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Choi MS, Park SM, Kim S, Jegal H, Lee HA, Han HY, Yoon S, Kim SK, Oh JH. Enhanced electrophysiological activity and neurotoxicity screening of environmental chemicals using 3D neurons from human neural precursor cells purified with PSA-NCAM. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 280:116516. [PMID: 38820819 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
The assessment of neurotoxicity for environmental chemicals is of utmost importance in ensuring public health and environmental safety. Multielectrode array (MEA) technology has emerged as a powerful tool for assessing disturbances in the electrophysiological activity. Although human embryonic stem cell (hESC)-derived neurons have been used in MEA for neurotoxicity screening, obtaining a substantial and sufficiently active population of neurons from hESCs remains challenging. In this study, we successfully differentiated neurons from a large population of human neuronal precursor cells (hNPC) purified using a polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), referred to as hNPCPSA-NCAM+. The functional characterization demonstrated that hNPCPSA-NCAM+-derived neurons improve functionality by enhancing electrophysiological activity compared to total hNPC-derived neurons. Furthermore, three-dimensional (3D) neurons derived from hNPCPSA-NCAM+ exhibited reduced maturation time and enhanced electrophysiological activity on MEA. We employed subdivided population analysis of active mean firing rate (MFR) based on electrophysiological intensity to characterize the electrophysiological properties of hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons. Based on electrophysiological activity including MFR and burst parameters, we evaluated the sensitivity of hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons on MEA to screen both inhibitory and excitatory neuroactive environmental chemicals. Intriguingly, electrophysiologically active hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons demonstrated good sensitivity to evaluate neuroactive chemicals, particularly in discriminating excitatory chemicals. Our findings highlight the effectiveness of MEA approaches using hNPCPSA-NCAM+-3D neurons in the assessment of neurotoxicity associated with environmental chemicals. Furthermore, we emphasize the importance of selecting appropriate signal intensity thresholds to enhance neurotoxicity prediction and screening of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Sun Choi
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Se-Myo Park
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Soojin Kim
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun Jegal
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyang-Ae Lee
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Hyoung-Yun Han
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Seokjoo Yoon
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Kyum Kim
- College of Pharmacy, Chungnam National University, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea.
| | - Jung-Hwa Oh
- Department of predictive toxicology, Korea Institute of Toxicology (KIT), Daejeon, the Republic of Korea; Department of Human and Environmental Toxicology, University of Science & Technology, Daejeon, the Republic of Korea.
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2
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Qin SJ, Zeng QG, Zeng HX, Li SP, Andersson J, Zhao B, Oudin A, Kanninen KM, Jalava P, Jin NX, Yang M, Lin LZ, Liu RQ, Dong GH, Zeng XW. Neurotoxicity of fine and ultrafine particulate matter: A comprehensive review using a toxicity pathway-oriented adverse outcome pathway framework. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 947:174450. [PMID: 38969138 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.174450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 06/14/2024] [Accepted: 07/01/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) can cause brain damage and diseases. Of note, ultrafine particles (UFPs) with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 100 nm are a growing concern. Evidence has suggested toxic effects of PM2.5 and UFPs on the brain and links to neurological diseases. However, the underlying mechanism has not yet been fully illustrated due to the variety of the study models, different endpoints, etc. The adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework is a pathway-based approach that could systematize mechanistic knowledge to assist health risk assessment of pollutants. Here, we constructed AOPs by collecting molecular mechanisms in PM-induced neurotoxicity assessments. We chose particulate matter (PM) as a stressor in the Comparative Toxicogenomics Database (CTD) and identified the critical toxicity pathways based on Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). We found 65 studies investigating the potential mechanisms linking PM2.5 and UFPs to neurotoxicity, which contained 2, 675 genes in all. IPA analysis showed that neuroinflammation signaling and glucocorticoid receptor signaling were the common toxicity pathways. The upstream regulator analysis (URA) of PM2.5 and UFPs demonstrated that the neuroinflammation signaling was the most initially triggered upstream event. Therefore, neuroinflammation was recognized as the MIE. Strikingly, there is a clear sequence of activation of downstream signaling pathways with UFPs, but not with PM2.5. Moreover, we found that inflammation response and homeostasis imbalance were key cellular events in PM2.5 and emphasized lipid metabolism and mitochondrial dysfunction, and blood-brain barrier (BBB) impairment in UFPs. Previous AOPs, which only focused on phenotypic changes in neurotoxicity upon PM exposure, we for the first time propose AOP framework in which PM2.5 and UFPs may activate pathway cascade reactions, resulting in adverse outcomes associated with neurotoxicity. Our toxicity pathway-based approach not only advances risk assessment for PM-induced neurotoxicity but shines a spotlight on constructing AOP frameworks for new chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuang-Jian Qin
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Qing-Guo Zeng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Hui-Xian Zeng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shen-Pan Li
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | | | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Anna Oudin
- Department of Public Health and Clinical Medicine, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Katja M Kanninen
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pasi Jalava
- Department of Environmental and Biological Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Nan-Xiang Jin
- A.I. Virtanen Institute for Molecular Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, 70210 Kuopio, Finland
| | - Mo Yang
- Department of Environmental and Biological Science, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Li-Zi Lin
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ru-Qing Liu
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Guang-Hui Dong
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiao-Wen Zeng
- Joint International Research Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education, Guangdong Provincial Engineering Technology Research Center of Environmental Pollution and Health Risk Assessment, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
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3
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Chandrasekaran V, Wellens S, Bourguignon A, Djidrovski I, Fransen L, Ghosh S, Mazidi Z, Murphy C, Nunes C, Singh P, Zana M, Armstrong L, Dinnyés A, Grillari J, Grillari-Voglauer R, Leonard MO, Verfaillie C, Wilmes A, Zurich MG, Exner T, Jennings P, Culot M. Evaluation of the impact of iPSC differentiation protocols on transcriptomic signatures. Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 98:105826. [PMID: 38615723 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have the potential to produce desired target cell types in vitro and allow for the high-throughput screening of drugs/chemicals at population level thereby minimising the cost of drug discovery and drug withdrawals after clinical trials. There is a substantial need for the characterisation of the iPSC derived models to better understand and utilise them for toxicological relevant applications. In our study, iPSC (SBAD2 or SBAD3 lines obtained from StemBANCC project) were differentiated towards toxicologically relevant cell types: alveolar macrophages, brain capillary endothelial cells, brain cells, endothelial cells, hepatocytes, lung airway epithelium, monocytes, podocytes and renal proximal tubular cells. A targeted transcriptomic approach was employed to understand the effects of differentiation protocols on these cell types. Pearson correlation and principal component analysis (PCA) separated most of the intended target cell types and undifferentiated iPSC models as distinct groups with a high correlation among replicates from the same model. Based on PCA, the intended target cell types could also be separated into the three germ layer groups (ectoderm, endoderm and mesoderm). Differential expression analysis (DESeq2) presented the upregulated genes in each intended target cell types that allowed the evaluation of the differentiation to certain degree and the selection of key differentiation markers. In conclusion, these data confirm the versatile use of iPSC differentiated cell types as standardizable and relevant model systems for in vitro toxicology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidya Chandrasekaran
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Sara Wellens
- University of Artois, UR 2465, Laboratoire de la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique (LBHE), Faculté des sciences Jean Perrin, Rue Jean Souvraz SP18, F-62300 Lens, France
| | - Aurore Bourguignon
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, Hungary; Department of Physiology and Animal Health, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H-2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Ivo Djidrovski
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - Leonie Fransen
- Toxicology Department, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (RCE) Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Campus, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Sreya Ghosh
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Zahra Mazidi
- Evercyte GmbH, Vienna, Austria; Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
| | - Cormac Murphy
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Carolina Nunes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pranika Singh
- Edelweiss Connect GmbH, Technology Park Basel, Hochbergerstrasse 60C, 4057 Basel, Switzerland; Division of Molecular and Systems Toxicology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Lyle Armstrong
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, UK
| | - András Dinnyés
- BioTalentum Ltd, Gödöllő, Hungary; Department of Physiology and Animal Health, Institute of Physiology and Animal Nutrition, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, H-2100, Gödöllő, Hungary
| | - Johannes Grillari
- Institute of Molecular Biotechnology, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Traumatology in cooperation with AUVA, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Martin O Leonard
- Toxicology Department, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards (RCE) Directorate, UK Health Security Agency, Harwell Campus, OX11 0RQ, UK
| | - Catherine Verfaillie
- Department of Development and Regeneration, Stem Cell Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Anja Wilmes
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marie-Gabrielle Zurich
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland; Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Paul Jennings
- Division of Molecular and Computational Toxicology, Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute for Molecules, Medicines and Systems, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
| | - Maxime Culot
- University of Artois, UR 2465, Laboratoire de la Barrière Hémato-Encéphalique (LBHE), Faculté des sciences Jean Perrin, Rue Jean Souvraz SP18, F-62300 Lens, France.
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Hughes S, Hessel EVS. Zebrafish and nematodes as whole organism models to measure developmental neurotoxicity. Crit Rev Toxicol 2024; 54:330-343. [PMID: 38832580 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2024.2342448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
Despite the growing epidemiological evidence of an association between toxin exposure and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT), systematic testing of DNT is not mandatory in international regulations for admission of pharmaceuticals or industrial chemicals. However, to date around 200 compounds, ranging from pesticides, pharmaceuticals and industrial chemicals, have been tested for DNT in the current OECD test guidelines (TG-443 or TG-426). There are calls for the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) for DNT, which has resulted in a DNT testing battery using in vitro human cell-based assays. These assays provide a means to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity in humans which is lacking in animal-based toxicity tests. However, cell-based assays do not represent all steps of the complex process leading to DNT. Validated models with a multi-organ network of pathways that interact at the molecular, cellular and tissue level at very specific timepoints in a life cycle are currently missing. Consequently, whole model organisms are being developed to screen for, and causally link, new molecular targets of DNT compounds and how they affect whole brain development and neurobehavioral endpoints. Given the practical and ethical restraints associated with vertebrate testing, lower animal models that qualify as 3 R (reduce, refine and replace) models, including the nematode (Caenorhabditis elegans) and the zebrafish (Danio rerio) will prove particularly valuable for unravelling toxicity pathways leading to DNT. Although not as complex as the human brain, these 3 R-models develop a complete functioning brain with numerous neurodevelopmental processes overlapping with human brain development. Importantly, the main signalling pathways relating to (neuro)development, metabolism and growth are highly conserved in these models. We propose the use of whole model organisms specifically zebrafish and C. elegans for DNT relevant endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Hughes
- Department of Environmental Health and Toxicology, A-LIFE, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
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5
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Serafini MM, Sepehri S, Midali M, Stinckens M, Biesiekierska M, Wolniakowska A, Gatzios A, Rundén-Pran E, Reszka E, Marinovich M, Vanhaecke T, Roszak J, Viviani B, SenGupta T. Recent advances and current challenges of new approach methodologies in developmental and adult neurotoxicity testing. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1271-1295. [PMID: 38480536 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-024-03703-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024]
Abstract
Adult neurotoxicity (ANT) and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) assessments aim to understand the adverse effects and underlying mechanisms of toxicants on the human nervous system. In recent years, there has been an increasing focus on the so-called new approach methodologies (NAMs). The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), together with European and American regulatory agencies, promote the use of validated alternative test systems, but to date, guidelines for regulatory DNT and ANT assessment rely primarily on classical animal testing. Alternative methods include both non-animal approaches and test systems on non-vertebrates (e.g., nematodes) or non-mammals (e.g., fish). Therefore, this review summarizes the recent advances of NAMs focusing on ANT and DNT and highlights the potential and current critical issues for the full implementation of these methods in the future. The status of the DNT in vitro battery (DNT IVB) is also reviewed as a first step of NAMs for the assessment of neurotoxicity in the regulatory context. Critical issues such as (i) the need for test batteries and method integration (from in silico and in vitro to in vivo alternatives, e.g., zebrafish, C. elegans) requiring interdisciplinarity to manage complexity, (ii) interlaboratory transferability, and (iii) the urgent need for method validation are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melania Maria Serafini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy.
| | - Sara Sepehri
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Miriam Midali
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Marth Stinckens
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marta Biesiekierska
- Department of Translational Research, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Anna Wolniakowska
- Department of Translational Research, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Alexandra Gatzios
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Elise Rundén-Pran
- The Climate and Environmental Research Institute NILU, Kjeller, Norway
| | - Edyta Reszka
- Department of Translational Research, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marina Marinovich
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Research on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in chemical risk assessment (SAFE-MI), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology (IVTD), Vrije Universiteit Brussels, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joanna Roszak
- Department of Translational Research, Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine, Lodz, Poland
| | - Barbara Viviani
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, "Rodolfo Paoletti", Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
- Center of Research on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) in chemical risk assessment (SAFE-MI), Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Tanima SenGupta
- The Climate and Environmental Research Institute NILU, Kjeller, Norway
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6
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Collins EMS, Hessel EVS, Hughes S. How neurobehavior and brain development in alternative whole-organism models can contribute to prediction of developmental neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 2024; 102:48-57. [PMID: 38552718 PMCID: PMC11139590 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2024.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2023] [Revised: 03/01/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) is not routinely evaluated in chemical risk assessment because current test paradigms for DNT require the use of mammalian models which are ethically controversial, expensive, and resource demanding. Consequently, efforts have focused on revolutionizing DNT testing through affordable novel alternative methods for risk assessment. The goal is to develop a DNT in vitro test battery amenable to high-throughput screening (HTS). Currently, the DNT in vitro test battery consists primarily of human cell-based assays because of their immediate relevance to human health. However, such cell-based assays alone are unable to capture the complexity of a developing nervous system. Whole organismal systems that qualify as 3 R (Replace, Reduce and Refine) models are urgently needed to complement cell-based DNT testing. These models can provide the necessary organismal context and be used to explore the impact of chemicals on brain function by linking molecular and/or cellular changes to behavioural readouts. The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the planarian Dugesia japonica, and embryos of the zebrafish Danio rerio are all suited to low-cost HTS and each has unique strengths for DNT testing. Here, we review the strengths and the complementarity of these organisms in a novel, integrative context and highlight how they can augment current cell-based assays for more comprehensive and robust DNT screening of chemicals. Considering the limitations of all in vitro test systems, we discuss how a smart combinatory use of these systems will contribute to a better human relevant risk assessment of chemicals that considers the complexity of the developing brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva-Maria S Collins
- Swarthmore College, Biology, 500 College Avenue, Swarthmore, PA 19081, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Center of Excellence in Environmental Toxicology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Antonie van Leeuwenhoeklaan 9, Bilthoven, 3721 MA, the Netherlands
| | - Samantha Hughes
- Department of Environmental Health and Toxicology, A-LIFE, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, de Boelelaan 1085, Amsterdam, 1081 HV, the Netherlands.
