1
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Miller DH, LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Ankley GT. Projection of Interspecific Competition (PIC) Matrices: A Conceptual Framework for Inclusion in Population Risk Assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024. [PMID: 38651999 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5867] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 12/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Accounting for intraspecific and interspecific competition when assessing the effects of chemical and nonchemical stressors is an important uncertainty in ecological risk assessments. We developed novel projection of interspecific competition (PIC) matrices that allow for analysis of population dynamics of two or more species exposed to a given stressor(s) that compete for shared resources within a landscape. We demonstrate the application of PIC matrices to investigate the population dynamics of two hypothetical fish species that compete with one another and have differences in net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of population increase. Population status predictions were made under scenarios that included exposure to a chemical stressor that reduced fecundity for one or both species. The results of our simulations demonstrated that measures obtained from the life table and Leslie matrix of an organism, including net reproductive rate and intrinsic rate of increase, can result in erroneous conclusions of population status and viability in the absence of a consideration of resource limitation and interspecific competition. This modeling approach can be used in conjunction with field monitoring efforts and/or laboratory testing to link effects due to stressors to possible outcomes within an ecosystem. In addition, PIC matrices could be combined with adverse outcome pathways to allow for ecosystem projection based on taxonomic conservation of molecular targets of chemicals to predict the likelihood of relative cross-species susceptibility. Overall, the present study shows how PIC matrices can integrate effects across the life cycles of multiple species, provide a linkage between endpoints observed in individual and population-level responses, and project outcomes at the community level for multiple generations for multiple species that compete for limited resources. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-17. Published 2024. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- David H Miller
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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2
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Ankley GT, Berninger JP, Maloney EM, Olker JH, Schaupp CM, Villeneuve DL, LaLone CA. Linking Mechanistic Effects of Pharmaceuticals and Personal Care Products to Ecologically Relevant Outcomes: A Decade of Progress. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024; 43:537-548. [PMID: 35735070 PMCID: PMC11036122 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
There are insufficient toxicity data to assess the ecological risks of many pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). While data limitations are not uncommon for contaminants of environmental concern, PPCPs are somewhat unique in that an a priori understanding of their biological activities in conjunction with measurements of molecular, biochemical, or histological responses could provide a foundation for understanding mode(s) of action and predicting potential adverse apical effects. Over the past decade significant progress has been made in the development of new approach methodologies (NAMs) to efficiently quantify these types of endpoints using computational models and pathway-based in vitro and in vivo assays. The availability of open-access knowledgebases to curate biological response (including NAM) data and sophisticated bioinformatics tools to help interpret the information also has significantly increased. Finally, advances in the development and implementation of the adverse outcome pathway framework provide the critical conceptual underpinnings needed to translate NAM data into predictions of the ecologically relevant outcomes required by risk assessors and managers. The evolution and convergence of these various data streams, tools, and concepts provides the basis for a fundamental change in how ecological risks of PPCPs can be pragmatically assessed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:537-548. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald T Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jason P Berninger
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Erin M Maloney
- University of Minnesota-Duluth, Integrated Biological Sciences Program, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jennifer H Olker
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | | | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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3
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Brooks BW, van den Berg S, Dreier DA, LaLone CA, Owen SF, Raimondo S, Zhang X. Towards Precision Ecotoxicology: Leveraging Evolutionary Conservation of Pharmaceutical and Personal Care Product Targets to Understand Adverse Outcomes Across Species and Life Stages. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024; 43:526-536. [PMID: 37787405 PMCID: PMC11017229 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2023] [Revised: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/04/2023]
Abstract
