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Lu EH, Rusyn I, Chiu WA. Incorporating new approach methods (NAMs) data in dose-response assessments: The future is now! JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2025; 28:28-62. [PMID: 39390665 PMCID: PMC11614695 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2024.2412571] [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] [Indexed: 10/12/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory dose-response assessments traditionally rely on in vivo data and default assumptions. New Approach Methods (NAMs) present considerable opportunities to both augment traditional dose-response assessments and accelerate the evaluation of new/data-poor chemicals. This review aimed to determine the potential utilization of NAMs through a unified conceptual framework that compartmentalizes derivation of toxicity values into five sequential Key Dose-response Modules (KDMs): (1) point-of-departure (POD) determination, (2) test system-to-human (e.g. inter-species) toxicokinetics and (3) toxicodynamics, (4) human population (intra-species) variability in toxicodynamics, and (5) toxicokinetics. After using several "traditional" dose-response assessments to illustrate this framework, a review is presented where existing NAMs, including in silico, in vitro, and in vivo approaches, might be applied across KDMs. Further, the false dichotomy between "traditional" and NAMs-derived data sources is broken down by organizing dose-response assessments into a matrix where each KDM has Tiers of increasing precision and confidence: Tier 0: Default/generic values, Tier 1: Computational predictions, Tier 2: Surrogate measurements, and Tier 3: Direct measurements. These findings demonstrated that although many publications promote the use of NAMs in KDMs (1) for POD determination and (5) for human population toxicokinetics, the proposed matrix of KDMs and Tiers reveals additional immediate opportunities for NAMs to be integrated across other KDMs. Further, critical needs were identified for developing NAMs to improve in vitro dosimetry and quantify test system and human population toxicodynamics. Overall, broadening the integration of NAMs across the steps of dose-response assessment promises to yield higher throughput, less animal-dependent, and more science-based toxicity values for protecting human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Hsuan Lu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, United States of America
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2
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Johansson Y, Awoga RA, Forsby A. Developmental neurotoxicity evaluation of acrylamide based on in vitro to in vivo extrapolation by pregnancy PBTK modelling. Toxicology 2024; 509:153950. [PMID: 39270965 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 09/07/2024] [Indexed: 09/15/2024]
Abstract
Acrylamide (ACR) is a known neurotoxicant that can pass the placenta and has been detected in breast milk. Some in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that ACR exposure might lead to developmental neurotoxicity (DNT). Here, we have developed a physiologically-based toxicokinetic model for a pregnant human population using PK-Sim. We performed an in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (IVIVE) of data collected from human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells exposed during differentiation to ACR. The developed PBTK model was successfully evaluated and predicted fetal plasma concentrations in the low nM range after exposing the model to an estimated average daily intake for pregnant women. The IVIVE showed that low concentrations of ACR (fM-nM) that induced attenuated differentiation of the SH-SY5Y neuronal cell model, were relevant for human exposure to ACR from oral intake. However, doses estimated in the IVIVE from concentrations in the µM range, were found to be unrealistic by exposure through food intake for an average daily intake. However, in case of exposure due to environmental pollution or occupational exposure, these concentrations may be reached in fetal plasma. The findings in this study raise the concern regarding ACR exposure during pregnancy as well as the relevance of testing concentrations in vitro that are several orders of magnitude higher than the predicted fetal plasma concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ylva Johansson
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Sweden
| | | | - Anna Forsby
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Stockholm University, Sweden
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3
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Martin T, Hodson ME, Thompson H, Hutter V, Ashauer R. Can TK-TD modelling bridge the gap between in vitro and in vivo mammalian toxicity data? Toxicol In Vitro 2024; 101:105937. [PMID: 39237057 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2024] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Repeated dietary dose testing is used to assess longer term toxicity of chemicals, such as pesticides, to mammals. However, the internal pesticide concentration varies significantly as feeding rate relative to body size fluctuates over time. Toxicokinetic-toxicodynamic (TK-TD) models can estimate internal toxicant concentration over time and link this directly to observed effects on endpoints such as the growth rate of laboratory rats. Using TK-TD models it is therefore possible to predict the effects that would result from a constant internal concentration of a pesticide. This presents the possibility of comparison with data from in vitro experiments, potentially facilitating quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE). We used in vivo TK-TD models to identify relevant internal concentrations and then estimated the experimental conditions required to replicate these in cultured cells, using in vitro TK models. Cell population growth was measured, with a view to extrapolating through time and comparing effect sizes with in vivo predictions. However, observed cell proliferation was not significantly affected by the tested concentrations of any of the five pesticides in this study and so extrapolation was not possible. In light of this negative result, we highlight areas for future work towards QIVIVE of graded sublethal effects in mammals. The most pressing objective is improving the accuracy of in vivo TK predictions, which could be achieved with dietary dosing in TK studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Martin
- Rifcon GmbH, Goldbeckstrasse 13, 69493 Hirschberg an der Bergstrasse, Germany; University of York, Dept. Environment & Geography, York, YO10 5NG, UK.
