1
|
Shkil DO, Muhamedzhanova AA, Petrov PI, Skorb EV, Aliev TA, Steshin IS, Tumanov AV, Kislinskiy AS, Fedorov MV. Expanding Predictive Capacities in Toxicology: Insights from Hackathon-Enhanced Data and Model Aggregation. Molecules 2024; 29:1826. [PMID: 38675645 PMCID: PMC11055041 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29081826] [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: 02/06/2024] [Revised: 04/11/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
In the realm of predictive toxicology for small molecules, the applicability domain of QSAR models is often limited by the coverage of the chemical space in the training set. Consequently, classical models fail to provide reliable predictions for wide classes of molecules. However, the emergence of innovative data collection methods such as intensive hackathons have promise to quickly expand the available chemical space for model construction. Combined with algorithmic refinement methods, these tools can address the challenges of toxicity prediction, enhancing both the robustness and applicability of the corresponding models. This study aimed to investigate the roles of gradient boosting and strategic data aggregation in enhancing the predictivity ability of models for the toxicity of small organic molecules. We focused on evaluating the impact of incorporating fragment features and expanding the chemical space, facilitated by a comprehensive dataset procured in an open hackathon. We used gradient boosting techniques, accounting for critical features such as the structural fragments or functional groups often associated with manifestations of toxicity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dmitrii O. Shkil
- Syntelly LLC, Moscow 121205, Russia; (A.A.M.); (I.S.S.); (A.V.T.); (A.S.K.)
- Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow 141700, Russia
| | | | | | - Ekaterina V. Skorb
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg 191002, Russia; (E.V.S.); (T.A.A.)
| | - Timur A. Aliev
- Infochemistry Scientific Center, ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg 191002, Russia; (E.V.S.); (T.A.A.)
| | - Ilya S. Steshin
- Syntelly LLC, Moscow 121205, Russia; (A.A.M.); (I.S.S.); (A.V.T.); (A.S.K.)
| | | | | | - Maxim V. Fedorov
- Kharkevich Institute for Information Transmission Problems of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow 127994, Russia
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Varshavsky JR, Rayasam SDG, Sass JB, Axelrad DA, Cranor CF, Hattis D, Hauser R, Koman PD, Marquez EC, Morello-Frosch R, Oksas C, Patton S, Robinson JF, Sathyanarayana S, Shepard PM, Woodruff TJ. Current practice and recommendations for advancing how human variability and susceptibility are considered in chemical risk assessment. Environ Health 2023; 21:133. [PMID: 36635753 PMCID: PMC9835253 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00940-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
A key element of risk assessment is accounting for the full range of variability in response to environmental exposures. Default dose-response methods typically assume a 10-fold difference in response to chemical exposures between average (healthy) and susceptible humans, despite evidence of wider variability. Experts and authoritative bodies support using advanced techniques to better account for human variability due to factors such as in utero or early life exposure and exposure to multiple environmental, social, and economic stressors.This review describes: 1) sources of human variability and susceptibility in dose-response assessment, 2) existing US frameworks for addressing response variability in risk assessment; 3) key scientific inadequacies necessitating updated methods; 4) improved approaches and opportunities for better use of science; and 5) specific and quantitative recommendations to address evidence and policy needs.Current default adjustment factors do not sufficiently capture human variability in dose-response and thus are inadequate to protect the entire population. Susceptible groups are not appropriately protected under current regulatory guidelines. Emerging tools and data sources that better account for human variability and susceptibility include probabilistic methods, genetically diverse in vivo and in vitro models, and the use of human data to capture underlying risk and/or assess combined effects from chemical and non-chemical stressors.We recommend using updated methods and data to improve consideration of human variability and susceptibility in risk assessment, including the use of increased default human variability factors and separate adjustment factors for capturing age/life stage of development and exposure to multiple chemical and non-chemical stressors. Updated methods would result in greater transparency and protection for susceptible groups, including children, infants, people who are pregnant or nursing, people with disabilities, and those burdened by additional environmental exposures and/or social factors such as poverty and racism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia R Varshavsky
- Department of Health Sciences and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering Northeastern University, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Swati D G Rayasam
- Department of Obstetrics, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Carl F Cranor
- Department of Philosophy, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
- Environmental Toxicology Graduate Program, College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences, University of California, Riverside, Riverside, CA, USA
| | - Dale Hattis
- The George Perkins Marsh Institute, Clark University, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Russ Hauser
- Department of Environmental Health, T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Patricia D Koman
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Rachel Morello-Frosch
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Catherine Oksas
- University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Joshua F Robinson
- Department of Obstetrics, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Center for Reproductive Sciences and Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Sheela Sathyanarayana
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Tracey J Woodruff