Translation of environmental science to the practice aims to protect biodiversity and ecosystem services, and our future ability to do so relies on the development of a precision ecotoxicology approach wherein we leverage the genetics and informatics of species to better understand and manage the risks of global pollution. A little over a decade ago, a workshop focusing on the risks of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the environment identified a priority research question, "What can be learned about the evolutionary conservation of PPCP targets across species and life stages in the context of potential adverse outcomes and effects?" We review the activities in this area over the past decade, consider prospects of more recent developments, and identify future research needs to develop next-generation approaches for PPCPs and other global chemicals and waste challenges. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:526-536. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Department of Environmental Science, Center for Reservoir and Aquatic Systems Research, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, Texas, USA
| | | | - David A Dreier
- Syngenta Crop Protection, Greensboro, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Stewart F Owen
- Global Sustainability, Astra Zeneca, Macclesfield, Cheshire, UK
| | - Sandy Raimondo
- Gulf Ecosystem Measurement and Modeling Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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4
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Haigis AC, Vergauwen L, LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, O'Brien JM, Knapen D. Cross-species applicability of an adverse outcome pathway network for thyroid hormone system disruption. Toxicol Sci 2023; 195:1-27. [PMID: 37405877 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Thyroid hormone system disrupting compounds are considered potential threats for human and environmental health. Multiple adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) for thyroid hormone system disruption (THSD) are being developed in different taxa. Combining these AOPs results in a cross-species AOP network for THSD which may provide an evidence-based foundation for extrapolating THSD data across vertebrate species and bridging the gap between human and environmental health. This review aimed to advance the description of the taxonomic domain of applicability (tDOA) in the network to improve its utility for cross-species extrapolation. We focused on the molecular initiating events (MIEs) and adverse outcomes (AOs) and evaluated both their plausible domain of applicability (taxa they are likely applicable to) and empirical domain of applicability (where evidence for applicability to various taxa exists) in a THSD context. The evaluation showed that all MIEs in the AOP network are applicable to mammals. With some exceptions, there was evidence of structural conservation across vertebrate taxa and especially for fish and amphibians, and to a lesser extent for birds, empirical evidence was found. Current evidence supports the applicability of impaired neurodevelopment, neurosensory development (eg, vision) and reproduction across vertebrate taxa. The results of this tDOA evaluation are summarized in a conceptual AOP network that helps prioritize (parts of) AOPs for a more detailed evaluation. In conclusion, this review advances the tDOA description of an existing THSD AOP network and serves as a catalog summarizing plausible and empirical evidence on which future cross-species AOP development and tDOA assessment could build.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ann-Cathrin Haigis
- Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lucia Vergauwen
- Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, USA
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, USA
| | - Jason M O'Brien
- Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Dries Knapen
- Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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5
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Morshead ML, Jensen KM, Ankley GT, Vliet S, LaLone CA, Aller AV, Watanabe KH, Villeneuve DL. Putative adverse outcome pathway development based on physiological responses of female fathead minnows to model estrogen versus androgen receptor agonists. Aquat Toxicol 2023; 261:106607. [PMID: 37354817 PMCID: PMC10910347 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2023.106607] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/26/2023]
Abstract
Several adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) have linked molecular initiating events like aromatase inhibition, androgen receptor (AR) agonism, and estrogen receptor (ER) antagonism to reproductive impairment in adult fish. Estrogen receptor agonists can also cause adverse reproductive effects, however, the early key events (KEs) in an AOP leading to this are mostly unknown. The primary aim of this study was to develop hypotheses regarding the potential mechanisms through which exposure to ER agonists might lead to reproductive impairment in female fish. Mature fathead minnows were exposed to 1 or 10 ng 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2)/L or 10 or 100 µg bisphenol A (BPA)/L for 14 d. The response to EE2 and BPA was contrasted with the effects of 500 ng/L of 17β-trenbolone (TRB), an AR agonist, as well as TRB combined with the low and high concentrations of EE2 or BPA tested individually. Exposure to 10 ng EE2/L, 100 µg BPA/L, TRB, or the various mixtures with TRB caused significant decreases in plasma concentrations of 17β-estradiol. Exposure to TRB alone caused a significant reduction in plasma vitellogenin (VTG), but VTG was unaffected or even increased in females exposed to EE2 or BPA alone or, in most cases, in mixtures with TRB. Over the course of the 14-d exposure, the only treatments that clearly did not affect egg production were 1 ng EE2/L and 10 µg BPA/L. Based on these results and knowledge of hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function, we hypothesize an AOP whereby decreased production of maturation-inducing steroid leading to impaired oocyte maturation and ovulation, possibly due to negative feedback or direct inhibitory effects of membrane ER activation, could be responsible for causing adverse reproductive impacts in female fish exposed to ER agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mackenzie L Morshead
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Sara Vliet