| | - Mark E Hodson
- University of York, Dept. Environment & Geography, York, YO10 5NG, UK
| | - Helen Thompson
- Syngenta, Jealotts Hill, Warfield, Bracknell RG42 6EY, UK
| | - Victoria Hutter
- University of Hertfordshire, School of Life and Medical Sciences, Hatfield, Hertfordshire AL10 9AB, UK
| | - Roman Ashauer
- University of York, Dept. Environment & Geography, York, YO10 5NG, UK; Syngenta Crop Protection AG, Rosentalstrasse 67, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
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4
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Nicol B, Vandenbossche-Goddard E, Thorpe C, Newman R, Patel H, Yates D. A workflow to practically apply true dose considerations to in vitro testing for next generation risk assessment. Toxicology 2024; 505:153826. [PMID: 38719068 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2024.153826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2024] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
With the move away from safety testing assessment based on data generated in experimental animals the concept of Next Generation Risk Assessment (NGRA) has arisen which instead uses data from in silico and in vitro models. A key uncertainty in risk assessment is the actual dose of test chemical at the target site, and therefore surrogate dose metrics, such as nominal concentration in test media are used to describe in vitro effect (or no-effect) doses. The reliability and accuracy of the risk assessment therefore depends largely on our ability to understand and characterise the relationship between the dose metrics used and the actual biologically effective dose at the target site. The objective of this publication is to use 40 case study chemicals to illustrate how in vitro dose considerations can be applied to characterise the "true dose" and build confidence in the understanding of the biologically effective dose in in vitro test systems for the determination e.g. points of departure (PoDs) for NGRA. We propose a workflow that can be applied to assess whether the nominal test concentration can be considered a conservative dose metric for use in NGRA. The workflow examines the implications of volatility, stability, hydrophobicity, binding to plastic and serum, solubility, and the potential use of in silico models for some of these parameters. For the majority of the case study chemicals we found that the use of nominal concentrations in risk assessment would result in conservative decision making. However, for serval chemicals a potential for underestimation of the risk in humans in vivo based on in vitro nominal effect concentrations was identified, and approaches for refinement by characterisation of the actual effect concentration are proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Nicol
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Evita Vandenbossche-Goddard
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UK.