- Department of Obstetrics, Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Chartres N, Sass JB, Gee D, Bălan SA, Birnbaum L, Cogliano VJ, Cooper C, Fedinick KP, Harrison RM, Kolossa-Gehring M, Mandrioli D, Mitchell MA, Norris SL, Portier CJ, Straif K, Vermeire T. Conducting evaluations of evidence that are transparent, timely and can lead to health-protective actions. Environ Health 2022; 21:123. [PMID: 36471342 PMCID: PMC9720912 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00926-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In February 2021, over one hundred scientists and policy experts participated in a web-based Workshop to discuss the ways that divergent evaluations of evidence and scientific uncertainties are used to delay timely protection of human health and the environment from exposures to hazardous agents. The Workshop arose from a previous workshop organized by the European Environment Agency (EEA) in 2008 and which also drew on case studies from the EEA reports on 'Late Lessons from Early Warnings' (2001, 2013). These reports documented dozens of hazardous agents including many chemicals, for which risk reduction measures were delayed for decades after scientists and others had issued early and later warnings about the harm likely to be caused by those agents. RESULTS Workshop participants used recent case studies including Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), Extremely Low Frequency - Electrical Magnetic Fields (ELF-EMF fields), glyphosate, and Bisphenol A (BPA) to explore myriad reasons for divergent outcomes of evaluations, which has led to delayed and inadequate protection of the public's health. Strategies to overcome these barriers must, therefore, at a minimum include approaches that 1) Make better use of existing data and information, 2) Ensure timeliness, 3) Increase transparency, consistency and minimize bias in evidence evaluations, and 4) Minimize the influence of financial conflicts of interest. CONCLUSION The recommendations should enhance the production of "actionable evidence," that is, reliable evaluations of the scientific evidence to support timely actions to protect health and environments from exposures to hazardous agents. The recommendations are applicable to policy and regulatory settings at the local, state, federal and international levels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Chartres
- Program On Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 10, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA.
| | - Jennifer B Sass
- Natural Resources Defense Council, Washington, DC, USA
- George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | - Simona A Bălan
- California Department of Toxic Substances Control, Berkeley, CA, USA
- University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Linda Birnbaum
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Courtney Cooper
- Program On Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, 490 Illinois Street, Floor 10, San Francisco, CA, 94143, USA
| | | | - Roy M Harrison
- School of Geography, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Department of Environmental Sciences/Centre of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia
| | - Marike Kolossa-Gehring
- Department of Environmental Hygiene, Section Toxicology, Health Related Environmental Monitoring, German Federal Environmental Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, Germany
| | - Daniele Mandrioli
- Cesare Maltoni Cancer Research Center, Ramazzini Institute, Bologna, Italy
| | - Mark A Mitchell
- George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice, Hartford, CT, USA
| | - Susan L Norris
- Department of Family Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Christopher J Portier
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Toxicogenomics, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- CJP Consulting, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kurt Straif
- ISGlobal, Barcelona, Spain
- Boston College, Newton, MA, USA
| | - Theo Vermeire
- Retired, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Rayasam S, Koman PD, Axelrad DA, Woodruff TJ, Chartres N. Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Implementation: How the Amended Law Has Failed to Protect Vulnerable Populations from Toxic Chemicals in the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:11969-11982. [PMID: 35980084 PMCID: PMC9454241 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c02079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Exposures to industrial chemicals are widespread and can increase the risk of adverse health effects such as cancer, developmental disorders, respiratory effects, diabetes, and reproductive problems. The amended Toxic Substances Control Act (amended TSCA) requires the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to evaluate risks of chemicals in commerce, account for risk to potentially exposed and susceptible populations, and mitigate risks for chemicals determined to pose an unreasonable risk to human health and the environment. This analysis compares EPA's first 10 chemical risk evaluations under amended TSCA to best scientific practices for conducting risk assessments. We find EPA's risk evaluations underestimated human health risks of chemical exposures by excluding conditions of use and exposure pathways; not considering aggregate exposure and cumulative risk; not identifying all potentially exposed or susceptible subpopulations, and not quantifying differences in risk for susceptible groups; not addressing data gaps; and using flawed systematic review approaches to identify and evaluate the relevant evidence. We present specific recommendations for improving the implementation of amended TSCA using the best available science to ensure equitable, socially just safeguards to public health. Failing to remedy these shortcomings will result in continued systematic underestimation of risk for all chemicals evaluated under amended TSCA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Swati
D.G. Rayasam
- Program
on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics,
Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University
of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Patricia D. Koman
- Environmental
Health Sciences, University of Michigan
School of Public Health, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | | | - Tracey J. Woodruff
- Program
on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics,
Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University
of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
- Environmental
Research and Translation for Health, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology
and Reproductive Sciences, University of
California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Nicholas Chartres
- Program
on Reproductive Health and the Environment, Department of Obstetrics,
Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University