- US EPA, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- US EPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Karen H Watanabe
- Arizona State University, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences, Phoenix, AZ, USA
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6
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Vliet SM, Markey KJ, Lynn SG, Adetona A, Fallacara D, Ceger P, Choksi N, Karmaus AL, Watson A, Ewans A, Daniel AB, Hamm J, Vitense K, Wolf KA, Thomas A, LaLone CA. Weight of evidence for cross-species conservation of androgen receptor-based biological activity. Toxicol Sci 2023; 193:131-145. [PMID: 37071731 PMCID: PMC10796108 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfad038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program (EDSP) is tasked with assessing chemicals for their potential to perturb endocrine pathways, including those controlled by androgen receptor (AR). To address challenges associated with traditional testing strategies, EDSP is considering in vitro high-throughput screening assays to screen and prioritize chemicals more efficiently. The ability of these assays to accurately reflect chemical interactions in nonmammalian species remains uncertain. Therefore, a goal of the EDSP is to evaluate how broadly results can be extrapolated across taxa. To assess the cross-species conservation of AR-modulated pathways, computational analyses and systematic literature review approaches were used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of existing in silico, in vitro, and in vivo data. First, molecular target conservation was assessed across 585 diverse species based on the structural similarity of ARs. These results indicate that ARs are conserved across vertebrates and are predicted to share similarly susceptibility to chemicals that interact with the human AR. Systematic analysis of over 5000 published manuscripts was used to compile in vitro and in vivo cross-species toxicity data. Assessment of in vitro data indicates conservation of responses occurs across vertebrate ARs, with potential differences in sensitivity. Similarly, in vivo data indicate strong conservation of the AR signaling pathways across vertebrate species, although sensitivity may vary. Overall, this study demonstrates a framework for utilizing bioinformatics and existing data to build weight of evidence for cross-species extrapolation and provides a technical basis for extrapolating hAR-based data to prioritize hazard in nonmammalian vertebrate species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M.F. Vliet
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Kristan J. Markey
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Endocrine Disrupter Screening Program, Washington, DC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Kelsey Vitense
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Amy Thomas
- Battelle Memorial Institute, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
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7
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Mayasich SA, Goldsmith MR, Mattingly KZ, LaLone CA. Combining In Vitro and In Silico New Approach Methods to Investigate Type 3 Iodothyronine Deiodinase Chemical Inhibition Across Species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:1032-1048. [PMID: 36825751 PMCID: PMC10895443 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
New approach methodologies (NAMs) are being developed to reduce and replace vertebrate animal testing in support of ecotoxicology and risk assessment. The US Environmental Protection Agency's Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) bioinformatic tool was used to evaluate amino acid sequence conservation of the type 3 iodothyronine deiodinase (DIO3) enzyme across species to demonstrate NAM applications for understanding effects of chemical interactions with a specific protein target. Existing literature was used to identify critical amino acids for thyroid hormone binding and interaction with a reducing cofactor. The SeqAPASS tool identifies whether known critical amino acids involved in ligand binding are exact, partial, or not matches across species compared with a template species based on molecular weight and side chain classification. This evaluation guided the design of variant proteins representing critical amino acid substitutions found in various species. Site-directed mutagenesis of the wild-type (WT) human DIO3 gene sequence was used to create six variant proteins expressed in cell culture, which were then tested in vitro for chemical inhibition. Significant differences in in vitro median inhibitory concentration results were observed among variants for potential competitive inhibitors. A molecular model representing the WT human DIO3 was constructed using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software and mutated in silico to create the six variants. The MOE Site Finder tool identified the proposed catalytic and cofactor sites and potential alternative binding sites. Virtual docking did not provide affinity scores with sufficient resolution to rank the potency of the chemical inhibitors. Chemical characteristics, function and location of substituted amino acids, and complexities of the protein target are important considerations in developing NAMs to evaluate chemical susceptibility across species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1032-1048. © 2023 University of Wisconsin-Madison. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sally A. Mayasich
- Aquatic Sciences Center, University of Wisconsin‐Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Ecology, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Michael R. Goldsmith
- Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
- Congruence Therapeutics, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Ecology, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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8