| | - Charlotte Thorpe
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedford, Bedfordshire MK44 1LQ, UK
| | | | - Hiral Patel
- Charles River Laboratories, Cambridgeshire CB10 1XL, UK
| | - Dawn Yates
- Charles River Laboratories, Cambridgeshire CB10 1XL, UK
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5
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Huchthausen J, Braasch J, Escher BI, König M, Henneberger L. Effects of Chemicals in Reporter Gene Bioassays with Different Metabolic Activities Compared to Baseline Toxicity. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:744-756. [PMID: 38652132 PMCID: PMC11110108 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.4c00017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 04/05/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
High-throughput cell-based bioassays are used for chemical screening and risk assessment. Chemical transformation processes caused by abiotic degradation or metabolization can reduce the chemical concentration or, in some cases, lead to the formation of more toxic transformation products. Unaccounted loss processes may falsify the bioassay results. Capturing the formation and effects of transformation products is important for relating the in vitro effects to in vivo. Reporter gene cell lines are believed to have low metabolic activity, but inducibility of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes has been reported. Baseline toxicity is the minimal toxicity a chemical can have and is caused by the incorporation of the chemical into cell membranes. In the present study, we improved an existing baseline toxicity model based on a newly defined critical membrane burden derived from freely dissolved effect concentrations, which are directly related to the membrane concentration. Experimental effect concentrations of 94 chemicals in three bioassays (AREc32, ARE-bla and GR-bla) were compared with baseline toxicity by calculating the toxic ratio (TR). CYP activities of all cell lines were determined by using fluorescence-based assays. Only ARE-bla showed a low basal CYP activity and inducibility and AREc32 showed a low inducibility. Overall cytotoxicity was similar in all three assays despite the different metabolic activities indicating that chemical metabolism is not relevant for the cytotoxicity of the tested chemicals in these assays. Up to 28 chemicals showed specific cytotoxicity with TR > 10 in the bioassays, but baseline toxicity could explain the effects of the majority of the remaining chemicals. Seven chemicals showed TR < 0.1 indicating inaccurate physicochemical properties or experimental artifacts like chemical precipitation, volatilization, degradation, or other loss processes during the in vitro bioassay. The new baseline model can be used not only to identify specific cytotoxicity mechanisms but also to identify potential problems in the experimental performance or evaluation of the bioassay and thus improve the quality of the bioassay data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Huchthausen
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research − UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Jenny Braasch
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research − UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research − UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
- Environmental
Toxicology, Department of Geosciences, Eberhard
Karls University Tübingen, 72076 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research − UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Luise Henneberger
- Department
of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for
Environmental Research − UFZ, Permoserstr. 15, 04318 Leipzig, Germany
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Judson RS, Smith D, DeVito M, Wambaugh JF, Wetmore BA, Paul Friedman K, Patlewicz G, Thomas RS, Sayre RR, Olker JH, Degitz S, Padilla S, Harrill JA, Shafer T, Carstens KE. A Comparison of In Vitro Points of Departure with Human Blood Levels for Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). TOXICS 2024; 12:271. [PMID: 38668494 PMCID: PMC11053643 DOI: 10.3390/toxics12040271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2024] [Revised: 03/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/29/2024]
Abstract
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used, and their fluorinated state contributes to unique uses and stability but also long half-lives in the environment and humans. PFAS have been shown to be toxic, leading to immunosuppression, cancer, and other adverse health outcomes. Only a small fraction of the PFAS in commerce have been evaluated for toxicity using in vivo tests, which leads to a need to prioritize which compounds to examine further. Here, we demonstrate a prioritization approach that combines human biomonitoring data (blood concentrations) with bioactivity data (concentrations at which bioactivity is observed in vitro) for 31 PFAS. The in vitro data are taken from a battery of cell-based assays, mostly run on human cells. The result is a Bioactive Concentration to Blood Concentration Ratio (BCBCR), similar to a margin of exposure (MoE). Chemicals with low BCBCR values could then be prioritized for further risk assessment. Using this method, two of the PFAS, PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic Acid) and PFOS (Perfluorooctane Sulfonic Acid), have BCBCR values < 1 for some populations. An additional 9 PFAS have BCBCR values < 100 for some populations. This study shows a promising approach to screening level risk assessments of compounds such as PFAS that are long-lived in humans and other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard S. Judson
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA; (D.S.); (M.D.); (J.F.W.); (B.A.W.); (K.P.F.); (G.P.); (R.S.T.); (R.R.S.); (J.H.O.); (S.D.); (S.P.); (J.A.H.); (T.S.); (K.E.C.)
