied to legacy data sets of HDACi, and for each exposure situation, the SVM predictions correlated with the developmental toxicity. Finally, optimization of the classifier based on 100 probe sets showed that eight genes (F2RL2, TFAP2B, EDNRA, FOXD3, SIX3, MT1E, ETS1 and LHX2) are sufficient to separate HDACi from mercurials. Our data demonstrate how human stem cells and transcriptome analysis can be combined for mechanistic grouping and prediction of toxicants. Extension of this concept to mechanisms beyond HDACi would allow prediction of human developmental toxicity hazard of unknown compounds with the UKN1 test system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Rempel
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund University, 44139, Dortmund, Germany
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Schulpen SH, Theunissen PT, Pennings JL, Piersma AH. Comparison of gene expression regulation in mouse- and human embryonic stem cell assays during neural differentiation and in response to valproic acid exposure. Reprod Toxicol 2015; 56:77-86. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2015.06.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Revised: 06/01/2015] [Accepted: 06/02/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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33
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Schulpen SHW, Pennings JLA, Piersma AH. Gene Expression Regulation and Pathway Analysis After Valproic Acid and Carbamazepine Exposure in a Human Embryonic Stem Cell-Based Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Assay. Toxicol Sci 2015; 146:311-20. [PMID: 25979313 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfv094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Differentiating pluripotent stem cells in vitro have proven useful for the study of developmental toxicity. Here, we studied the effects of anticonvulsant drug exposure in a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-based neurodevelopmental toxicity test (hESTn). During neural differentiation the cells were exposed, for either 1 or 7 days, to noncytotoxic concentration ranges of valproic acid (VPA) or carbamazepine (CBZ), antiepileptic drugs known to cause neurodevelopmental toxicity. The effects observed on gene expression and correlated processes and pathways were in line with processes associated with neural development and pharmaceutical mode of action. In general, VPA showed a higher number of genes and molecular pathways affected than CBZ. The response kinetics differed between both compounds, with CBZ showing higher response magnitudes at day 1, versus VPA at day 7. With this study, we demonstrated the potential and biological relevance of the application of this hESC-based differentiation assay in combination with transcriptomics, as a tool to study neurodevelopmental toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors H W Schulpen
- *Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands and Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- *Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands and
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- *Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands and Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Meganathan K, Jagtap S, Srinivasan SP, Wagh V, Hescheler J, Hengstler J, Leist M, Sachinidis A. Neuronal developmental gene and miRNA signatures induced by histone deacetylase inhibitors in human embryonic stem cells. Cell Death Dis 2015; 6:e1756. [PMID: 25950486 PMCID: PMC4669700 DOI: 10.1038/cddis.2015.121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2014] [Revised: 03/26/2015] [Accepted: 03/30/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) may be applied to develop human-relevant sensitive in vitro test systems for monitoring developmental toxicants. The aim of this study was to identify potential developmental toxicity mechanisms of the histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDAC) valproic acid (VPA), suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and trichostatin A (TSA) relevant to the in vivo condition using a hESC model in combination with specific differentiation protocols and genome-wide gene expression and microRNA profiling. Analysis of the gene expression data showed that VPA repressed neural tube and dorsal forebrain (OTX2, ISL1, EMX2 and SOX10)-related transcripts. In addition, VPA upregulates axonogenesis and ventral forebrain-associated genes, such as SLIT1, SEMA3A, DLX2/4 and GAD2. HDACi-induced expression of miR-378 and knockdown of miR-378 increases the expression of OTX2 and EMX2, which supports our hypothesis that HDACi targets forebrain markers through miR-378. In conclusion, multilineage differentiation in vitro test system is very sensitive for monitoring molecular activities relevant to in vivo neuronal developmental toxicity. Moreover, miR-378 seems to repress the expression of the OTX2 and EMX2 and therefore could be a regulator of the development of neural tube and dorsal forebrain neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Meganathan
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
| | - S Jagtap
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
| | - S P Srinivasan
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
| | - V Wagh
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Hescheler
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
| | - J Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), Dortmund, Germany
| | - M Leist
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - A Sachinidis
- Center of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Institute of Neurophysiology and Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), Robert-Koch-Str. 39, Cologne, Germany
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Schulpen SHW, de Jong E, de la Fonteyne LJJ, de Klerk A, Piersma AH. Distinct gene expression responses of two anticonvulsant drugs in a novel human embryonic stem cell based neural differentiation assay protocol. Toxicol In Vitro 2014; 29:449-57. [PMID: 25524013 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2014.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2014] [Revised: 10/14/2014] [Accepted: 12/03/2014] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Hazard assessment of chemicals and pharmaceuticals is increasingly gaining from knowledge about molecular mechanisms of toxic action acquired in dedicated in vitro assays. We have developed an efficient human embryonic stem cell neural differentiation test (hESTn) that allows the study of the molecular interaction of compounds with the neural differentiation process. Within the 11-day differentiation protocol of the assay, embryonic stem cells lost their pluripotency, evidenced by the reduced expression of stem cell markers Pou5F1 and Nanog. Moreover, stem cells differentiated into neural cells, with morphologically visible neural structures together with increased expression of neural differentiation-related genes such as βIII-tubulin, Map2, Neurogin1, Mapt and Reelin. Valproic acid (VPA) and carbamazepine (CBZ) exposure during hESTn differentiation led to concentration-dependent reduced expression of βIII-tubulin, Neurogin1 and Reelin. In parallel VPA caused an increased gene expression of Map2 and Mapt which is possibly related to the neural protective effect of VPA. These findings illustrate the added value of gene expression analysis for detecting compound specific effects in hESTn. Our findings were in line with and could explain effects observed in animal studies. This study demonstrates the potential of this assay protocol for mechanistic analysis of specific compound-induced inhibition of human neural cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sjors H W Schulpen
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands.