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Mitchell CA, Burden N, Bonnell M, Hecker M, Hutchinson TH, Jagla M, LaLone CA, Lagadic L, Lynn SG, Shore B, Song Y, Vliet SM, Wheeler JR, Embry MR. New Approach Methodologies for the Endocrine Activity Toolbox: Environmental Assessment for Fish and Amphibians. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:757-777. [PMID: 36789969 PMCID: PMC10258674 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Multiple in vivo test guidelines focusing on the estrogen, androgen, thyroid, and steroidogenesis pathways have been developed and validated for mammals, amphibians, or fish. However, these tests are resource-intensive and often use a large number of laboratory animals. Developing alternatives for in vivo tests is consistent with the replacement, reduction, and refinement principles for animal welfare considerations, which are supported by increasing mandates to move toward an "animal-free" testing paradigm worldwide. New approach methodologies (NAMs) hold great promise to identify molecular, cellular, and tissue changes that can be used to predict effects reliably and more efficiently at the individual level (and potentially on populations) while reducing the number of animals used in (eco)toxicological testing for endocrine disruption. In a collaborative effort, experts from government, academia, and industry met in 2020 to discuss the current challenges of testing for endocrine activity assessment for fish and amphibians. Continuing this cross-sector initiative, our review focuses on the current state of the science regarding the use of NAMs to identify chemical-induced endocrine effects. The present study highlights the challenges of using NAMs for safety assessment and what work is needed to reduce their uncertainties and increase their acceptance in regulatory processes. We have reviewed the current NAMs available for endocrine activity assessment including in silico, in vitro, and eleutheroembryo models. New approach methodologies can be integrated as part of a weight-of-evidence approach for hazard or risk assessment using the adverse outcome pathway framework. The development and utilization of NAMs not only allows for replacement, reduction, and refinement of animal testing but can also provide robust and fit-for-purpose methods to identify chemicals acting via endocrine mechanisms. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:757-777. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Natalie Burden
- National Centre for the 3Rs (NC3Rs), London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Bonnell
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Markus Hecker
- Toxicology Centre and School of the Environment & Sustainability, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada
| | | | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Great Lakes Toxicology & Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Laurent Lagadic
- Research and Development, Crop Science, Environmental Safety, Bayer, Monheim am Rhein, Germany
| | - Scott G. Lynn
- Office of Pesticide Programs, US Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC
| | - Bryon Shore
- Environment and Climate Change Canada, Ottawa, Canada
| | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sara M. Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | | | - Michelle R. Embry
- The Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, Washington, DC, USA
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9
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Vliet SMF, Hazemi M, Blatz D, Jensen M, Mayasich S, Transue TR, Simmons C, Wilkinson A, LaLone CA. Demonstration of the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility Tool for Rapid Assessment of Protein Conservation. J Vis Exp 2023:10.3791/63970. [PMID: 36847398 PMCID: PMC10758989 DOI: 10.3791/63970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool is a fast, freely available, online screening application that allows researchers and regulators to extrapolate toxicity information across species. For biological targets in model systems such as human cells, mice, rats, and zebrafish, toxicity data are available for a variety of chemicals. Through the evaluation of protein target conservation, this tool can be used to extrapolate data generated from such model systems to thousands of other species lacking toxicity data, yielding predictions of relative intrinsic chemical susceptibility. The latest releases of the tool (versions 2.0-6.1) have incorporated new features that allow for the rapid synthesis, interpretation, and use of the data for publication plus presentation-quality graphics. Among these features are customizable data visualizations and a comprehensive summary report designed to summarize SeqAPASS data for ease of interpretation. This paper describes the protocol to guide users through submitting jobs, navigating the various levels of protein sequence comparisons, and interpreting and displaying the resulting data. New features of SeqAPASS v2.0-6.0 are highlighted. Furthermore, two use-cases focused on transthyretin and opioid receptor protein conservation using this tool are described. Finally, SeqAPASS' strengths and limitations are discussed to define the domain of applicability for the tool and highlight different applications for cross-species extrapolation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara M F Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
| | | | | | - Marissa Jensen
- Swenson College of Science and Engineering, Department of Biology, University of Minnesota Duluth
| | | | | | - Cody Simmons
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park
| | | | - Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
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10