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7
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Korszun-Karbowniczak J, Krysiak ZJ, Saluk J, Niemcewicz M, Zdanowski R. The Progress in Molecular Transport and Therapeutic Development in Human Blood-Brain Barrier Models in Neurological Disorders. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2024; 44:34. [PMID: 38627312 PMCID: PMC11021242 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-024-01473-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/19/2024]
Abstract
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is responsible for maintaining homeostasis within the central nervous system (CNS). Depending on its permeability, certain substances can penetrate the brain, while others are restricted in their passage. Therefore, the knowledge about BBB structure and function is essential for understanding physiological and pathological brain processes. Consequently, the functional models can serve as a key to help reveal this unknown. There are many in vitro models available to study molecular mechanisms that occur in the barrier. Brain endothelial cells grown in culture are commonly used to modeling the BBB. Current BBB platforms include: monolayer platforms, transwell, matrigel, spheroidal, and tissue-on-chip models. In this paper, the BBB structure, molecular characteristic, as well as its dysfunctions as a consequence of aging, neurodegeneration, or under hypoxia and neurotoxic conditions are presented. Furthermore, the current modelling strategies that can be used to study BBB for the purpose of further drugs development that may reach CNS are also described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Korszun-Karbowniczak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine National Research Institute, 128 Szaserów Street, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland
- BioMedChem Doctoral School of the University of Lodz and Lodz Institutes of the Polish Academy of Sciences, 21/23 Matejki Street, 90-237, Lodz, Poland
| | - Zuzanna Joanna Krysiak
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine National Research Institute, 128 Szaserów Street, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Joanna Saluk
- Department of General Biochemistry, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, Institute of Biochemistry, University of Lodz, 68 Narutowicza Street, 90-136, Lodz, Poland
| | - Marcin Niemcewicz
- Biohazard Prevention Centre, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, 68 Narutowicza Street, 90-136, Lodz, Poland
| | - Robert Zdanowski
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine National Research Institute, 128 Szaserów Street, 04-141, Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Sahoo AK, Chivukula N, Ramesh K, Singha J, Marigoudar SR, Sharma KV, Samal A. An integrative data-centric approach to derivation and characterization of an adverse outcome pathway network for cadmium-induced toxicity. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 920:170968. [PMID: 38367714 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170968] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Cadmium is a prominent toxic heavy metal that contaminates both terrestrial and aquatic environments. Owing to its high biological half-life and low excretion rates, cadmium causes a variety of adverse biological outcomes. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks were envisioned to systematically capture toxicological information to enable risk assessment and chemical regulation. Here, we leveraged AOP-Wiki and integrated heterogeneous data from four other exposome-relevant resources to build the first AOP network relevant for inorganic cadmium-induced toxicity. From AOP-Wiki, we filtered 309 high confidence AOPs, identified 312 key events (KEs) associated with inorganic cadmium from five exposome-relevant databases using a data-centric approach, and thereafter, curated 30 cadmium relevant AOPs (cadmium-AOPs). By constructing the undirected AOP network, we identified a large connected component of 18 cadmium-AOPs. Further, we analyzed the directed network of 59 KEs and 82 key event relationships (KERs) in the largest component using graph-theoretic approaches. Subsequently, we mined published literature using artificial intelligence-based tools to provide auxiliary evidence of cadmium association for all KEs in the largest component. Finally, we performed case studies to verify the rationality of cadmium-induced toxicity in humans and aquatic species. Overall, cadmium-AOP network constructed in this study will aid ongoing research in systems toxicology and chemical exposome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ajaya Kumar Sahoo
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | - Nikhil Chivukula
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India
| | | | - Jasmine Singha
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India
| | | | - Krishna Venkatarama Sharma
- National Centre for Coastal Research, Ministry of Earth Sciences, Government of India, Pallikaranai, Chennai, India
| | - Areejit Samal
- The Institute of Mathematical Sciences (IMSc), Chennai, India; Homi Bhabha National Institute (HBNI), Mumbai, India.
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He X, Yang Z, Wang L, Sun Y, Cao H, Liang Y. NeuTox: A weighted ensemble model for screening potential neuronal cytotoxicity of chemicals based on various types of molecular representations. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 465:133443. [PMID: 38198870 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.133443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
Chemical-induced neurotoxicity has been widely brought into focus in the risk assessment of chemical safety. However, the traditional in vivo animal models to evaluate neurotoxicity are time-consuming and expensive, which cannot completely represent the pathophysiology of neurotoxicity in humans. Cytotoxicity to human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y) is commonly used as an alternative to animal testing for the assessment of neurotoxicity, yet it is still not appropriate for high throughput screening of potential neuronal cytotoxicity of chemicals. In this study, we constructed an ensemble prediction model, termed NeuTox, by combining multiple machine learning algorithms with molecular representations based on the weighted score of Particle Swarm Optimization. For the test set, NeuTox shows excellent performance with an accuracy of 0.9064, which are superior to the top-performing individual models. The subsequent experimental verifications reveal that 5,5'-isopropylidenedi-2-biphenylol and 4,4'-cyclo-hexylidenebisphenol exhibited stronger SH-SY5Y-based cytotoxicity compared to bisphenol A, suggesting that NeuTox has good generalization ability in the first-tier assessment of neuronal cytotoxicity of BPA analogs. For ease of use, NeuTox is presented as an online web server that can be freely accessed via http://www.iehneutox-predictor.cn/NeuToxPredict/Predict.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun He
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Zeguo Yang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Ling Wang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Yuzhen Sun
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
| | - Huiming Cao
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China.
| | - Yong Liang
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Environmental and Health Effects of Persistent Toxic Substances, School of Environment and Health, Jianghan University, Wuhan 430056, China
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10
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Kleinbeck S, Wolkoff P. Exposure limits for indoor volatile substances concerning the general population: The role of population-based differences in sensory irritation of the eyes and airways for assessment factors. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:617-662. [PMID: 38243103 PMCID: PMC10861400 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03642-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/16/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Assessment factors (AFs) are essential in the derivation of occupational exposure limits (OELs) and indoor air quality guidelines. The factors shall accommodate differences in sensitivity between subgroups, i.e., workers, healthy and sick people, and occupational exposure versus life-long exposure for the general population. Derivation of AFs itself is based on empirical knowledge from human and animal exposure studies with immanent uncertainty in the empirical evidence due to knowledge gaps and experimental reliability. Sensory irritation in the eyes and airways constitute about 30-40% of OELs and is an abundant symptom in non-industrial buildings characterizing the indoor air quality and general health. Intraspecies differences between subgroups of the general population should be quantified for the proposal of more 'empirical' based AFs. In this review, we focus on sensitivity differences in sensory irritation about gender, age, health status, and vulnerability in people, based solely on human exposure studies. Females are more sensitive to sensory irritation than males for few volatile substances. Older people appear less sensitive than younger ones. However, impaired defense mechanisms may increase vulnerability in the long term. Empirical evidence of sensory irritation in children is rare and limited to children down to the age of six years. Studies of the nervous system in children compared to adults suggest a higher sensitivity in children; however, some defense mechanisms are more efficient in children than in adults. Usually, exposure studies are performed with healthy subjects. Exposure studies with sick people are not representative due to the deselection of subjects with moderate or severe eye or airway diseases, which likely underestimates the sensitivity of the group of people with diseases. Psychological characterization like personality factors shows that concentrations of volatile substances far below their sensory irritation thresholds may influence the sensitivity, in part biased by odor perception. Thus, the protection of people with extreme personality traits is not feasible by an AF and other mitigation strategies are required. The available empirical evidence comprising age, lifestyle, and health supports an AF of not greater than up to 2 for sensory irritation. Further, general AFs are discouraged for derivation, rather substance-specific derivation of AFs is recommended based on the risk assessment of empirical data, deposition in the airways depending on the substance's water solubility and compensating for knowledge and experimental gaps. Modeling of sensory irritation would be a better 'empirical' starting point for derivation of AFs for children, older, and sick people, as human exposure studies are not possible (due to ethical reasons) or not generalizable (due to self-selection). Dedicated AFs may be derived for environments where dry air, high room temperature, and visually demanding tasks aggravate the eyes or airways than for places in which the workload is balanced, while indoor playgrounds might need other AFs due to physical workload and affected groups of the general population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Kleinbeck
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
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11
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Costa HE, Cairrao E. Effect of bisphenol A on the neurological system: a review update. Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:1-73. [PMID: 37855918 PMCID: PMC10761478 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03614-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/20/2023]
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) and one of the most produced synthetic compounds worldwide. BPA can be found in epoxy resins and polycarbonate plastics, which are frequently used in food storage and baby bottles. However, BPA can bind mainly to estrogen receptors, interfering with various neurologic functions, its use is a topic of significant concern. Nonetheless, the neurotoxicity of BPA has not been fully understood despite numerous investigations on its disruptive effects. Therefore, this review aims to highlight the most recent studies on the implications of BPA on the neurologic system. Our findings suggest that BPA exposure impairs various structural and molecular brain changes, promoting oxidative stress, changing expression levels of several crucial genes and proteins, destructive effects on neurotransmitters, excitotoxicity and neuroinflammation, damaged blood-brain barrier function, neuronal damage, apoptosis effects, disruption of intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, increase in reactive oxygen species, promoted apoptosis and intracellular lactate dehydrogenase release, a decrease of axon length, microglial DNA damage, astrogliosis, and significantly reduced myelination. Moreover, BPA exposure increases the risk of developing neurologic diseases, including neurovascular (e.g. stroke) and neurodegenerative (e.g. Alzheimer's and Parkinson's) diseases. Furthermore, epidemiological studies showed that the adverse effects of BPA on neurodevelopment in children contributed to the emergence of serious neurological diseases like attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder (ASD), depression, emotional problems, anxiety, and cognitive disorders. In summary, BPA exposure compromises human health, promoting the development and progression of neurologic disorders. More research is required to fully understand how BPA-induced neurotoxicity affects human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrique Eloi Costa
- CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
- FCS-UBI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal
| | - Elisa Cairrao
- CICS-UBI, Health Sciences Research Centre, University of Beira Interior, Av. Infante D. Henrique, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal.
- FCS-UBI, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Beira Interior, 6200-506, Covilhã, Portugal.
