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Corradi MPF, de Haan AM, Staumont B, Piersma AH, Geris L, Pieters RHH, Krul CAM, Teunis MAT. Natural language processing in toxicology: Delineating adverse outcome pathways and guiding the application of new approach methodologies. Biomater Biosyst 2022; 7:100061. [PMID: 36824484 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbiosy.2022.100061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Adverse Outcome Pathways (AOPs) are conceptual frameworks that tie an initial perturbation (molecular initiating event) to a phenotypic toxicological manifestation (adverse outcome), through a series of steps (key events). They provide therefore a standardized way to map and organize toxicological mechanistic information. As such, AOPs inform on key events underlying toxicity, thus supporting the development of New Approach Methodologies (NAMs), which aim to reduce the use of animal testing for toxicology purposes. However, the establishment of a novel AOP relies on the gathering of multiple streams of evidence and information, from available literature to knowledge databases. Often, this information is in the form of free text, also called unstructured text, which is not immediately digestible by a computer. This information is thus both tedious and increasingly time-consuming to process manually with the growing volume of data available. The advancement of machine learning provides alternative solutions to this challenge. To extract and organize information from relevant sources, it seems valuable to employ deep learning Natural Language Processing techniques. We review here some of the recent progress in the NLP field, and show how these techniques have already demonstrated value in the biomedical and toxicology areas. We also propose an approach to efficiently and reliably extract and combine relevant toxicological information from text. This data can be used to map underlying mechanisms that lead to toxicological effects and start building quantitative models, in particular AOPs, ultimately allowing animal-free human-based hazard and risk assessment.
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Bossa C, Andreoli C, Bakker M, Barone F, De Angelis I, Jeliazkova N, Nymark P, Battistelli CL. FAIRification of nanosafety data to improve applicability of (Q)SAR approaches: A case study on in vitro Comet assay genotoxicity data. Comput Toxicol 2021; 20:100190. [PMID: 34820591 PMCID: PMC8591730 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Revised: 09/17/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
(Quantitative) structure-activity relationship ([Q]SAR) methodologies are widely applied to predict the (eco)toxicological effects of chemicals, and their use is envisaged in different regulatory frameworks for filling data gaps of untested substances. However, their application to the risk assessment of nanomaterials is still limited, also due to the scarcity of large and curated experimental datasets. Despite a great amount of nanosafety data having been produced over the last decade in international collaborative initiatives, their interpretation, integration and reuse has been hampered by several obstacles, such as poorly described (meta)data, non-standard terminology, lack of harmonized reporting formats and criteria. Recently, the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable) principles have been established to guide the scientific community in good data management and stewardship. The EU H2020 Gov4Nano project, together with other international projects and initiatives, is addressing the challenge of improving nanosafety data FAIRness, for maximizing their availability, understanding, exchange and ultimately their reuse. These efforts are largely supported by the creation of a common Nanosafety Data Interface, which connects a row of project-specific databases applying the eNanoMapper data model. A wide variety of experimental data relating to characterization and effects of nanomaterials are stored in the database; however, the methods, protocols and parameters driving their generation are not fully mature. This article reports the progress of an ongoing case study in the Gov4nano project on the reuse of in vitro Comet genotoxicity data, focusing on the issues and challenges encountered in their FAIRification through the eNanoMapper data model. The case study is part of an iterative process in which the FAIRification of data supports the understanding of the phenomena underlying their generation and, ultimately, improves their reusability.