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LaLone CA, Blatz DJ, Jensen MA, Vliet SMF, Mayasich S, Mattingly KZ, Transue TR, Melendez W, Wilkinson A, Simmons CW, Ng C, Zhang C, Zhang Y. From Protein Sequence to Structure: The Next Frontier in Cross-Species Extrapolation for Chemical Safety Evaluations. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:463-474. [PMID: 36524855 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5537] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Computational screening for potentially bioactive molecules using advanced molecular modeling approaches including molecular docking and molecular dynamic simulation is mainstream in certain fields like drug discovery. Significant advances in computationally predicting protein structures from sequence information have also expanded the availability of structures for nonmodel species. Therefore, the objective of the present study was to develop an analysis pipeline to harness the power of these bioinformatics approaches for cross-species extrapolation for evaluating chemical safety. The Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool compares protein-sequence similarity across species for conservation of known chemical targets, providing an initial line of evidence for extrapolation of toxicity knowledge. However, with the development of structural models from tools like the Iterative Threading ASSEmbly Refinement (ITASSER), analyses of protein structural conservation can be included to add further lines of evidence and generate protein models across species. Models generated through such a pipeline could then be used for advanced molecular modeling approaches in the context of species extrapolation. Two case examples illustrating this pipeline from SeqAPASS sequences to I-TASSER-generated protein structures were created for human liver fatty acid-binding protein (LFABP) and androgen receptor (AR). Ninety-nine LFABP and 268 AR protein models representing diverse species were generated and analyzed for conservation using template modeling (TM)-align. The results from the structural comparisons were in line with the sequence-based SeqAPASS workflow, adding further evidence of LFABL and AR conservation across vertebrate species. The present study lays the foundation for expanding the capabilities of the web-based SeqAPASS tool to include structural comparisons for species extrapolation, facilitating more rapid and efficient toxicological assessments among species with limited or no existing toxicity data. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:463-474. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Donovan J Blatz
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Marissa A Jensen
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Department of Biology, Swenson College of Science and Engineering, University of Minnesota Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Sara M F Vliet
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Scientific Computing and Data Curation Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Sally Mayasich
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- Aquatic Sciences Center at USEPA Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, University of Wisconsin-Madison Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kali Z Mattingly
- Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
- SpecPro Professional Services, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Thomas R Transue
- Congruence Therapeutics, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Wilson Melendez
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Audrey Wilkinson
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Cody W Simmons
- General Dynamics Information Technology, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA
| | - Carla Ng
- Departments of Civil & Environmental Engineering and Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Chengxin Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
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11
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Schaupp CM, LaLone CA, Blackwell BR, Ankley GT, Villeneuve DL. Leveraging ToxCast data and protein sequence conservation to complement aquatic life criteria derivation. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023; 19:224-238. [PMID: 35393744 PMCID: PMC10618725 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The USEPA's 1985 guidelines for the derivation of aquatic life criteria (ALC) are robust but data-intensive. For many chemicals, the extensive in vivo data sets required for ALC derivation are not available. Thus, alternative analyses and processes that can provide provisional values to guide states, tribes, and other stakeholders while data accumulate and more rigorous criteria are derived would be beneficial. The overarching purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility of using data from new approach methodologies (NAMs) like ToxCast to derive first-pass, provisional values to guide chemical prioritization and resource management as a complement to traditional ALC derivation. To address this goal, the study objectives were to (1) estimate chemical potency using data from NAMs for nine compounds with available aquatic benchmarks, (2) evaluate the utility of using NAM data to elucidate potential mechanisms of toxicity to guide problem formulation, and (3) determine the species relevance of toxicity pathways for compounds with clearly defined mechanisms of action as a means to evaluate whether minimum data requirements could potentially be waived when deriving a more formal ALC. Points of departure were derived from ToxCast data based on the fifth percentile of the distribution of activity concentration above cutoff values falling below the cytotoxic burst. Mechanistic inferences were made based on active target hits in ToxCast and, where applicable, assessed for taxonomic conservation using SeqAPASS. ToxCast-based point-of-departure aligned relatively closely (six of nine test chemicals within a factor of 10; eight of nine within a factor of 100) with aquatic benchmarks from the USEPA and US Department of Energy (DOE). Moreover, pathways of toxicity gleaned from NAM data were reflective of in vivo-based findings from the literature. These results, while preliminary, and based on a limited number of substances, support the potential application of NAM data to complement traditional ALC derivation approaches and prioritization. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:224-238. © 2022 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M. Schaupp