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12
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Hinojosa MG, Johansson Y, Jos A, Cameán AM, Forsby A. Effects of cylindrospermopsin, chlorpyrifos and their combination in a SH-SY5Y cell model concerning developmental neurotoxicity. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 269:115804. [PMID: 38091671 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024]
Abstract
The cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN) has been postulated to cause neurotoxicity, although the studies in this concern are very few. In addition, some studies in vitro indicate its possible effects on development. Furthermore, pesticides can be present in the same environmental samples as cyanotoxins. Therefore, chlorpyrifos (CPF) has been one of the most common pesticides used worldwide. The aim of this report was to study the effects of CYN, isolated and in combination with CPF, in a developmental neurotoxicity in vitro model. The human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cell line was exposed during 6 days of differentiation to both toxics to study their effects on cell viability and neurite outgrowth. To further evaluate effects of both toxicants on cholinergic signaling, their agonistic and antagonistic activities on the α7 homomeric nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) were studied upon acute exposure. Moreover, a transcriptomic analysis by qPCR was performed after 6 days of CYN-exposure during differentiation. The results showed a concentration-dependent decrease on both cell viability and neurite outgrowth for both toxics isolated, leading to effective concentration 20 (EC20) values of 0.35 µM and 0.097 µM for CYN on cell viability and neurite outgrowth, respectively, and 100 µM and 58 µM for CPF, while the combination demonstrated no significant variations. In addition, 95 µM and 285 µM CPF demonstrated to act as an antagonist to nicotine on the nAChR, although CYN up to 2.4 µM had no effect on the efficacy of these receptors. Additionally, the EC20 for CYN (0.097 µM) on neurite outgrowth downregulated expression of the 5 genes NTNG2 (netrin G2), KCNJ11 (potassium channel), SLC18A3 (vesicular acetylcholine transporter), APOE (apolipoprotein E), and SEMA6B (semaphorin 6B), that are all important for neuronal development. Thus, this study points out the importance of studying the effects of CYN in terms of neurotoxicity and developmental neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Hinojosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden; Area of Toxicology, Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, Toxicology and Legal Medicine. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - Y Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - A Jos
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, Toxicology and Legal Medicine. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - A M Cameán
- Area of Toxicology, Department of Nutrition and Bromatology, Toxicology and Legal Medicine. Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C/ Profesor García González 2, 41012 Seville, Spain
| | - A Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Pitzer EM, Shafer TJ, Herr DW. Identification of neurotoxicology (NT)/developmental neurotoxicology (DNT) adverse outcome pathways and key event linkages with in vitro DNT screening assays. Neurotoxicology 2023; 99:184-194. [PMID: 37866692 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.10.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2023] [Revised: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
There is a need to assess compounds reliably and quickly for neurotoxicity (NT) and developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) enable the mapping of molecular events to an apical endpoint in a chemical agnostic manner and have begun to be applied in NT and DNT testing frameworks. We assessed the status of NT/DNT AOPs in the AOP-Wiki (ca. 2/1/23; https://aopwiki.org/), to characterize the state of AOP development, identify strengths and knowledge gaps, elucidate areas for improvement, and describe areas for future focus. AOPs in the Wiki database were assessed for inclusion of NT/DNT molecular events and endpoints, AOP development and endorsement, as well as the linkages of key neurodevelopmental processes with in vitro new approach methods (NAMs). This review found that 41 AOPs have been proposed detailing NT/DNT, of which eight were endorsed by working parties in OECD. Further, this review determined that learning and memory is included as an adverse outcome in eight NT/DNT AOPS, often without distinction regarding the varying forms of learning and memory, regional specification, temporal dynamics, or acquisition mechanisms involved. There is also an overlap with key events (KEs) and in vitro NAMs, which synaptogenesis appeared as a common process. Overall, progress on NT/DNT AOPs could be expanded, adding in modes of action that are missing, improvement in defining apical endpoints, as well as utilizing NAMs further to develop AOPs and identify gaps in current knowledge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily M Pitzer
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
| | - Timothy J Shafer
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - David W Herr
- Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
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14
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Hirano T, Ikenaka Y, Nomiyama K, Honda M, Suzuki N, Hoshi N, Tabuchi Y. An adverse outcome pathway-based approach to assess the neurotoxicity by combined exposure to current-use pesticides. Toxicology 2023; 500:153687. [PMID: 38040083 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2023.153687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to multiple pesticides in daily life has become an important public health concern. However, the combined effects of pesticide mixtures have not been fully elucidated by the conventional toxicological testing used for individual chemicals. Grouping of chemicals by mode of action using common key events (KEs) in the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) as endpoints could be applied for efficient risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether exposure to multiple pesticides has synergistic neurotoxic effects on mammalian nervous systems. According to the AOP-based approach, we evaluated the effects of 10 current-use pesticides (4 neonicotinoids, 4 pyrethroids and 2 phenylpyrazoles) on the common KEs in AOPs for neurotoxicity, such as KEs involving mitochondrial and proteolytic functions, in a mammalian neuronal cell model. Our data showed that several pyrethroids and phenylpyrazoles partly shared the effects on several common KEs, including decreases in mitochondrial membrane potential and proteasome activity and increases in autophagy activity. Furthermore, we also found that combined exposure to a type-I pyrethroid permethrin or a type-II pyrethroid deltamethrin and the phenylpyrazole fipronil decreased the cell viability and the benchmark doses much more than either single exposure, indicating that the pair exhibited synergistic effects, since the combination indexes were less than 1. These findings revealed that novel pairs of different classes of pesticides with similar effects on common KEs exhibited synergistic neurotoxicity and provide new insights into the risk assessment of combined exposure to multiple chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tetsushi Hirano
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan.
| | - Yoshinori Ikenaka
- Translational Research Unit, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan; Water Research Group, Unit for Environmental Sciences and Management, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa; One Health Research Center, Hokkaido University,Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan; Laboratory of Toxicology, Department of Environmental Veterinary Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Hokkaido University, Kita 18, Nishi 9, Kita-ku, Sapporo, Hokkaido 060-0818, Japan
| | - Kei Nomiyama
- Center for Marine Environmental Studies, Ehime University, 2-5 Bunkyo-cho, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8577, Japan
| | - Masato Honda
- Botanical Garden, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Kakuma-machi, Ishikawa 920-1192, Japan
| | - Nobuo Suzuki
- Noto Marine Laboratory, Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa University, Ogi, Noto-cho, Ishikawa 927-0553, Japan
| | - Nobuhiko Hoshi
- Department of Animal Science, Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Kobe University, 1-1 Rokkodai, Kobe, Hyogo 657-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Tabuchi
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Toyama, 2630 Sugitani, Toyama 930-0194, Japan
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15
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Juberg DR, Fox DA, Forcelli PA, Kacew S, Lipscomb JC, Saghir SA, Sherwin CM, Koenig CM, Hays SM, Kirman CR. A perspective on In vitro developmental neurotoxicity test assay results: An expert panel review. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 143:105444. [PMID: 37442267 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2023] [Revised: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
For decades, there has been increasing concern about the potential developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) associated with chemicals. Regulatory agencies have historically utilized standardized in vivo testing to evaluate DNT. Owing to considerations including higher-throughput screening for DNT, reduction in animal use, and potential cost efficiencies, the development of alternative new approach methods (NAMs) occurred; specifically, the advent of the DNT in vitro test battery (DNT IVB). SciPinion convened an expert panel to address specific questions related to the interpretation of in vitro DNT test data. The consensus of the expert panel was that the DNT IVB might be used during initial screening, but it is not presently a complete or surrogate approach to determine whether a chemical is a DNT in humans. By itself, the DNT IVB does not have the ability to capture nuances and complexity of the developing nervous system and associated outcomes including behavioral ontogeny, motor activity, sensory function, and learning/memory. Presently, such developmental landmarks cannot be adequately assessed in the DNT IVB or by other NAMs. The expert panel (all who serve as co-authors of this review) recommended that additional data generation and validation is required before the DNT IVB can be considered for application within global regulatory frameworks for decision-making.
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Affiliation(s)
- D R Juberg
- Juberg Toxicology Consulting LLC, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - D A Fox
- DAFoxTox Consulting, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | - S Kacew
- University of Ottawa, Ottawa, CA, USA
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16
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Hinojosa MG, Johansson Y, Cediel-Ulloa A, Ivanova E, Gabring N, Gliga A, Forsby A. Evaluation of mRNA markers in differentiating human SH-SY5Y cells for estimation of developmental neurotoxicity. Neurotoxicology 2023; 97:65-77. [PMID: 37210002 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.05.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Current guidelines for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) evaluation are based on animal models. These have limitations so more relevant, efficient and robust approaches for DNT assessment are needed. We have used the human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell model to evaluate a panel of 93 mRNA markers that are frequent in Neuronal diseases and functional annotations and also differentially expressed during retinoic acid-induced differentiation in the cell model. Rotenone, valproic acid (VPA), acrylamide (ACR) and methylmercury chloride (MeHg) were used as DNT positive compounds. Tolbutamide, D-mannitol and clofibrate were used as DNT negative compounds. To determine concentrations for exposure for gene expression analysis, we developed a pipeline for neurite outgrowth assessment by live-cell imaging. In addition, cell viability was measured by the resazurin assay. Gene expression was analyzed by RT-qPCR after 6 days of exposure during differentiation to concentrations of the DNT positive compounds that affected neurite outgrowth, but with no or minimal effect on cell viability. Methylmercury affected cell viability at lower concentrations than neurite outgrowth, hence the cells were exposed with the highest non-cytotoxic concentration. Rotenone (7.3nM) induced 32 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), ACR (70µM) 8 DEGs, and VPA (75µM) 16 DEGs. No individual genes were significantly dysregulated by all 3 DNT positive compounds (p<0.05), but 9 genes were differentially expressed by 2 of them. Methylmercury (0.8nM) was used to validate the 9 DEGs. The expression of SEMA5A (encoding semaphorin 5A) and CHRNA7 (encoding nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit α7) was downregulated by all 4 DNT positive compounds. None of the DNT negative compounds dysregulated any of the 9 DEGs in common for the DNT positive compounds. We suggest that SEMA5A or CHRNA7 should be further evaluated as biomarkers for DNT studies in vitro since they also are involved in neurodevelopmental adverse outcomes in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- M G Hinojosa
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Y Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Cediel-Ulloa
- Department of Organismal Biology, Environmental Toxicology, Uppsala University, 752 36, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - E Ivanova
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - N Gabring
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - A Gliga
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - A Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, 106 91, Stockholm, Sweden
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17
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Bottini CLJ, MacDougall-Shackleton SA. Methylmercury effects on avian brains. Neurotoxicology 2023; 96:140-153. [PMID: 37059311 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2023.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a concerning contaminant due to its ubiquity and harmful effects on organisms. Although birds are important models in the neurobiology of vocal learning and adult neuroplasticity, the neurotoxic effects of MeHg are less understood in birds than mammals. We surveyed the literature on MeHg effects on biochemical changes in the avian brain. Publication rates of papers related to neurology and/or birds and/or MeHg increased with time and can be linked with historical events, regulations, and increased understanding of MeHg cycling in the environment. However, publications on MeHg effects on the avian brain remain relatively low across time. The neural effects measured to evaluate MeHg neurotoxicity in birds changed with time and researcher interest. The measures most consistently affected by MeHg exposure in birds were markers of oxidative stress. NMDA, acetylcholinesterase, and Purkinje cells also seem sensitive to some extent. MeHg exposure has the potential to affect most neurotransmitter systems but more studies are needed for validation in birds. We also review the main mechanisms of MeHg-induced neurotoxicity in mammals and compare it to what is known in birds. The literature on MeHg effects on the avian brain is limited, preventing full construction of an adverse outcome pathway. We identify research gaps for taxonomic groups such as songbirds, and age- and life-stage groups such as immature fledgling stage and adult non-reproductive life stage. In addition, results are often inconsistent between experimental and field studies. We conclude that future neurotoxicological studies of MeHg impacts on birds need to better connect the numerous aspects of exposure from molecular physiological effects to behavioural outcomes that would be ecologically or biologically relevant for birds, especially under challenging conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire L J Bottini
- University of Western Ontario, Department of Biology, 1151 Richmond St., London Ontario, N6A 5B7; Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Scott A MacDougall-Shackleton
- Advanced Facility for Avian Research, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada; University of Western Ontario, Department of Psychology, 1151 Richmond St., London Ontario, N6A 5C2
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18
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Cervetto C, Pistollato F, Amato S, Mendoza-de Gyves E, Bal-Price A, Maura G, Marcoli M. Assessment of neurotransmitter release in human iPSC-derived neuronal/glial cells: a missing in vitro assay for regulatory developmental neurotoxicity testing. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 117:108358. [PMID: 36863571 PMCID: PMC10112275 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2022] [Revised: 02/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/04/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neural stem cells (NSCs) and their differentiated neuronal/glial derivatives have been recently considered suitable to assess in vitro developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) triggered by exposure to environmental chemicals. The use of human-relevant test systems combined with in vitro assays specific for different neurodevelopmental events, enables a mechanistic understanding of the possible impact of environmental chemicals on the developing brain, avoiding extrapolation uncertainties associated with in vivo studies. Currently proposed in vitro battery for regulatory DNT testing accounts for several assays suitable to study key neurodevelopmental processes, including NSC proliferation and apoptosis, differentiation into neurons and glia, neuronal migration, synaptogenesis, and neuronal network formation. However, assays suitable to measure interference of compounds with neurotransmitter release or clearance are at present not included, which represents a clear gap of the biological applicability domain of such a testing battery. Here we applied a HPLC-based methodology to measure the release of neurotransmitters in a previously characterized hiPSC-derived NSC model undergoing differentiation towards neurons and glia. Glutamate release was assessed in control cultures and upon depolarization, as well as in cultures repeatedly exposed to some known neurotoxicants (BDE47 and lead) and chemical mixtures. Obtained data indicate that these cells have the ability to release glutamate in a vesicular manner, and that both glutamate clearance and vesicular release concur in the maintenance of extracellular glutamate levels. In conclusion, analysis of neurotransmitter release is a sensitive readout that should be included in the envisioned battery of in vitro assays for DNT testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Cervetto
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Italy; Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Centro 3R, Pisa, Italy.
| | | | - Sarah Amato
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre, JRC, Ispra, Italy.
| | - Guido Maura
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Manuela Marcoli
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Italy; Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research, Centro 3R, Pisa, Italy.