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7
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Silva AC, Loizou GD, McNally K, Osborne O, Potter C, Gott D, Colbourne JK, Viant MR. A novel method to derive a human safety limit for PFOA by gene expression profiling and modelling. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2024; 6:1368320. [PMID: 38577564 PMCID: PMC10991825 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2024.1368320] [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: 01/10/2024] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent environmental contaminant that can accumulate in the human body due to its long half-life. This substance has been associated with liver, pancreatic, testicular and breast cancers, liver steatosis and endocrine disruption. PFOA is a member of a large group of substances also known as "forever chemicals" and the vast majority of substances of this group lack toxicological data that would enable their effective risk assessment in terms of human health hazards. This study aimed to derive a health-based guidance value for PFOA intake (ng/kg BW/day) from in vitro transcriptomics data. To this end, we developed an in silico workflow comprising five components: (i) sourcing in vitro hepatic transcriptomics concentration-response data; (ii) deriving molecular points of departure using BMDExpress3 and performing pathway analysis using gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) to identify the most sensitive molecular pathways to PFOA exposure; (iii) estimating freely-dissolved PFOA concentrations in vitro using a mass balance model; (iv) estimating in vivo doses by reverse dosimetry using a PBK model for PFOA as part of a quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation (QIVIVE) algorithm; and (v) calculating a tolerable daily intake (TDI) for PFOA. Fourteen percent of interrogated genes exhibited in vitro concentration-response relationships. GSEA pathway enrichment analysis revealed that "fatty acid metabolism" was the most sensitive pathway to PFOA exposure. In vitro free PFOA concentrations were calculated to be 2.9% of the nominal applied concentrations, and these free concentrations were input into the QIVIVE workflow. Exposure doses for a virtual population of 3,000 individuals were estimated, from which a TDI of 0.15 ng/kg BW/day for PFOA was calculated using the benchmark dose modelling software, PROAST. This TDI is comparable to previously published values of 1.16, 0.69, and 0.86 ng/kg BW/day by the European Food Safety Authority. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the combined utility of an "omics"-derived molecular point of departure and in silico QIVIVE workflow for setting health-based guidance values in anticipation of the acceptance of in vitro concentration-response molecular measurements in chemical risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arthur de Carvalho e Silva
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - Olivia Osborne
- Science Evidence and Research Division, Food Standards Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire Potter
- Science Evidence and Research Division, Food Standards Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - David Gott
- Science Evidence and Research Division, Food Standards Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - John K. Colbourne
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mark R. Viant
- School of Biosciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
- Centre for Environmental Research and Justice (CERJ), University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom
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8
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Lu EH, Ford LC, Chen Z, Burnett SD, Rusyn I, Chiu WA. Evaluating scientific confidence in the concordance of in vitro and in vivo protective points of departure. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2024; 148:105596. [PMID: 38447894 PMCID: PMC11193089 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2024.105596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
To fulfil the promise of reducing reliance on mammalian in vivo laboratory animal studies, new approach methods (NAMs) need to provide a confident basis for regulatory decision-making. However, previous attempts to develop in vitro NAMs-based points of departure (PODs) have yielded mixed results, with PODs from U.S. EPA's ToxCast, for instance, appearing more conservative (protective) but poorly correlated with traditional in vivo studies. Here, we aimed to address this discordance by reducing the heterogeneity of in vivo PODs, accounting for species differences, and enhancing the biological relevance of in vitro PODs. However, we only found improved in vitro-to-in vivo concordance when combining the use of Bayesian model averaging-based benchmark dose modeling for in vivo PODs, allometric scaling for interspecies adjustments, and human-relevant in vitro assays with multiple induced pluripotent stem cell-derived models. Moreover, the available sample size was only 15 chemicals, and the resulting level of concordance was only fair, with correlation coefficients <0.5 and prediction intervals spanning several orders of magnitude. Overall, while this study suggests several ways to enhance concordance and thereby increase scientific confidence in vitro NAMs-based PODs, it also highlights challenges in their predictive accuracy and precision for use in regulatory decision making.
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Affiliation(s)
- En-Hsuan Lu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Lucie C Ford
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Zunwei Chen
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Sarah D Burnett
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA
| | - Weihsueh A Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology and Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843, USA.