| | - Esther de Jong
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Liset J J de la Fonteyne
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Arja de Klerk
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Laboratory for Health Protection Research, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, 3721 MA Bilthoven, The Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 104, 3584 CM Utrecht, The Netherlands
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36
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Colleoni S, Galli C, Gaspar JA, Meganathan K, Jagtap S, Hescheler J, Zagoura D, Bremer S, Sachinidis A, Lazzari G. A comparative transcriptomic study on the effects of valproic acid on two different hESCs lines in a neural teratogenicity test system. Toxicol Lett 2014; 231:38-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.08.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2014] [Revised: 08/29/2014] [Accepted: 08/29/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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An integrated approach for detecting embryotoxicity and developmental toxicity of environmental contaminants using in vitro alternative methods. Toxicol Lett 2014; 230:356-67. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2013] [Revised: 12/10/2013] [Accepted: 01/27/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Balmer NV, Klima S, Rempel E, Ivanova VN, Kolde R, Weng MK, Meganathan K, Henry M, Sachinidis A, Berthold MR, Hengstler JG, Rahnenführer J, Waldmann T, Leist M. From transient transcriptome responses to disturbed neurodevelopment: role of histone acetylation and methylation as epigenetic switch between reversible and irreversible drug effects. Arch Toxicol 2014; 88:1451-68. [PMID: 24935251 PMCID: PMC4067541 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-014-1279-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2014] [Accepted: 05/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
The superordinate principles governing the transcriptome response of differentiating cells exposed to drugs are still unclear. Often, it is assumed that toxicogenomics data reflect the immediate mode of action (MoA) of drugs. Alternatively, transcriptome changes could describe altered differentiation states as indirect consequence of drug exposure. We used here the developmental toxicants valproate and trichostatin A to address this question. Neurally differentiating human embryonic stem cells were treated for 6 days. Histone acetylation (primary MoA) increased quickly and returned to baseline after 48 h. Histone H3 lysine methylation at the promoter of the neurodevelopmental regulators PAX6 or OTX2 was increasingly altered over time. Methylation changes remained persistent and correlated with neurodevelopmental defects and with effects on PAX6 gene expression, also when the drug was washed out after 3-4 days. We hypothesized that drug exposures altering only acetylation would lead to reversible transcriptome changes (indicating MoA), and challenges that altered methylation would lead to irreversible developmental disturbances. Data from pulse-chase experiments corroborated this assumption. Short drug treatment triggered reversible transcriptome changes; longer exposure disrupted neurodevelopment. The disturbed differentiation was reflected by an altered transcriptome pattern, and the observed changes were similar when the drug was washed out during the last 48 h. We conclude that transcriptome data after prolonged chemical stress of differentiating cells mainly reflect the altered developmental stage of the model system and not the drug MoA. We suggest that brief exposures, followed by immediate analysis, are more suitable for information on immediate drug responses and the toxicity MoA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina V. Balmer
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Box 657, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Stefanie Klima
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Box 657, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Eugen Rempel
- Department of Statistics, TU Dortmund, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Violeta N. Ivanova
- Chair for Bioinformatics and Information Mining, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | | | - Matthias K. Weng
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Box 657, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Kesavan Meganathan
- Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Margit Henry
- Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Agapios Sachinidis
- Institute of Neurophysiology, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael R. Berthold
- Chair for Bioinformatics and Information Mining, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