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19
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Bose R, Spulber S, Ceccatelli S. The Threat Posed by Environmental Contaminants on Neurodevelopment: What Can We Learn from Neural Stem Cells? Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24054338. [PMID: 36901772 PMCID: PMC10002364 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2023] [Revised: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Exposure to chemicals may pose a greater risk to vulnerable groups, including pregnant women, fetuses, and children, that may lead to diseases linked to the toxicants' target organs. Among chemical contaminants, methylmercury (MeHg), present in aquatic food, is one of the most harmful to the developing nervous system depending on time and level of exposure. Moreover, certain man-made PFAS, such as PFOS and PFOA, used in commercial and industrial products including liquid repellants for paper, packaging, textile, leather, and carpets, are developmental neurotoxicants. There is vast knowledge about the detrimental neurotoxic effects induced by high levels of exposure to these chemicals. Less is known about the consequences that low-level exposures may have on neurodevelopment, although an increasing number of studies link neurotoxic chemical exposures to neurodevelopmental disorders. Still, the mechanisms of toxicity are not identified. Here we review in vitro mechanistic studies using neural stem cells (NSCs) from rodents and humans to dissect the cellular and molecular processes changed by exposure to environmentally relevant levels of MeHg or PFOS/PFOA. All studies show that even low concentrations dysregulate critical neurodevelopmental steps supporting the idea that neurotoxic chemicals may play a role in the onset of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Behan-Bush R, Liszewski JN, Schrodt MV, Vats B, Li X, Lehmler HJ, Klingelhutz AJ, Ankrum JA. Toxicity Impacts on Human Adipose Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cells Acutely Exposed to Aroclor and Non-Aroclor Mixtures of Polychlorinated Biphenyl. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1731-1742. [PMID: 36651682 PMCID: PMC9893815 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) accumulates in adipose where it may impact the growth and function of cells within the tissue. This is particularly concerning during adolescence when adipocytes expand rapidly. Herein, we sought to understand how exposure to PCB mixtures found in U.S. schools affects human adipose mesenchymal stem/stromal cell (MSC) health and function. We investigated how exposure to Aroclor 1016 and Aroclor 1254, as well as a newly characterized non-Aroclor mixture that resembles the PCB profile found in cabinets, Cabinet Mixture, affects adipose MSC growth, viability, and function in vitro. We found that exposure to all three mixtures resulted in two distinct types of toxicity. At PCB concentrations >20 μM, the majority of MSCs die, while at 1-10 μM, MSCs remained viable but display numerous alterations to their phenotype. At these sublethal concentrations, the MSC rate of expansion slowed and morphology changed. Further assessment revealed that PCB-exposed MSCs had impaired adipogenesis and a modest decrease in immunosuppressive capabilities. Thus, exposure to PCB mixtures found in schools negatively impacts the health and function of adipose MSCs. This work has implications for human health due to MSCs' role in supporting the growth and maintenance of adipose tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley
M. Behan-Bush
- Roy
J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Fraternal
Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Jesse N. Liszewski
- Roy
J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Fraternal
Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Michael V. Schrodt
- Roy
J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Fraternal
Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Bhavya Vats
- Roy
J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Xueshu Li
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Hans-Joachim Lehmler
- Department
of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - Aloysius J. Klingelhutz
- Fraternal
Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Department
of Microbiology and Immunology, University
of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
| | - James A. Ankrum
- Roy
J. Carver Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
- Fraternal
Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa 52242, United States
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21
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Algharably EA, Di Consiglio E, Testai E, Pistollato F, Bal-Price A, Najjar A, Kreutz R, Gundert-Remy U. Prediction of in vivo prenatal chlorpyrifos exposure leading to developmental neurotoxicity in humans based on in vitro toxicity data by quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolation. Front Pharmacol 2023; 14:1136174. [PMID: 36959852 PMCID: PMC10027916 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1136174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Epidemiological studies in children suggested that in utero exposure to chlorpyrifos (CPF), an organophosphate insecticide, may cause developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). We applied quantitative in vitro-in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) based on in vitro concentration and non-choline esterase-dependent effects data combined with Benchmark dose (BMD) modelling to predict oral maternal CPF exposure during pregnancy leading to fetal brain effect concentration. By comparing the results with data from epidemiological studies, we evaluated the contribution of the in vitro endpoints to the mode of action (MoA) for CPF-induced DNT. Methods: A maternal-fetal PBK model built in PK-Sim® was used to perform QIVIVE predicting CPF concentrations in a pregnant women population at 15 weeks of gestation from cell lysate concentrations obtained in human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived neural stem cells undergoing differentiation towards neurons and glia exposed to CPF for 14 days. The in vitro concentration and effect data were used to perform BMD modelling. Results: The upper BMD was converted into maternal doses which ranged from 3.21 to 271 mg/kg bw/day. Maternal CPF blood levels from epidemiological studies reporting DNT findings in their children were used to estimate oral CPF exposure during pregnancy using the PBK model. It ranged from 0.11 to 140 μg/kg bw/day. Discussion: The effective daily intake doses predicted from the in vitro model were several orders of magnitude higher than exposures estimated from epidemiological studies to induce developmental non-cholinergic neurotoxic responses, which were captured by the analyzed in vitro test battery. These were also higher than the in vivo LOEC for cholinergic effects. Therefore, the quantitative predictive value of the investigated non-choline esterase-dependent effects, although possibly relevant for other chemicals, may not adequately represent potential key events in the MoA for CPF-associated DNT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engi Abdelhady Algharably
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- *Correspondence: Engi Abdelhady Algharably,
| | - Emma Di Consiglio
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Testai
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Center (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Reinhold Kreutz
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Gundert-Remy
- Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité—Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Berlin, Germany
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22
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Braun G, Escher BI. Prioritization of mixtures of neurotoxic chemicals for biomonitoring using high-throughput toxicokinetics and mixture toxicity modeling. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 171:107680. [PMID: 36502700 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Modern society continues to pollute the environment with larger quantities of chemicals that have also become more structurally and functionally diverse. Risk assessment of chemicals can hardly keep up with the sheer numbers that lead to complex mixtures of increasing chemical diversity including new chemicals, substitution products on top of still abundant legacy compounds. Fortunately, over the last years computational tools have helped us to identify and prioritize chemicals of concern. These include toxicokinetic models to predict exposure to chemicals as well as new approach methodologies such as in-vitro bioassays to address toxicodynamic effects. Combined, they allow for a prediction of mixtures and their respective effects and help overcome the lack of data we face for many chemicals. In this study we propose a high-throughput approach using experimental and predicted exposure, toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic data to simulate mixtures, to which a virtual population is exposed to and predict their mixture effects. The general workflow is adaptable for any type of toxicity, but we demonstrated its applicability with a case study on neurotoxicity. If no experimental data for neurotoxicity were available, we used baseline toxicity predictions as a surrogate. Baseline toxicity is the minimal toxicity any chemical has and might underestimate the true contribution to the mixture effect but many neurotoxicants are not by orders of magnitude more potent than baseline toxicity. Therefore, including baseline-toxic effects in mixture simulations yields a more realistic picture than excluding them in mixture simulations. This workflow did not only correctly identify and prioritize known chemicals of concern like benzothiazoles, organochlorine pesticides and plasticizers but we were also able to identify new potential neurotoxicants that we recommend to include in future biomonitoring studies and if found in humans, to also include in neurotoxicity screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georg Braun
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Beate I Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; Environmental Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
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23
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Kiso-Farnè K, Yaoi T, Fujimoto T, Itoh K. Low Doses of Bisphenol A Disrupt Neuronal Differentiation of Human Neuronal Stem/Progenitor Cells. Acta Histochem Cytochem 2022; 55:193-202. [PMID: 36688137 PMCID: PMC9840471 DOI: 10.1267/ahc.22-00090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine disrupting chemical. Human epidemiological studies have suggested that adverse neurobehavioral outcomes are induced by fetal exposure to BPA. The remarkable differences in the corticogenesis between human and agyrencephalic mammals are an increase in the intermediate progenitor cells (IPCs) and a following increase in the subplate thickness. It is uncertain whether low doses of BPA (low-BPA) affect human early corticogenesis when basal progenitor cells (BPs) produce IPCs resulting in amplified neurogenesis. In this study, human-derived neuronal stem/progenitor cells were exposed to low-BPA or the vehicle only, and the resultant cell type-specific molecular changes and morphology were analyzed. We focused on stem cells immunoreactive for SOX2, BPs for NHLH1, and immature neurons for DCX. SOX2-positive cells significantly decreased at day in vitro (DIV) 4 and 7, whereas NHLH1-positive cells tended to be higher, while DCX-positive cells significantly increased at DIV7 when exposed to 100 nM of BPA compared with the vehicle. Morphologically DCX-positive cells showed a decrease in unipolar cells and an increase in multipolar cells when exposed to 100 nM of BPA compared with the vehicle. These results provide insights into the in vivo effect of low-BPA on neuronal differentiation in the human fetal corticogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaori Kiso-Farnè
- Department of Pathology and Applied Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takeshi Yaoi
- Department of Pathology and Applied Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takahiro Fujimoto
- Department of Pathology and Applied Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Kyoko Itoh
- Department of Pathology and Applied Neurobiology, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
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24
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Marika M, Marketa D, Lada S, Marian R, Filip K, Adam V, Věra V, Kristina K, Dagmar J, Tuula H. New approach methods for assessing indoor air toxicity. Curr Res Toxicol 2022; 3:100090. [PMID: 36281315 PMCID: PMC9587284 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2022.100090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Indoor air is typically a mixture of many chemicals at low concentrations without any adverse health effects alone, but in mixtures they may cause toxicity and risks to human health. The aim of this study was by using new approach methods to assess the potential toxicity of indoor air condensates. In specific, different in vitro test methods including cyto-and immunotoxicity, skin sensitization and endocrine disruption were applied. In addition to biological effects, the indoor air samples were subjected to targeted analysis of 25 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and Genapol X-80 (a nonionic emulsifier) suspected to be present in the samples, and to a non-targeted "total chemical scan" to find out whether the chemical composition of the samples is associated with the biological effects. The results confirm that assessing health risks of indoor air by analysing individual chemicals is not an adequate approach: We were not able to detect the VOCs and Genapol X-80 in the indoor air samples, yet, several types of toxicity, namely, cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, skin sensitization and endocrine disruption were detected. In the non-targeted total chemical scan of the indoor air samples, a larger number of compounds were found in the cytotoxic samples than in the non-cytotoxic samples supporting the biological findings. If only one biological method would be selected for the screening of indoor air quality, THP-1 macrophage/WST-1 assay would best fit for the purpose as it is sensitive and serves as a good representative for different sub-toxic end points, including immunotoxicity, (skin) sensitization and endocrine disruption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mannerström Marika
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 1, 33014 Tampere University, Finland,Corresponding author at: Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 34, 33014 Tampere University, Finland.
| | - Dvorakova Marketa
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Svobodova Lada
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic,Medical Faculty of Palacky University, Hnevotinska 976/3, 775 15 Olomouc, Czech Republic
| | - Rucki Marian
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Kotal Filip
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Vavrouš Adam
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Vrbíková Věra
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Kejlova Kristina
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Jirova Dagmar
- National Institute of Public Health, Srobarova 49/48, 100 00 Prague 10, Czech Republic
| | - Heinonen Tuula
- The Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology, Arvo Ylpön katu 1, 33014 Tampere University, Finland
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25
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de Leeuw VC, van Oostrom CTM, Wackers PFK, Pennings JLA, Hodemaekers HM, Piersma AH, Hessel EVS. Neuronal differentiation pathways and compound-induced developmental neurotoxicity in the human neural progenitor cell test (hNPT) revealed by RNA-seq. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 304:135298. [PMID: 35700809 PMCID: PMC9247748 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
There is an increased awareness that the use of animals for compound-induced developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) testing has limitations. Animal-free innovations, especially the ones based on human stem cell-based models are pivotal in studying DNT since they can mimic processes relevant to human brain development. Here we present the human neural progenitor test (hNPT), a 10-day protocol in which neural progenitor cells differentiate into a neuron-astrocyte co-culture. The study aimed to characterise differentiation over time and to find neurodevelopmental processes sensitive to compound exposure using transcriptomics. 3992 genes regulated in unexposed control cultures (p ≤ 0.001, log2FC ≥ 1) showed Gene Ontology (GO-) term enrichment for neuronal and glial differentiation, neurite extension, synaptogenesis, and synaptic transmission. Exposure to known or suspected DNT compounds (acrylamide, chlorpyrifos, fluoxetine, methyl mercury, or valproic acid) at concentrations resulting in 95% cell viability each regulated unique combinations of GO-terms relating to neural progenitor proliferation, neuronal and glial differentiation, axon development, synaptogenesis, synaptic transmission, and apoptosis. Investigation of the GO-terms 'neuron apoptotic process' and 'axon development' revealed common genes that were responsive across compounds, and might be used as biomarkers for DNT. The GO-term 'synaptic signalling', on the contrary, whilst also responsive to all compounds tested, showed little overlap in gene expression regulation patterns between the conditions. This GO-term may articulate compound-specific effects that may be relevant for revealing differences in mechanism of toxicity. Given its focus on neural progenitor cell to mature multilineage neuronal cell maturation and its detailed molecular readout based on gene expression analysis, hNPT might have added value as a tool for neurodevelopmental toxicity testing in vitro. Further assessment of DNT-specific biomarkers that represent these processes needs further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria C de Leeuw
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Conny T M van Oostrom
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Paul F K Wackers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Jeroen L A Pennings
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Hennie M Hodemaekers
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Aldert H Piersma
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands; Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences (IRAS), Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Ellen V S Hessel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
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26
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Wołejko E, Łozowicka B, Jabłońska-Trypuć A, Pietruszyńska M, Wydro U. Chlorpyrifos Occurrence and Toxicological Risk Assessment: A Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph191912209. [PMID: 36231509 PMCID: PMC9566616 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191912209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Chlorpyrifos (CPF) was the most frequently used pesticide in food production in the European Union (EU) until 2020. Unfortunately, this compound is still being applied in other parts of the world. National monitoring of pesticides conducted in various countries indicates the presence of CPF in soil, food, and water, which may have toxic effects on consumers, farmers, and animal health. In addition, CPF may influence changes in the population of fungi, bacteria, and actinomycete in soil and can inhibit nitrogen mineralization. The mechanisms of CPF activity are based on the inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. This compound also exhibits reproductive toxicity, neurotoxicity, and genotoxicity. The problem seems to be the discrepancy between the actual observations and the final conclusions drawn for the substance's approval in reports presenting the toxic impact of CPF on human health. Therefore, this influence is still a current and important issue that requires continuous monitoring despite its withdrawal from the market in the EU. This review traces the scientific reports describing the effects of CPF resulting in changes occurring in both the environment and at the cellular and tissue level in humans and animals. It also provides an insight into the hazards and risks to human health in food consumer products in which CPF has been detected.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elżbieta Wołejko
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
- Correspondence: (E.W.); (A.J.-T.)