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Balk F, Hüsser B, Hollender J, Schirmer K. Bioconcentration Assessment of Three Cationic Surfactants in Permanent Fish Cell Lines. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:1452-1461. [PMID: 38214086 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05360] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2024]
Abstract
Cationic surfactants are used in many industrial processes and in consumer products with concurrent release into the aquatic environment, where they may accumulate in aquatic organisms to regulatoryly relevant thresholds. Here, we aimed to better understand the bioconcentration behavior of three selected cationic surfactants, namely N,N-dimethyldecylamine (T10), N-methyldodecylamine (S12), and N,N,N-trimethyltetradecylammonium cation (Q14), in the cells of fish liver (RTL-W1) and gill (RTgill-W1) cell lines. We conducted full mass balances for bioconcentration tests with the cell cultures, in which the medium, the cell surface, the cells themselves, and the plastic compartment were sampled and quantified for each surfactant by HPLC MS/MS. Accumulation in/to cells correlated with the surfactants' alkyl chain lengths and their membrane lipid-water partitioning coefficient, DMLW. Cell-derived bioconcentration factors (BCF) of T10 and S12 were within a factor of 3.5 to in vivo BCF obtained from the literature, while the cell-derived BCF values for Q14 were >100 times higher than the in vivo BCF. From our experiments, rainbow trout cell lines appear as a suitable conservative in vitro screening method for bioconcentration assessment of cationic surfactants and are promising for further testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Balk
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Bastian Hüsser
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Juliane Hollender
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Kristin Schirmer
- Eawag, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, 8600 Dübendorf, Switzerland
- EPF Lausanne, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
- ETH Zürich, Department of Environmental Systems Science, 8092 Zürich, Switzerland
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10
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Emberley-Korkmaz S, Mittal K, Temlock N, Head J, Basu N. Cytotoxicity of 19 Pesticides in Rainbow Trout Gill, Liver, and Intestinal Cell Lines. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023. [PMID: 38116990 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
The rainbow trout gill cell line (RTgill-W1), via test guideline 249 of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, has been established as a promising New Approach Methodology, although to advance confidence in the method more case studies are needed that: 1) expand our understanding of applicability domains (chemicals with diverse properties); 2) increase methodological throughput (96-well format); and 3) demonstrate biological relevance (in vitro to in vivo comparisons; gill vs. other cells). Accordingly, the objective of our study was to characterize the cytotoxicity of 19 pesticides against RTgill-W1 cells, and also liver (RTL-W1) and gut epithelial (RTgutGC) cell lines, and then to compare the in vitro and in vivo data. Of the 19 pesticides tested, 11, 9, and 8 were cytotoxic to the RTgill-W1, RTL-W1, and RTgutGC cells, respectively. Six pesticides (carbaryl, chlorothalonil, chlorpyrifos, dimethenamid-P, metolachlor, and S-metolachlor) were cytotoxic to all three cell lines. Aminomethylphosphonic acid, chlorantraniliprole, dicamba, diquat, imazethapyr, and permethrin exhibited cell-line-specific toxicity. No cytotoxic responses were observed for three herbicides (atrazine, glyphosate, and metribuzin) and four insecticides (clothianidin, diazinon, imidacloprid, and thiamethoxam). When cytotoxicity was measured, there was a strong correlation (rs = 0.9, p < 0.0001) between in vitro median effect concentration (EC50) values (based on predicted concentrations using the In Vitro Mass Balance Model Equilibrium Partitioning (IV-MBM EQP) Ver. 2.1) derived from RTgill-W1 and RTL-W1 cells with in vivo median lethal concentration (LC50) values from 96-h acute toxicity studies with trout. In all 28 cases, the in vitro EC50 was within 18-fold of the in vivo LC50. These data help increase our understanding of the ecotoxicological domains of applicability for in vitro studies using cultured rainbow trout cells, while also demonstrating that these assays performed well in a 96-well format and have promise to yield data of biological relevance. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-13. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Emberley-Korkmaz
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Krittika Mittal
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Na'im Temlock
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jessica Head
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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11