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Key Words
- (Q)SAR approaches
- (Q)SAR, (Quantitative) structure-activity relationship
- AOP, Adverse Outcome Pathway
- ECHA, European Chemicals Agency
- FAIR principles
- FAIR, Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable
- Fpg, Formamido pyrimidine glycosilase
- Genotoxicity
- IATA, Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment
- ISA–Tab, Investigation/Study/Assay Tab-delimited
- JRC, Joint Research Centre
- MIRCA, Minimum Information for Reporting Comet Assay
- NMBP, Horizon 2020 Advisory Group for Nanotechnologies, Advanced Materials, Biotechnology and Advanced Manufacturing and Processing
- NMBP-13-2018 projects, Gov4Nano, NANORIGO and RiskGONE
- NMs, nanomaterials
- Nano-EHS, Nano Environment, Health and Safety
- Nanomaterials
- Nanosafety data
- OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- OTM, Olive tail moment
- REACH, Registration, Evaluation Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
- SCGE, Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis
- SOPs, Standard Operating Procedures
- in vitro Comet assay
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Bossa
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Andreoli
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Martine Bakker
- Centre for Safety of Substances and Products, National Institute of Public Health and the Environment (RIVM), Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Flavia Barone
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella De Angelis
- Environment and Health Department, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Penny Nymark
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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Palermo CM, Foreman JE, Wikoff DS, Lea I. Development of a putative adverse outcome pathway network for male rat reproductive tract abnormalities with specific considerations for the androgen sensitive window of development. Curr Res Toxicol 2021; 2:254-71. [PMID: 34401750 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2021.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2021] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Structured approaches like the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework offer great potential for depicting complex toxicological processes in a manner that can facilitate informed integration of mechanistic information in regulatory decisions. While this concept provides a structure for organizing evidence and facilitates consistency in evidence integration; the process, inputs, and manner in which AOPs and AOP networks are developed is still evolving. Following the OECD guiding principles of AOP development, we propose three AOPs for male reproductive tract abnormalities and derive a putative AOP network. The AOPs were developed using a fundamental understanding of the developmental biology of the organs of interest, paying close attention to the gestational timing of key events (KEs) to very specifically inform the domain of life stage applicability for the key event relationships (KERs). Chemical stressor data primarily from studies on low molecular weight phthalates (LMWPs) served to 'bound' the pathways of focus in this dynamic period of development and were integrated with the developmental biology data through an iterative process to define KEs and conclude on the extent of evidence in support of the KERs. The AOPs developed describe the linkage between 1) a decrease in Insl3 gene expression and cryptorchidism, 2) the sustained expression of Coup-tfII and hypospadias and 3) the sustained expression of Coup-tfII and altered Wolffian duct development/ epididymal agenesis. A putative AOP network linking AOP2 and AOP3 through decreased steroidogenic biosynthetic protein expression and converging of all AOPS at the population level impaired fertility adverse outcome is proposed. The network depiction specifies and displays the KEs aligned with their occurrence in gestational time. The pathways and network described herein are intended to catalyze collaborative initiatives for expansion into a larger network to enable effective data collection and inform alternative approaches for identifying stressors impacting this sensitive period of male reproductive tract development.
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Key Words
- AGD, Anogenital distance
- AO, Adverse Outcome
- AOP, Adverse Outcome Pathway
- Adverse outcome pathway
- Adverse outcome pathway network
- DBP, Dibutyl phthalate
- DEHP, Di(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate
- DHT, 5α-dihydrotestosterone
- DPP, Dipentyl phthalate
- E, Embryonic day (ED1=GD1 gestational day 1)
- GD, Gestational day (GD1=ED1 embryonic day 1)
- KE, Key event
- KER, Key event relationship
- LMWP, low molecular weight phthalate straight chain length of the esterified alcohols between 3 and 6 carbon atoms
- MPW, male programming window
- Male programming window
- Phthalate
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Yang C, Cronin MTD, Arvidson KB, Bienfait B, Enoch SJ, Heldreth B, Hobocienski B, Muldoon-Jacobs K, Lan Y, Madden JC, Magdziarz T, Marusczyk J, Mostrag A, Nelms M, Neagu D, Przybylak K, Rathman JF, Park J, Richarz AN, Richard AM, Ribeiro JV, Sacher O, Schwab C, Vitcheva V, Volarath P, Worth AP. COSMOS next generation - A public knowledge base leveraging chemical and biological data to support the regulatory assessment of chemicals. Comput Toxicol 2021; 19:100175. [PMID: 34405124 PMCID: PMC8351204 DOI: 10.1016/j.comtox.2021.100175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
The COSMOS Database (DB) was originally established to provide reliable data for cosmetics-related chemicals within the COSMOS Project funded as part of the SEURAT-1 Research Initiative. The database has subsequently been maintained and developed further into COSMOS Next Generation (NG), a combination of database and in silico tools, essential components of a knowledge base. COSMOS DB provided a cosmetics inventory as well as other regulatory inventories, accompanied by assessment results and in vitro and in vivo toxicity data. In addition to data content curation, much effort was dedicated to data governance - data authorisation, characterisation of quality, documentation of meta information, and control of data use. Through this effort, COSMOS DB was able to merge and fuse data of various types from different sources. Building on the previous effort, the COSMOS Minimum Inclusion (MINIS) criteria for a toxicity database were further expanded to quantify the reliability of studies. COSMOS NG features multiple fingerprints for analysing structure similarity, and new tools to calculate molecular properties and screen chemicals with endpoint-related public profilers, such as DNA and protein binders, liver alerts and genotoxic alerts. The publicly available COSMOS NG enables users to compile information and execute analyses such as category formation and read-across. This paper provides a step-by-step guided workflow for a simple read-across case, starting from a target structure and culminating in an estimation of a NOAEL confidence interval. Given its strong technical foundation, inclusion of quality-reviewed data, and provision of tools designed to facilitate communication between users, COSMOS NG is a first step towards building a toxicological knowledge hub leveraging many public data systems for chemical safety evaluation. We continue to monitor the feedback from the user community at support@mn-am.com.