| | - Bożena Łozowicka
- Institute of Plant Protection—National Research Institute, Chełmońskiego 22 Street, 15-195 Białystok, Poland
| | - Agata Jabłońska-Trypuć
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
- Correspondence: (E.W.); (A.J.-T.)
| | - Marta Pietruszyńska
- Department of Ophthalmology, Medical University of Białystok, M. Skłodowskiej-Curie 24A Street, 15-276 Białystok, Poland
| | - Urszula Wydro
- Department of Chemistry, Biology and Biotechnology, Bialystok University of Technology, Wiejska 45A Street, 15-351 Białystok, Poland
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27
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Baldassari S, Cervetto C, Amato S, Fruscione F, Balagura G, Pelassa S, Musante I, Iacomino M, Traverso M, Corradi A, Scudieri P, Maura G, Marcoli M, Zara F. Vesicular Glutamate Release from Feeder-FreehiPSC-Derived Neurons. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231810545. [PMID: 36142455 PMCID: PMC9501332 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231810545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) represent one of the main and powerful tools for the in vitro modeling of neurological diseases. Standard hiPSC-based protocols make use of animal-derived feeder systems to better support the neuronal differentiation process. Despite their efficiency, such protocols may not be appropriate to dissect neuronal specific properties or to avoid interspecies contaminations, hindering their future translation into clinical and drug discovery approaches. In this work, we focused on the optimization of a reproducible protocol in feeder-free conditions able to generate functional glutamatergic neurons. This protocol is based on a generation of neuroprecursor cells differentiated into human neurons with the administration in the culture medium of specific neurotrophins in a Geltrex-coated substrate. We confirmed the efficiency of this protocol through molecular analysis (upregulation of neuronal markers and neurotransmitter receptors assessed by gene expression profiling and expression of the neuronal markers at the protein level), morphological analysis, and immunfluorescence detection of pre-synaptic and post-synaptic markers at synaptic boutons. The hiPSC-derived neurons acquired Ca2+-dependent glutamate release properties as a hallmark of neuronal maturation. In conclusion, our study describes a new methodological approach to achieve feeder-free neuronal differentiation from hiPSC and adds a new tool for functional characterization of hiPSC-derived neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Baldassari
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Chiara Cervetto
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Sarah Amato
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Floriana Fruscione
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Simone Pelassa
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Monica Traverso
- Paediatric Neurology and Neuromuscular Disorders Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
| | - Anna Corradi
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genoa, Viale Benedetto XV 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
- IRCCS Ospedale Policlinico San Martino Largo Rosanna Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Paolo Scudieri
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Guido Maura
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
| | - Manuela Marcoli
- Department of Pharmacy (DIFAR), Section of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Genoa, Viale Cembrano 4, 16148 Genova, Italy
- Interuniversity Center for the Promotion of the 3Rs Principles in Teaching and Research (Centro 3R), 56100 Pisa, Italy
- Center of Excellence for Biomedical Research, Viale Benedetto XV, 16132 Genova, Italy
- Correspondence: (C.C.); (M.M.)
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Via G. Gaslini 5, 16147 Genova, Italy
- Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Largo Paolo Daneo 3, 16132 Genova, Italy
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28
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Algharably EA, Di Consiglio E, Testai E, Pistollato F, Mielke H, Gundert-Remy U. In Vitro- In Vivo Extrapolation by Physiologically Based Kinetic Modeling: Experience With Three Case Studies and Lessons Learned. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:885843. [PMID: 35924078 PMCID: PMC9340473 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.885843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiologically based kinetic (PBK) modeling has been increasingly used since the beginning of the 21st century to support dose selection to be used in preclinical and clinical safety studies in the pharmaceutical sector. For chemical safety assessment, the use of PBK has also found interest, however, to a smaller extent, although an internationally agreed document was published already in 2010 (IPCS/WHO), but at that time, PBK modeling was based mostly on in vivo data as the example in the IPCS/WHO document indicates. Recently, the OECD has published a guidance document which set standards on how to characterize, validate, and report PBK models for regulatory purposes. In the past few years, we gained experience on using in vitro data for performing quantitative in vitro–in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE), in which biokinetic data play a crucial role to obtain a realistic estimation of human exposure. In addition, pharmaco-/toxicodynamic aspects have been introduced into the approach. Here, three examples with different drugs/chemicals are described, in which different approaches have been applied. The lessons we learned from the exercise are as follows: 1) in vitro conditions should be considered and compared to the in vivo situation, particularly for protein binding; 2) in vitro inhibition of metabolizing enzymes by the formed metabolites should be taken into consideration; and 3) it is important to extrapolate from the in vitro measured intracellular concentration and not from the nominal concentration to the tissue/organ concentration to come up with an appropriate QIVIVE for the relevant adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Engi Abdelhady Algharably
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Berlin, Germany
| | - Emma Di Consiglio
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Testai
- Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Models Unit, Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Hans Mielke
- Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ursula Gundert-Remy
- Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin and Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Berlin, Germany.,Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Berlin, Germany
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Lauvås AJ, Lislien M, Holme JA, Dirven H, Paulsen RE, Alm IM, Andersen JM, Skarpen E, Sørensen V, Macko P, Pistollato F, Duale N, Myhre O. Developmental neurotoxicity of acrylamide and its metabolite glycidamide in a human mixed culture of neurons and astrocytes undergoing differentiation in concentrations relevant for human exposure. Neurotoxicology 2022; 92:33-48. [PMID: 35835329 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2022.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells were used to investigate effects of exposure to the food contaminant acrylamide (AA) and its main metabolite glycidamide (GA) on key neurodevelopmental processes. Diet is an important source of human AA exposure for pregnant women, and AA is known to pass the placenta and the newborn may also be exposed through breast feeding after birth. The NSCs were exposed to AA and GA (1 ×10-8 - 3 ×10-3 M) under 7 days of proliferation and up to 28 days of differentiation towards a mixed culture of neurons and astrocytes. Effects on cell viability was measured using Alamar Blue™ cell viability assay, alterations in gene expression were assessed using real time PCR and RNA sequencing, and protein levels were quantified using immunocytochemistry and high content imaging. Effects of AA and GA on neurodevelopmental processes were evaluated using endpoints linked to common key events identified in the existing developmental neurotoxicity adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). Our results suggest that AA and GA at low concentrations (1 ×10-7 - 1 ×10-8 M) increased cell viability and markers of proliferation both in proliferating NSCs (7 days) and in maturing neurons after 14-28 days of differentiation. IC50 for cell death of AA and GA was 5.2 × 10-3 M and 5.8 × 10-4 M, respectively, showing about ten times higher potency for GA. Increased expression of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) concomitant with decreased synaptogenesis were observed for GA exposure (10-7 M) only at later differentiation stages, and an increased number of astrocytes (up to 3-fold) at 14 and 21 days of differentiation. Also, AA exposure gave tendency towards decreased differentiation (increased percent Nestin positive cells). After 28 days, neurite branch points and number of neurites per neuron measured by microtubule-associated protein 2 (Map2) staining decreased, while the same neurite features measured by βIII-Tubulin increased, indicating perturbation of neuronal differentiation and maturation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jacobsen Lauvås
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Malene Lislien
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Jørn Andreas Holme
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild Elisabeth Paulsen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Inger Margit Alm
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Jill Mari Andersen
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Ellen Skarpen
- Core Facility for Advanced Light Microscopy, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Vigdis Sørensen
- Core Facility for Advanced Light Microscopy, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Peter Macko
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Nur Duale
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Department of Chemical Toxicology, Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH), Oslo, Norway.
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30
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Quality criteria for in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-derived models of tissue-based cells. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 112:36-50. [PMID: 35697279 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The advent of the technology to isolate or generate human pluripotent stem cells provided the potential to develop a wide range of human models that could enhance understanding of mechanisms underlying human development and disease. These systems are now beginning to mature and provide the basis for the development of in vitro assays suitable to understand the biological processes involved in the multi-organ systems of the human body, and will improve strategies for diagnosis, prevention, therapies and precision medicine. Induced pluripotent stem cell lines are prone to phenotypic and genotypic changes and donor/clone dependent variability, which means that it is important to identify the most appropriate characterization markers and quality control measures when sourcing new cell lines and assessing differentiated cell and tissue culture preparations for experimental work. This paper considers those core quality control measures for human pluripotent stem cell lines and evaluates the state of play in the development of key functional markers for their differentiated cell derivatives to promote assurance of reproducibility of scientific data derived from pluripotent stem cell-based systems.
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Francesca P, Mauro P, Clerbaux LA, Leoni G, Ponti J, Bogni A, Brogna C, Cristoni S, Sanges R, Mendoza-de Gyves E, Fabbri M, Querci M, Soares H, Munoz Pineiro A, Whelan M, Van de Eede G. Effects of spike protein and toxin-like peptides found in COVID-19 patients on human 3D neuronal/glial model undergoing differentiation: possible implications for SARS-CoV-2 impact on brain development. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 111:34-48. [PMID: 35525527 PMCID: PMC9068247 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 03/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The possible neurodevelopmental consequences of SARS-CoV-2 infection are presently unknown. In utero exposure to SARS-CoV-2 has been hypothesized to affect the developing brain, possibly disrupting neurodevelopment of children. Spike protein interactors, such as ACE2, have been found expressed in the fetal brain, and could play a role in potential SARS-CoV-2 fetal brain pathogenesis. Apart from the possible direct involvement of SARS-CoV-2 or its specific viral components in the occurrence of neurological and neurodevelopmental manifestations, we recently reported the presence of toxin-like peptides in plasma, urine and fecal samples specifically from COVID-19 patients. In this study, we investigated the possible neurotoxic effects elicited upon 72-hour exposure to human relevant levels of recombinant spike protein, toxin-like peptides found in COVID-19 patients, as well as a combination of both in 3D human iPSC-derived neural stem cells differentiated for either 2 weeks (short-term) or 8 weeks (long-term, 2 weeks in suspension + 6 weeks on MEA) towards neurons/glia. Whole transcriptome and qPCR analysis revealed that spike protein and toxin-like peptides at non-cytotoxic concentrations differentially perturb the expression of SPHK1, ELN, GASK1B, HEY1, UTS2, ACE2 and some neuronal-, glia- and NSC-related genes critical during brain development. Additionally, exposure to spike protein caused a decrease of spontaneous electrical activity after two days in long-term differentiated cultures. The perturbations of these neurodevelopmental endpoints are discussed in the context of recent knowledge about the key events described in Adverse Outcome Pathways relevant to COVID-19, gathered in the context of the CIAO project (https://www.ciao-covid.net/).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Petrillo Mauro
- Seidor Italy srl. Past affiliation (until 15/06/2021) European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Gabriele Leoni
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy; International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | - Jessica Ponti
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Alessia Bogni
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | | | - Remo Sanges
- International School for Advanced Studies (SISSA), Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Marco Fabbri
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Helena Soares
- Human Immunobiology and Pathogenesis Group, CEDOC, NOVA Medical School
- Faculdade de Ciências Médicas, NOVA University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Maurice Whelan
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Guy Van de Eede
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Geel, Belgium
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Crofton KM, Bassan A, Behl M, Chushak YG, Fritsche E, Gearhart JM, Marty MS, Mumtaz M, Pavan M, Ruiz P, Sachana M, Selvam R, Shafer TJ, Stavitskaya L, Szabo DT, Szabo ST, Tice RR, Wilson D, Woolley D, Myatt GJ. Current status and future directions for a neurotoxicity hazard assessment framework that integrates in silico approaches. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 22:100223. [PMID: 35844258 PMCID: PMC9281386 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/27/2023]
Abstract
Neurotoxicology is the study of adverse effects on the structure or function of the developing or mature adult nervous system following exposure to chemical, biological, or physical agents. The development of more informative alternative methods to assess developmental (DNT) and adult (NT) neurotoxicity induced by xenobiotics is critically needed. The use of such alternative methods including in silico approaches that predict DNT or NT from chemical structure (e.g., statistical-based and expert rule-based systems) is ideally based on a comprehensive understanding of the relevant biological mechanisms. This paper discusses known mechanisms alongside the current state of the art in DNT/NT testing. In silico approaches available today that support the assessment of neurotoxicity based on knowledge of chemical structure are reviewed, and a conceptual framework for the integration of in silico methods with experimental information is presented. Establishing this framework is essential for the development of protocols, namely standardized approaches, to ensure that assessments of NT and DNT based on chemical structures are generated in a transparent, consistent, and defendable manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arianna Bassan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Mamta Behl
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National
Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC 27709, USA
| | - Yaroslav G. Chushak
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Ellen Fritsche
- IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental
Medicine & Medical Faculty Heinrich-Heine-University, Düsseldorf,
Germany
| | - Jeffery M. Gearhart
- Henry M Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military
Medicine, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | | | - Moiz Mumtaz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Manuela Pavan
- Innovatune srl, Via Giulio Zanon 130/D, 35129 Padova,
Italy
| | - Patricia Ruiz
- Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, US
Department of Health and Human Services, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment
Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), 75775
Paris Cedex 16, France
| | - Rajamani Selvam
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | - Timothy J. Shafer
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center
for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC,
USA
| | - Lidiya Stavitskaya
- Office of Clinical Pharmacology, Office of Translational
Sciences, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), Silver Spring, MD 20993, USA
| | | | | | | | - Dan Wilson
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48667, USA
| | | | - Glenn J. Myatt
- Instem, Columbus, OH 43215, USA
- Corresponding author.