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Beal MA, Chen G, Dearfield KL, Gi M, Gollapudi B, Heflich RH, Horibata K, Long AS, Lovell DP, Parsons BL, Pfuhler S, Wills J, Zeller A, Johnson G, White PA. Interpretation of in vitro concentration-response data for risk assessment and regulatory decision-making: Report from the 2022 IWGT quantitative analysis expert working group meeting. ENVIRONMENTAL AND MOLECULAR MUTAGENESIS 2023. [PMID: 38115239 DOI: 10.1002/em.22582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative risk assessments of chemicals are routinely performed using in vivo data from rodents; however, there is growing recognition that non-animal approaches can be human-relevant alternatives. There is an urgent need to build confidence in non-animal alternatives given the international support to reduce the use of animals in toxicity testing where possible. In order for scientists and risk assessors to prepare for this paradigm shift in toxicity assessment, standardization and consensus on in vitro testing strategies and data interpretation will need to be established. To address this issue, an Expert Working Group (EWG) of the 8th International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing (IWGT) evaluated the utility of quantitative in vitro genotoxicity concentration-response data for risk assessment. The EWG first evaluated available in vitro methodologies and then examined the variability and maximal response of in vitro tests to estimate biologically relevant values for the critical effect sizes considered adverse or unacceptable. Next, the EWG reviewed the approaches and computational models employed to provide human-relevant dose context to in vitro data. Lastly, the EWG evaluated risk assessment applications for which in vitro data are ready for use and applications where further work is required. The EWG concluded that in vitro genotoxicity concentration-response data can be interpreted in a risk assessment context. However, prior to routine use in regulatory settings, further research will be required to address the remaining uncertainties and limitations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc A Beal
- Bureau of Chemical Safety, Health Products and Food Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Guangchao Chen
- Centre for Nutrition, Prevention and Health Services, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Kerry L Dearfield
- Retired from US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Min Gi
- Department of Environmental Risk Assessment, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka Metropolitan University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Robert H Heflich
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Katsuyoshi Horibata
- Division of Genetics and Mutagenesis, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Alexandra S Long
- Existing Substances Risk Assessment Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - David P Lovell
- St George's Medical School, University of London, London, UK
| | - Barbara L Parsons
- National Center for Toxicological Research, US Food and Drug Administration, Jefferson, Arkansas, USA
| | - Stefan Pfuhler
- Global Product Stewardship - Human Safety, Procter & Gamble, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - John Wills
- Genetic Toxicology and Photosafety, GSK Research & Development, Stevenage, UK
| | - Andreas Zeller
- Pharmaceutical Sciences, pRED Innovation Center Basel, Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Basel, Switzerland
| | - George Johnson
- Swansea University Medical School, Swansea University, Swansea, UK
| | - Paul A White
- Environmental Health Science and Research Bureau, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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12
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Ring C, Blanchette A, Klaren WD, Fitch S, Haws L, Wheeler MW, DeVito M, Walker N, Wikoff D. A multi-tiered hierarchical Bayesian approach to derive toxic equivalency factors for dioxin-like compounds. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2023; 143:105464. [PMID: 37516304 PMCID: PMC11110530 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2023.105464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
In 2005, the World Health Organization (WHO) re-evaluated Toxic Equivalency factors (TEFs) developed for dioxin-like compounds believed to act through the Ah receptor based on an updated database of relative estimated potency (REP)(REP2004 database). This re-evalution identified the need to develop a consistent approach for dose-response modeling. Further, the WHO Panel discussed the significant heterogeneity of experimental datasets and dataset quality underlying the REPs in the database. There is a critical need to develop a quantitative, and quality weighted approach to characterize the TEF for each congener. To address this, a multi-tiered approach that combines Bayesian dose-response fitting and meta-regression with a machine learning model to predict REPS' quality categorizations was developed to predict the most likely relationship between each congener and its reference and derive model-predicted TEF uncertainty distributions. As a proof of concept, this 'Best-Estimate TEF workflow' was applied to the REP2004 database to derive TEF point-estimates and characterizations of uncertainty for all congeners. Model-TEFs were similar to the 2005 WHO TEFs, with the data-poor congeners having larger levels of uncertainty. This transparent and reproducible computational workflow incorporates WHO expert panel recommendations and represents a substantial improvement in the TEF methodology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Matthew W Wheeler
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Michael DeVito
- Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
| | - Nigel Walker
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA.