| | - Jan G. Hengstler
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo), 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | | | - Tanja Waldmann
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Box 657, 78457 Constance, Germany
| | - Marcel Leist
- Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for In Vitro Toxicology and Biomedicine, University of Konstanz, Box 657, 78457 Constance, Germany
- Konstanz Research School Chemical Biology, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany
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Zhao H, Zhang X, Frazão JB, Condino-Neto A, Newburger PE. HOX antisense lincRNA HOXA-AS2 is an apoptosis repressor in all trans retinoic acid treated NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cells. J Cell Biochem 2014; 114:2375-83. [PMID: 23649634 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.24586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2013] [Accepted: 04/29/2013] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
HOXA cluster antisense RNA 2 (HOXA-AS2) is a long non-coding RNA located between the HOXA3 and HOXA4 genes in the HOXA cluster. Its transcript is expressed in NB4 promyelocytic leukemia cells and human peripheral blood neutrophils, and expression is increased in NB4 cells treated with all trans retinoic acid (ATRA). Knockdown of HOXA-AS2 expression by transduced shRNA decreases the number of viable cells and increases the proportion of apoptotic cells, measured by annexin V binding and by activity and cleavage of caspases-3, -8, and -9. The increase in death of HOXA-AS2 knockdown cells was accompanied by an elevated TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) levels, but ATRA-induced NB4 cells treated with TRAIL did show an increase in HOXA-AS2 expression. These results demonstrate that ATRA induction of HOXA-AS2 suppresses ATRA-induced apoptosis, possibly through a TRAIL-mediated pathway. HOXA-AS2-mediated negative regulation thus contributes to the fine-tuning of apoptosis during ATRA-induced myeloid differentiation in NB4 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hang Zhao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
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Human Stem/Progenitor Cell-Based Assays for Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Testing. METHODS IN PHARMACOLOGY AND TOXICOLOGY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4939-0521-8_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Kolaja K. Stem cells and stem cell-derived tissues and their use in safety assessment. J Biol Chem 2013; 289:4555-61. [PMID: 24362027 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.r113.481028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxicology has long relied on animal models in a tedious approach to understanding risk of exposure to an uncharacterized molecule. Stem cell-derived tissues can be made in high purity, quality, and quantity to enable a new approach to this problem. Currently, stem cell-derived tissues are primarily "generic" genetic backgrounds; the future will see the integration of various genetic backgrounds and complex three-dimensional models to create truly unique in vitro organoids. This minireview focuses on the state of the art of a number of stem cell-derived tissues and details their application in toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kyle Kolaja
- From Cellular Dynamics International, Montclair, New Jersey 07042
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42
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Hou Z, Zhang J, Schwartz MP, Stewart R, Page CD, Murphy WL, Thomson JA. A human pluripotent stem cell platform for assessing developmental neural toxicity screening. Stem Cell Res Ther 2013; 4 Suppl 1:S12. [PMID: 24565336 PMCID: PMC3983661 DOI: 10.1186/scrt373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A lack of affordable and effective testing and screening procedures mean surprisingly little is known about the health hazards of many of the tens of thousands of chemicals in use in the world today. The recent rise in the number of children affected by neurological disorders such as autism has stirred valuable debate about the role chemicals play in our daily life, highlighting the need for improved methods of assessing chemicals for developmental neural toxicity. Current methods of testing chemicals for developmental neural toxicity include animal testing with rats or mice and in vitro testing using cultured primary cells or cell lines. Here, we review the current state of neural toxicity screening, analyze the limitations of these methods and, under the National Institutes of Health's new Microphysiological Systems initiative, describe a human pluripotent stem cell-based platform for developmental neural toxicity screens.