of California San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chen Z, Lloyd D, Zhou YH, Chiu WA, Wright FA, Rusyn I. Risk Characterization of Environmental Samples Using In Vitro Bioactivity and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Concentrations Data. Toxicol Sci 2021; 179:108-120. [PMID: 33165562 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfaa166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Methods to assess environmental exposure to hazardous chemicals have primarily focused on quantification of individual chemicals, although chemicals often occur in mixtures, presenting challenges to the traditional risk characterization framework. Sampling sites in a defined geographic region provide an opportunity to characterize chemical contaminants, with spatial interpolation as a tool to provide estimates for non-sampled sites. At the same time, the use of in vitro bioactivity measurements has been shown to be informative for rapid risk-based decisions. In this study, we measured in vitro bioactivity in 39 surface soil samples collected immediately after flooding associated with Hurricane Harvey in Texas in a residential area known to be inundated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminants. Bioactivity data were from a number of functional and toxicity assays in 5 human cell types, such as induced pluripotent stem cell-derived hepatocytes, cardiomyocytes, neurons, and endothelial cells, as well as human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Data on concentrations of PAH in these samples were also available and the combination of data sources offered a unique opportunity to assess the joint spatial variation of PAH components and bioactivity. We found significant evidence of spatial correlation of a subset of PAH contaminants and of cell-based phenotypes. In addition, we show that the cell-based bioactivity data can be used to predict environmental concentrations for several PAH contaminants, as well as overall PAH summaries and cancer risk. This study's impact lies in its demonstration that cell-based profiling can be used for rapid hazard screening of environmental samples by anchoring the bioassays to concentrations of PAH. This work sets the stage for identification of the areas of concern and direct quantitative risk characterization based on bioactivity data, thereby providing an important supplement to traditional individual chemical analyses by shedding light on constituents that may be missed from targeted chemical monitoring.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zunwei Chen
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Dillon Lloyd
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Yi-Hui Zhou
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| | - Fred A Wright
- Bioinformatics Research Center.,Departments of Biological Sciences and Statistics, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology.,Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Prasse C. Reactivity-directed analysis - a novel approach for the identification of toxic organic electrophiles in drinking water. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2021; 23:48-65. [PMID: 33432313 DOI: 10.1039/d0em00471e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Drinking water consumption results in exposure to complex mixtures of organic chemicals, including natural and anthropogenic chemicals and compounds formed during drinking water treatment such as disinfection by-products. The complexity of drinking water contaminant mixtures has hindered efforts to assess associated health impacts. Existing approaches focus primarily on individual chemicals and/or the evaluation of mixtures, without providing information about the chemicals causing the toxic effect. Thus, there is a need for the development of novel strategies to evaluate chemical mixtures and provide insights into the species responsible for the observed toxic effects. This critical review introduces the application of a novel approach called Reactivity-Directed Analysis (RDA) to assess and identify organic electrophiles, the largest group of known environmental toxicants. In contrast to existing in vivo and in vitro approaches, RDA utilizes in chemico methodologies that investigate the reaction of organic electrophiles with nucleophilic biomolecules, including proteins and DNA. This review summarizes the existing knowledge about the presence of electrophiles in drinking water, with a particular focus on their formation in oxidative treatment systems with ozone, advanced oxidation processes, and UV light, as well as disinfectants such as chlorine, chloramines and chlorine dioxide. This summary is followed by an overview of existing RDA approaches and their application for the assessment of aqueous environmental matrices, with an emphasis on drinking water. RDA can be applied beyond drinking water, however, to evaluate source waters and wastewater for human and environmental health risks. Finally, future research demands for the detection and identification of electrophiles in drinking water via RDA are outlined.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Prasse
- Department of Environmental Health and Engineering, Whiting School of Engineering and Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, 3400 N Charles St, Baltimore, MD-21318, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Cardona B, Rudel RA. US EPA's regulatory pesticide evaluations need clearer guidelines for considering mammary gland tumors and other mammary gland effects. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110927. [PMID: 32645345 PMCID: PMC9183204 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110927] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer risk from pesticides may be missed if effects on mammary gland are not assessed in toxicology studies required for registration. Using US EPA's registration documents, we identified pesticides that cause mammary tumors or alter development, and evaluated how those findings were considered in risk assessment. Of 28 pesticides that produced mammary tumors, EPA's risk assessment acknowledges those tumors for nine and dismisses the remaining cases. For five pesticides that alter mammary gland development, the implications for lactation and cancer risk are not assessed. Many of the mammary-active pesticides activate pathways related to endocrine disruption: altering steroid synthesis in H295R cells, activating nuclear receptors, or affecting xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes. Clearer guidelines based on breast cancer biology would strengthen assessment of mammary gland effects, including sensitive histology and hormone measures. Potential cancer risks from several common pesticides should be re-evaluated, including: malathion, triclopyr, atrazine, propylene oxide, and 3-iodo-2-propynyl butylcarbamate (IPBC).
