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Chambers BA, Basili D, Word L, Baker N, Middleton A, Judson RS, Shah I. Searching for LINCS to Stress: Using Text Mining to Automate Reference Chemical Curation. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:878-893. [PMID: 38736322 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
Adaptive stress response pathways (SRPs) restore cellular homeostasis following perturbation but may activate terminal outcomes like apoptosis, autophagy, or cellular senescence if disruption exceeds critical thresholds. Because SRPs hold the key to vital cellular tipping points, they are targeted for therapeutic interventions and assessed as biomarkers of toxicity. Hence, we are developing a public database of chemicals that perturb SRPs to enable new data-driven tools to improve public health. Here, we report on the automated text-mining pipeline we used to build and curate the first version of this database. We started with 100 reference SRP chemicals gathered from published biomarker studies to bootstrap the database. Second, we used information retrieval to find co-occurrences of reference chemicals with SRP terms in PubMed abstracts and determined pairwise mutual information thresholds to filter biologically relevant relationships. Third, we applied these thresholds to find 1206 putative SRP perturbagens within thousands of substances in the Library of Integrated Network-Based Cellular Signatures (LINCS). To assign SRP activity to LINCS chemicals, domain experts had to manually review at least three publications for each of 1206 chemicals out of 181,805 total abstracts. To accomplish this efficiently, we implemented a machine learning approach to predict SRP classifications from texts to prioritize abstracts. In 5-fold cross-validation testing with a corpus derived from the 100 reference chemicals, artificial neural networks performed the best (F1-macro = 0.678) and prioritized 2479/181,805 abstracts for expert review, which resulted in 457 chemicals annotated with SRP activities. An independent analysis of enriched mechanisms of action and chemical use class supported the text-mined chemical associations (p < 0.05): heat shock inducers were linked with HSP90 and DNA damage inducers to topoisomerase inhibition. This database will enable novel applications of LINCS data to evaluate SRP activities and to further develop tools for biomedical information extraction from the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryant A Chambers
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Danilo Basili
- Unilever, Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, U.K
| | - Laura Word
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Nancy Baker
- Leidos, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Alistair Middleton
- Unilever, Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre (SEAC), Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, U.K
| | - Richard S Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Imran Shah
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711, United States
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2
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Xiang T, Shi C, Guo Y, Zhang J, Min W, Sun J, Liu J, Yan X, Liu Y, Yao L, Mao Y, Yang X, Shi J, Yan B, Qu G, Jiang G. Effect-directed analysis of androgenic compounds from sewage sludges in China. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 256:121652. [PMID: 38657313 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
The safety of municipal sewage sludge has raised great concerns because of the accumulation of large-scale endocrine disrupting chemicals in the sludge during wastewater treatment. The presence of contaminants in sludge can cause secondary pollution owing to inappropriate disposal mechanisms, posing potential risks to the environment and human health. Effect-directed analysis (EDA), involving an androgen receptor (AR) reporter gene bioassay, fractionation, and suspect and nontarget chemical analysis, were applied to identify causal AR agonists in sludge; 20 of the 30 sludge extracts exhibited significant androgenic activity. Among these, the extracts from Yinchuan, Kunming, and Shijiazhuang, which held the most polluted AR agonistic activities were prepared for extensive EDA, with the dihydrotestosterone (DHT)-equivalency of 2.5 - 4.5 ng DHT/g of sludge. Seven androgens, namely boldione, androstenedione, testosterone, megestrol, progesterone, and testosterone isocaproate, were identified in these strongest sludges together, along with testosterone cypionate, first reported in sludge media. These identified androgens together accounted for 55 %, 87 %, and 52 % of the effects on the sludge from Yinchuan, Shijiazhuang, and Kunming, respectively. This study elucidates the causative androgenic compounds in sewage sludge and provides a valuable reference for monitoring and managing androgens in wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tongtong Xiang
- College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Chunzhen Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China.
| | - Yunhe Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Weicui Min
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jiazheng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Jifu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Xiliang Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Yanna Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Linlin Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yuxiang Mao
- School of Resources & Environment, Henan Polytechnic University, Jiaozuo 454000, China
| | - Xiaoxi Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Bing Yan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China; Institute of Environmental Research at Greater Bay Area, Key Laboratory for Water Quality and Conservation of the Pearl River Delta, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou University, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guangbo Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110004, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Environmental and Resource Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China; School of Environment, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou 310000, China
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Aurisano N, Fantke P, Chiu WA, Judson R, Jang S, Unnikrishnan A, Jolliet O. Probabilistic Reference and 10% Effect Concentrations for Characterizing Inhalation Non-cancer and Developmental/Reproductive Effects for 2,160 Substances. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:8278-8288. [PMID: 38697947 PMCID: PMC11097392 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
Chemicals assessment and management frameworks rely on regulatory toxicity values, which are based on points of departure (POD) identified following rigorous dose-response assessments. Yet, regulatory PODs and toxicity values for inhalation exposure (i.e., reference concentrations [RfCs]) are available for only ∼200 chemicals. To address this gap, we applied a workflow to determine surrogate inhalation route PODs and corresponding toxicity values, where regulatory assessments are lacking. We curated and selected inhalation in vivo data from the U.S. EPA's ToxValDB and adjusted reported effect values to chronic human equivalent benchmark concentrations (BMCh) following the WHO/IPCS framework. Using ToxValDB chemicals with existing PODs associated with regulatory toxicity values, we found that the 25th %-ile of a chemical's BMCh distribution (POD p 25 BMC h ) could serve as a suitable surrogate for regulatory PODs (Q2 ≥ 0.76, RSE ≤ 0.82 log10 units). We applied this approach to derive POD p 25 BMC h for 2,095 substances with general non-cancer toxicity effects and 638 substances with reproductive/developmental toxicity effects, yielding a total coverage of 2,160 substances. From these POD p 25 BMC h , we derived probabilistic RfCs and human population effect concentrations. With this work, we have expanded the number of chemicals with toxicity values available, thereby enabling a much broader coverage for inhalation risk and impact assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Department
of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United
States
| | - Richard Judson
- National
Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Suji Jang
- Department
of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, United
States
| | - Aswani Unnikrishnan
- National
Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, Durham, North Carolina 27711, United States
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Quantitative
Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource
Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, Kgs., Lyngby 2800, Denmark
- Department
of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Nelms MD, Antonijevic T, Ring C, Harris DL, Bever RJ, Lynn SG, Williams D, Chappell G, Boyles R, Borghoff S, Edwards SW, Markey K. Chemistry domain of applicability evaluation against existing estrogen receptor high-throughput assay-based activity models. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1346767. [PMID: 38694816 PMCID: PMC11061348 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1346767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The U. S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) Tier 1 assays are used to screen for potential endocrine system-disrupting chemicals. A model integrating data from 16 high-throughput screening assays to predict estrogen receptor (ER) agonism has been proposed as an alternative to some low-throughput Tier 1 assays. Later work demonstrated that as few as four assays could replicate the ER agonism predictions from the full model with 98% sensitivity and 92% specificity. The current study utilized chemical clustering to illustrate the coverage of the EDSP Universe of Chemicals (UoC) tested in the existing ER pathway models and to investigate the utility of chemical clustering to evaluate the screening approach using an existing 4-assay model as a test case. Although the full original assay battery is no longer available, the demonstrated contribution of chemical clustering is broadly applicable to assay sets, chemical inventories, and models, and the data analysis used can also be applied to future evaluation of minimal assay models for consideration in screening. Methods Chemical structures were collected for 6,947 substances via the CompTox Chemicals Dashboard from the over 10,000 UoC and grouped based on structural similarity, generating 826 chemical clusters. Of the 1,812 substances run in the original ER model, 1,730 substances had a single, clearly defined structure. The ER model chemicals with a clearly defined structure that were not present in the EDSP UoC were assigned to chemical clusters using a k-nearest neighbors approach, resulting in 557 EDSP UoC clusters containing at least one ER model chemical. Results and Discussion Performance of an existing 4-assay model in comparison with the existing full ER agonist model was analyzed as related to chemical clustering. This was a case study, and a similar analysis can be performed with any subset model in which the same chemicals (or subset of chemicals) are screened. Of the 365 clusters containing >1 ER model chemical, 321 did not have any chemicals predicted to be agonists by the full ER agonist model. The best 4-assay subset ER agonist model disagreed with the full ER agonist model by predicting agonist activity for 122 chemicals from 91 of the 321 clusters. There were 44 clusters with at least two chemicals and at least one agonist based upon the full ER agonist model, which allowed accuracy predictions on a per-cluster basis. The accuracy of the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model ranged from 50% to 100% across these 44 clusters, with 32 clusters having accuracy ≥90%. Overall, the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model resulted in 122 false-positive and only 2 false-negative predictions compared with the full ER agonist model. Most false positives (89) were active in only two of the four assays, whereas all but 11 true positive chemicals were active in at least three assays. False positive chemicals also tended to have lower area under the curve (AUC) values, with 110 out of 122 false positives having an AUC value below 0.214, which is lower than 75% of the positives as predicted by the full ER agonist model. Many false positives demonstrated borderline activity. The median AUC value for the 122 false positives from the best 4-assay subset ER agonist model was 0.138, whereas the threshold for an active prediction is 0.1. Conclusion Our results show that the existing 4-assay model performs well across a range of structurally diverse chemicals. Although this is a descriptive analysis of previous results, several concepts can be applied to any screening model used in the future. First, the clustering of the chemicals provides a means of ensuring that future screening evaluations consider the broad chemical space represented by the EDSP UoC. The clusters can also assist in prioritizing future chemicals for screening in specific clusters based on the activity of known chemicals in those clusters. The clustering approach can be useful in providing a framework to evaluate which portions of the EDSP UoC chemical space are reliably covered by in silico and in vitro approaches and where predictions from either method alone or both methods combined are most reliable. The lessons learned from this case study can be easily applied to future evaluations of model applicability and screening to evaluate future datasets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark D. Nelms
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | | | - Danni L. Harris
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Ronnie Joe Bever
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
| | - David Williams
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Rebecca Boyles
- RTI International, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Susan Borghoff
- ToxStrategies, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Kristan Markey
- U. S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
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5
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Kleinstreuer N, Hartung T. Artificial intelligence (AI)-it's the end of the tox as we know it (and I feel fine). Arch Toxicol 2024; 98:735-754. [PMID: 38244040 PMCID: PMC10861653 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-023-03666-2] [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: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2024]
Abstract
The rapid progress of AI impacts diverse scientific disciplines, including toxicology, and has the potential to transform chemical safety evaluation. Toxicology has evolved from an empirical science focused on observing apical outcomes of chemical exposure, to a data-rich field ripe for AI integration. The volume, variety and velocity of toxicological data from legacy studies, literature, high-throughput assays, sensor technologies and omics approaches create opportunities but also complexities that AI can help address. In particular, machine learning is well suited to handle and integrate large, heterogeneous datasets that are both structured and unstructured-a key challenge in modern toxicology. AI methods like deep neural networks, large language models, and natural language processing have successfully predicted toxicity endpoints, analyzed high-throughput data, extracted facts from literature, and generated synthetic data. Beyond automating data capture, analysis, and prediction, AI techniques show promise for accelerating quantitative risk assessment by providing probabilistic outputs to capture uncertainties. AI also enables explanation methods to unravel mechanisms and increase trust in modeled predictions. However, issues like model interpretability, data biases, and transparency currently limit regulatory endorsement of AI. Multidisciplinary collaboration is needed to ensure development of interpretable, robust, and human-centered AI systems. Rather than just automating human tasks at scale, transformative AI can catalyze innovation in how evidence is gathered, data are generated, hypotheses are formed and tested, and tasks are performed to usher new paradigms in chemical safety assessment. Used judiciously, AI has immense potential to advance toxicology into a more predictive, mechanism-based, and evidence-integrated scientific discipline to better safeguard human and environmental wellbeing across diverse populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Bloomberg School of Public Health, Doerenkamp-Zbinden Chair for Evidence-Based Toxicology, Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA.
- CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Constance, Germany.