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Key Words
- AOP, Adverse Outcome Pathway
- Analogue selection
- CERES, Chemical Evaluation and Risk Estimation System
- CFSAN, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition
- CMS-ID, COSMOS Identification Number
- COSMOS DB, COSMOS Database
- COSMOS MINIS, Minimum Inclusion Criteria of Studies in COSMOS DB
- COSMOS NG, COSMOS Next Generation
- CRADA, Cooperative Research and Development Agreement
- CosIng, Cosmetic Ingredient Database
- DART, Developmental & Reproductive Toxicity
- DB, Database
- DST, Dempster Shafer Theory
- Database
- ECHA, European Chemicals Agency
- EFSA, European Food Safety Authority
- Guided workflow
- HESS, Hazard Evaluation Support System
- HNEL, Highest No Effect Level
- HTS, High throughput screening
- ILSI, International Life Sciences Institute
- IUCLID, International Uniform Chemical Information Database
- Knowledge hub
- LEL, Lowest Effect Level
- LOAEL, Lowest Observed Adverse Effect Level
- LogP, Logarithm of the octanol:water partition coefficient
- NAM, New Approach Methodology
- NGRA, Next Generation Risk-Assessment
- NITE, National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (Japan)
- NOAEL, No Observed Adverse Effect Level
- NTP, National Toxicology Program
- OECD, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
- OpenFoodTox, EFSA’s OpenFoodTox database
- PAFA, Priority-based Assessment of Food Additive database
- PK/TK, Pharmacokinetics/Toxicokinetics
- Public database
- QA, Quality Assurance
- QC, Quality Control
- REACH, Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals
- SCC, Science Committee on Cosmetics (EU)
- SCCNFP, Scientific Committee of Cosmetic Products and Non-food Products intended for Consumers (EU)
- SCCP, Scientific Committee on Consumer Products (EU)
- SCCS, Scientific Committee on Consumer Safety (EU)
- Study reliability
- TTC, Threshold of Toxicological Concern
- ToxRefDB, Toxicity Reference Database
- Toxicity
- US EPA, United States Environmental Protection Agency
- US FDA, United States Food and Drug Administration
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Affiliation(s)
- C Yang
- MN-AM, Columbus, OH, USA
- MN-AM Nürnberg, Germany
| | - M T D Cronin
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | | | | | - S J Enoch
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | - B Heldreth
- Cosmetic Ingredient Review, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | - Y Lan
- University of Bradford, UK
| | - J C Madden
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | | | | | | | - M Nelms
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | | | - K Przybylak
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | - J F Rathman
- MN-AM, Columbus, OH, USA
- The Ohio State University, Columbus OH, USA
| | | | - A-N Richarz
- School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - V Vitcheva
- MN-AM, Columbus, OH, USA
- MN-AM Nürnberg, Germany
| | | | - A P Worth
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
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Czekala L, Wieczorek R, Simms L, Yu F, Budde J, Trelles Sticken E, Rudd K, Verron T, Brinster O, Stevenson M, Walele T. Multi-endpoint analysis of human 3D airway epithelium following repeated exposure to whole electronic vapor product aerosol or cigarette smoke. Curr Res Toxicol 2021; 2:99-115. [PMID: 34345855 PMCID: PMC8320624 DOI: 10.1016/j.crtox.2021.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Smoking is a cause of serious diseases in smokers including chronic respiratory diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the tobacco harm reduction (THR) potential of an electronic vapor product (EVP, myblu™) compared to a Kentucky Reference Cigarette (3R4F), and assessed endpoints related to chronic respiratory diseases. Endpoints included: cytotoxicity, barrier integrity (TEER), cilia function, immunohistochemistry, and pro-inflammatory markers. In order to more closely represent the user exposure scenario, we have employed the in vitro 3D organotypic model of human airway epithelium (MucilAir™, Epithelix) for respiratory assessment. The model was repeatedly exposed to either whole aerosol of the EVP, or whole 3R4F smoke, at the air liquid interface (ALI), for 4 weeks to either 30, 60 or 90 puffs on 3-exposure-per-week basis. 