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, USEPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- USEPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett R. Blackwell
- USEPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- USEPA, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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12
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Jensen MA, Blatz DJ, LaLone CA. Defining the Biologically Plausible Taxonomic Domain of Applicability of an Adverse Outcome Pathway: A Case Study Linking Nicotinic Acetylcholine Receptor Activation to Colony Death. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023; 42:71-87. [PMID: 36263952 PMCID: PMC10100214 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2022] [Revised: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
For the majority of developed adverse outcome pathways (AOPs), the taxonomic domain of applicability (tDOA) is typically narrowly defined with a single or a handful of species. Defining the tDOA of an AOP is critical for use in regulatory decision-making, particularly when considering protection of untested species. Structural and functional conservation are two elements that can be considered when defining the tDOA. Publicly accessible bioinformatics approaches, such as the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool, take advantage of existing and growing databases of protein sequence and structural information to provide lines of evidence toward structural conservation of key events (KEs) and KE relationships (KERs) of an AOP. It is anticipated that SeqAPASS results could readily be combined with data derived from empirical toxicity studies to provide evidence of both structural and functional conservation, to define the tDOA for KEs, KERs, and AOPs. Such data could be incorporated in the AOP-Wiki as lines of evidence toward biological plausibility for the tDOA. We present a case study describing the process of using bioinformatics to define the tDOA of an AOP using an AOP linking the activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor to colony death/failure in Apis mellifera. Although the AOP was developed to gain a particular biological understanding relative to A. mellifera health, applicability to other Apis bees, as well as non-Apis bees, has yet to be defined. The present study demonstrates how bioinformatics can be utilized to rapidly take advantage of existing protein sequence and structural knowledge to enhance and inform the tDOA of KEs, KERs, and AOPs, focusing on providing evidence of structural conservation across species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:71-87. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marissa A. Jensen
- Department of Biology, Swenson College of Science and EngineeringUniversity of Minnesota DuluthDuluthMinnesotaUSA
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | | | - Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Computational Toxicology and ExposureGreat Lakes Toxicology and Ecology DivisionDuluthMinnesotaUSA
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13
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Ceger P, Garcia-Reyero Vinas N, Allen D, Arnold E, Bloom R, Brennan JC, Clarke C, Eisenreich K, Fay K, Hamm J, Henry PFP, Horak K, Hunter W, Judkins D, Klein P, Kleinstreuer N, Koehrn K, LaLone CA, Laurenson JP, Leet JK, Lowit A, Lynn SG, Norberg-King T, Perkins EJ, Petersen EJ, Rattner BA, Sprankle CS, Steeger T, Warren JE, Winfield S, Odenkirchen E. Current ecotoxicity testing needs among selected U.S. federal agencies. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2022; 133:105195. [PMID: 35660046 PMCID: PMC9623878 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2022.105195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2022] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
U.S. regulatory and research agencies use ecotoxicity test data to assess the hazards associated with substances that may be released into the environment, including but not limited to industrial chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticides, food additives, and color additives. These data are used to conduct hazard assessments and evaluate potential risks to aquatic life (e.g., invertebrates, fish), birds, wildlife species, or the environment. To identify opportunities for regulatory uses of non-animal replacements for ecotoxicity tests, the needs and uses for data from tests utilizing animals must first be clarified. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to identify the ecotoxicity test data relied upon by U.S. federal agencies. The standards, test guidelines, guidance documents, and/or endpoints that are used to address each of the agencies' regulatory and research needs regarding ecotoxicity testing are described in the context of their application to decision-making. Testing and information use, needs, and/or requirements relevant to the regulatory or programmatic mandates of the agencies taking part in the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods Ecotoxicology Workgroup are captured. This information will be useful for coordinating efforts to develop and implement alternative test methods to reduce, refine, or replace animal use in chemical safety evaluations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Ceger
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | | | - David Allen
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Elyssa Arnold
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Raanan Bloom
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
| | - Jennifer C Brennan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 7401M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Carol Clarke
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250, USA.