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Foster C, Wignall J, Kovach S, Choksi N, Allen D, Trgovcich J, Rochester JR, Ceger P, Daniel A, Hamm J, Truax J, Blake B, McIntyre B, Sutherland V, Stout MD, Kleinstreuer N. Standardizing Extracted Data Using Automated Application of Controlled Vocabularies. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:27006. [PMID: 38349723 PMCID: PMC10863721 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/15/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Extraction of toxicological end points from primary sources is a central component of systematic reviews and human health risk assessments. To ensure optimal use of these data, consistent language should be used for end point descriptions. However, primary source language describing treatment-related end points can vary greatly, resulting in large labor efforts to manually standardize extractions before data are fit for use. OBJECTIVES To minimize these labor efforts, we applied an augmented intelligence approach and developed automated tools to support standardization of extracted information via application of preexisting controlled vocabularies. METHODS We created and applied a harmonized controlled vocabulary crosswalk, consisting of Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) codes, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) DevTox harmonized terms, and The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) end point vocabularies, to roughly 34,000 extractions from prenatal developmental toxicology studies conducted by the National Toxicology Program (NTP) and 6,400 extractions from European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) prenatal developmental toxicology studies, all recorded based on the original study report language. RESULTS We automatically applied standardized controlled vocabulary terms to 75% of the NTP extracted end points and 57% of the ECHA extracted end points. Of all the standardized extracted end points, about half (51%) required manual review for potential extraneous matches or inaccuracies. Extracted end points that were not mapped to standardized terms tended to be too general or required human logic to find a good match. We estimate that this augmented intelligence approach saved > 350 hours of manual effort and yielded valuable resources including a controlled vocabulary crosswalk, organized related terms lists, code for implementing an automated mapping workflow, and a computationally accessible dataset. DISCUSSION Augmenting manual efforts with automation tools increased the efficiency of producing a findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) dataset of regulatory guideline studies. This open-source approach can be readily applied to other legacy developmental toxicology datasets, and the code design is customizable for other study types. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13215.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Neepa Choksi
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dave Allen
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | | | | | - Amber Daniel
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jon Hamm
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jim Truax
- ILS, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bevin Blake
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Barry McIntyre
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vicki Sutherland
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Matthew D. Stout
- Division of Translational Toxicology (DTT), NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), DTT, NIEHS, NIH, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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7
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Hopf NB, Suter-Dick L, Huwyler J, Borgatta M, Hegg L, Pamies D, Paschoud H, Puligilla RD, Reale E, Werner S, Zurich MG. Novel Strategy to Assess the Neurotoxicity of Organic Solvents Such as Glycol Ethers: Protocol for Combining In Vitro and In Silico Methods With Human-Controlled Exposure Experiments. JMIR Res Protoc 2024; 13:e50300. [PMID: 38236630 PMCID: PMC10835597 DOI: 10.2196/50300] [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: 06/26/2023] [Revised: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemicals are not required to be tested systematically for their neurotoxic potency, although they may contribute to the development of several neurological diseases. The absence of systematic testing may be partially explained by the current Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Test Guidelines, which rely on animal experiments that are expensive, laborious, and ethically debatable. Therefore, it is important to understand the risks to exposed workers and the general population exposed to domestic products. In this study, we propose a strategy to test the neurotoxicity of solvents using the commonly used glycol ethers as a case study. OBJECTIVE This study aims to provide a strategy that can be used by regulatory agencies and industries to rank solvents according to their neurotoxicity and demonstrate the use of toxicokinetic modeling to predict air concentrations of solvents that are below the no observed adverse effect concentrations (NOAECs) for human neurotoxicity determined in in vitro assays. METHODS The proposed strategy focuses on a complex 3D in vitro brain model (BrainSpheres) derived from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs). This model is accompanied by in vivo, in vitro, and in silico models for the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and in vitro models for liver metabolism. The data are integrated into a toxicokinetic model. Internal concentrations predicted using this toxicokinetic model are compared with the results from in vivo human-controlled exposure experiments for model validation. The toxicokinetic model is then used in reverse dosimetry to predict air concentrations, leading to brain concentrations lower than the NOAECs determined in the hiPSC-derived 3D brain model. These predictions will contribute to the protection of exposed workers and the general population with domestic exposures. RESULTS The Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology funded the project, commencing in January 2021. The Human Ethics Committee approval was obtained on November 16, 2022. Zebrafish experiments and in vitro methods started in February 2021, whereas recruitment of human volunteers started in 2022 after the COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions were lifted. We anticipate that we will be able to provide a neurotoxicity testing strategy by 2026 and predicted air concentrations for 6 commonly used propylene glycol ethers based on toxicokinetic models incorporating liver metabolism, BBB leakage parameters, and brain toxicity. CONCLUSIONS This study will be of great interest to regulatory agencies and chemical industries needing and seeking novel solutions to develop human chemical risk assessments. It will contribute to protecting human health from the deleterious effects of environmental chemicals. INTERNATIONAL REGISTERED REPORT IDENTIFIER (IRRID) DERR1-10.2196/50300.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy B Hopf
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Laura Suter-Dick
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
| | - Jörg Huwyler
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Myriam Borgatta
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Lucie Hegg
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | - David Pamies
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Hélène Paschoud
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ramya Deepthi Puligilla
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Elena Reale
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
| | - Sophie Werner
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- School of Life Sciences, University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland, Muttenz, Switzerland
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marie-Gabrielle Zurich
- Swiss Centre for Applied Human Toxicology (SCAHT), Basel, Switzerland
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
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8
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Schmeisser S, Miccoli A, von Bergen M, Berggren E, Braeuning A, Busch W, Desaintes C, Gourmelon A, Grafström R, Harrill J, Hartung T, Herzler M, Kass GEN, Kleinstreuer N, Leist M, Luijten M, Marx-Stoelting P, Poetz O, van Ravenzwaay B, Roggeband R, Rogiers V, Roth A, Sanders P, Thomas RS, Marie Vinggaard A, Vinken M, van de Water B, Luch A, Tralau T. New approach methodologies in human regulatory toxicology - Not if, but how and when! ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 178:108082. [PMID: 37422975 PMCID: PMC10858683 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/01/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The predominantly animal-centric approach of chemical safety assessment has increasingly come under pressure. Society is questioning overall performance, sustainability, continued relevance for human health risk assessment and ethics of this system, demanding a change of paradigm. At the same time, the scientific toolbox used for risk assessment is continuously enriched by the development of "New Approach Methodologies" (NAMs). While this term does not define the age or the state of readiness of the innovation, it covers a wide range of methods, including quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) predictions, high-throughput screening (HTS) bioassays, omics applications, cell cultures, organoids, microphysiological systems (MPS), machine learning models and artificial intelligence (AI). In addition to promising faster and more efficient toxicity testing, NAMs have the potential to fundamentally transform today's regulatory work by allowing more human-relevant decision-making in terms of both hazard and exposure assessment. Yet, several obstacles hamper a broader application of NAMs in current regulatory risk assessment. Constraints in addressing repeated-dose toxicity, with particular reference to the chronic toxicity, and hesitance from relevant stakeholders, are major challenges for the implementation of NAMs in a broader context. Moreover, issues regarding predictivity, reproducibility and quantification need to be addressed and regulatory and legislative frameworks need to be adapted to NAMs. The conceptual perspective presented here has its focus on hazard assessment and is grounded on the main findings and conclusions from a symposium and workshop held in Berlin in November 2021. It intends to provide further insights into how NAMs can be gradually integrated into chemical risk assessment aimed at protection of human health, until eventually the current paradigm is replaced by an animal-free "Next Generation Risk Assessment" (NGRA).
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrea Miccoli
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany; National Research Council, Ancona, Italy
| | - Martin von Bergen
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany; German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany; University of Leipzig, Faculty of Life Sciences, Institute of Biochemistry, Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Albert Braeuning
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Wibke Busch
- Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research-UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Desaintes
- European Commission (EC), Directorate General for Research and Innovation (RTD), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Anne Gourmelon
- Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Environment Directorate, Paris, France
| | | | - Joshua Harrill
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Durham, USA
| | - Thomas Hartung
- Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing (CAAT), Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Baltimore MD USA, CAAT-Europe, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Matthias Herzler
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, USA
| | - Marcel Leist
- CAAT‑Europe and Department of Biology, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany
| | - Mirjam Luijten
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | | | - Oliver Poetz
- NMI Natural and Medical Science Institute at the University of Tuebingen, Reutlingen, Germany; SIGNATOPE GmbH, Reutlingen, Germany
| | | | - Rob Roggeband
- European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA), Procter and Gamble Services Company NV/SA, Strombeek-Bever, Belgium
| | - Vera Rogiers
- Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (SCCS), Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adrian Roth
- F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Pascal Sanders
- Fougeres Laboratory, French Agency for Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (ANSES), Fougères, France France
| | - Russell S Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure (CCTE), United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA), Durham, USA
| | | | | | | | - Andreas Luch
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
| | - Tewes Tralau
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Berlin, Germany
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9
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Vliet SM, Markey KJ, Lynn SG, Adetona A, Fallacara D, Ceger P, Choksi N, Karmaus AL, Watson A, Ewans A, Daniel AB, Hamm J, Vitense K, Wolf KA, Thomas A, LaLone CA. Weight of evidence for cross-species conservation of androgen receptor-based biological activity. Toxicol Sci 2023; 193:131-145. [PMID: 37071731 PMCID: PMC10796108 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad038] [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] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) is tasked with assessing chemicals for their potential to perturb endocrine pathways, including those controlled by androgen receptor (AR). To address challenges associated with traditional testing strategies, EDSP is considering in vitro high-throughput screening assays to screen and prioritize chemicals more efficiently. The ability of these assays to accurately reflect chemical interactions in nonmammalian species remains uncertain. Therefore, a goal of the EDSP is to evaluate how broadly results can be extrapolated across taxa. To assess the cross-species conservation of AR-modulated pathways, computational analyses and systematic literature review approaches were used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data. First, molecular target conservation was assessed across 585 diverse species based on the structural similarity of ARs. These results indicate that ARs are conserved across vertebrates and are predicted to share similarly susceptibility to chemicals that interact with the human AR. Systematic analysis of over 5000 published manuscripts was used to compile in vitro and in vivo cross-species toxicity data. Assessment of in vitro data indicates conservation of responses occurs across vertebrate ARs, with potential differences in sensitivity. Similarly, in vivo data indicate strong conservation of the AR signaling pathways across vertebrate species, although sensitivity may vary. Overall, this study demonstrates a framework for utilizing bioinformatics and existing data to build weight of evidence for cross-species extrapolation and provides a technical basis for extrapolating hAR-based data to prioritize hazard in nonmammalian vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M.F. Vliet
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kristan J. Markey
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kelsey Vitense
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Amy Thomas
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
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10
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Aurisano N, Jolliet O, Chiu WA, Judson R, Jang S, Unnikrishnan A, Kosnik MB, Fantke P. Probabilistic Points of Departure and Reference Doses for Characterizing Human Noncancer and Developmental/Reproductive Effects for 10,145 Chemicals. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2023; 131:37016. [PMID: 36989077 PMCID: PMC10056221 DOI: 10.1289/ehp11524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2022] [Revised: 02/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Regulatory toxicity values used to assess and manage chemical risks rely on the determination of the point of departure (POD) for a critical effect, which results from a comprehensive and systematic assessment of available toxicity studies. However, regulatory assessments are only available for a small fraction of chemicals. OBJECTIVES Using in vivo experimental animal data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxicity Value Database, we developed a semiautomated approach to determine surrogate oral route PODs, and corresponding toxicity values where regulatory assessments are unavailable. METHODS We developed a curated data set restricted to effect levels, exposure routes, study designs, and species relevant for deriving toxicity values. Effect levels were adjusted to chronic human equivalent benchmark doses (BMDh). We hypothesized that a quantile of the BMDh distribution could serve as a surrogate POD and determined the appropriate quantile by calibration to regulatory PODs. Finally, we characterized uncertainties around the surrogate PODs from intra- and interstudy variability and derived probabilistic toxicity values using a standardized workflow. RESULTS The BMDh distribution for each chemical was adequately fit by a lognormal distribution, and the 25th percentile best predicted the available regulatory PODs [R2≥0.78, residual standard error (RSE)≤0.53 log10 units]. We derived surrogate PODs for 10,145 chemicals from the curated data set, differentiating between general noncancer and reproductive/developmental effects, with typical uncertainties (at 95% confidence) of a factor of 10 and 12, respectively. From these PODs, probabilistic reference doses (1% incidence at 95% confidence), as well as human population effect doses (10% incidence), were derived. DISCUSSION In providing surrogate PODs calibrated to regulatory values and deriving corresponding toxicity values, we have substantially expanded the coverage of chemicals from 744 to 8,023 for general noncancer effects, and from 41 to 6,697 for reproductive/developmental effects. These results can be used across various risk assessment and risk management contexts, from hazardous site and life cycle impact assessments to chemical prioritization and substitution. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP11524.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolò Aurisano
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Olivier Jolliet
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Richard Judson
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Suji Jang
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, USA
| | - Aswani Unnikrishnan
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Marissa B. Kosnik
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Environmental and Resource Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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11