3R4F smoke generation used the ISO 20778:2018 regime and EVP aerosol used the ISO 20768:2018 vaping regime. Exposure to undiluted whole EVP aerosol did not trigger any significant changes in the level of pro-inflammatory mediators, cilia beating function, barrier integrity and cytotoxicity when compared with air controls. In contrast, exposure to diluted (1:17) whole cigarette smoke caused significant changes to all the endpoints mentioned above. To our knowledge, this is the first study evaluating the effects of repeated whole cigarette smoke and whole EVP aerosol exposure to a 3D lung model at the ALI. Our results add to the growing body of scientific literature supporting the THR potential of EVPs relative to combustible cigarettes and the applicability of the 3D lung models in human-relevant product risk assessments.
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Key Words
- 2D, Two Dimensional
- 3D, Three Dimensional
- 3R4F, Scientific Reference Tobacco Cigarette (University of Kentucky)
- ALI, Air-Liquid Interface
- ANOVA, Analysis of Variance
- AOP, Adverse Outcome Pathway
- CAA, Cilia Active Area
- CBF, Cilia Beat Frequency
- COPD, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- CYP450, Cytochrome P450
- Cigarette
- Cilia
- DPBS, Dulbecco's phosphate-buffered saline containing Ca2+ and Mg2+
- EGFR, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor
- EVP, Electronic Vapor Product
- Electronic vapor product
- FOX-J1, Forkhead Box J1 protein
- H&E, Hematoxylin and Eosin
- IIVS, Institute for In Vitro Sciences
- IL-13, Interleukin 13
- IL-1β, Interleukin 1 Beta
- IL-6, Interleukin-6
- IL-8, Interleukin-8
- ISO, International Organization for Standardization
- Immunohistochemistry
- KERs, Key Event Relationships
- KEs, Key Events
- LDH, Lactate Dehydrogenase
- MIE, Molecular Initiating Event
- MMP-1, Matrix Metalloproteinase-1
- MMP-3, Matrix Metalloproteinase-3
- MMP-9, Matrix Metalloproteinase-9
- MUC5AC, Mucin 5AC Protein
- MWP, Multi-Well Plate
- NKT, Natural Killer T Cells
- Organotypic tissue model
- PBS, Phosphate Buffered Saline
- PMN, polymorphonuclear
- Pro-inflammatory markers
- SAEIVS, Smoke Aerosol Exposure In Vitro System
- TEER, Transepithelial Electrical Resistance
- THR, Tobacco Harm Reduction
- TNF-α, Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha
- TPM, Total Particulate Matter
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukasz Czekala
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Roman Wieczorek
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Albert-EinsteinRing-7, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Liam Simms
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Fan Yu
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Jessica Budde
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Albert-EinsteinRing-7, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Edgar Trelles Sticken
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Albert-EinsteinRing-7, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Kathryn Rudd
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Thomas Verron
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Oleg Brinster
- Reemtsma Cigarettenfabriken GmbH, An Imperial Brands PLC Company, Albert-EinsteinRing-7, D-22761 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Matthew Stevenson
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
| | - Tanvir Walele
- Imperial Brands PLC, 121 Winterstoke Road, Bristol BS3 2LL, United Kingdom
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