Collapse
|
8
|
Ingaramo P, Alarcón R, Muñoz-de-Toro M, Luque EH. Are glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides endocrine disruptors that alter female fertility? Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110934. [PMID: 32659439 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Numerous evidences have alerted on the toxic effects of the exposure to glyphosate on living organisms. Glyphosate is the herbicide most used in crops such as maize and soybean worldwide, which implies that several non-target species are at a high risk of exposure. Although the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA-USA) has reaffirmed that glyphosate is safe for users, there are controversial studies that question this statement. Some of the reported effects are due to exposure to high doses; however, recent evidences have shown that exposure to low doses could also alter the development of the female reproductive tract, with consequences on fertility. Different animal models of exposure to glyphosate or glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) have shown that the effects on the female reproductive tract may be related to the potential and/or mechanisms of actions of an endocrine-disrupting compound. Studies have also demonstrated that the exposure to GBHs alters the development and differentiation of ovarian follicles and uterus, affecting fertility when animals are exposed before puberty. In addition, exposure to GBHs during gestation could alter the development of the offspring (F1 and F2). The main mechanism described associated with the endocrine-disrupting effect of GBHs is the modulation of estrogen receptors and molecules involved in the estrogenic pathways. This review summarizes the endocrine-disrupting effects of exposure to glyphosate and GBHs at low or "environmentally relevant" doses in the female reproductive tissues. Data suggesting that, at low doses, GBHs may have adverse effects on the female reproductive tract fertility are discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paola Ingaramo
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente Del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Ramiro Alarcón
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente Del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Mónica Muñoz-de-Toro
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente Del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina
| | - Enrique H Luque
- Instituto de Salud y Ambiente Del Litoral (ISAL), Facultad de Bioquímica y Ciencias Biológicas, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Universidad Nacional Del Litoral, Santa Fe, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Chen Z, Liu Y, Wright FA, Chiu WA, Rusyn I. Rapid hazard characterization of environmental chemicals using a compendium of human cell lines from different organs. ALTEX 2020; 37:623-638. [PMID: 32521033 PMCID: PMC7941183 DOI: 10.14573/altex.2002291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The lack of adequate toxicity data for the vast majority of chemicals in the environment has spurred the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs). This study aimed to develop a practical high-throughput in vitro model for rapidly evaluating potential hazards of chemicals using a small number of human cells. Forty-two compounds were tested using human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cells (hepatocytes, neurons, cardiomyocytes and endothelial cells), and a primary endothelial cell line. Both functional and cytotoxicity endpoints were evaluated using high-content imaging. Concentration-response was used to derive points-of-departure (POD). PODs were integrated with ToxPi and used as surrogate NAM-based PODs for risk characterization. We found chemical class-specific similarity among the chemicals tested; metal salts exhibited the highest overall bioactivity. We also observed cell type-specific patterns among classes of chemicals, indicating the ability of the proposed in vitro model to recognize effects on different cell types. Compared to available NAM datasets, such as ToxCast/Tox21 and chemical structure-based descriptors, we found that the data from the five-cell-type model was as good or even better in assigning compounds to chemical classes. Additionally, the PODs from this model performed well as a conservative surrogate for regulatory in vivo PODs and were less likely to underestimate in vivo potency and potential risk compared to other NAM-based PODs. In summary, we demonstrate the potential of this in vitro screening model to inform rapid risk-based decision-making through ranking, clustering, and assessment of both hazard and risks of diverse environmental chemicals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zunwei Chen
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Yizhong Liu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Fred A. Wright
- Bioinformatics Research Center, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
- Departments of Statistics and Biological Sciences, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
- Department of Veterinary Integrative Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| |
Collapse
|