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Magurany KA, Chang X, Clewell R, Coecke S, Haugabrooks E, Marty S. A Pragmatic Framework for the Application of New Approach Methodologies in One Health Toxicological Risk Assessment. Toxicol Sci 2023; 192:kfad012. [PMID: 36782355 PMCID: PMC10109535 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally, industries and regulatory authorities are faced with an urgent need to assess the potential adverse effects of chemicals more efficiently by embracing new approach methodologies (NAMs). NAMs include cell and tissue methods (in vitro), structure-based/toxicokinetic models (in silico), methods that assess toxicant interactions with biological macromolecules (in chemico), and alternative models. Increasing knowledge on chemical toxicokinetics (what the body does with chemicals) and toxicodynamics (what the chemicals do with the body) obtained from in silico and in vitro systems continues to provide opportunities for modernizing chemical risk assessments. However, directly leveraging in vitro and in silico data for derivation of human health-based reference values has not received regulatory acceptance due to uncertainties in extrapolating NAM results to human populations, including metabolism, complex biological pathways, multiple exposures, interindividual susceptibility and vulnerable populations. The objective of this article is to provide a standardized pragmatic framework that applies integrated approaches with a focus on quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) to extrapolate in vitro cellular exposures to human equivalent doses from which human reference values can be derived. The proposed framework intends to systematically account for the complexities in extrapolation and data interpretation to support sound human health safety decisions in diverse industrial sectors (food systems, cosmetics, industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals etc.). Case studies of chemical entities, using new and existing data, are presented to demonstrate the utility of the proposed framework while highlighting potential sources of human population bias and uncertainty, and the importance of Good Method and Reporting Practices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Rebecca Clewell
- 21st Century Tox Consulting, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27517, USA
| | - Sandra Coecke
- European Commission Joint Research Centre, Ispra, Italy
| | - Esther Haugabrooks
- Coca-Cola Company (formerly Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine), Atlanta, Georgia 30313, USA
| | - Sue Marty
- The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Michigan 48667, USA
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12
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Lee KM, Corley R, Jarabek AM, Kleinstreuer N, Paini A, Stucki AO, Bell S. Advancing New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) for Tobacco Harm Reduction: Synopsis from the 2021 CORESTA SSPT-NAMs Symposium. TOXICS 2022; 10:760. [PMID: 36548593 PMCID: PMC9781465 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10120760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 11/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
New approach methodologies (NAMs) are emerging chemical safety assessment tools consisting of in vitro and in silico (computational) methodologies intended to reduce, refine, or replace (3R) various in vivo animal testing methods traditionally used for risk assessment. Significant progress has been made toward the adoption of NAMs for human health and environmental toxicity assessment. However, additional efforts are needed to expand their development and their use in regulatory decision making. A virtual symposium was held during the 2021 Cooperation Centre for Scientific Research Relative to Tobacco (CORESTA) Smoke Science and Product Technology (SSPT) conference (titled "Advancing New Alternative Methods for Tobacco Harm Reduction"), with the goals of introducing the concepts and potential application of NAMs in the evaluation of potentially reduced-risk (PRR) tobacco products. At the symposium, experts from regulatory agencies, research organizations, and NGOs shared insights on the status of available tools, strengths, limitations, and opportunities in the application of NAMs using case examples from safety assessments of chemicals and tobacco products. Following seven presentations providing background and application of NAMs, a discussion was held where the presenters and audience discussed the outlook for extending the NAMs toxicological applications for tobacco products. The symposium, endorsed by the CORESTA In Vitro Tox Subgroup, Biomarker Subgroup, and NextG Tox Task Force, illustrated common ground and interest in science-based engagement across the scientific community and stakeholders in support of tobacco regulatory science. Highlights of the symposium are summarized in this paper.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Richard Corley
- Greek Creek Toxicokinetics Consulting, LLC, Boise, ID 83714, USA
| | - Annie M. Jarabek
- Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission Joint Research Center (EC JRC), 2749 Ispra, Italy
| | - Andreas O. Stucki
- PETA Science Consortium International e.V., 70499 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Shannon Bell
- Inotiv-RTP, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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13
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Daniel AB, Choksi N, Abedini J, Bell S, Ceger P, Cook B, Karmaus AL, Rooney J, To KT, Allen D, Kleinstreuer N. Data curation to support toxicity assessments using the Integrated Chemical Environment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:987848. [PMID: 36408349 PMCID: PMC9669273 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.987848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Humans are exposed to large numbers of chemicals during their daily activities. To assess and understand potential health impacts of chemical exposure, investigators and regulators need access to reliable toxicity data. In particular, reliable toxicity data for a wide range of chemistries are needed to support development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) such as computational models, which offer increased throughput relative to traditional approaches and reduce or replace animal use. NAMs development and evaluation require chemically diverse data sets that are typically constructed by incorporating results from multiple studies into a single, integrated view; however, integrating data is not always a straightforward task. Primary study sources often vary in the way data are organized and reported. Metadata and information needed to support interoperability and provide context are often lacking, which necessitates literature research on the assay prior to attempting data integration. The Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) was developed to support the development, evaluation, and application of NAMs. ICE provides curated toxicity data and computational tools to integrate and explore available information, thus facilitating knowledge discovery and interoperability. This paper describes the data curation workflow for integrating data into ICE. Data destined for ICE undergo rigorous harmonization, standardization, and formatting processes using both automated and manual expert-driven approaches. These processes improve the utility of the data for diverse analyses and facilitate application within ICE or a user's external workflow while preserving data integrity and context. ICE data curation provides the structure, reliability, and accessibility needed for data to support chemical assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Neepa Choksi
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Shannon Bell
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - Bethany Cook
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - John Rooney
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | | | - David Allen
- Inotiv, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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14
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Foster MJ, Patlewicz G, Shah I, Haggard DE, Judson RS, Paul Friedman K. Evaluating structure-based activity in a high-throughput assay for steroid biosynthesis. COMPUTATIONAL TOXICOLOGY (AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS) 2022; 24:1-23. [PMID: 37841081 PMCID: PMC10569244 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2022.100245] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Data from a high-throughput human adrenocortical carcinoma assay (HT-H295R) for steroid hormone biosynthesis are available for >2000 chemicals in single concentration and 654 chemicals in multi-concentration (mc). Previously, a metric describing the effect size of a chemical on the biosynthesis of 11 hormones was derived using mc data referred to as the maximum mean Mahalanobis distance (maxmMd). However, mc HT-H295R assay data remain unavailable for many chemicals. This work leverages existing HT-H295R assay data by constructing structure-activity relationships to make predictions for data-poor chemicals, including: (1) identification of individual structural descriptors, known as ToxPrint chemotypes, associated with increased odds of affecting estrogen or androgen synthesis; (2) a random forest (RF) classifier using physicochemical property descriptors to predict HT-H295R maxmMd binary (positive or negative) outcomes; and, (3) a local approach to predict maxmMd binary outcomes using nearest neighbors (NNs) based on two types of chemical fingerprints (chemotype or Morgan). Individual chemotypes demonstrated high specificity (85-98%) for modulators of estrogen and androgen synthesis but with low sensitivity. The best RF model for maxmMd classification included 13 predicted physicochemical descriptors, yielding a balanced accuracy (BA) of 71% with only modest improvement when hundreds of structural features were added. The best two NN models for binary maxmMd prediction demonstrated BAs of 85 and 81% using chemotype and Morgan fingerprints, respectively. Using an external test set of 6302 chemicals (lacking HT-H295R data), 1241 were identified as putative estrogen and androgen modulators. Combined results across the three classification models (global RF model and two local NN models) predict that 1033 of the 6302 chemicals would be more likely to affect HT-H295R bioactivity. Together, these in silico approaches can efficiently prioritize thousands of untested chemicals for screening to further evaluate their effects on steroid biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- M J Foster
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
- National Student Services Contractor, Oak Ridge Associated Universities
| | - G Patlewicz
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - I Shah
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - D E Haggard
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - R S Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - K Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
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15
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Tan H, Wu J, Zhang R, Zhang C, Li W, Chen Q, Zhang X, Yu H, Shi W. Development, Validation, and Application of a Human Reproductive Toxicity Prediction Model Based on Adverse Outcome Pathway. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:12391-12403. [PMID: 35960020 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A growing number of environmental contaminants have been proved to have reproductive toxicity to males and females. However, the unclear toxicological mechanism of reproductive toxicants limits the development of virtual screening methods. By consolidating androgen (AR)-/estrogen receptors (ERs)-mediated adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) with more than 8000 chemical substances, we uncovered relationships between chemical features, a series of pathway-related effects, and reproductive apical outcomes─changes in sex organ weights. An AOP-based computational model named RepTox was developed and evaluated to predict and characterize chemicals' reproductive toxicity for males and females. Results showed that RepTox has three outstanding advantages. (I) Compared with the traditional models (37 and 81% accuracy, respectively), AOP significantly improved the predictive robustness of RepTox (96.3% accuracy). (II) Compared with the application domain (AD) of models based on small in vivo datasets, AOP expanded the ADs of RepTox by 1.65-fold for male and 3.77-fold for female, respectively. (III) RepTox implied that hydrophobicity, cyclopentanol substructure, and several topological indices (e.g., hydrogen-bond acceptors) were important, unbiased features associated with reproductive toxicants. Finally, RepTox was applied to the inventory of existing chemical substances of China and identified 2100 and 7281 potential toxicants to the male and female reproductive systems, respectively.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haoyue Tan
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Jinqiu Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Rong Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qinchang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Hongxia Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
| | - Wei Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
- Jiangsu Province Ecology and Environment Protection Key Laboratory of Chemical Safety and Health Risk, Nanjing 210023, Jiangsu, China
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16
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van der Zalm AJ, Barroso J, Browne P, Casey W, Gordon J, Henry TR, Kleinstreuer NC, Lowit AB, Perron M, Clippinger AJ. A framework for establishing scientific confidence in new approach methodologies. Arch Toxicol 2022; 96:2865-2879. [PMID: 35987941 PMCID: PMC9525335 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-022-03365-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Robust and efficient processes are needed to establish scientific confidence in new approach methodologies (NAMs) if they are to be considered for regulatory applications. NAMs need to be fit for purpose, reliable and, for the assessment of human health effects, provide information relevant to human biology. They must also be independently reviewed and transparently communicated. Ideally, NAM developers should communicate with stakeholders such as regulators and industry to identify the question(s), and specified purpose that the NAM is intended to address, and the context in which it will be used. Assessment of the biological relevance of the NAM should focus on its alignment with human biology, mechanistic understanding, and ability to provide information that leads to health protective decisions, rather than solely comparing NAM-based chemical testing results with those from traditional animal test methods. However, when NAM results are compared to historical animal test results, the variability observed within animal test method results should be used to inform performance benchmarks. Building on previous efforts, this paper proposes a framework comprising five essential elements to establish scientific confidence in NAMs for regulatory use: fitness for purpose, human biological relevance, technical characterization, data integrity and transparency, and independent review. Universal uptake of this framework would facilitate the timely development and use of NAMs by the international community. While this paper focuses on NAMs for assessing human health effects of pesticides and industrial chemicals, many of the suggested elements are expected to apply to other types of chemicals and to ecotoxicological effect assessments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - João Barroso
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Patience Browne
- Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development, Hazard Assessment and Pesticides Programmes, Environmental Directorate, Paris, France
| | - Warren Casey
- National Institutes of Health, Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institutes of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - John Gordon
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Directorate for Health Sciences, Rockville, MD, USA
| | - Tala R Henry
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nicole C Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA
| | - Anna B Lowit
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Monique Perron
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington, DC, USA
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Martin MM, Baker NC, Boyes WK, Carstens KE, Culbreth ME, Gilbert ME, Harrill JA, Nyffeler J, Padilla S, Friedman KP, Shafer TJ. An expert-driven literature review of "negative" chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro assay evaluation. Neurotoxicol Teratol 2022; 93:107117. [PMID: 35908584 DOI: 10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107117] [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: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
To date, approximately 200 chemicals have been tested in US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) guideline studies, leaving thousands of chemicals without traditional animal information on DNT hazard potential. To address this data gap, a battery of in vitro DNT new approach methodologies (NAMs) has been proposed. Evaluation of the performance of this battery will increase the confidence in its use to determine DNT chemical hazards. One approach to evaluate DNT NAM performance is to use a set of chemicals to evaluate sensitivity and specificity. Since a list of chemicals with potential evidence of in vivo DNT has been established, this study aims to develop a curated list of "negative" chemicals for inclusion in a "DNT NAM evaluation set". A workflow, including a literature search followed by an expert-driven literature review, was used to systematically screen 39 chemicals for lack of DNT effect. Expert panel members evaluated the scientific robustness of relevant studies to inform chemical categorizations. Following review, the panel discussed each chemical and made categorical determinations of "Favorable", "Not Favorable", or "Indeterminate" reflecting acceptance, lack of suitability, or uncertainty given specific limitations and considerations, respectively. The panel determined that 10, 22, and 7 chemicals met the criteria for "Favorable", "Not Favorable", and "Indeterminate", for use as negatives in a DNT NAM evaluation set. Ultimately, this approach not only supports DNT NAM performance evaluation but also highlights challenges in identifying large numbers of negative DNT chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa M Martin
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Nancy C Baker
- Leidos, Research Triangle Park, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - William K Boyes
- Neurological and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, CPHEA/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Kelly E Carstens
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Megan E Culbreth
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Mary E Gilbert
- Neurological and Endocrine Toxicology Branch, Public Health and Integrated Toxicology Division, CPHEA/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Joshua A Harrill
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Johanna Nyffeler
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN, USA
| | - Stephanie Padilla
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- Computational Toxicology & Bioinformatics Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Timothy J Shafer
- Rapid Assay Development Branch, Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, CCTE/ORD, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA.
