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Huang H, Lv Y, Chen Q, Huang X, Qin J, Liu Y, Liao Q, Xing X, Chen L, Liu Q, Li S, Long Z, Wang Q, Chen W, Wei Q, Hou M, Hu Q, Xiao Y. Empirical analysis of lead neurotoxicity mode of action and its application in health risk assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 251:118708. [PMID: 38493858 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.118708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2023] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
The mode of action (MOA) framework is proposed to inform a biological link between chemical exposures and adverse health effects. Despite a significant increase in knowledge and awareness, the application of MOA in human health risk assessment (RA) remains limited. This study aims to discuss the adoption of MOA for health RA within a regulatory context, taking our previously proposed but not yet validated MOA for lead neurotoxicity as an example. We first conducted a quantitative weight of evidence (qWOE) assessment, which revealed that the MOA has a moderate confidence. Then, targeted bioassays were performed within an in vitro blood-brain barrier (BBB) model to quantitatively validate the scientific validity of key events (KEs) in terms of essentiality and concordance of empirical support (dose/temporal concordance), which increases confidence in utilizing the MOA for RA. Building upon the quantitative validation data, we further conducted benchmark dose (BMD) analysis to map dose-response relationships for the critical toxicity pathways, and the lower limit of BMD at a 5% response (BMDL5) was identified as the point of departure (POD) value for adverse health effects. Notably, perturbation of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) signaling pathway exhibited the lowest POD value, measured at 0.0062 μM. Considering bioavailability, we further calculated a provisional health-based guidance value (HBGV) for children's lead intake, determining it to be 2.56 μg/day. Finally, the health risk associated with the HBGV was assessed using the hazard quotient (HQ) approach, which indicated that the HBGV established in this study is a relative safe reference value for lead intake. In summary, our study described the procedure for utilizing MOA in health RA and set an example for MOA-based human health risk regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hehai Huang
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Department of Occupational Health, Public Health Service Center, Bao'an District, Shenzhen, 518126, China
| | - Yanrong Lv
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qingfei Chen
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiaowei Huang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, China
| | - Jingyao Qin
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yan Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qilong Liao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Xiumei Xing
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Liping Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qing Liu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Shuangqi Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Zihao Long
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qing Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Wen Chen
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qing Wei
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Mengjun Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Qiansheng Hu
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China
| | - Yongmei Xiao
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Food, Nutrition, and Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
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Thienpont A, Cho E, Williams A, Meier MJ, Yauk CL, Rogiers V, Vanhaecke T, Mertens B. Unlocking the Power of Transcriptomic Biomarkers in Qualitative and Quantitative Genotoxicity Assessment of Chemicals. Chem Res Toxicol 2024; 37:465-475. [PMID: 38408751 PMCID: PMC10952014 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00318] [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: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024]
Abstract
To modernize genotoxicity assessment and reduce reliance on experimental animals, new approach methodologies (NAMs) that provide human-relevant dose-response data are needed. Two transcriptomic biomarkers, GENOMARK and TGx-DDI, have shown a high classification accuracy for genotoxicity. As these biomarkers were extracted from different training sets, we investigated whether combining the two biomarkers in a human-derived metabolically competent cell line (i.e., HepaRG) provides complementary information for the classification of genotoxic hazard identification and potency ranking. First, the applicability of GENOMARK to TempO-Seq, a high-throughput transcriptomic technology, was evaluated. HepaRG cells were exposed for 72 h to increasing concentrations of 10 chemicals (i.e., eight known in vivo genotoxicants and two in vivo nongenotoxicants). Gene expression data were generated using the TempO-Seq technology. We found a prediction performance of 100%, confirming the applicability of GENOMARK to TempO-Seq. Classification using TGx-DDI was then compared to GENOMARK. For the chemicals identified as genotoxic, benchmark concentration modeling was conducted to perform potency ranking. The high concordance observed for both hazard classification and potency ranking by GENOMARK and TGx-DDI highlights the value of integrating these NAMs in a weight of evidence evaluation of genotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anouck Thienpont