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13
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Huchthausen J, König M, Escher BI, Henneberger L. Experimental exposure assessment for in vitro cell-based bioassays in 96- and 384-well plates. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1221625. [PMID: 37564394 PMCID: PMC10411540 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1221625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In vitro cell-based bioassays have great potential for applications in the human health risk assessment of chemicals. The quantification of freely dissolved concentrations (C free) in in vitro assays is essential to generate reliable data for in vitro-to-in vivo extrapolation. Existing methods for the quantification of C free are limited to low-throughput microtiter plates. The present study is a proof of principle for the applicability of a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) method for the determination of C free in the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) bioassay run in 384-well plates with 80 µL medium per well. The effect concentrations obtained from 384-well plates were compared with those obtained from 96-well plates in a previous study. Nominal effect concentrations obtained using 96- and 384-well plates agreed with each other within a factor of three, and freely dissolved effect concentrations agreed within a factor of 6.5. The good degree of agreement in the results from both plate formats proves the general applicability of the SPME method for the determination of C free for bioassays in 384-well plates, making the present study a first step toward exposure assessment in high-throughput bioassays.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia Huchthausen
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maria König
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Beate I. Escher
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
- Department of Geosciences, Environmental Toxicology, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Luise Henneberger
- Department of Cell Toxicology, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research—UFZ, Leipzig, Germany
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14
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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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15
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Jang S, Ford LC, Rusyn I, Chiu WA. Cumulative Risk Meets Inter-Individual Variability: Probabilistic Concentration Addition of Complex Mixture Exposures in a Population-Based Human In Vitro Model. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10100549. [PMID: 36287830 PMCID: PMC9611413 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10100549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 09/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Although humans are continuously exposed to complex chemical mixtures in the environment, it has been extremely challenging to investigate the resulting cumulative risks and impacts. Recent studies proposed the use of “new approach methods,” in particular in vitro assays, for hazard and dose−response evaluation of mixtures. We previously found, using five human cell-based assays, that concentration addition (CA), the usual default approach to calculate cumulative risk, is mostly accurate to within an order of magnitude. Here, we extend these findings to further investigate how cell-based data can be used to quantify inter-individual variability in CA. Utilizing data from testing 42 Superfund priority chemicals separately and in 8 defined mixtures in a human cell-based population-wide in vitro model, we applied CA to predict effective concentrations for cytotoxicity for each individual, for “typical” (median) and “sensitive” (first percentile) members of the population, and for the median-to-sensitive individual ratio (defined as the toxicodynamic variability factor, TDVF). We quantified the accuracy of CA with the Loewe Additivity Index (LAI). We found that LAI varies more between different mixtures than between different individuals, and that predictions of the population median are generally more accurate than predictions for the “sensitive” individual or the TDVF. Moreover, LAI values were generally <1, indicating that the mixtures were more potent than predicted by CA. Together with our previous studies, we posit that new approach methods data from human cell-based in vitro assays, including multiple phenotypes in diverse cell types and studies in a population-wide model, can fill critical data gaps in cumulative risk assessment, but more sophisticated models of in vitro mixture additivity and bioavailability may be needed. In the meantime, because simple CA models may underestimate potency by an order of magnitude or more, either whole-mixture testing in vitro or, alternatively, more stringent benchmarks of cumulative risk indices (e.g., lower hazard index) may be needed to ensure public health protection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suji Jang
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Lucie C. Ford
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Ivan Rusyn
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
| | - Weihsueh A. Chiu
- Interdisciplinary Faculty of Toxicology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-(979)-845-4106
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16
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Bloch S, Arnot JA, Kramer NI, Armitage JM, Verner MA. Dynamic Mass Balance Modeling for Chemical Distribution Over Time in In Vitro Systems With Repeated Dosing. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2022; 4:911128. [PMID: 36071822 PMCID: PMC9441784 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2022.911128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