| | - Karen Eisenreich
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 7401M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Kellie Fay
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 7401M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Jonathan Hamm
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Paula F P Henry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, 12100 Beech Forest Rd, Laurel, MD, 20708, USA.
| | - Katherine Horak
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, Wildlife Services National Wildlife Research Center, 4101 LaPorte Ave. Fort Collins, CO, 80521, USA.
| | - Wesley Hunter
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Veterinary Medicine, HFV-161, 7500 Standish Place, Rockville, MD, 20855, USA.
| | - Donna Judkins
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Patrice Klein
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250, USA.
| | - Nicole Kleinstreuer
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Toxicology Program Interagency Center for the Evaluation of Alternative Toxicological Methods, P.O. Box 12233, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Kara Koehrn
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, 7401M, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 8101R, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN, 55804, USA.
| | - James P Laurenson
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Drug Evaluation and Research, 10903 New Hampshire Avenue, Silver Spring, MD, 20993, USA.
| | - Jessica K Leet
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center (CERC), Columbia, MO, 65201, USA.
| | - Anna Lowit
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Scott G Lynn
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Teresa Norberg-King
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, 8101R, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN, 55804, USA.
| | - Edward J Perkins
- U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd., Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA.
| | - Elijah J Petersen
- U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 2089, USA.
| | - Barnett A Rattner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, 10300 Baltimore Ave, BARC-EAST Bldg. 308, Beltsville, MD, 20705, USA.
| | - Catherine S Sprankle
- Integrated Laboratory Systems, LLC, P.O. Box 13501, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, USA.
| | - Thomas Steeger
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
| | - Jim E Warren
- U.S. Department of Agriculture, 1400 Independence Ave. SW, Washington, DC, 20250, USA.
| | - Sarah Winfield
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, 5001 Campus Drive, HFS-009, College Park, MD, 20740, USA.
| | - Edward Odenkirchen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, MC7507P, 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC, 20460, USA.
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14
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Olker JH, Elonen CM, Pilli A, Anderson A, Kinziger B, Erickson S, Skopinski M, Pomplun A, LaLone CA, Russom CL, Hoff D. The ECOTOXicology Knowledgebase: A Curated Database of Ecologically Relevant Toxicity Tests to Support Environmental Research and Risk Assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022; 41:1520-1539. [PMID: 35262228 PMCID: PMC9408435 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The need for assembled existing and new toxicity data has accelerated as the amount of chemicals introduced into commerce continues to grow and regulatory mandates require safety assessments for a greater number of chemicals. To address this evolving need, the ECOTOXicology Knowledgebase (ECOTOX) was developed starting in the 1980s and is currently the world's largest compilation of curated ecotoxicity data, providing support for assessments of chemical safety and ecological research through systematic and transparent literature review procedures. The recently released version of ECOTOX (Ver 5, www.epa.gov/ecotox) provides single-chemical ecotoxicity data for over 12,000 chemicals and ecological species with over one million test results from over 50,000 references. Presented is an overview of ECOTOX, detailing the literature review and data curation processes within the context of current systematic review practices and discussing how recent updates improve the accessibility and reusability of data to support the assessment, management, and research of environmental chemicals. Relevant and acceptable toxicity results are identified from studies in the scientific literature, with pertinent methodological details and results extracted following well-established controlled vocabularies and newly extracted toxicity data added quarterly to the public website. Release of ECOTOX, Ver 5, included an entirely redesigned user interface with enhanced data queries and retrieval options, visualizations to aid in data exploration, customizable outputs for export and use in external applications, and interoperability with chemical and toxicity databases and tools. This is a reliable source of curated ecological toxicity data for chemical assessments and research and continues to evolve with accessible and transparent state-of-the-art practices in literature data curation and increased interoperability to other relevant resources. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:1520-1539. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer H. Olker
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
- Corresponding author: USEPA, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804 USA, . Tel: 218-529-5119
| | - Colleen M. Elonen