- Department
of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
- Department
of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eunnara Cho
- Environmental
Health Science and Research Bureau, Health
Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Andrew Williams
- Environmental
Health Science and Research Bureau, Health
Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Matthew J. Meier
- Environmental
Health Science and Research Bureau, Health
Canada, Ottawa, ON K1A 0K9, Canada
| | - Carole L. Yauk
- Department
of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON K1N 6N5, Canada
| | - Vera Rogiers
- Department
of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Tamara Vanhaecke
- Department
of In Vitro Toxicology and Dermato-Cosmetology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), 1090 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Birgit Mertens
- Department
of Chemical and Physical Health Risks, Sciensano, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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Barutcu AR, Black MB, Nong A. Mining toxicogenomic data for dose-responsive pathways: implications in advancing next-generation risk assessment. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1272364. [PMID: 38046401 PMCID: PMC10691261 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1272364] [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: 08/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: While targeted investigation of key toxicity pathways has been instrumental for biomarker discovery, unbiased and holistic analysis of transcriptomic data provides a complementary systems-level perspective. However, in a systematic context, this approach has yet to receive comprehensive and methodical implementation. Methods: Here, we took an integrated bioinformatic approach by re-analyzing publicly available MCF7 cell TempO-seq data for 44 ToxCast chemicals using an alternative pipeline to demonstrate the power of this approach. The original study has focused on analyzing the gene signature approach and comparing them to in vitro biological pathway altering concentrations determined from ToxCast HTS assays. Our workflow, in comparison, involves sequential differential expression, gene set enrichment, benchmark dose modeling, and identification of commonly perturbed pathways by network visualization. Results: Using this approach, we identified dose-responsive molecular changes, biological pathways, and points of departure in an untargeted manner. Critically, benchmark dose modeling based on pathways recapitulated points of departure for apical endpoints, while also revealing additional perturbed mechanisms missed by single endpoint analyses. Discussion: This systems-toxicology approach provides multifaceted insights into the complex effects of chemical exposures. Our work highlights the importance of unbiased data-driven techniques, alongside targeted methods, for comprehensively evaluating molecular initiating events, dose-response relationships, and toxicity pathways. Overall, integrating omics assays with robust bioinformatics holds promise for improving chemical risk assessment and advancing new approach methodologies (NAMs).
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Busch M, Brouwer H, Aalderink G, Bredeck G, Kämpfer AAM, Schins RPF, Bouwmeester H. Investigating nanoplastics toxicity using advanced stem cell-based intestinal and lung in vitro models. FRONTIERS IN TOXICOLOGY 2023; 5:1112212. [PMID: 36777263 PMCID: PMC9911716 DOI: 10.3389/ftox.2023.1112212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2023] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Plastic particles in the nanometer range-called nanoplastics-are environmental contaminants with growing public health concern. As plastic particles are present in water, soil, air and food, human exposure via intestine and lung is unavoidable, but possible health effects are still to be elucidated. To better understand the Mode of Action of plastic particles, it is key to use experimental models that best reflect human physiology. Novel assessment methods like advanced cell models and several alternative approaches are currently used and developed in the scientific community. So far, the use of cancer cell line-based models is the standard approach regarding in vitro nanotoxicology. However, among the many advantages of the use of cancer cell lines, there are also disadvantages that might favor other approaches. In this review, we compare cell line-based models with stem cell-based in vitro models of the human intestine and lung. In the context of nanoplastics research, we highlight the advantages that come with the use of stem cells. Further, the specific challenges of testing nanoplastics in vitro are discussed. Although the use of stem cell-based models can be demanding, we conclude that, depending on the research question, stem cells in combination with advanced exposure strategies might be a more suitable approach than cancer cell lines when it comes to toxicological investigation of nanoplastics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mathias Busch
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Hugo Brouwer
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Germaine Aalderink
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Gerrit Bredeck
- IUF—Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | | | - Roel P. F. Schins
- IUF—Leibniz-Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Hans Bouwmeester
- Division of Toxicology, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, Netherlands,*Correspondence: Hans Bouwmeester,
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