Increase in thyroid follicular cell tumors in nelfinavir-treated rats observed in a 2-year carcinogenicity study is consistent with a rat-specific mechanism of thyroid neoplasia

The carcinogenic potential of nelfinavir mesylate (nelfinavir) was evaluated in a 2-year oral (gavage) study on Sprague-Dawley rats at dose levels of 0 (control), 0 (vehicle control), 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg per day. At the end of the treatment, increased incidences of thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia and neoplasms were observed at 300 (males) and 1000 mg/kg per day (both sexes). There were no other treatment-related effects and no tumors at other sites. Results from previous studies indicated a number of effects in the liver and thyroid, as well as metabolic profiles that suggested nelfinavir might cause thyroid hyperplasia/neoplasia secondary to hormone imbalance by altering thyroid hormone disposition. To investigate this hypothesis, the effects of nelfinavir on gene expression in rat hepatocytes and liver slices (in vitro), thyroxine plasma clearance, and thyroid gland function were evaluated. Compared to controls, gene expression analyses demonstrated an increased expression of glucuronyltransferase (UDPGT) and CYP450 3A1 in nelfinavir-treated rat hepatocytes and liver slices. In rats treated with nelfinavir (1000 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks, liver weights and centrilobular hepatocellular hypertrophy were increased and minimal to mild diffuse thyroid follicular cell hypertrophy and follicular cell hyperplasia were evident in the thyroid gland. Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) levels were significantly increased (three-fold), while tri-iodothyronine (T3)/tetraiodothyronine (T4) and reverse T3(rT3) levels were unchanged, indicating that a compensated state to maintain homeostasis of T3/T4 had been achieved. Plasma 125I-thyroxine clearance was increased and the plasma thyroxine AUC0 48 was decreased (24%) compared to control. In conclusion, these data indicate that thyroid neoplasms observed in the nelfinavir-treated rats were secondary to thyroid hormone imbalance. Increased thyroxine clearance contributes to the effects of nelfinavir on thyroid gland function and is probably a result of UDPGT induction that leads to elevated TSH levels in the rat and eventual thyroid neoplasia. These results are consistent with a well-recognized rat-specific mechanism for thyroid neoplasms.

Appropriate Use of Recovery Groups in Nonclinical Toxicity Studies: Value in a Science-Driven Case-by-Case Approach

A recovery phase—a nondosing period that follows the main dosing phase of a study—is sometimes included in nonclinical toxicity studies, and it is designed to understand whether toxicities observed at the end of the dosing phase are partially or completely reversible. For biopharmaceuticals with long half-lives, the inclusion of recovery arms can be helpful in understanding effects of prolonged exposure and assessing antidrug antibodies. This commentary discusses when to include recovery groups in nonclinical toxicity studies, the number of recovery groups to include in a given study, the number of animals to include in each recovery group, and the duration of the recovery phase. In general, the inclusion of recovery arms should follow a case-by-case approach that values rational scientific design and reflects the development needs and regulatory requirements applicable to individual nonclinical programs to ensure appropriate guidance for human studies while minimizing laboratory animal use.

Toxicology and humoral immunity assessment of octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4) following a 28-day whole body vapor inhalation exposure in Fischer 344 rats

Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, D4, is a low viscosity, silicone fluid consisting of four dimethyl-siloxy units ((CH3)2SiO)4 in a cyclic structure. It is primarily used as a building block in the industrial synthesis of long chain silicone polymers. The combination of D4 with decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is commonly referred to as cyclomethicone which has a wide range of applications as a formulation aid in personal care products. To extend the existing database regarding the biological activities of D4, a 28 day whole body vapor inhalation study was conducted using Fischer 344 rats at 0 (room air), 7, 20, 60, 180 and 540 ppm for 6 hours/day, 5 days/week. Parameters measured included body weights, organ weights, gross pathology, histopathology, serum chemistries, and urinalysis. In addition to these standard toxicological endpoints, the ability of D4 exposed animals to mount an IgM antibody response was evaluated by a splenic antibody forming cell (AFC) assay and a serum enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). The results of this 28-day inhalation study indicate that D4 exposure caused no adverse effects on body weight, food consumption, or urinalysis parameters. In addition, there were no exposure related histopathological alterations at any site for any exposure group. A statistically significant increase in liver weight and the liver to body weight ratio was observed in both male (180-540 ppm) and female (20-540 ppm) rats, which was not observed in the 14-day recovery group animals. There were no other significant organ weight changes. Although statistically significant changes were observed in several hematological and serum chemistry parameters in both the terminal and 14-day recovery animals, the changes were marginal and within the normal range of values for the rat. Under these experimental conditions, there were no alterations noted in immune system function at any of the D4 exposure levels.

Induction of hepatic xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes in female Fischer-344 rats following repeated inhalation exposure to decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5)

Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) is a cyclic siloxane with a wide range of commercial applications. The present study was designed to investigate the effects of D5 on the expression and activity of selected rat hepatic phase I and phase II metabolizing enzymes. Female Fischer-344 rats were exposed to 160 ppm D5 vapors (6 h/day, 7 days/week, for 28 days) by whole-body inhalation. Changes in the activity and relative abundance of hepatic microsomal cytochromes P450 (CYP1A, CYP2B, CYP3A, and CYP4A), epoxide hydrolase, and UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDPGT) were measured. Repeated inhalation exposure of rats to D5 increased liver size by 16% relative to controls by day 28. During a 14-day post-exposure period, liver size in D5-exposed animals showed significant recovery. Exposure to D5 did not change total hepatic P450, but increased the activity of hepatic NADPH-cytochrome c reductase by 1.4-fold. An evaluation of cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes in hepatic microsomes prepared from D5-exposed rats revealed a slight (1.8-fold) increase in 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity, but no change in immunoreactive CYP1A1/2 protein. A moderate increase (4.2-fold) in both 7-pentoxyresorufin O-depentylase (PROD) activity and immunoreactive CYP2B1/2 protein (3.3-fold) was observed. Testosterone 6beta-hydroxylase activity was also increased (2.4-fold) as was CYP3A1/2 immunoreactive protein. Although a small increase in 11- and 12-hydroxylation of lauric acid was detected, no change in immunoreactive CYP4A levels was measured. Liver microsomal epoxide hydrolase activity and immunoreactive protein increased 1.7- and 1.4-fold, respectively, in the D5-exposed group. UDPGT activity toward chloramphenicol was induced 1.8-fold, while no change in UDPGT activity toward 4-nitrophenol was seen. These results suggest that the profile for enzyme induction following inhalation exposure of female Fischer-344 rats to D5 vapors is similar to that reported for phenobarbital, and therefore D5 may be described as a weak "phenobarbital-like" inducer.

Inhalation toxicology of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) following a 3-month nose-only exposure in Fischer 344 rats