(G.J. Myatt)
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Nunes C, Gorczyca G, Mendoza-deGyves E, Ponti J, Bogni A, Carpi D, Bal-Price A, Pistollato F. Upscaling biological complexity to boost neuronal and oligodendroglia maturation and improve in vitro developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) evaluation. Reprod Toxicol 2022; 110:124-140. [PMID: 35378221 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2022.03.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2021] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived neuronal and glial cell models are suitable to assess the effects of environmental chemicals on the developing brain. Such test systems can recapitulate several key neurodevelopmental features, such as neural stem cell formation and differentiation towards different neuronal subtypes and astrocytes, neurite outgrowth, synapse formation and neuronal network formation and function, which are crucial for brain development. While monolayer, two-dimensional (2D) cultures of human iPSC-neuronal or glial derivatives are generally suited for high-throughput testing, they also show some limitations. In particular, differentiation towards myelinating oligodendrocytes can only be achieved after extended periods in differentiation. In recent years, the implementation of three-dimensional (3D) neuronal and glial models obtained from human iPSCs has been shown to compensate for such limitations, enabling robust differentiation towards both neuronal and glial cell populations, myelination and formation of more mature neuronal network activity. Here we compared the differentiation capacity of human iPSC-derived neural stem cells cultured either as 2D monolayer or as 3D neurospheres, and assessed chlorpyrifos (CPF) effects. Data indicate that 3D neurospheres differentiate towards neurons and oligodendroglia more rapidly than 2D cultures; however, the 2D model is more suitable to assess neuronal functionality by analysis of spontaneous electrical activity using multielectrode array. Moreover, 2D and 3D test systems are diversely susceptible to CPF treatment. In conclusion, the selection of the most suitable in vitro test system (either 2D or 3D) should take into account the context of use and intended research goals ('fit for purpose' principle).
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Affiliation(s)
- Carolina Nunes
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, CH-1005 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriela Gorczyca
- Department of Endocrinology, Institute of Zoology and Biomedical Research, Faculty of Biology, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Kraków, Poland
| | | | - Jessica Ponti
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Alessia Bogni
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Donatella Carpi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
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Ramšak Ž, Modic V, Li RA, vom Berg C, Zupanic A. From Causal Networks to Adverse Outcome Pathways: A Developmental Neurotoxicity Case Study. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:815754. [PMID: 35295214 PMCID: PMC8915909 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.815754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The last decade has seen the adverse outcome pathways (AOP) framework become one of the most powerful tools in chemical risk assessment, but the development of new AOPs remains a slow and manually intensive process. Here, we present a faster approach for AOP generation, based on manually curated causal toxicological networks. As a case study, we took a recently published zebrafish developmental neurotoxicity network, which contains causally connected molecular events leading to neuropathologies, and developed two new adverse outcome pathways: Inhibition of Fyna (Src family tyrosine kinase A) leading to increased mortality via decreased eye size (AOP 399 on AOP-Wiki) and GSK3beta (Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta) inactivation leading to increased mortality via defects in developing inner ear (AOP 410). The approach consists of an automatic separation of the toxicological network into candidate AOPs, filtering the AOPs according to available evidence and length as well as manual development of new AOPs and weight-of-evidence evaluation. The semiautomatic approach described here provides a new opportunity for fast and straightforward AOP development based on large network resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Živa Ramšak
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Vid Modic
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Roman A. Li
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag—Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Colette vom Berg
- Department of Environmental Toxicology, Eawag—Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, Switzerland
| | - Anze Zupanic
- Department of Biotechnology and Systems Biology, National Institute of Biology, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- *Correspondence: Anze Zupanic,
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Harry GJ, McBride S, Witchey SK, Mhaouty-Kodja S, Trembleau A, Bridge M, Bencsik A. Roadbumps at the Crossroads of Integrating Behavioral and In Vitro Approaches for Neurotoxicity Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:812863. [PMID: 35295216 PMCID: PMC8915899 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.812863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
With the appreciation that behavior represents the integration and complexity of the nervous system, neurobehavioral phenotyping and assessment has seen a renaissance over the last couple of decades, resulting in a robust database on rodent performance within various testing paradigms, possible associations with human disorders, and therapeutic interventions. The interchange of data across behavior and other test modalities and multiple model systems has advanced our understanding of fundamental biology and mechanisms associated with normal functions and alterations in the nervous system. While there is a demonstrated value and power of neurobehavioral assessments for examining alterations due to genetic manipulations, maternal factors, early development environment, the applied use of behavior to assess environmental neurotoxicity continues to come under question as to whether behavior represents a sensitive endpoint for assessment. Why is rodent behavior a sensitive tool to the neuroscientist and yet, not when used in pre-clinical or chemical neurotoxicity studies? Applying new paradigms and evidence on the biological basis of behavior to neurobehavioral testing requires expertise and refinement of how such experiments are conducted to minimize variability and maximize information. This review presents relevant issues of methods used to conduct such test, sources of variability, experimental design, data analysis, interpretation, and reporting. It presents beneficial and critical limitations as they translate to the in vivo environment and considers the need to integrate across disciplines for the best value. It proposes that a refinement of behavioral assessments and understanding of subtle pronounced differences will facilitate the integration of data obtained across multiple approaches and to address issues of translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Jean Harry
- Neurotoxicology Group, Molecular Toxicology Branch, Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
- *Correspondence: G. Jean Harry,
| | - Sandra McBride
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Shannah K. Witchey
- Division National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Sakina Mhaouty-Kodja
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS, INSERM, Neuroscience Paris Seine – Institut de Biologie Paris Seine, Paris, France
| | - Alain Trembleau
- Sorbonne Université, CNRS UMR8246, Inserm U1130, Institut de Biologie Paris Seine (IBPS), Neuroscience Paris Seine (NPS), Paris, France
| | - Matthew Bridge
- Social & Scientific Systems, Inc., a DLH Holdings Company, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Anna Bencsik
- Anses Laboratoire de Lyon, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health & Safety (ANSES), Université de Lyon 1, Lyon, France
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Spînu N, Cronin MT, Lao J, Bal-Price A, Campia I, Enoch SJ, Madden JC, Mora Lagares L, Novič M, Pamies D, Scholz S, Villeneuve DL, Worth AP. Probabilistic modelling of developmental neurotoxicity based on a simplified adverse outcome pathway network. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY 2022; 21:100206. [PMID: 35211661 PMCID: PMC8857173 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
A developmental neurotoxicity Adverse Outcome Pathway network was simplified. Common key events were chosen based on topology analysis and expert judgement. Quantification of causal relationships was informed by key event relationships. Various types of information were integrated for probability prediction. Bayesian hierarchical modelling was applied for hazard identification.
In a century where toxicology and chemical risk assessment are embracing alternative methods to animal testing, there is an opportunity to understand the causal factors of neurodevelopmental disorders such as learning and memory disabilities in children, as a foundation to predict adverse effects. New testing paradigms, along with the advances in probabilistic modelling, can help with the formulation of mechanistically-driven hypotheses on how exposure to environmental chemicals could potentially lead to developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). This investigation aimed to develop a Bayesian hierarchical model of a simplified AOP network for DNT. The model predicted the probability that a compound induces each of three selected common key events (CKEs) of the simplified AOP network and the adverse outcome (AO) of DNT, taking into account correlations and causal relations informed by the key event relationships (KERs). A dataset of 88 compounds representing pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals and pesticides was compiled including physicochemical properties as well as in silico and in vitro information. The Bayesian model was able to predict DNT potential with an accuracy of 76%, classifying the compounds into low, medium or high probability classes. The modelling workflow achieved three further goals: it dealt with missing values; accommodated unbalanced and correlated data; and followed the structure of a directed acyclic graph (DAG) to simulate the simplified AOP network. Overall, the model demonstrated the utility of Bayesian hierarchical modelling for the development of quantitative AOP (qAOP) models and for informing the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs) in chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicoleta Spînu
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Mark T.D. Cronin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Junpeng Lao
- Department of Psychology, University of Fribourg, Fribourg CH-1700, Switzerland
| | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Ivana Campia
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Steven J. Enoch
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Judith C. Madden
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, Byrom Street, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK
| | - Liadys Mora Lagares
- Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Theory Department, Laboratory for Cheminformatics, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marjana Novič
- Theory Department, Laboratory for Cheminformatics, National Institute of Chemistry, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - David Pamies
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Vaud, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Switzerland
| | - Stefan Scholz
- Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research − UFZ, Department of Bioanalytical Ecotoxicology, Permoserstrasse 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN 55804, MN, USA
| | - Andrew P. Worth
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
- Corresponding author.
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Berntsen HF, Bodin J, Øvrevik J, Berntsen CF, Østby GC, Brinchmann BC, Ropstad E, Myhre O. A human relevant mixture of persistent organic pollutants induces reactive oxygen species formation in isolated human leucocytes: Involvement of the β2-adrenergic receptor. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106900. [PMID: 34607039 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to chlorinated (Cl), brominated (Br) and perfluoroalkyl acid (PFAA) persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is associated with immunotoxicity and other adverse effects in humans and animals. Previous studies on POPs have mainly focused on single chemicals, while studies on complex mixtures are limited. Using DCF and luminol assays we examined effects on ROS generation in isolated human neutrophils, monocytes and lymphocytes, after in vitro exposure to a total mixture and sub-mixtures of 29 persistent compounds (Cl, Br, and PFAA). The mixtures were based on compounds prominent in blood, breast milk, and/or food. All mixture combinations induced ROS production in one or several of the cell models, and in some cases even at concentrations corresponding to human blood levels (compound range 1 pM - 16 nM). Whilst some interactions were detected (assessed using a mixed linear model), halogenated subgroups mainly acted additively. Mechanistic studies in neutrophils at 500× human levels (0.5 nM - 8 µM) indicated similar mechanisms of action for the Cl, PFAA, the combined PFAA + Cl and total (PFAA + Br + Cl) mixtures, and ROS responses appeared to involve β2-adrenergic receptor (β2AR) and Ca2+ signalling, as well as activation of NADPH oxidases. In line with this, the total mixture also increased cyclic AMP at levels comparable with the non-selective βAR agonist, isoproterenol. Although the detailed mechanisms involved in these responses remain to be elucidated, our data show that POP mixtures at concentrations found in human blood, may trigger stress responses in circulating immune cells. Mixtures of POPs, further seemed to interfere with adrenergic pathways, indicating a novel role of βARs in POP-induced effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hanne Friis Berntsen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003 NMBU, NO-1432 Ås, Norway; National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, Majorstuen, 0304 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Johanna Bodin
- Department of Methods Development and Analytics, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0456 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Johan Øvrevik
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0456 Oslo, Norway; Department of Biosciences, University of Oslo, Norway.
| | - Christopher Friis Berntsen
- Department of Internal Medicine, Sykehuset Innlandet Hospital Trust, Gjøvik, Norway; Department of Internal Medicine, Lovisenberg Diaconal Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Gunn C Østby
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003 NMBU, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Bendik C Brinchmann
- National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 5330, Majorstuen, 0304 Oslo, Norway; Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0456 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Erik Ropstad
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, P.O. Box 5003 NMBU, NO-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, N-0456 Oslo, Norway.
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Pistollato F, Carpi D, Mendoza-de Gyves E, Paini A, Bopp SK, Worth A, Bal-Price A. Combining in vitro assays and mathematical modelling to study developmental neurotoxicity induced by chemical mixtures. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 105:101-119. [PMID: 34455033 PMCID: PMC8522961 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/30/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Prenatal and postnatal co-exposure to multiple chemicals at the same time may have deleterious effects on the developing nervous system. We previously showed that chemicals acting through similar mode of action (MoA) and grouped based on perturbation of brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), induced greater neurotoxic effects on human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC)-derived neurons and astrocytes compared to chemicals with dissimilar MoA. Here we assessed the effects of repeated dose (14 days) treatments with mixtures containing the six chemicals tested in our previous study (Bisphenol A, Chlorpyrifos, Lead(II) chloride, Methylmercury chloride, PCB138 and Valproic acid) along with 2,2'4,4'-tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47), Ethanol, Vinclozolin and 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)), on hiPSC-derived neural stem cells undergoing differentiation toward mixed neurons/astrocytes up to 21 days. Similar MoA chemicals in mixtures caused an increase of BDNF levels and neurite outgrowth, and a decrease of synapse formation, which led to inhibition of electrical activity. Perturbations of these endpoints are described as common key events in adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) specific for DNT. When compared with mixtures tested in our previous study, adding similarly acting chemicals (BDE47 and EtOH) to the mixture resulted in a stronger downregulation of synapses. A synergistic effect on some synaptogenesis-related features (PSD95 in particular) was hypothesized upon treatment with tested mixtures, as indicated by mathematical modelling. Our findings confirm that the use of human iPSC-derived mixed neuronal/glial models applied to a battery of in vitro assays anchored to key events in DNT AOP networks, combined with mathematical modelling, is a suitable testing strategy to assess in vitro DNT induced by chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Donatella Carpi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Andrew Worth
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy.