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18
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Corton JC, Liu J, Kleinstreuer N, Gwinn MR, Ryan N. Towards replacement of animal tests with in vitro assays: a gene expression biomarker predicts in vitro and in vivo estrogen receptor activity. Chem Biol Interact 2022; 363:109995. [PMID: 35697134 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2022.109995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Revised: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
High-throughput transcriptomics (HTTr) has the potential to support efforts to reduce or replace some animal tests. In past studies, we described a computational approach utilizing a gene expression biomarker consisting of 46 genes to predict estrogen receptor (ER) activity after chemical exposure in ER-positive human breast cancer cells including the MCF-7 cell line. We hypothesized that the biomarker model could identify ER activities of chemicals examined by Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) Tier 1 screening assays in which transcript profiles of the same chemicals were examined in MCF-7 cells. For the 62 chemicals examined including 5 chemicals examined in this study using RNA-Seq, the ER biomarker model accuracy was 1) 97% for in vitro reference chemicals, 2) 76-85% for guideline uterotrophic assays, and 3) 87-88% for guideline and nonguideline uterotrophic assays. For the same chemicals, these accuracies were similar or slightly better than those of the ToxCast ER model based on 18 in vitro assays. The performance of the ER biomarker model indicates that HTTr interpreted using the ER biomarker correctly identifies active and inactive ER reference chemicals. As part of the HTTr screening program the approach could rapidly identify chemicals with potential ER bioactivities for additional screening and testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Christopher Corton
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Jie Liu
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Maureen R Gwinn
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, US-EPA, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
| | - Natalia Ryan
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711, USA.
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19
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Li HM, Li YY, Zhang YC, Li JB, Xu HM, Xiong YM, Qin ZF. Bisphenol B disrupts testis differentiation partly via the estrogen receptor-mediated pathway and subsequently causes testicular dysgenesis in Xenopus laevis. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2022; 236:113453. [PMID: 35390692 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2022] [Revised: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is growing concern about adverse effects of bisphenol A alternatives including bisphenol B (BPB) due to their estrogenic activity. However, limited data are available concerning the influences of BPB on male reproductive development in vertebrates, especially in amphibians, which are believed to be susceptible to estrogenic chemicals. The present study investigated the effects of 10, 100 and 1000 nM BPB (2.42, 24.2 and 242 μg/L) on testis development in Xenopus laevis, a model amphibian species for studying gonadal feminization. We found that exposure to BPB from stages 45/46 to 52 resulted in down-regulation of testis-biased gene expression and up-regulation of ovary-biased gene and vitellogenin (vtgb1) expression in gonad-mesonephros complexes (GMCs) of tadpoles at stage 52, coupled with suppressed cell proliferation in testes and reduced gonadal metameres, resembling the effects of 17ß-estradiol. Moreover, an estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780 antagonized BPB-caused up-regulation of ovary-biased gene and vtgb1 expression to some degree, indicating that the effects of BPB on X. laevis testis differentiation could be partly mediated by ER. All observations demonstrate that early exposure to BPB inhibited testis differentiation and exerted certain feminizing effects during gonadal differentiation. When exposure was extended to post-metamorphosis, testes exhibited histological and morphological abnormalities including segmented, discontinuous and fragmented shapes, besides altered sex-dimorphic gene expression. Notably, most of BPB-caused alterations were not concentration-dependent, but the lowest concentration indeed exerted significant effects. Overall, our study for the first time reveals that low concentrations of BPB can disrupt testis differentiation partly due to its estrogenic activity and subsequently cause testicular dysgenesis after metamorphosis, highlighting its reproductive risk to amphibians and other vertebrates including humans. Our finding also implies that estrogenic chemicals-caused testis differentiation inhibition at tadpole stages could predict later testicular dysgenesis after metamorphosis, meaning a possibility of early detection of abnormal testis development caused by estrogenic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Mei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yuan-Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ying-Chi Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Jin-Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Hai-Ming Xu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene, School of Public Health and Management, Ningxia Medical University, Yinchuan, Ningxia 750004, China
| | - Yi-Ming Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Zhan-Fen Qin
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; College of Resources and Environment, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
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20
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Burden N, Embry MR, Hutchinson TH, Lynn SG, Maynard SK, Mitchell CA, Pellizzato F, Sewell F, Thorpe KL, Weltje L, Wheeler JR. Investigating endocrine-disrupting properties of chemicals in fish and amphibians: Opportunities to apply the 3Rs. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2022; 18:442-458. [PMID: 34292658 PMCID: PMC9292818 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/16/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Many regulations are beginning to explicitly require investigation of a chemical's endocrine-disrupting properties as a part of the safety assessment process for substances already on or about to be placed on the market. Different jurisdictions are applying distinct approaches. However, all share a common theme requiring testing for endocrine activity and adverse effects, typically involving in vitro and in vivo assays on selected endocrine pathways. For ecotoxicological evaluation, in vivo assays can be performed across various animal species, including mammals, amphibians, and fish. Results indicating activity (i.e., that a test substance may interact with the endocrine system) from in vivo screens usually trigger further higher-tier in vivo assays. Higher-tier assays provide data on adverse effects on relevant endpoints over more extensive parts of the organism's life cycle. Both in vivo screening and higher-tier assays are animal- and resource-intensive and can be technically challenging to conduct. Testing large numbers of chemicals will inevitably result in the use of large numbers of animals, contradicting stipulations set out within many regulatory frameworks that animal studies be conducted as a last resort. Improved strategies are urgently required. In February 2020, the UK's National Centre for the 3Rs and the Health and Environmental Sciences Institute hosted a workshop ("Investigating Endocrine Disrupting Properties in Fish and Amphibians: Opportunities to Apply the 3Rs"). Over 50 delegates attended from North America and Europe, across academia, laboratories, and consultancies, regulatory agencies, and industry. Challenges and opportunities in applying refinement and reduction approaches within the current animal test guidelines were discussed, and utilization of replacement and/or new approach methodologies, including in silico, in vitro, and embryo models, was explored. Efforts and activities needed to enable application of 3Rs approaches in practice were also identified. This article provides an overview of the workshop discussions and sets priority areas for follow-up. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2022;18:442-458. © 2021 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Thomas H. Hutchinson
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental SciencesUniversity of PlymouthPlymouthUK
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Office of Science Coordination and PolicyWashingtonDCUSA
- Present address:
US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)Office of Pesticide ProgramsWashingtonDCUSA
| | | | | | | | | | - Karen L. Thorpe
- Centre for Chemical Safety and StewardshipFera Science Ltd.YorkUK
| | - Lennart Weltje
- BASF SE, Agricultural Solutions−EcotoxicologyLimburgerhofGermany
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21
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Klutzny S, Kornhuber M, Morger A, Schönfelder G, Volkamer A, Oelgeschläger M, Dunst S. Quantitative high-throughput phenotypic screening for environmental estrogens using the E-Morph Screening Assay in combination with in silico predictions. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106947. [PMID: 34717173 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposure to environmental chemicals that interfere with normal estrogen function can lead to adverse health effects, including cancer. High-throughput screening (HTS) approaches facilitate the efficient identification and characterization of such substances. OBJECTIVES We recently described the development of the E-Morph Assay, which measures changes at adherens junctions as a clinically-relevant phenotypic readout for estrogen receptor (ER) alpha signaling activity. Here, we describe its further development and application for automated robotic HTS. METHODS Using the advanced E-Morph Screening Assay, we screened a substance library comprising 430 toxicologically-relevant industrial chemicals, biocides, and plant protection products to identify novel substances with estrogenic activities. Based on the primary screening data and the publicly available ToxCast dataset, we performed an insilico similarity search to identify further substances with potential estrogenic activity for follow-up hit expansion screening, and built seven insilico ER models using the conformal prediction (CP) framework to evaluate the HTS results. RESULTS The primary and hit confirmation screens identified 27 'known' estrogenic substances with potencies correlating very well with the published ToxCast ER Agonist Score (r=+0.95). We additionally detected potential 'novel' estrogenic activities for 10 primary hit substances and for another nine out of 20 structurally similar substances from insilico predictions and follow-up hit expansion screening. The concordance of the E-Morph Screening Assay with the ToxCast ER reference data and the generated CP ER models was 71% and 73%, respectively, with a high predictivity for ER active substances of up to 87%, which is particularly important for regulatory purposes. DISCUSSION These data provide a proof-of-concept for the combination of in vitro HTS approaches with insilico methods (similarity search, CP models) for efficient analysis of large substance libraries in order to prioritize substances with potential estrogenic activity for subsequent testing against higher tier human endpoints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Klutzny
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Marja Kornhuber
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Morger
- In silico Toxicology and Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Physiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Gilbert Schönfelder
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany; Institute of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Andrea Volkamer
- In silico Toxicology and Structural Bioinformatics, Institute of Physiology, Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dunst
- Experimental Toxicology and ZEBET, German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Berlin, Germany.
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22
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23
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Natsch A, Hostettler L, Haupt T, Laue H. A critical assessment of the estrogenic potency of benzyl salicylate. Toxicol Rep 2021; 8:1002-1007. [PMID: 34408969 PMCID: PMC8363597 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxrep.2021.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Benzyl salicylate (BS) is on priority lists for evaluation of estrogenic effects. New data in both MCF7 (E-screen) and luciferase transactivation assays. Potency of BS is 21′000′000-fold lower than estradiol in transactivation assay. Potency of BS is 36′000′000-fold lower than estradiol in E-screen. Potency is > 1000-fold below human relevant potency threshold.
Benzyl salicylate (BS) is a natural ingredient of essential oils and a widely used fragrance chemical. A number of in vitro screening studies have evaluated the estrogenic potential of BS with ambiguous results. Lack of dose-response information for the positive control 17β-estradiol (E2) in most studies makes an assessment of the relative potency and efficacy challenging. Notwithstanding this difficulty, BS has been added as the only fragrance ingredient to the list of the first 14 substances to be screened as potential endocrine disruptors by the European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety (SCCS) and it is included in the Community rolling action plan (CoRAP) of the European REACH regulation to be assessed for the same property. Here we review all literature evidence and present new data to quantify the in vitro potency and efficacy of BS vs. E2 with full dose response analysis in both an estrogen response element (ERE) depending reporter gene assay and in the MCF7 cell proliferation (E-screen) assay. In both assays, very similar results for BS were found. BS is a partial agonist exhibiting 35–47 % maximal efficacy and it is active only close to the cytotoxic concentration. The extrapolated concentration to achieve 50 % efficacy is 21′000′000 higher as compared to E2 in the reporter gene assay. A ca. 36′000′000 higher concentration of BS as compared to E2 is required to reach equivalent partial cell proliferation stimulation in the MCF7 proliferation assay. This potency is significantly below the agonistic activity of known chemicals which cause estrogenic effects in in vivo assays. Importantly, in this study the weak agonistic activity is for the first time directly related to the activity of E2 in a full quantitative comparison in human cell lines which may help ongoing evaluations of BS by regulatory bodies.
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Key Words
- 4−OHT, 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen
- ATCC, American Type Culture Collection
- BPA, Bisphenol A
- BS, Benzyl salicylate
- Benzyl salicylate
- CAT, chloramphenicol acetyl transferase gene
- CoRAP, Community Rolling Action Plan
- DMEM, Dulbecco's Modified Eagle Medium
- DMSO, Dimethyl sulfoxide
- E2, 17β-estradiol
- ER, estrogen receptor
- ERE, estrogen response element
- Estrogen receptor
- FBS, foetal bovine serum
- HEPES, N-2-hydroxyethylpiperazine-N-ethanesulfonic acid
- HRPT, Human Relevant Potency Threshold
- MCF7 proliferation assay
- MoA, Mode of action
- NOAEL, no observed adverse effect level
- OECD, Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development
- Potency
- REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
- Reporter assay
- SCCS, European Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety: SRB, sulforhodamine B
- Substance evaluation
- TG, test guideline
- YES, Yeast Estrogen screen
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Natsch
- Corresponding author at: Kemptpark 50, CH-8310, Kemptthal, Switzerland.