D5 is a low-molecular-weight cyclic siloxane used for industrial and consumer product applications. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the subchronic toxicity of D5 following a 3-month nose-only inhalation exposure. In addition, animals from both sexes of the control and high dose groups were allowed a 4-week recovery period to observe reversibility, persistence, or delayed occurrence of any potential adverse effects. Male and female Fischer 344 rats were exposed for 6 h/day, 5 days/week for 3 months to target concentrations of 0 (30/sex/group), 26 (20/sex/group), 46 (20/sex/group), 86 (20/sex/group), and 224 (30/sex/group) ppm D5. Recovery groups (0 and 224 ppm) comprised 10 rats/sex/group. Body weights and food consumption were monitored at least twice weekly over the course of exposures. Approximately 16 h preceding euthanasia, animals were transferred into metabolism caging for urine collection and were fasted. Rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital and euthanized by exsanguination. Blood was collected for hematological and clinical biochemical analyses. Selected organ weights were measured and a complete set of tissues was taken for histopathological examination. There were several minor changes observed in clinical biochemistry parameters; the most notable was an increase in gamma glutamyl transferase (gamma-GT) in both sexes at the high dose. In females, this effect was dose-related (46-224 ppm) and did not recover upon cessation of exposure. Additionally, there was an decrease in serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) observed in females at 86 and 224 ppm which was not resolved during recovery. There was an increase in absolute and/or relative liver weight in rats of both sexes. Taken together, these data suggest that the female rat is more sensitive to the actions of D5 on the liver. Exposure-related increases in absolute and relative lung weights were observed in both sexes at terminal necropsy. This observation was not noted in males in the recovery phase, but was still present in females. Finally, histopathological evidence indicated the primary target organ following D5 inhalation exposure is the lung, with an increase in focal macrophage accumulation and interstitial inflammation in the lungs of male and female rats exposed to 224 ppm D5. This observation did not appear to resolve at the end of a 1-month period of nonexposure. The incidence of these changes was also slightly increased in rats of both sexes exposed to 86 ppm D5. These data suggest that nose-only D5 vapor inhalation provokes minimal changes in the lung which are similar in incidence and severity to spontaneously occurring changes in control animals after nose-only exposures. There were no histopathological findings noted in the livers which support this organ as a target in this study, despite the observed changes in organ weight and in some serum chemistry parameters.

Toxicology and humoral immunity assessment of decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5) following a 1-month whole body inhalation exposure in Fischer 344 rats

D5 is a low-molecular-weight cyclic siloxane used for industrial and consumer product applications. The objective of the present study was to assess potential toxic and immunomodulatory consequences of inhalation exposure to D5. Male and female Fischer 344 rats (25/group) were exposed by whole body inhalation to 0, 10, 25, 75, or 160 ppm D5 6 h/day, 7 days/week for 28 days. Clinical signs, body weights, and food consumption were recorded. On the day following the final exposure, 10 rats/group/sex were euthanized and a complete necropsy performed. Following a 14-day nonexposure recovery period, the remaining 5 rats/sex/group were necropsied. Body and organ weights were obtained and a complete set of tissues was taken for histopathology. Samples were also collected for serum chemistry, hematology, and urinalysis. Immunotoxicology-designated rats (10/sex/group) were immunized with sheep erythrocytes (sRBC) 4 days prior to euthanasia and cyclophosphamide (CYP) was administered i.p. to positive controls on days 24 through 28. The anti-sRBC antibody-forming cell (AFC) response was evaluated in a standard plaque assay. Blood was also collected for examination in the anti-sRBC enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). D5 exposure did not modulate humoral immunity, while the internal control, CYP, produced the expected suppression of the AFC response. D5 exposure caused no adverse effects on body weight, food consumption, or urinalysis parameters. Serum alkaline phosphatase (SAP) was significantly decreased in females at terminal (12%, 160 ppm) and recovery sacrifice. A significant increase in the liver-to-body weight ratio was observed in female animals at the end of exposures (13%, 160 ppm), but was not noted in recovery animals from the same exposure group. In males, significant increases in liver-to-body weight (5%) and thymus-to-body weight (14%) ratios were also noted at the high dose at terminal sacrifice and were not present at recovery. At recovery only, a significant increase in spleen-to-body weight ratios (14 and 17%; 25 and 160 ppm, respectively) was noted. At the end of exposure, histopathological analysis indicated an increased incidence and severity of nasal (Level 1) goblet cell proliferation. Focal macrophage accumulation in the lung was also observed to be increased in incidence in both sexes at 160 ppm. At the end of the recovery period, the effects in both of these organs appeared to be reversible. In summary, D5 inhalation exposure did not alter humoral immunity and caused only minor, transient changes in hematological, serum chemistry, and organ weight values. Histopathological changes were confined to the respiratory tract and appeared to be reversible. The no observed effect level for systemic toxicity, based primarily on the liver weight changes, was 75 ppm.