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Sachana M, Willett C, Pistollato F, Bal-Price A. The potential of mechanistic information organised within the AOP framework to increase regulatory uptake of the developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro battery of assays. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 103:159-170. [PMID: 34147625 PMCID: PMC8279093 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Current in vivo DNT testing for regulatory purposes is not effective. In vitro assays anchored to key neurodevelopmental processes are available. Development of Adverse Outcome Pathways is required to increase mechanistic understanding of DNT effects. DNT Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment for various regulatory purposes should be developed. The OECD Guidance Document on use of in vitro DNT battery of assays is currently under development.
A major challenge in regulatory developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) assessment is lack of toxicological information for many compounds. Therefore, the Test Guidelines programme of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) took the initiative to coordinate an international collaboration between diverse stakeholders to consider integration of alternative approaches towards improving the current chemical DNT testing. During the past few years, a series of workshops was organized during which a consensus was reached that incorporation of a DNT testing battery that relies on in vitro assays anchored to key neurodevelopmental processes should be developed. These key developmental processes include neural progenitor cell proliferation, neuronal and oligodendrocyte differentiation, neural cell migration, neurite outgrowth, synaptogenesis and neuronal network formation, as well key events identified in the existing Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs). AOPs deliver mechanistic information on the causal links between molecular initiating event, intermediate key events and an adverse outcome of regulatory concern, providing the biological context to facilitate development of Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment (IATA) for various regulatory purposes. Developing IATA case studies, using mechanistic information derived from AOPs, is expected to increase scientific confidence for the use of in vitro methods within an IATA, thereby facilitating regulatory uptake. This manuscript summarizes the current state of international efforts to enhance DNT testing by using an in vitro battery of assays focusing on the role of AOPs in informing the development of IATA for different regulatory purposes, aiming to deliver an OECD guidance document on use of in vitro DNT battery of assays that include in vitro data interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalini Sachana
- Environment Health and Safety Division, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), 75775, Paris Cedex 16, France
| | - Catherine Willett
- Humane Society International, 1255 23rd Street NW, Washington, DC, 20037, USA
| | | | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy.
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Neurodevelopmental toxicity assessment of flame retardants using a human DNT in vitro testing battery. Cell Biol Toxicol 2021; 38:781-807. [PMID: 33969458 PMCID: PMC9525352 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-021-09603-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Due to their neurodevelopmental toxicity, flame retardants (FRs) like polybrominated diphenyl ethers are banned from the market and replaced by alternative FRs, like organophosphorus FRs, that have mostly unknown toxicological profiles. To study their neurodevelopmental toxicity, we evaluated the hazard of several FRs including phased-out polybrominated FRs and organophosphorus FRs: 2,2′,4,4′-tetrabromodiphenylether (BDE-47), 2,2′,4,4′,5-pentabromodiphenylether (BDE-99), tetrabromobisphenol A, triphenyl phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate and its metabolite bis-(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, isodecyl diphenyl phosphate, triphenyl isopropylated phosphate, tricresyl phosphate, tris(1,3-dichloro-2-propyl) phosphate, tert-butylphenyl diphenyl phosphate, 2-ethylhexyl diphenyl phosphate, tris(1-chloroisopropyl) phosphate, and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate. Therefore, we used a human cell–based developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro battery covering a large variety of neurodevelopmental endpoints. Potency according to the respective most sensitive benchmark concentration (BMC) across the battery ranked from <1 μM (5 FRs), 1<10 μM (7 FRs) to the >10 μM range (3 FRs). Evaluation of the data with the ToxPi tool revealed a distinct ranking (a) than with the BMC and (b) compared to the ToxCast data, suggesting that DNT hazard of these FRs is not well predicted by ToxCast assays. Extrapolating the DNT in vitro battery BMCs to human FR exposure via breast milk suggests low risk for individual compounds. However, it raises a potential concern for real-life mixture exposure, especially when different compounds converge through diverse modes-of-action on common endpoints, like oligodendrocyte differentiation in this study. This case study using FRs suggests that human cell–based DNT in vitro battery is a promising approach for neurodevelopmental hazard assessment and compound prioritization in risk assessment.
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Caioni G, Merola C, Perugini M, d’Angelo M, Cimini AM, Amorena M, Benedetti E. An Experimental Approach to Study the Effects of Realistic Environmental Mixture of Linuron and Propamocarb on Zebrafish Synaptogenesis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094664. [PMID: 33925709 PMCID: PMC8124988 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2021] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The reasons behind the extensive use of pesticides include the need to destroy vector organisms and promote agricultural production in order to sustain population growth. Exposure to pesticides is principally occupational, even if their persistence in soil, surface water and food brings the risk closer to the general population, hence the demand for risk assessment, since these compounds exist not only as individual chemicals but also in form of mixtures. In light of this, zebrafish represents a suitable model for the evaluation of toxicological effects. Here, zebrafish embryos were exposed for 96 h post fertilization (hpf) to sublethal concentrations (350 µg/L) of linuron and propamocarb, used separately and then combined in a single solution. We investigated the effects on morphological traits and the expression of genes known to be implicated in synaptogenesis (neurexin1a and neuroligin3b). We observed alterations in some phenotypic parameters, such as head width and interocular distance, that showed a significant reduction (p < 0.05) for the mixture treatment. After individual exposure, the analysis of gene expression showed an imbalance at the synaptic level, which was partially recovered by the simultaneous administration of linuron and propamocarb. This preliminary study demonstrates that the combined substances were responsible for some unpredictable effects, diverging from the effect observed after single exposure. Thus, it is clear that risk assessment should be performed not only on single pesticides but also on their mixtures, the toxicological dynamics of which can be totally unpredictable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Caioni
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (G.C.); (M.d.); (A.M.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Carmine Merola
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (C.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Monia Perugini
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (C.M.); (M.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-0861-266988
| | - Michele d’Angelo
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (G.C.); (M.d.); (A.M.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Anna Maria Cimini
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (G.C.); (M.d.); (A.M.C.); (E.B.)
| | - Michele Amorena
- Faculty of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, University of Teramo, 64100 Teramo, Italy; (C.M.); (M.A.)
| | - Elisabetta Benedetti
- Department of Life, Health and Environmental Sciences, University of L’Aquila, 67100 L’Aquila, Italy; (G.C.); (M.d.); (A.M.C.); (E.B.)
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Goyak KO, Lewis RJ. Application of adverse outcome pathway networks to integrate mechanistic data informing the choice of a point of departure for hydrogen sulfide exposure limits. Crit Rev Toxicol 2021; 51:193-208. [PMID: 33905294 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2021.1897085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Acute exposure to hydrogen sulfide initiates a series of hallmark biological effects that occur progressively at increasing exposure levels: odor perception, conjunctivitis, olfactory paralysis, "knockdown," pulmonary edema, and apnea. Although effects of exposure to high concentrations of hydrogen sulfide are clear, effects associated with chronic, low-level exposure in humans is under debate, leading to uncertainty in the critical effect used in regulatory risk assessments addressing low dose exposures. This study integrates experimental animal, observational epidemiology, and occupational exposure evidence by applying a pathway-based approach. A hypothesized adverse outcome pathway (AOP) network was developed from 34 studies, composed of 4 AOPs sharing 1 molecular initiating events (MIE) and culminating in 4 adverse outcomes. A comparative assessment of effect levels and weight of evidence identified an AOP leading to a biologically-plausible, low-dose outcome relative to the other outcomes (nasal lesions, 30 ppm versus olfactory paralysis, >100 ppm; neurological effects, >80 ppm; pulmonary edema, >80 ppm). This AOP (i.e. AOP1) consists of the following key events: cytochrome oxidase inhibition (>10 ppm), neuronal cell loss (>30 ppm), and olfactory nasal lesions (defined as both neuronal cell loss and basal cell hyperplasia; >30 ppm) in rodents. The key event relationships in this pathway were supported by moderate empirical evidence and have high biological plausibility due to known mechanistic understanding and consistency in observations for diverse chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katy O Goyak
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ, USA
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Hansen JB, Bilenberg N, Timmermann CAG, Jensen RC, Frederiksen H, Andersson AM, Kyhl HB, Jensen TK. Prenatal exposure to bisphenol A and autistic- and ADHD-related symptoms in children aged 2 and5 years from the Odense Child Cohort. Environ Health 2021; 20:24. [PMID: 33712018 PMCID: PMC7955642 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-021-00709-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bisphenol A (BPA) is a non-persistent chemical with endocrine disrupting abilities used in a variety of consumer products. Fetal exposure to BPA is of concern due to the elevated sensitivity, which particularly relates to the developing brain. Several epidemiological studies have investigated the association between prenatal BPA exposure and neurodevelopment, but the results have been inconclusive. OBJECTIVE To assess the association between in utero exposure to BPA and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD-) symptoms and symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in 2 and 5-year old Danish children. METHOD In the prospective Odense Child Cohort, BPA was measured in urine samples collected in gestational week 28 and adjusted for osmolality. ADHD and ASD symptoms were assessed with the use of the ADHD scale and ASD scale, respectively, derived from the Child Behaviour Checklist preschool version (CBCL/1½-5) at ages 2 and 5 years. Negative binomial and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to investigate the association between maternal BPA exposure (continuous ln-transformed or divided into tertiles) and the relative differences in ADHD and ASD problem scores and the odds (OR) of an ADHD and autism score above the 75th percentile adjusting for maternal educational level, maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity and child age at evaluation in 658 mother-child pairs at 2 years of age for ASD-score, and 427 mother-child pairs at 5 years of age for ADHD and ASD-score. RESULTS BPA was detected in 85.3% of maternal urine samples even though the exposure level was low (median 1.2 ng/mL). No associations between maternal BPA exposure and ASD at age 2 years or ADHD at age 5 years were found. Trends of elevated Odds Ratios (ORs) were seen among 5 year old children within the 3rd tertile of BPA exposure with an ASD-score above the 75th percentile (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 0.97,3.32), being stronger for girls (OR = 3.17, 95% CI 1.85,9.28). A dose-response relationship was observed between BPA exposure and ASD-score at 5 years of age (p-trend 0.06) in both boys and girls, but only significant in girls (p-trend 0.03). CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that prenatal BPA exposure even in low concentrations may increase the risk of ASD symptoms which may predict later social abilities. It is therefore important to follow-up these children at older ages, measure their own BPA exposure, and determine if the observed associations persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bang Hansen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Niels Bilenberg
- Department of Clinical Research, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, Mental Health Services in the Region of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Clara Amalie Gade Timmermann
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Richard Christian Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Hanne Frederiksen
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna-Maria Andersson
- Department of Growth and Reproduction, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- International Center for Research and Research Training in Endocrine Disruption of Male Reproduction and Child Health (EDMaRC), Rigshospitalet, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Henriette Boye Kyhl
- Hans Christian Andersen Children’s Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- OPEN Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
- Hans Christian Andersen Children’s Hospital, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- OPEN Patient data Explorative Network (OPEN), Odense, Denmark
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Davidsen N, Lauvås AJ, Myhre O, Ropstad E, Carpi D, Gyves EMD, Berntsen HF, Dirven H, Paulsen RE, Bal-Price A, Pistollato F. Exposure to human relevant mixtures of halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) alters neurodevelopmental processes in human neural stem cells undergoing differentiation. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 100:17-34. [PMID: 33333158 PMCID: PMC7992035 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2020.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 12/03/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Halogenated persistent organic pollutants (POPs) like perfluorinated alkylated substances (PFASs), brominated flame retardants (BFRs), organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known to cause cancer, immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity and interfere with reproduction and development. Concerns have been raised about the impact of POPs upon brain development and possibly neurodevelopmental disorders. The developing brain is a particularly vulnerable organ due to dynamic and complex neurodevelopmental processes occurring early in life. However, very few studies have reported on the effects of POP mixtures at human relevant exposures, and their impact on key neurodevelopmental processes using human in vitro test systems. Aiming to reduce this knowledge gap, we exposed mixed neuronal/glial cultures differentiated from neural stem cells (NSCs) derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) to reconstructed mixtures of 29 different POPs using concentrations comparable to Scandinavian human blood levels. Effects of the POP mixtures on neuronal proliferation, differentiation and synaptogenesis were evaluated using in vitro assays anchored to common key events identified in the existing developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). The present study showed that mixtures of POPs (in particular brominated and chlorinated compounds) at human relevant concentrations increased proliferation of NSCs and decreased synapse number. Based on a mathematical modelling, synaptogenesis and neurite outgrowth seem to be the most sensitive DNT in vitro endpoints. Our results indicate that prenatal exposure to POPs may affect human brain development, potentially contributing to recently observed learning and memory deficits in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nichlas Davidsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Section for Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Jacobsen Lauvås
- Department of Environmental Health, Section for Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Department of Environmental Health, Section for Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Erik Ropstad
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway
| | - Donatella Carpi
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | | | - Hanne Friis Berntsen
- Department of Production Animal Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway; National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Department of Environmental Health, Section for Toxicology and Risk Assessment, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild E Paulsen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Bal-Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
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Vorhees CV, Williams MT, Hawkey AB, Levin ED. Translating Neurobehavioral Toxicity Across Species From Zebrafish to Rats to Humans: Implications for Risk Assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2021; 3:629229. [PMID: 35295117 PMCID: PMC8915800 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2021.629229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
There is a spectrum of approaches to neurotoxicological science from high-throughput in vitro cell-based assays, through a variety of experimental animal models to human epidemiological and clinical studies. Each level of analysis has its own advantages and limitations. Experimental animal models give essential information for neurobehavioral toxicology, providing cause-and-effect information regarding risks of neurobehavioral dysfunction caused by toxicant exposure. Human epidemiological and clinical studies give the closest information to characterizing human risk, but without randomized treatment of subjects to different toxicant doses can only give information about association between toxicant exposure and neurobehavioral impairment. In vitro methods give much needed high throughput for many chemicals and mixtures but cannot provide information about toxicant impacts on behavioral function. Crucial to the utility of experimental animal model studies is cross-species translation. This is vital for both risk assessment and mechanistic determination. Interspecies extrapolation is important to characterize from experimental animal models to humans and between different experimental animal models. This article reviews the literature concerning extrapolation of neurobehavioral toxicology from established rat models to humans and from zebrafish a newer experimental model to rats. The functions covered include locomotor activity, emotion, and cognition and the neurotoxicants covered include pesticides, metals, drugs of abuse, flame retardants and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. With more complete understanding of the strengths and limitations of interspecies translation, we can better use animal models to protect humans from neurobehavioral toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles V. Vorhees
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Michael T. Williams
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
- Division of Neurology, Cincinnati Children's Research Foundation, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Andrew B. Hawkey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
| | - Edward D. Levin
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, United States
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Lindeman B, Johansson Y, Andreassen M, Husøy T, Dirven H, Hofer T, Knutsen HK, Caspersen IH, Vejrup K, Paulsen RE, Alexander J, Forsby A, Myhre O. Does the food processing contaminant acrylamide cause developmental neurotoxicity? A review and identification of knowledge gaps. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 101:93-114. [PMID: 33617935 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
There is a worldwide concern on adverse health effects of dietary exposure to acrylamide (AA) due to its presence in commonly consumed foods. AA is formed when carbohydrate rich foods containing asparagine and reducing sugars are prepared at high temperatures and low moisture conditions. Upon oral intake, AA is rapidly absorbed and distributed to all organs. AA is a known human neurotoxicant that can reach the developing foetus via placental transfer and breast milk. Although adverse neurodevelopmental effects have been observed after prenatal AA exposure in rodents, adverse effects of AA on the developing brain has so far not been studied in humans. However, epidemiological studies indicate that gestational exposure to AA impair foetal growth and AA exposure has been associated with reduced head circumference of the neonate. Thus, there is an urgent need for further research to elucidate whether pre- and perinatal AA exposure in humans might impair neurodevelopment and adversely affect neuronal function postnatally. Here, we review the literature with emphasis on the identification of critical knowledge gaps in relation to neurodevelopmental toxicity of AA and its mode of action and we suggest research strategies to close these gaps to better protect the unborn child.