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24
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Deisenroth C, DeGroot DE, Zurlinden T, Eicher A, McCord J, Lee MY, Carmichael P, Thomas RS. The Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes Platform Retrofits an Estrogen Receptor Transactivation Assay With Metabolic Competence. Toxicol Sci 2021; 178:281-301. [PMID: 32991717 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The U.S. EPA Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program utilizes data across the ToxCast/Tox21 high-throughput screening (HTS) programs to evaluate the biological effects of potential endocrine active substances. A potential limitation to the use of in vitro assay data in regulatory decision-making is the lack of coverage for xenobiotic metabolic processes. Both hepatic- and peripheral-tissue metabolism can yield metabolites that exhibit greater activity than the parent compound (bioactivation) or are inactive (bioinactivation) for a given biological target. Interpretation of biological effect data for both putative endocrine active substances, as well as other chemicals, screened in HTS assays may benefit from the addition of xenobiotic metabolic capabilities to decrease the uncertainty in predicting potential hazards to human health. The objective of this study was to develop an approach to retrofit existing HTS assays with hepatic metabolism. The Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes (AIME) platform encapsulates hepatic S9 fractions in alginate microspheres attached to 96-well peg lids. Functional characterization across a panel of reference substrates for phase I cytochrome P450 enzymes revealed substrate depletion with expected metabolite accumulation. Performance of the AIME method in the VM7Luc estrogen receptor transactivation assay was evaluated across 15 reference chemicals and 48 test chemicals that yield metabolites previously identified as estrogen receptor active or inactive. The results demonstrate the utility of applying the AIME method for identification of false-positive and false-negative target assay effects, reprioritization of hazard based on metabolism-dependent bioactivity, and enhanced in vivo concordance with the rodent uterotrophic bioassay. Integration of the AIME metabolism method may prove useful for future biochemical and cell-based HTS applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chad Deisenroth
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Danica E DeGroot
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Todd Zurlinden
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Andrew Eicher
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - James McCord
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
| | - Mi-Young Lee
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science, Park, Bedford, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Paul Carmichael
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science, Park, Bedford, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Russell S Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27711
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25
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Ciallella HL, Russo DP, Aleksunes LM, Grimm FA, Zhu H. Revealing Adverse Outcome Pathways from Public High-Throughput Screening Data to Evaluate New Toxicants by a Knowledge-Based Deep Neural Network Approach. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10875-10887. [PMID: 34304572 PMCID: PMC8713073 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Traditional experimental testing to identify endocrine disruptors that enhance estrogenic signaling relies on expensive and labor-intensive experiments. We sought to design a knowledge-based deep neural network (k-DNN) approach to reveal and organize public high-throughput screening data for compounds with nuclear estrogen receptor α and β (ERα and ERβ) binding potentials. The target activity was rodent uterotrophic bioactivity driven by ERα/ERβ activations. After training, the resultant network successfully inferred critical relationships among ERα/ERβ target bioassays, shown as weights of 6521 edges between 1071 neurons. The resultant network uses an adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework to mimic the signaling pathway initiated by ERα and identify compounds that mimic endogenous estrogens (i.e., estrogen mimetics). The k-DNN can predict estrogen mimetics by activating neurons representing several events in the ERα/ERβ signaling pathway. Therefore, this virtual pathway model, starting from a compound's chemistry initiating ERα activation and ending with rodent uterotrophic bioactivity, can efficiently and accurately prioritize new estrogen mimetics (AUC = 0.864-0.927). This k-DNN method is a potential universal computational toxicology strategy to utilize public high-throughput screening data to characterize hazards and prioritize potentially toxic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Ciallella
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
| | - Daniel P Russo
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
| | - Lauren M Aleksunes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey 08854, United States
| | - Fabian A Grimm
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, New Jersey 08801, United States
| | - Hao Zhu
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08103, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University Camden, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
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26
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Alves VM, Auerbach SS, Kleinstreuer N, Rooney JP, Muratov EN, Rusyn I, Tropsha A, Schmitt C. Curated Data In - Trustworthy In Silico Models Out: The Impact of Data Quality on the Reliability of Artificial Intelligence Models as Alternatives to Animal Testing. Altern Lab Anim 2021; 49:73-82. [PMID: 34233495 PMCID: PMC8609471 DOI: 10.1177/02611929211029635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) that employ artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting adverse effects of chemicals have generated optimistic expectations as alternatives to animal testing. However, the major underappreciated challenge in developing robust and predictive AI models is the impact of the quality of the input data on the model accuracy. Indeed, poor data reproducibility and quality have been frequently cited as factors contributing to the crisis in biomedical research, as well as similar shortcomings in the fields of toxicology and chemistry. In this article, we review the most recent efforts to improve confidence in the robustness of toxicological data and investigate the impact that data curation has on the confidence in model predictions. We also present two case studies demonstrating the effect of data curation on the performance of AI models for predicting skin sensitisation and skin irritation. We show that, whereas models generated with uncurated data had a 7-24% higher correct classification rate (CCR), the perceived performance was, in fact, inflated owing to the high number of duplicates in the training set. We assert that data curation is a critical step in building computational models, to help ensure that reliable predictions of chemical toxicity are achieved through use of the models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius M. Alves
- Office of Data Science, Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC, USA
| | - Scott S. Auerbach
- Toxinformatics Group, Predictive Toxicology Branch, DNTP, NIEHS, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, Scientific Director's Office, DNTP, NIEHS, Durham, NC, USA
| | - John P. Rooney
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, Morrisville, NC, USA
| | - Eugene N. Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Federal University of Paraiba, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Alexander Tropsha
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, UNC Eshelman School of Pharmacy, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Charles Schmitt
- Office of Data Science, Division of the National Toxicology Program (DNTP), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Durham, NC, USA
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Kornhuber M, Dunst S, Schönfelder G, Oelgeschläger M. The E-Morph Assay: Identification and characterization of environmental chemicals with estrogenic activity based on quantitative changes in cell-cell contact organization of breast cancer cells. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 149:106411. [PMID: 33549916 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Adverse health effects that are caused by endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) in the environment, food or consumer products are of high public concern. The identification and characterization of EDCs including substances with estrogenic activity still necessitates the use of animal testing as most of the approved alternative test methods only address single mechanistic events of endocrine activity. Therefore, novel human-relevant in vitro assays covering more complex functional endpoints of adversity, including hormone-related tumor formation and progression, are needed. This study describes the development and evaluation of a novel high-throughput screening-compatible assay called "E-Morph Assay". This image-based phenotypic screening assay facilitates robust predictions of the estrogenic potential of environmental chemicals using quantitative changes in the cell-cell contact morphology of human breast cancer cells as a novel functional endpoint. Based on a classification model, which was developed using six reference substances with known estrogenic activity, the E-Morph Assay correctly classified an additional set of 11 reference chemicals commonly used in OECD Test Guidelines and the U.S. EPA ToxCast program. For each of the tested substances, a relative ER bioactivity score was derived that allowed their grouping into four main categories of estrogenic activity, i.e. 'strong' (>0.9; four substances, i.e. natural hormones or pharmaceutical products), 'moderate' (0.9-0.6; six substances, i.e. phytoestrogens and Bisphenol AF), 'weak' (<0.6; three substances, i.e Bisphenol S, B, and A), and 'negative' (0.0; four substances). The E-Morph Assay considerably expands the portfolio of test methods providing the possibility to characterize the influence of environmental chemicals on estrogen-dependent tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marja Kornhuber
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 10589 Berlin, Germany; Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Sebastian Dunst
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Gilbert Schönfelder
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 10589 Berlin, Germany; Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Oelgeschläger
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), 10589 Berlin, Germany.
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28
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Ciallella HL, Russo DP, Aleksunes LM, Grimm FA, Zhu H. Predictive modeling of estrogen receptor agonism, antagonism, and binding activities using machine- and deep-learning approaches. J Transl Med 2021; 101:490-502. [PMID: 32778734 PMCID: PMC7873171 DOI: 10.1038/s41374-020-00477-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 07/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
As defined by the World Health Organization, an endocrine disruptor is an exogenous substance or mixture that alters function(s) of the endocrine system and consequently causes adverse health effects in an intact organism, its progeny, or (sub)populations. Traditional experimental testing regimens to identify toxicants that induce endocrine disruption can be expensive and time-consuming. Computational modeling has emerged as a promising and cost-effective alternative method for screening and prioritizing potentially endocrine-active compounds. The efficient identification of suitable chemical descriptors and machine-learning algorithms, including deep learning, is a considerable challenge for computational toxicology studies. Here, we sought to apply classic machine-learning algorithms and deep-learning approaches to a panel of over 7500 compounds tested against 18 Toxicity Forecaster assays related to nuclear estrogen receptor (ERα and ERβ) activity. Three binary fingerprints (Extended Connectivity FingerPrints, Functional Connectivity FingerPrints, and Molecular ACCess System) were used as chemical descriptors in this study. Each descriptor was combined with four machine-learning and two deep- learning (normal and multitask neural networks) approaches to construct models for all 18 ER assays. The resulting model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver- operating curve (AUC) values obtained from a fivefold cross-validation procedure. The results showed that individual models have AUC values that range from 0.56 to 0.86. External validation was conducted using two additional sets of compounds (n = 592 and n = 966) with established interactions with nuclear ER demonstrated through experimentation. An agonist, antagonist, or binding score was determined for each compound by averaging its predicted probabilities in relevant assay models as an external validation, yielding AUC values ranging from 0.63 to 0.91. The results suggest that multitask neural networks offer advantages when modeling mechanistically related endpoints. Consensus predictions based on the average values of individual models remain the best modeling strategy for computational toxicity evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Ciallella
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Daniel P Russo
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA
| | - Lauren M Aleksunes
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
| | - Fabian A Grimm
- ExxonMobil Biomedical Sciences, Inc., Annandale, NJ, USA
| | - Hao Zhu
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA.
- Department of Chemistry, Rutgers University, Camden, NJ, USA.
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29
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Houck KA, Simha A, Bone A, Doering JA, Vliet SM, LaLone C, Medvedev A, Makarov S. Evaluation of a multiplexed, multispecies nuclear receptor assay for chemical hazard assessment. Toxicol In Vitro 2021; 72:105016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.105016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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30
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Emara Y, Fantke P, Judson R, Chang X, Pradeep P, Lehmann A, Siegert MW, Finkbeiner M. Integrating endocrine-related health effects into comparative human toxicity characterization. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 762:143874. [PMID: 33401053 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2020] [Revised: 11/10/2020] [Accepted: 11/11/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have the ability to interfere with and alter functions of the hormone system, leading to adverse effects on reproduction, growth and development. Despite growing concerns over their now ubiquitous presence in the environment, endocrine-related human health effects remain largely outside of comparative human toxicity characterization frameworks as applied for example in life cycle impact assessments. In this paper, we propose a new methodological framework to consistently integrate endocrine-related health effects into comparative human toxicity characterization. We present two quantitative and operational approaches for extrapolating towards a common point of departure from both in vivo and dosimetry-adjusted in vitro endocrine-related effect data and deriving effect factors as well as corresponding characterization factors for endocrine-active/endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Following the proposed approaches, we calculated effect factors for 323 chemicals, reflecting their endocrine potency, and related characterization factors for 157 chemicals, expressing their relative endocrine-related human toxicity potential. Developed effect and characterization factors are ready for use in the context of chemical prioritization and substitution as well as life cycle impact assessment and other comparative assessment frameworks. Endocrine-related effect factors were found comparable to existing effect factors for cancer and non-cancer effects, indicating that (1) the chemicals' endocrine potency is not necessarily higher or lower than other effect potencies and (2) using dosimetry-adjusted effect data to derive effect factors does not consistently overestimate the effect of potential endocrine disruptors. Calculated characterization factors span over 8-11 orders of magnitude for different substances and emission compartments and are dominated by the range in endocrine potencies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasmine Emara
- Department of Environmental Technology, Technical University Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Peter Fantke
- Quantitative Sustainability Assessment, Department of Technology, Management and Economics, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Richard Judson
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
| | - Xiaoqing Chang
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC., Morrisville, NC 27560, United States.
| | - Prachi Pradeep
- Biomolecular and Computational Toxicology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
| | - Annekatrin Lehmann
- Department of Environmental Technology, Technical University Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Marc-William Siegert
- Department of Environmental Technology, Technical University Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Matthias Finkbeiner
- Department of Environmental Technology, Technical University Berlin, 10623 Berlin, Germany.