As toxicologists and risk assessors move away from animal testing and more toward using in vitro models and biological modeling, it is necessary to produce tools to quantify the chemical distribution within the in vitro environment prior to extrapolating in vitro concentrations to human equivalent doses. Although models predicting chemical distribution in vitro have been developed, very little has been done for repeated dosing scenarios, which are common in prolonged experiments where the medium needs to be refreshed. Failure to account for repeated dosing may lead to inaccurate estimations of exposure and introduce bias into subsequent in vitro to in vivo extrapolations. Our objectives were to develop a dynamic mass balance model for repeated dosing in in vitro systems; to evaluate model accuracy against experimental data; and to perform illustrative simulations to assess the impact of repeated doses on predicted cellular concentrations. A novel dynamic in vitro partitioning mass balance model (IV-MBM DP v1.0) was created based on the well-established fugacity approach. We parameterized and applied the dynamic mass balance model to single dose and repeat dosing scenarios, and evaluated the predicted medium and cellular concentrations against available empirical data. We also simulated repeated dosing scenarios for organic chemicals with a range of partitioning properties and compared the in vitro distributions over time. In single dose scenarios, for which only medium concentrations were available, simulated concentrations predicted measured concentrations with coefficients of determination (R2) of 0.85–0.89, mean absolute error within a factor of two and model bias of nearly one. Repeat dose scenario simulations displayed model bias <2 within the cell lysate, and ∼1.5-3 in the medium. The concordance between simulated and available experimental data supports the predictive capacity of the IV-MBM DP v1.0 tool, but further evaluation as empirical data becomes available is warranted, especially for cellular concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sherri Bloch
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jon A. Arnot
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Scarborough, ON, Canada
- ARC Arnot Consulting and Research, Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Nynke I. Kramer
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | | | - Marc-André Verner
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- Centre de Recherche en Santé Publique, Université de Montréal et CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, Montreal, QC, Canada
- *Correspondence: Marc-André Verner,
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17
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Rusyn I, Sakolish C, Kato Y, Stephan C, Vergara L, Hewitt P, Bhaskaran V, Davis M, Hardwick RN, Ferguson SS, Stanko JP, Bajaj P, Adkins K, Sipes NS, Hunter ES, Baltazar MT, Carmichael PL, Sadh K, Becker RA. Microphysiological Systems Evaluation: Experience of TEX-VAL Tissue Chip Testing Consortium. Toxicol Sci 2022; 188:143-152. [PMID: 35689632 PMCID: PMC9333404 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfac061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Much has been written and said about the promise and excitement of microphysiological systems, miniature devices that aim to recreate aspects of human physiology on a chip. The rapid explosion of the offerings and persistent publicity placed high expectations on both product manufacturers and regulatory agencies to adopt the data. Inevitably, discussions of where this technology fits in chemical testing paradigms are ongoing. Some end-users became early adopters, whereas others have taken a more cautious approach because of the high cost and uncertainties of their utility. Here, we detail the experience of a public-private collaboration established for testing of diverse microphysiological systems. Collectively, we present a number of considerations on practical aspects of using microphysiological systems in the context of their applications in decision-making. Specifically, future end-users need to be prepared for extensive on-site optimization and have access to a wide range of imaging and other equipment. We reason that cells, related reagents, and the technical skills of the research staff, not the devices themselves, are the most critical determinants of success. Extrapolation from concentration-response effects in microphysiological systems to human blood or oral exposures, difficulties with replicating the whole organ, and long-term functionality remain as critical challenges. Overall, we conclude that it is unlikely that a rodent- or human-equivalent model is achievable through a finite number of microphysiological systems in the near future; therefore, building consensus and promoting the gradual incorporation of these models into tiered approaches for safety assessment and decision-making is the sensible path to wide adoption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Rusyn
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Courtney Sakolish
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Yuki Kato
- Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Clifford Stephan
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Leoncio Vergara
- Institute of Biosciences and Technology, Texas A&M University, Houston, Texas 77030, USA
| | - Philip Hewitt
- Chemical and Preclinical Safety, Merck Healthcare KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Vasanthi Bhaskaran
- Discovery Toxicology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - Myrtle Davis
- Discovery Toxicology, Bristol Myers Squibb, Princeton, New Jersey 08543, USA
| | - Rhiannon N Hardwick
- Discovery Toxicology, Bristol Myers Squibb, San Diego, California 92130, USA
| | - Stephen S Ferguson
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Jason P Stanko
- Division of the National Toxicology Program, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Piyush Bajaj
- Global Investigative Toxicology, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, USA
| | - Karissa Adkins
- Global Investigative Toxicology, Preclinical Safety, Sanofi, Framingham, Massachusetts 01701, USA
| | - Nisha S Sipes
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - E Sidney Hunter
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, 27711, USA
| | - Maria T Baltazar
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Bedfordshire, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Paul L Carmichael
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Bedfordshire, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Kritika Sadh
- Unilever Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Bedfordshire, Sharnbrook MK44 1LQ, UK
| | - Richard A Becker
- American Chemistry Council, Washington, District of Columbia 20002, USA
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