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Affiliation(s)
- Birgitte Lindeman
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ylva Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mathilda Andreassen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Trine Husøy
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hubert Dirven
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Tim Hofer
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Helle K Knutsen
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ida H Caspersen
- Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Kristine Vejrup
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ragnhild E Paulsen
- Section for Pharmacology and Pharmaceutical Biosciences, Department of Pharmacy, University of Oslo, Norway
| | - Jan Alexander
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Anna Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Oddvar Myhre
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway.
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Neurotoxicity and underlying cellular changes of 21 mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibitors. Arch Toxicol 2021; 95:591-615. [PMID: 33512557 PMCID: PMC7870626 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-020-02970-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Inhibition of complex I of the mitochondrial respiratory chain (cI) by rotenone and methyl-phenylpyridinium (MPP +) leads to the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in man and rodents. To formally describe this mechanism of toxicity, an adverse outcome pathway (AOP:3) has been developed that implies that any inhibitor of cI, or possibly of other parts of the respiratory chain, would have the potential to trigger parkinsonian motor deficits. We used here 21 pesticides, all of which are described in the literature as mitochondrial inhibitors, to study the general applicability of AOP:3 or of in vitro assays that are assessing its activation. Five cI, three complex II (cII), and five complex III (cIII) inhibitors were characterized in detail in human dopaminergic neuronal cell cultures. The NeuriTox assay, examining neurite damage in LUHMES cells, was used as in vitro proxy of the adverse outcome (AO), i.e., of dopaminergic neurodegeneration. This test provided data on whether test compounds were unspecific cytotoxicants or specifically neurotoxic, and it yielded potency data with respect to neurite degeneration. The pesticide panel was also examined in assays for the sequential key events (KE) leading to the AO, i.e., mitochondrial respiratory chain inhibition, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disturbed proteostasis. Data from KE assays were compared to the NeuriTox data (AO). The cII-inhibitory pesticides tested here did not appear to trigger the AOP:3 at all. Some of the cI/cIII inhibitors showed a consistent AOP activation response in all assays, while others did not. In general, there was a clear hierarchy of assay sensitivity: changes of gene expression (biomarker of neuronal stress) correlated well with NeuriTox data; mitochondrial failure (measured both by a mitochondrial membrane potential-sensitive dye and a respirometric assay) was about 10–260 times more sensitive than neurite damage (AO); cI/cIII activity was sometimes affected at > 1000 times lower concentrations than the neurites. These data suggest that the use of AOP:3 for hazard assessment has a number of caveats: (i) specific parkinsonian neurodegeneration cannot be easily predicted from assays of mitochondrial dysfunction; (ii) deriving a point-of-departure for risk assessment from early KE assays may overestimate toxicant potency. Comparison of 21 data-rich mitochondrial toxicants for neurotoxicity Quantitative comparison of key event triggering thresholds for AOP:3 Comparison of two cell models and two exposure times for neurotoxicity Comparison of transcriptome changes and classical key event measures for sensitivity
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48
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Dórea JG. Exposure to environmental neurotoxic substances and neurodevelopment in children from Latin America and the Caribbean. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 192:110199. [PMID: 32941839 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2020] [Revised: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 09/10/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Environmental (and occupational) exposure to neurotoxic substances is a worldwide problem that can affect children's neurodevelopment (ND). In Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries there are over 300 million children living under the threat of neurodevelopmental delays due to toxic environmental exposure. Large industrial centers, intense mining and agricultural activities, along with changing complex ecosystems constitute a mosaic that drives contamination of air, water and the food chain. Neurotoxic contaminants such as pesticides (organochlorines, organophosphates, carbamates, pyrethroids, neonicotinoids, and manganese fungicides), chemicals of industrial use (phthalates), and metals (Hg, Pb, Al, As, F, Cd, Mo, Mn) are at the center of environmental exposure studies. Exposure to neurotoxic substances singly or in combination with other compounds or socioeconomic stressors (maternal education, socio-economic and nutritional status) intertwined with occupational and para-occupational exposure can affect ND (motor, cognition, behavior) of children. Significant negative effects of pesticides and neurotoxic elements on ND were found in all studied countries, affecting especially the less-privileged children from laboring families. Studies showed that exposures to the neurotoxicants in human milk are secondary to their more lasting effects during prenatal exposure. This review integrates exposure (prenatal and breastfeeding), metabolism, and ND effects of neurotoxicants. It highlights the overwhelming evidence showing that current levels of exposures are hazardous and detrimental to children's ND in LAC countries. The evidence indicates that a reduction in neurotoxicant exposure is essential to protect children's ND. Therefore, it is urgent to adopt policies and actions that prevent and remediate region-specific children's ND issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- José G Dórea
- Universidade de Brasília, Brasília, 70919-970, DF, Brazil.
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49
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Zare Jeddi M, Hopf NB, Viegas S, Price AB, Paini A, van Thriel C, Benfenati E, Ndaw S, Bessems J, Behnisch PA, Leng G, Duca RC, Verhagen H, Cubadda F, Brennan L, Ali I, David A, Mustieles V, Fernandez MF, Louro H, Pasanen-Kase R. Towards a systematic use of effect biomarkers in population and occupational biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106257. [PMID: 33395925 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Effect biomarkers can be used to elucidate relationships between exposure to environmental chemicals and their mixtures with associated health outcomes, but they are often underused, as underlying biological mechanisms are not understood. We aim to provide an overview of available effect biomarkers for monitoring chemical exposures in the general and occupational populations, and highlight their potential in monitoring humans exposed to chemical mixtures. We also discuss the role of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework and physiologically based kinetic and dynamic (PBK/D) modelling to strengthen the understanding of the biological mechanism of effect biomarkers, and in particular for use in regulatory risk assessments. An interdisciplinary network of experts from the European chapter of the International Society for Exposure Science (ISES Europe) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Occupational Biomonitoring activity of Working Parties of Hazard and Exposure Assessment group worked together to map the conventional framework of biomarkers and provided recommendations for their systematic use. We summarized the key aspects of this work here, and discussed these in three parts. Part I, we inventory available effect biomarkers and promising new biomarkers for the general population based on the H2020 Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative. Part II, we provide an overview AOP and PBK/D modelling use that improved the selection and interpretation of effect biomarkers. Part III, we describe the collected expertise from the OECD Occupational Biomonitoring subtask effect biomarkers in prioritizing relevant mode of actions (MoAs) and suitable effect biomarkers. Furthermore, we propose a tiered risk assessment approach for occupational biomonitoring. Several effect biomarkers, especially for use in occupational settings, are validated. They offer a direct assessment of the overall health risks associated with exposure to chemicals, chemical mixtures and their transformation products. Promising novel effect biomarkers are emerging for biomonitoring of the general population. Efforts are being dedicated to prioritizing molecular and biochemical effect biomarkers that can provide a causal link in exposure-health outcome associations. This mechanistic approach has great potential in improving human health risk assessment. New techniques such as in silico methods (e.g. QSAR, PBK/D modelling) as well as 'omics data will aid this process. Our multidisciplinary review represents a starting point for enhancing the identification of effect biomarkers and their mechanistic pathways following the AOP framework. This may help in prioritizing the effect biomarker implementation as well as defining threshold limits for chemical mixtures in a more structured way. Several ex vivo biomarkers have been proposed to evaluate combined effects including genotoxicity and xeno-estrogenicity. There is a regulatory need to derive effect-based trigger values using the increasing mechanistic knowledge coming from the AOP framework to address adverse health effects due to exposure to chemical mixtures. Such a mechanistic strategy would reduce the fragmentation observed in different regulations. It could also stimulate a harmonized use of effect biomarkers in a more comparable way, in particular for risk assessments to chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Nancy B Hopf
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Susana Viegas
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1150-090 Lisbon, Portugal; H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna Bal Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Christoph van Thriel
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via La Masa, 19, 20156 Milano, Italy
| | - Sophie Ndaw
- INRS-French National Research and Safety Institute, France
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Belgium
| | - Peter A Behnisch
- BioDetection Systems b.v., Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Leng
- Currenta GmbH Co. OHG, Institute of Biomonitoring, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Radu-Corneliu Duca
- Unit Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, National Health Laboratory, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Hans Verhagen
- Food Safety & Nutrition Consultancy (FSNConsultancy), Zeist, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Cubadda
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità-National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorraine Brennan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Imran Ali
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arthur David
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Henriqueta Louro
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisboa and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Robert Pasanen-Kase
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Labour Directorate Section Chemicals and Work (ABCH), Switzerland.
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50
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Jin Y, Feng M, Ma W, Wei Y, Qi G, Luo J, Xu L, Li X, Li C, Wang Y, Li D, Chen J, Zhao Y, Hou Y, Zhao Q, Jiang L, Xie M, Zheng Y, Yu D. A toxicity pathway-oriented approach to develop adverse outcome pathway: AHR activation as a case study. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 268:115733. [PMID: 33011576 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.115733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 09/03/2020] [Accepted: 09/24/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
With numerous new chemicals introduced into the environment everyday, identification of their potential hazards to the environment and human health is a considerable challenge. Developing adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework is promising in helping to achieve this goal as it can bring In Vitro testing into toxicity measurement and understanding. To explore the toxic mechanism underlying environmental chemicals via the AOP approach, an integration of adequate experimental data with systems biology understanding is preferred. Here, we describe a novel method to develop reliable and sensible AOPs that relies on chemical-gene interactions, toxicity pathways, molecular regulations, phenotypes, and outcomes information obtained from comparative toxicogenomics database (CTD) and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis (IPA). Using Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), a highly studied chemical as a stressor, we identified the pivotal IPA toxicity pathways, the molecular initiating event (MIE), and candidate key events (KEs) to structure AOPs in the liver and lung, respectively. Further, we used the corresponding CTD information of multiple typical AHR-ligands, including 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzoparadioxin (TCDD), valproic acid, quercetin, and particulate matter, to validate our AOP networks. Our approach is likely to speed up AOP development as providing a time- and cost-efficient way to collect all fragmented bioinformation in published studies. It also facilitates a better understanding of the toxic mechanism of environmental chemicals, and potentially brings new insights into the screening of critical paths in the AOP network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Jin
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Meiyao Feng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Wanli Ma
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanhong Wei
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guangshuai Qi
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiao Luo
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lin Xu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Xinmei Li
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Chuanhai Li
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Ying Wang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Daochuan Li
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jing Chen
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yanjie Zhao
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yufei Hou
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qianwen Zhao
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Lidan Jiang
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Mengyue Xie
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Yuxin Zheng
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Dianke Yu
- School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China.
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