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31
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Long K, Sha Y, Mo Y, Wei S, Wu H, Lu D, Xia Y, Yang Q, Zheng W, Wei X. Androgenic and Teratogenic Effects of Iodoacetic Acid Drinking Water Disinfection Byproduct in Vitro and in Vivo. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:3827-3835. [PMID: 33646749 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Iodoacetic acid (IAA) is the most genotoxic iodinated disinfection byproduct known in drinking water. Previous studies have shown that IAA may be an endocrine disruptor. However, whether IAA has reproductive and developmental toxicity remains unclear. In this study, the reproductive and developmental toxicity of IAA was evaluated using a battery of in vitro and in vivo reproductive/developmental toxicity screening tests. The results of E-Screen, uterotrophic, and H295R steroidogenesis assays were negative. The Hershberger bioassay revealed that IAA could induce significant increases in absolute and relative weights of paired Cowper's glands. Moreover, there was an increasing trend in the relative weights of the ventral prostate. The micromass test showed that IAA could inhibit the differentiation of midbrain and limb bud cells. A reproductive/developmental toxicity screening test showed that IAA resulted in significantly increased relative weights of testis and seminal vesicles plus coagulating glands in parental male rats, with a dose-response relationship. IAA could not only induce head congestion in offspring but also decrease litter weight, viability index, and anogenital distance index of male pups on postnatal day 4. All these results indicated that IAA had reproductive and developmental toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunling Long
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yujie Sha
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Yan Mo
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Shumao Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Huan Wu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Du Lu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Qiyuan Yang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
| | - Weiwei Zheng
- Key Laboratory of the Public Health Safety, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China
| | - Xiao Wei
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Shuang Yong Road 22, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, China
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32
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Pradeep P, Friedman KP, Judson R. Structure-based QSAR Models to Predict Repeat Dose Toxicity Points of Departure. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 16. [PMID: 34017928 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2020.100139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Human health risk assessment for environmental chemical exposure is limited by a vast majority of chemicals with little or no experimental in vivo toxicity data. Data gap filling techniques, such as quantitative structure activity relationship (QSAR) models based on chemical structure information, can predict hazard in the absence of experimental data. Risk assessment requires identification of a quantitative point-of-departure (POD) value, the point on the dose-response curve that marks the beginning of a low-dose extrapolation. This study presents two sets of QSAR models to predict POD values (PODQSAR) for repeat dose toxicity. For training and validation, a publicly available in vivo toxicity dataset for 3592 chemicals was compiled using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Toxicity Value database (ToxValDB). The first set of QSAR models predict point-estimates of POD values (PODQSAR) using structural and physicochemical descriptors for repeat dose study types and species combinations. A random forest QSAR model using study type and species as descriptors showed the best performance, with an external test set root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.71 log10-mg/kg/day and coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.53. The second set of QSAR models predict the 95% confidence intervals for PODQSAR using a constructed POD distribution with a mean equal to the median POD value and a standard deviation of 0.5 log10-mg/kg/day, based on previously published typical study-to-study variability that may lead to uncertainty in model predictions. Bootstrap resampling of the pre-generated POD distribution was used to derive point-estimates and 95% confidence intervals for each POD prediction. Enrichment analysis to evaluate the accuracy of PODQSAR showed that 80% of the 5% most potent chemicals were found in the top 20% of the most potent chemical predictions, suggesting that the repeat dose POD QSAR models presented here may help inform screening level human health risk assessments in the absence of other data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prachi Pradeep
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, Tennessee.,Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Richard Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
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33
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Zorn KM, Foil DH, Lane TR, Russo DP, Hillwalker W, Feifarek DJ, Jones F, Klaren WD, Brinkman AM, Ekins S. Machine Learning Models for Estrogen Receptor Bioactivity and Endocrine Disruption Prediction. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:12202-12213. [PMID: 32857505 PMCID: PMC8194504 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) periodically releases in vitro data across a variety of targets, including the estrogen receptor (ER). In 2015, the EPA used these data to construct mathematical models of ER agonist and antagonist pathways to prioritize chemicals for endocrine disruption testing. However, mathematical models require in vitro data prior to predicting estrogenic activity, but machine learning methods are capable of prospective prediction from the molecular structure alone. The current study describes the generation and evaluation of Bayesian machine learning models grouped by the EPA's ER agonist pathway model using multiple data types with proprietary software, Assay Central. External predictions with three test sets of in vitro and in vivo reference chemicals with agonist activity classifications were compared to previous mathematical model publications. Training data sets were subjected to additional machine learning algorithms and compared with rank normalized scores of internal five-fold cross-validation statistics. External predictions were found to be comparable or superior to previous studies published by the EPA. When assessing six additional algorithms for the training data sets, Assay Central performed similarly at a reduced computational cost. This study demonstrates that machine learning can prioritize chemicals for future in vitro and in vivo testing of ER agonism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley M Zorn
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Daniel H Foil
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Thomas R Lane
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
| | - Daniel P Russo
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology, Rutgers University, Camden, New Jersey 08102, United States
| | - Wendy Hillwalker
- Global Product Safety, SC Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin 53404, United States
| | - David J Feifarek
- Global Product Safety, SC Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin 53404, United States
| | - Frank Jones
- Global Product Safety, SC Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin 53404, United States
| | - William D Klaren
- Global Product Safety, SC Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin 53404, United States
| | - Ashley M Brinkman
- Global Product Safety, SC Johnson and Son, Inc., Racine, Wisconsin 53404, United States
| | - Sean Ekins
- Collaborations Pharmaceuticals Inc., 840 Main Campus Drive, Lab 3510, Raleigh, North Carolina 27606, United States
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34
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Bell S, Abedini J, Ceger P, Chang X, Cook B, Karmaus AL, Lea I, Mansouri K, Phillips J, McAfee E, Rai R, Rooney J, Sprankle C, Tandon A, Allen D, Casey W, Kleinstreuer N. An integrated chemical environment with tools for chemical safety testing. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 67:104916. [PMID: 32553663 PMCID: PMC7393692 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2020] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Moving toward species-relevant chemical safety assessments and away from animal testing requires access to reliable data to develop and build confidence in new approaches. The Integrated Chemical Environment (ICE) provides tools and curated data centered around chemical safety assessment. This article describes updates to ICE, including improved accessibility and interpretability of in vitro data via mechanistic target mapping and enhanced interactive tools for in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE). Mapping of in vitro assay targets to toxicity endpoints of regulatory importance uses literature-based mode-of-action information and controlled terminology from existing knowledge organization systems to support data interoperability with external resources. The most recent ICE update includes Tox21 high-throughput screening data curated using analytical chemistry data and assay-specific parameters to eliminate potential artifacts or unreliable activity. Also included are physicochemical/ADME parameters for over 800,000 chemicals predicted by quantitative structure-activity relationship models. These parameters are used by the new ICE IVIVE tool in combination with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's httk R package to estimate in vivo exposures corresponding to in vitro bioactivity concentrations from stored or user-defined assay data. These new ICE features allow users to explore the applications of an expanded data space and facilitate building confidence in non-animal approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shannon Bell
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Jaleh Abedini
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Patricia Ceger
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Xiaoqing Chang
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Bethany Cook
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Agnes L Karmaus
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Isabel Lea
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Kamel Mansouri
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Jason Phillips
- Sciome LLC, 2 Davis Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Eric McAfee
- Sciome LLC, 2 Davis Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Ruhi Rai
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - John Rooney
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Catherine Sprankle
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Arpit Tandon
- Sciome LLC, 2 Davis Dr., Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - David Allen
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Warren Casey
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA.
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35
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Judson R, Houck K, Paul Friedman K, Brown J, Browne P, Johnston PA, Close DA, Mansouri K, Kleinstreuer N. Selecting a minimal set of androgen receptor assays for screening chemicals. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 117:104764. [PMID: 32798611 PMCID: PMC8356084 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2020.104764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 08/03/2020] [Accepted: 08/07/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Screening certain environmental chemicals for their ability to interact with endocrine targets, including the androgen receptor (AR), is an important global concern. We previously developed a model using a battery of eleven in vitro AR assays to predict in vivo AR activity. Here we describe a revised mathematical modeling approach that also incorporates data from newly available assays and demonstrate that subsets of assays can provide close to the same level of predictivity. These subset models are evaluated against the full model using 1820 chemicals, as well as in vitro and in vivo reference chemicals from the literature. Agonist batteries of as few as six assays and antagonist batteries of as few as five assays can yield balanced accuracies of 95% or better relative to the full model. Balanced accuracy for predicting reference chemicals is 100%. An approach is outlined for researchers to develop their own subset batteries to accurately detect AR activity using assays that map to the pathway of key molecular and cellular events involved in chemical-mediated AR activation and transcriptional activity. This work indicates in vitro bioactivity and in silico predictions that map to the AR pathway could be used in an integrated approach to testing and assessment for identifying chemicals that interact directly with the mammalian AR.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Keith Houck
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC, USA
| | | | - Jason Brown
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, RTP, NC, USA
| | | | - Paul A Johnston
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - David A Close
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Kamel Mansouri
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Morrisville, NC, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- NTP Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, RTP, NC, USA
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36
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Qasem RJ. The estrogenic activity of resveratrol: a comprehensive review of in vitro and in vivo evidence and the potential for endocrine disruption. Crit Rev Toxicol 2020; 50:439-462. [DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2020.1762538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rani J. Qasem
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, King Saud Bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), King Abdullah International Medical Research Center (KAIMRC) and King Abdulaziz Medical City, National Guard Health Affairs (NGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
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37
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Ly Pham L, Watford S, Pradeep P, Martin MT, Thomas R, Judson R, Setzer RW, Paul Friedman K. Variability in in vivo studies: Defining the upper limit of performance for predictions of systemic effect levels. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 15:1-100126. [PMID: 33426408 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2020.100126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
New approach methodologies (NAMs) for chemical hazard assessment are often evaluated via comparison to animal studies; however, variability in animal study data limits NAM accuracy. The US EPA Toxicity Reference Database (ToxRefDB) enables consideration of variability in effect levels, including the lowest effect level (LEL) for a treatment-related effect and the lowest observable adverse effect level (LOAEL) defined by expert review, from subacute, subchronic, chronic, multi-generation reproductive, and developmental toxicity studies. The objectives of this work were to quantify the variance within systemic LEL and LOAEL values, defined as potency values for effects in adult or parental animals only, and to estimate the upper limit of NAM prediction accuracy. Multiple linear regression (MLR) and augmented cell means (ACM) models were used to quantify the total variance, and the fraction of variance in systemic LEL and LOAEL values explained by available study descriptors (e.g., administration route, study type). The MLR approach considered each study descriptor as an independent contributor to variance, whereas the ACM approach combined categorical descriptors into cells to define replicates. Using these approaches, total variance in systemic LEL and LOAEL values (in log10-mg/kg/day units) ranged from 0.74 to 0.92. Unexplained variance in LEL and LOAEL values, approximated by the residual mean square error (MSE), ranged from 0.20-0.39. Considering subchronic, chronic, or developmental study designs separately resulted in similar values. Based on the relationship between MSE and R-squared for goodness-of-fit, the maximal R-squared may approach 55 to 73% for a NAM-based predictive model of systemic toxicity using these data as reference. The root mean square error (RMSE) ranged from 0.47 to 0.63 log10-mg/kg/day, depending on dataset and regression approach, suggesting that a two-sided minimum prediction interval for systemic effect levels may have a width of 58 to 284-fold. These findings suggest quantitative considerations for building scientific confidence in NAM-based systemic toxicity predictions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ly Ly Pham
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA.,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
| | - Sean Watford
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA.,ORAU, contractor to U.S. Environmental Protection Agency through the National Student Services Contract, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
| | - Prachi Pradeep
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA.,Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, 100 ORAU Way, Oak Ridge, TN 37830
| | - Matthew T Martin
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA.,Currently at Global Investigative Toxicology, Drug Safety Research and Development, Pfizer Inc. 445 Eastern Point Road, Groton, CT 06340
| | - Russell Thomas
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - Richard Judson
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - R Woodrow Setzer
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - Katie Paul Friedman
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
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Demeneix B, Vandenberg LN, Ivell R, Zoeller RT. Thresholds and Endocrine Disruptors: An Endocrine Society Policy Perspective. J Endocr Soc 2020; 4:bvaa085. [PMID: 33834149 PMCID: PMC8010901 DOI: 10.1210/jendso/bvaa085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The concept of a threshold of adversity in toxicology is neither provable nor disprovable. As such, it is not a scientific question but a theoretical one. Yet, the belief in thresholds has led to traditional ways of interpreting data derived from regulatory guideline studies of the toxicity of chemicals. This includes, for example, the use of standard “uncertainty factors” when a “No Adverse Effect Level” (or similar “benchmark dose”) is either observed, or not observed. In the context of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), this approach is demonstrably inappropriate. First, the efficacy of a hormone on different endpoints can vary by several orders of magnitude. This feature of hormone action also applies to EDCs that can interfere with that hormone. For this reason, we argue that the choice of endpoint for use in regulation is critical, but note that guideline studies were not designed with this in mind. Second, the biological events controlled by hormones in development not only change as development proceeds but are different from events controlled by hormones in the adult. Again, guideline endpoints were also not designed with this in mind, especially since the events controlled by hormones can be both temporally and spatially specific. The Endocrine Society has laid out this logic over several years and in several publications. Rather than being extreme views, they represent what is known about hormones and the chemicals that can interfere with them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Demeneix