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Kohonen P, Benfenati E, Bower D, Ceder R, Crump M, Cross K, Grafström RC, Healy L, Helma C, Jeliazkova N, Jeliazkov V, Maggioni S, Miller S, Myatt G, Rautenberg M, Stacey G, Willighagen E, Wiseman J, Hardy B. The ToxBank Data Warehouse: Supporting the Replacement of In Vivo Repeated Dose Systemic Toxicity Testing. Mol Inform 2013; 32:47-63. [PMID: 27481023 DOI: 10.1002/minf.201200114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2012] [Accepted: 11/27/2012] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aim of the SEURAT-1 (Safety Evaluation Ultimately Replacing Animal Testing-1) research cluster, comprised of seven EU FP7 Health projects co-financed by Cosmetics Europe, is to generate a proof-of-concept to show how the latest technologies, systems toxicology and toxicogenomics can be combined to deliver a test replacement for repeated dose systemic toxicity testing on animals. The SEURAT-1 strategy is to adopt a mode-of-action framework to describe repeated dose toxicity, combining in vitro and in silico methods to derive predictions of in vivo toxicity responses. ToxBank is the cross-cluster infrastructure project whose activities include the development of a data warehouse to provide a web-accessible shared repository of research data and protocols, a physical compounds repository, reference or "gold compounds" for use across the cluster (available via wiki.toxbank.net), and a reference resource for biomaterials. Core technologies used in the data warehouse include the ISA-Tab universal data exchange format, REpresentational State Transfer (REST) web services, the W3C Resource Description Framework (RDF) and the OpenTox standards. We describe the design of the data warehouse based on cluster requirements, the implementation based on open standards, and finally the underlying concepts and initial results of a data analysis utilizing public data related to the gold compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Lyn Healy
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK
| | | | | | | | - Silvia Maggioni
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milan, Italy
| | | | | | | | - Glyn Stacey
- National Institute for Biological Standards and Control, Potters Bar, UK
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Hoelting L, Scheinhardt B, Bondarenko O, Schildknecht S, Kapitza M, Tanavde V, Tan B, Lee QY, Mecking S, Leist M, Kadereit S. A 3-dimensional human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived model to detect developmental neurotoxicity of nanoparticles. Arch Toxicol 2012. [PMID: 23203475 PMCID: PMC3604581 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-012-0984-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Nanoparticles (NPs) have been shown to accumulate in organs, cross the blood-brain barrier and placenta, and have the potential to elicit developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Here, we developed a human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived 3-dimensional (3-D) in vitro model that allows for testing of potential developmental neurotoxicants. Early central nervous system PAX6(+) precursor cells were generated from hESCs and differentiated further within 3-D structures. The 3-D model was characterized for neural marker expression revealing robust differentiation toward neuronal precursor cells, and gene expression profiling suggested a predominantly forebrain-like development. Altered neural gene expression due to exposure to non-cytotoxic concentrations of the known developmental neurotoxicant, methylmercury, indicated that the 3-D model could detect DNT. To test for specific toxicity of NPs, chemically inert polyethylene NPs (PE-NPs) were chosen. They penetrated deep into the 3-D structures and impacted gene expression at non-cytotoxic concentrations. NOTCH pathway genes such as HES5 and NOTCH1 were reduced in expression, as well as downstream neuronal precursor genes such as NEUROD1 and ASCL1. FOXG1, a patterning marker, was also reduced. As loss of function of these genes results in severe nervous system impairments in mice, our data suggest that the 3-D hESC-derived model could be used to test for Nano-DNT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Hoelting
- Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Universitaetsstrasse 10, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
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Sison-Young RLC, Kia R, Heslop J, Kelly L, Rowe C, Cross MJ, Kitteringham NR, Hanley N, Park BK, Goldring CEP. Human pluripotent stem cells for modeling toxicity. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2012; 63:207-256. [PMID: 22776643 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-398339-8.00006-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The development of xenobiotics, driven by the demand for therapeutic, domestic and industrial uses continues to grow. However, along with this increasing demand is the risk of xenobiotic-induced toxicity. Currently, safety screening of xenobiotics uses a plethora of animal and in vitro model systems which have over the decades proven useful during compound development and for application in mechanistic studies of xenobiotic-induced toxicity. However, these assessments have proven to be animal-intensive and costly. More importantly, the prevalence of xenobiotic-induced toxicity is still significantly high, causing patient morbidity and mortality, and a costly impediment during drug development. This suggests that the current models for drug safety screening are not reliable in toxicity prediction, and the results not easily translatable to the clinic due to insensitive assays that do not recapitulate fully the complex phenotype of a functional cell type in vivo. Recent advances in the field of stem cell research have potentially allowed for a readily available source of metabolically competent cells for toxicity studies, derived using human pluripotent stem cells harnessed from embryos or reprogrammed from mature somatic cells. Pluripotent stem cell-derived cell types also allow for potential disease modeling in vitro for the purposes of drug toxicology and safety pharmacology, making this model possibly more predictive of drug toxicity compared with existing models. This article will review the advances and challenges of using human pluripotent stem cells for modeling metabolism and toxicity, and offer some perspectives as to where its future may lie.
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Affiliation(s)
- R L C Sison-Young
- MRC Centre for Drug Safety Science, Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
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