- UMR 7221, Muséum National d´Histoire Naturelle, Département Régulation Développement et Diversité Moléculaire, Paris, France
| | - Laura N Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst, Massachusetts
| | - Richard Ivell
- School of Biosciences, University of Nottingham, Sutton Bonington, UK
| | - R Thomas Zoeller
- Morrill Science Center, Department of Biology, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Amherst Massachusetts.,School of Science and Technology, Örebro University, Örebro Sweden
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39
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Patlewicz G. Navigating the Minefield of Computational Toxicology and Informatics: Looking Back and Charting a New Horizon. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2020; 2:2. [PMID: 35296116 PMCID: PMC8915910 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2020.00002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 05/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
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Comess S, Akbay A, Vasiliou M, Hines RN, Joppa L, Vasiliou V, Kleinstreuer N. Bringing Big Data to Bear in Environmental Public Health: Challenges and Recommendations. Front Artif Intell 2020; 3. [PMID: 33184612 PMCID: PMC7654840 DOI: 10.3389/frai.2020.00031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the role that the environment plays in influencing public health often involves collecting and studying large, complex data sets. There have been a number of private and public efforts to gather sufficient information and confront significant unknowns in the field of environmental public health, yet there is a persistent and largely unmet need for findable, accessible, interoperable, and reusable (FAIR) data. Even when data are readily available, the ability to create, analyze, and draw conclusions from these data using emerging computational tools, such as augmented and artificial inteligence (AI) and machine learning, requires technical skills not currently implemented on a programmatic level across research hubs and academic institutions. We argue that collaborative efforts in data curation and storage, scientific computing, and training are of paramount importance to empower researchers within environmental sciences and the broader public health community to apply AI approaches and fully realize their potential. Leaders in the field were asked to prioritize challenges in incorporating big data in environmental public health research: inconsistent implementation of FAIR principles in data collection and sharing, a lack of skilled data scientists and appropriate cyber-infrastructures, and limited understanding of possibilities and communication of benefits were among those identified. These issues are discussed, and actionable recommendations are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Comess
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,Department of Statistics and Data Science, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Alexia Akbay
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,Symbrosia Inc, Kailua-Kona, HI, United States
| | - Melpomene Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Ronald N Hines
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Public Health and Environmental Assessment, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - Lucas Joppa
- Microsoft Corporation, AI for Earth, Redmond, WA, United States
| | - Vasilis Vasiliou
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, United States.,National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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41
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Wegner SH, Pinto CL, Ring CL, Wambaugh JF. High-throughput screening tools facilitate calculation of a combined exposure-bioactivity index for chemicals with endocrine activity. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2020; 137:105470. [PMID: 32050122 PMCID: PMC7717552 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.105470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2019] [Revised: 01/05/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput and computational tools provide a new opportunity to calculate combined bioactivity of exposure to diverse chemicals acting through a common mechanism. We used high throughput in vitro bioactivity data and exposure predictions from the U.S. EPA's Toxicity and Exposure Forecaster (ToxCast and ExpoCast) to estimate combined estrogen receptor (ER) agonist activity of non-pharmaceutical chemical exposures for the general U.S. population. High-throughput toxicokinetic (HTTK) data provide conversion factors that relate bioactive concentrations measured in vitro (µM), to predicted population geometric mean exposure rates (mg/kg/day). These data were available for 22 chemicals with ER agonist activity and were estimated for other ER bioactive chemicals based on the geometric mean of HTTK values across chemicals. For each chemical, ER bioactivity across ToxCast assays was compared to predicted population geometric mean exposure at different levels of in vitro potency and model certainty. Dose additivity was assumed in calculating a Combined Exposure-Bioactivity Index (CEBI), the sum of exposure/bioactivity ratios. Combined estrogen bioactivity was also calculated in terms of the percent maximum bioactivity of chemical mixtures in human plasma using a concentration-addition model. Estimated CEBIs vary greatly depending on assumptions used for exposure and bioactivity. In general, CEBI values were <1 when using median of the estimated general population chemical intake rates, while CEBI were ≥1 when using the upper 95th confidence bound for those same intake rates for all chemicals. Concentration-addition model predictions of mixture bioactivity yield comparable results. Based on current in vitro bioactivity data, HTTK methods, and exposure models, combined exposure scenarios sufficient to influence estrogen bioactivity in the general population cannot be ruled out. Future improvements in screening methods and computational models could reduce uncertainty and better inform the potential combined effects of estrogenic chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susanna H Wegner
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN, United States; Office of Science Coordination and Policy, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States.
| | - Caroline L Pinto
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN, United States; Office of Science Coordination and Policy, Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Caroline L Ring
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), Oak Ridge, TN, United States; Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
| | - John F Wambaugh
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, United States
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42
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Karmaus AL, Bialk H, Fitzpatrick S, Krishan M. State of the science on alternatives to animal testing and integration of testing strategies for food safety assessments: Workshop proceedings. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2020; 110:104515. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.104515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Revised: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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43
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Mansouri K, Kleinstreuer N, Abdelaziz AM, Alberga D, Alves VM, Andersson PL, Andrade CH, Bai F, Balabin I, Ballabio D, Benfenati E, Bhhatarai B, Boyer S, Chen J, Consonni V, Farag S, Fourches D, García-Sosa AT, Gramatica P, Grisoni F, Grulke CM, Hong H, Horvath D, Hu X, Huang R, Jeliazkova N, Li J, Li X, Liu H, Manganelli S, Mangiatordi GF, Maran U, Marcou G, Martin T, Muratov E, Nguyen DT, Nicolotti O, Nikolov NG, Norinder U, Papa E, Petitjean M, Piir G, Pogodin P, Poroikov V, Qiao X, Richard AM, Roncaglioni A, Ruiz P, Rupakheti C, Sakkiah S, Sangion A, Schramm KW, Selvaraj C, Shah I, Sild S, Sun L, Taboureau O, Tang Y, Tetko IV, Todeschini R, Tong W, Trisciuzzi D, Tropsha A, Van Den Driessche G, Varnek A, Wang Z, Wedebye EB, Williams AJ, Xie H, Zakharov AV, Zheng Z, Judson RS. CoMPARA: Collaborative Modeling Project for Androgen Receptor Activity. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:27002. [PMID: 32074470 DOI: 10.23645/epacomptox.5176876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are xenobiotics that mimic the interaction of natural hormones and alter synthesis, transport, or metabolic pathways. The prospect of EDCs causing adverse health effects in humans and wildlife has led to the development of scientific and regulatory approaches for evaluating bioactivity. This need is being addressed using high-throughput screening (HTS) in vitro approaches and computational modeling. OBJECTIVES In support of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led two worldwide consortiums to virtually screen chemicals for their potential estrogenic and androgenic activities. Here, we describe the Collaborative Modeling Project for Androgen Receptor Activity (CoMPARA) efforts, which follows the steps of the Collaborative Estrogen Receptor Activity Prediction Project (CERAPP). METHODS The CoMPARA list of screened chemicals built on CERAPP's list of 32,464 chemicals to include additional chemicals of interest, as well as simulated ToxCast™ metabolites, totaling 55,450 chemical structures. Computational toxicology scientists from 25 international groups contributed 91 predictive models for binding, agonist, and antagonist activity predictions. Models were underpinned by a common training set of 1,746 chemicals compiled from a combined data set of 11 ToxCast™/Tox21 HTS in vitro assays. RESULTS The resulting models were evaluated using curated literature data extracted from different sources. To overcome the limitations of single-model approaches, CoMPARA predictions were combined into consensus models that provided averaged predictive accuracy of approximately 80% for the evaluation set. DISCUSSION The strengths and limitations of the consensus predictions were discussed with example chemicals; then, the models were implemented into the free and open-source OPERA application to enable screening of new chemicals with a defined applicability domain and accuracy assessment. This implementation was used to screen the entire EPA DSSTox database of ∼875,000 chemicals, and their predicted AR activities have been made available on the EPA CompTox Chemicals dashboard and National Toxicology Program's Integrated Chemical Environment. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5580.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamel Mansouri
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- ScitoVation LLC, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ahmed M Abdelaziz
- Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt, Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany
| | - Domenico Alberga
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vinicius M Alves
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Carolina H Andrade
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Fang Bai
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, China
| | - Ilya Balabin
- Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), Lockheed Martin, USA
| | - Davide Ballabio
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Barun Bhhatarai
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Scott Boyer
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Jingwen Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Viviana Consonni
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Sherif Farag
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Denis Fourches
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Paola Gramatica
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Francesca Grisoni
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Chris M Grulke
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Huixiao Hong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Dragos Horvath
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique-UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Xin Hu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jiazhong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, China
| | - Xuehua Li
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | | | - Serena Manganelli
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche "Mario Negri", IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Uko Maran
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Gilles Marcou
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique-UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Todd Martin
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Eugene Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dac-Trung Nguyen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Nikolai G Nikolov
- Division of Risk Assessment and Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulf Norinder
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Ester Papa
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Michel Petitjean
- Computational Modeling of Protein-Ligand Interactions (CMPLI)-INSERM UMR 8251, INSERM ERL U1133, Functional and Adaptative Biology (BFA), Universite de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Geven Piir
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pavel Pogodin
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry IBMC, 10 Building 8, Pogodinskaya st., Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Vladimir Poroikov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry IBMC, 10 Building 8, Pogodinskaya st., Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Xianliang Qiao
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Ann M Richard
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Patricia Ruiz
- Computational Toxicology and Methods Development Laboratory, Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chetan Rupakheti
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sugunadevi Sakkiah
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Alessandro Sangion
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Karl-Werner Schramm
- Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt, Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany
| | - Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Imran Shah
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sulev Sild
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lixia Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Olivier Taboureau
- Computational Modeling of Protein-Ligand Interactions (CMPLI)-INSERM UMR 8251, INSERM ERL U1133, Functional and Adaptative Biology (BFA), Universite de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Yun Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Igor V Tetko
- BIGCHEM GmbH, Neuherberg, Germany
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Roberto Todeschini
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Weida Tong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | | | - Alexander Tropsha
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - George Van Den Driessche
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexandre Varnek
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique-UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Eva B Wedebye
- Division of Risk Assessment and Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antony J Williams
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hongbin Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Alexey V Zakharov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ziye Zheng
- Chemistry Department, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Richard S Judson
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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44
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Mansouri K, Kleinstreuer N, Abdelaziz AM, Alberga D, Alves VM, Andersson PL, Andrade CH, Bai F, Balabin I, Ballabio D, Benfenati E, Bhhatarai B, Boyer S, Chen J, Consonni V, Farag S, Fourches D, García-Sosa AT, Gramatica P, Grisoni F, Grulke CM, Hong H, Horvath D, Hu X, Huang R, Jeliazkova N, Li J, Li X, Liu H, Manganelli S, Mangiatordi GF, Maran U, Marcou G, Martin T, Muratov E, Nguyen DT, Nicolotti O, Nikolov NG, Norinder U, Papa E, Petitjean M, Piir G, Pogodin P, Poroikov V, Qiao X, Richard AM, Roncaglioni A, Ruiz P, Rupakheti C, Sakkiah S, Sangion A, Schramm KW, Selvaraj C, Shah I, Sild S, Sun L, Taboureau O, Tang Y, Tetko IV, Todeschini R, Tong W, Trisciuzzi D, Tropsha A, Van Den Driessche G, Varnek A, Wang Z, Wedebye EB, Williams AJ, Xie H, Zakharov AV, Zheng Z, Judson RS. CoMPARA: Collaborative Modeling Project for Androgen Receptor Activity. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:27002. [PMID: 32074470 PMCID: PMC7064318 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Revised: 11/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/05/2019] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are xenobiotics that mimic the interaction of natural hormones and alter synthesis, transport, or metabolic pathways. The prospect of EDCs causing adverse health effects in humans and wildlife has led to the development of scientific and regulatory approaches for evaluating bioactivity. This need is being addressed using high-throughput screening (HTS) in vitro approaches and computational modeling. OBJECTIVES In support of the Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led two worldwide consortiums to virtually screen chemicals for their potential estrogenic and androgenic activities. Here, we describe the Collaborative Modeling Project for Androgen Receptor Activity (CoMPARA) efforts, which follows the steps of the Collaborative Estrogen Receptor Activity Prediction Project (CERAPP). METHODS The CoMPARA list of screened chemicals built on CERAPP's list of 32,464 chemicals to include additional chemicals of interest, as well as simulated ToxCast™ metabolites, totaling 55,450 chemical structures. Computational toxicology scientists from 25 international groups contributed 91 predictive models for binding, agonist, and antagonist activity predictions. Models were underpinned by a common training set of 1,746 chemicals compiled from a combined data set of 11 ToxCast™/Tox21 HTS in vitro assays. RESULTS The resulting models were evaluated using curated literature data extracted from different sources. To overcome the limitations of single-model approaches, CoMPARA predictions were combined into consensus models that provided averaged predictive accuracy of approximately 80% for the evaluation set. DISCUSSION The strengths and limitations of the consensus predictions were discussed with example chemicals; then, the models were implemented into the free and open-source OPERA application to enable screening of new chemicals with a defined applicability domain and accuracy assessment. This implementation was used to screen the entire EPA DSSTox database of ∼ 875,000 chemicals, and their predicted AR activities have been made available on the EPA CompTox Chemicals dashboard and National Toxicology Program's Integrated Chemical Environment. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5580.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamel Mansouri
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- ScitoVation LLC, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, Inc., Morrisville, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods (NICEATM), National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Ahmed M. Abdelaziz
- Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt, Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany
| | - Domenico Alberga
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Vinicius M. Alves
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Carolina H. Andrade
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling and Drug Design, Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Brazil
| | - Fang Bai
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, China
| | - Ilya Balabin
- Information Systems & Global Solutions (IS&GS), Lockheed Martin, USA
| | - Davide Ballabio
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Barun Bhhatarai
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Scott Boyer
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Jingwen Chen
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Viviana Consonni
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Sherif Farag
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Denis Fourches
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Paola Gramatica
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Francesca Grisoni
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Chris M. Grulke
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Huixiao Hong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Dragos Horvath
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique—UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Xin Hu
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ruili Huang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Jiazhong Li
- School of Pharmacy, Lanzhou University, China
| | - Xuehua Li
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | | | - Serena Manganelli
- Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche “Mario Negri”, IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | | | - Uko Maran
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Gilles Marcou
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique—UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Todd Martin
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Eugene Muratov
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - Dac-Trung Nguyen
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Orazio Nicolotti
- Department of Pharmacy-Drug Sciences, University of Bari, Bari, Italy
| | - Nikolai G. Nikolov
- Division of Risk Assessment and Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Ulf Norinder
- Swedish Toxicology Sciences Research Center, Karolinska Institutet, Södertälje, Sweden
| | - Ester Papa
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Michel Petitjean
- Computational Modeling of Protein-Ligand Interactions (CMPLI)–INSERM UMR 8251, INSERM ERL U1133, Functional and Adaptative Biology (BFA), Universite de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Geven Piir
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Pavel Pogodin
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry IBMC, 10 Building 8, Pogodinskaya st., Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Vladimir Poroikov
- Institute of Biomedical Chemistry IBMC, 10 Building 8, Pogodinskaya st., Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Xianliang Qiao
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Ann M. Richard
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | | | - Patricia Ruiz
- Computational Toxicology and Methods Development Laboratory, Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Chetan Rupakheti
- National Risk Management Research Laboratory, U.S. EPA, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Sugunadevi Sakkiah
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Alessandro Sangion
- QSAR Research Unit in Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy
| | - Karl-Werner Schramm
- Technische Universität München, Wissenschaftszentrum Weihenstephan für Ernährung, Landnutzung und Umwelt, Department für Biowissenschaftliche Grundlagen, Weihenstephaner Steig 23, 85350 Freising, Germany
| | - Chandrabose Selvaraj
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Imran Shah
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Sulev Sild
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Lixia Sun
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Olivier Taboureau
- Computational Modeling of Protein-Ligand Interactions (CMPLI)–INSERM UMR 8251, INSERM ERL U1133, Functional and Adaptative Biology (BFA), Universite de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Yun Tang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China
| | - Igor V. Tetko
- BIGCHEM GmbH, Neuherberg, Germany
- Helmholtz Zentrum Muenchen – German Research Center for Environmental Health (GmbH), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Roberto Todeschini
- Milano Chemometrics and QSAR Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
| | - Weida Tong
- Division of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, National Center for Toxicology Research, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | | | - Alexander Tropsha
- Laboratory for Molecular Modeling, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
| | - George Van Den Driessche
- Department of Chemistry, Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
| | - Alexandre Varnek
- Laboratoire de Chémoinformatique—UMR7140, University of Strasbourg/CNRS, Strasbourg, France
| | - Zhongyu Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Eva B. Wedebye
- Division of Risk Assessment and Nutrition, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Antony J. Williams
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Hongbin Xie
- School of Environmental Science and Technology, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China
| | - Alexey V. Zakharov
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Rockville, Maryland, USA
| | - Ziye Zheng
- Chemistry Department, Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Richard S. Judson
- National Center for Computational Toxicology, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA), Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
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45
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Beames T, Moreau M, Roberts LA, Mansouri K, Haider S, Smeltz M, Nicolas CI, Doheny D, Phillips MB, Yoon M, Becker RA, McMullen PD, Andersen ME, Clewell RA, Hartman JK. The role of fit-for-purpose assays within tiered testing approaches: A case study evaluating prioritized estrogen-active compounds in an in vitro human uterotrophic assay. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2020; 387:114774. [PMID: 31783037 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2019.114774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Chemical risk assessment relies on toxicity tests that require significant numbers of animals, time and costs. For the >30,000 chemicals in commerce, the current scale of animal testing is insufficient to address chemical safety concerns as regulatory and product stewardship considerations evolve to require more comprehensive understanding of potential biological effects, conditions of use, and associated exposures. We demonstrate the use of a multi-level new approach methodology (NAMs) strategy for hazard- and risk-based prioritization to reduce animal testing. A Level 1/2 chemical prioritization based on estrogen receptor (ER) activity and metabolic activation using ToxCast data was used to select 112 chemicals for testing in a Level 3 human uterine cell estrogen response assay (IKA assay). The Level 3 data were coupled with quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (Q-IVIVE) to support bioactivity determination (as a surrogate for hazard) in a tissue-specific context. Assay AC50s and Q-IVIVE were used to estimate human equivalent doses (HEDs), and HEDs were compared to rodent uterotrophic assay in vivo-derived points of departure (PODs). For substances active both in vitro and in vivo, IKA assay-derived HEDs were lower or equivalent to in vivo PODs for 19/23 compounds (83%). Activity exposure relationships were calculated, and the IKA assay was as or more protective of human health than the rodent uterotrophic assay for all IKA-positive compounds. This study demonstrates the utility of biologically relevant fit-for-purpose assays and supports the use of a multi-level strategy for chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Beames
- ScitoVation, 100 Capitola Drive, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27713, USA
| | - Marjory Moreau
- ScitoVation, 100 Capitola Drive, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27713, USA
| | - L Avery Roberts
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Kamel Mansouri
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | - Saad Haider
- ScitoVation, 100 Capitola Drive, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27713, USA
| | - Marci Smeltz
- ScitoVation, 100 Capitola Drive, Suite 106, Durham, NC 27713, USA
| | | | - Daniel Doheny
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
| | | | - Miyoung Yoon
- ScitoVation, 6 Davis Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27709, USA
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46
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Krewski D, Andersen ME, Tyshenko MG, Krishnan K, Hartung T, Boekelheide K, Wambaugh JF, Jones D, Whelan M, Thomas R, Yauk C, Barton-Maclaren T, Cote I. Toxicity testing in the 21st century: progress in the past decade and future perspectives. Arch Toxicol 2019; 94:1-58. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-019-02613-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 24.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
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47
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Campos GV, de Souza AMA, Ji H, West CA, Wu X, Lee DL, Aguilar BL, Forcelli PA, de Menezes RC, Sandberg K. The Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor Antagonist Losartan Prevents Ovariectomy-Induced Cognitive Dysfunction and Anxiety-Like Behavior in Long Evans Rats. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2019; 40:407-420. [PMID: 31637567 PMCID: PMC7056686 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-019-00744-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Accepted: 10/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Women who have bilateral oophorectomies prior to the age of natural menopause are at increased risk of developing mild cognitive decline, dementia, anxiety, and depressive type disorders. Clinical and animal studies indicate angiotensin type 1 receptor (AT1R) blockers (ARBs) have blood pressure (BP)-independent neuroprotective effects. To investigate the potential use of ARBs in normotensive women at increased risk of developing neurocognitive problems, we studied a rat model of bilateral oophorectomy. Long Evans rats were sham-operated (Sham) or ovariectomized (Ovx) at 3 months of age and immediately treated continuously with vehicle (Veh) or the ARB losartan (Los) for the duration of the experiment. In contrast to many hypertensive rat models, ovariectomy did not increase mean arterial pressure (MAP) in these normotensive rats. Ovariectomized rats spent less time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze (EPM) [(% total time): Veh, 34.1 ± 5.1 vs. Ovx, 18.7 ± 4.4; p < 0.05] and in the center of the open field (OF) [(s): Veh, 11.1 ± 1.7 vs. Ovx, 6.64 ± 1.1; p < 0.05]. They also had worse performance in the novel object recognition (NOR) test as evidenced by a reduction in the recognition index [Veh, 0.62 ± 0.04 vs. Ovx, 0.45 ± 0.03; p < 0.05]. These adverse effects of ovariectomy were prevented by Los. Losartan also reduced plasma corticosterone in Ovx rats compared to Veh treatment [(ng/mL): Ovx–Veh, 238 ± 20 vs. Ovx–Los, 119 ± 42; p < 0.05]. Ovariectomy increased AT1R mRNA expression in the CA3 region of the hippocampus (Hc) [(copies x 106/µg RNA): Sham–Veh, 7.15 ± 0.87 vs. Ovx–Veh, 9.86 ± 1.7; p < 0.05]. These findings suggest the neuroprotective effects of this ARB in normotensive Ovx rats involve reduction of plasma corticosterone and blockade of increased AT1R activity in the hippocampus. These data suggest ARBs have therapeutic potential for normotensive women at increased risk of developing cognitive and behavioral dysfunction due to bilateral oophorectomy prior to the natural age of menopause.
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Affiliation(s)
- Glenda V Campos
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.,Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Aline M A de Souza
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Hong Ji
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Crystal A West
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Xie Wu
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA
| | - Dexter L Lee
- Department of Physiology, Howard University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Brittany L Aguilar
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Patrick A Forcelli
- Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rodrigo C de Menezes
- Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, Brazil
| | - Kathryn Sandberg
- Department of Medicine, Georgetown University, Suite 232 Building D, 4000 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20057, USA.
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48
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Warner GR, Somasundar Y, Jansen KC, Kaaret EZ, Weng C, Burton AE, Mills MR, Shen LQ, Ryabov AD, Pros G, Pintauer T, Biswas S, Hendrich MP, Taylor JA, Vom Saal FS, Collins TJ. Bioinspired, Multidisciplinary, Iterative Catalyst Design Creates the Highest Performance Peroxidase Mimics and the Field of Sustainable Ultradilute Oxidation Catalysis (SUDOC). ACS Catal 2019. [DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.9b01409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Genoa R. Warner
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Yogesh Somasundar
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Kyle C. Jansen
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Evan Z. Kaaret
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Cindy Weng
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Abigail E. Burton
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Matthew R. Mills
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Longzhu Q. Shen
- University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3EJ, United Kingdom
| | - Alexander D. Ryabov
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Gabrielle Pros
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 600 Forbes Avenue, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Tomislav Pintauer
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, 600 Forbes Avenue, Duquesne University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15282, United States
| | - Saborni Biswas
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Michael P. Hendrich
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
| | - Julia A. Taylor
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Frederick S. Vom Saal
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, United States
| | - Terrence J. Collins
- Institute for Green Science, Department of Chemistry, 4400 Fifth Avenue, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213, United States
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49
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Browne P, Delrue N, Gourmelon A. Regulatory use and acceptance of alternative methods for chemical hazard identification. CURRENT OPINION IN TOXICOLOGY 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cotox.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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50
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Webster F, Gagné M, Patlewicz G, Pradeep P, Trefiak N, Judson RS, Barton-Maclaren TS. Predicting estrogen receptor activation by a group of substituted phenols: An integrated approach to testing and assessment case study. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 106:278-291. [PMID: 31121201 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2019] [Revised: 05/07/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Traditional approaches for chemical risk assessment cannot keep pace with the number of substances requiring assessment. Thus, in a global effort to expedite and modernize chemical risk assessment, New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are being explored and developed. Included in this effort is the OECD Integrated Approaches for Testing and Assessment (IATA) program, which provides a forum for OECD member countries to develop and present case studies illustrating the application of NAM in various risk assessment contexts. Here, we present an IATA case study for the prediction of estrogenic potential of three target phenols: 4-tert-butylphenol, 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol and octabenzone. Key features of this IATA include the use of two computational approaches for analogue selection for read-across, data collected from traditional and NAM sources, and a workflow to generate predictions regarding the targets' ability to bind the estrogen receptor (ER). Endocrine disruption can occur when a chemical substance mimics the activity of natural estrogen by binding to the ER and, if potency and exposure are sufficient, alters the function of the endocrine system to cause adverse effects. The data indicated that of the three target substances that were considered herein, 4-tert-butylphenol is a potential endocrine disruptor. Further, this IATA illustrates that the NAM approach explored is health protective when compared to in vivo endpoints traditionally used for human health risk assessment.
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