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Anne Pilli
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Arne Anderson
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Brian Kinziger
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Stephen Erickson
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Michael Skopinski
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Anita Pomplun
- General Dynamics Information Technology, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Christine L. Russom
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Dale Hoff
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
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15
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LaLone CA, Basu N, Browne P, Edwards SW, Embry M, Sewell F, Hodges G. International Consortium to Advance Cross-Species Extrapolation of the Effects of Chemicals in Regulatory Toxicology. Environ Toxicol Chem 2021; 40:3226-3233. [PMID: 34551147 PMCID: PMC9161440 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5214] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2021] [Revised: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and DevelopmentUS Environmental Protection AgencyDuluthMinnesotaUSA
| | - Niladri Basu
- Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental SciencesMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Patience Browne
- Environment DirectorateOrganisation for Economic Co‐operation and DevelopmentParisFrance
| | - Stephen W. Edwards
- GenOmics, Bioinformatics, and Translational Research CenterRTI InternationalResearch Triangle ParkNorth CarolinaUSA
| | - Michelle Embry
- Health and Environmental Sciences InstituteWashingtonDistrict of ColumbiaUSA
| | - Fiona Sewell
- National Centre for the Replacement, Refinement, and Reduction of Animals in ResearchLondonUK
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Sharnbrook, BedfordshireUK
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16
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Doering JA, Villeneuve DL, Tilton CB, Kittelson AR, Blackwell BR, Kahl MD, Jensen KM, Poole ST, Cavallin JE, Cole AR, Dean KN, LaLone CA, Ankley GT. Assessing effects of aromatase inhibition on fishes with group-synchronous oocyte development using western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as a model. Aquat Toxicol 2021; 232:105741. [PMID: 33450672 PMCID: PMC8255332 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2020.105741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Revised: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to certain anthropogenic chemicals can inhibit the activity to cytochrome P450 aromatase (CYP19) in fishes leading to decreased plasma 17β-estradiol (E2), plasma vitellogenin (VTG), and egg production. Reproductive dysfunction resulting from exposure to aromatase inhibitors has been extensively investigated in several laboratory model species of fish. These model species have ovaries that undergo asynchronous oocyte development, but many fishes have ovaries with group-synchronous oocyte development. Fishes with group-synchronous oocyte development have dynamic reproductive cycles which typically occur annually and are often triggered by complex environmental cues. This has resulted in a lack of test data and uncertainty regarding sensitivities to and adverse effects of aromatase inhibition. The present study used the western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) as a laboratory model to investigate adverse effects of chemical aromatase inhibition on group-synchronous oocyte development. Adult female western mosquitofish were exposed to either 0, 2, or 30 μg/L of the model nonsteroidal aromatase inhibiting chemical, fadrozole, for a complete reproductive cycle. Fish were sampled at four time-points representing pre-vitellogenic resting, early vitellogenesis, late vitellogenesis/early ovarian recrudescence, and late ovarian recrudescence. Temporal changes in numerous reproductive parameters were measured, including gonadosomatic index (GSI), plasma sex steroids, and expression of selected genes in the brain, liver, and gonad that are important for reproduction. In contrast to fish from the control treatment, fish exposed to 2 and 30 μg/L of fadrozole had persistent elevated expression of cyp19 in the ovary, depressed expression of vtg in the liver, and a low GSI. These responses suggest that completion of a group-synchronous reproductive cycle was unsuccessful during the assay in fish from either fadrozole treatment. These adverse effects data show that exposure to aromatase inhibitors has the potential to cause reproductive dysfunction in a wide range of fishes with both asynchronous and group-synchronous reproductive strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Doering
- National Research Council, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States.
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Charlene B Tilton
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Ashley R Kittelson
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Michael D Kahl
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Shane T Poole
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Jenna E Cavallin
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Alexander R Cole
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Kendra N Dean
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN, 55804, United States
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17
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Tapper MA, Kolanczyk RC, LaLone CA, Denny JS, Ankley GT. Conversion of Estrone to 17β-Estradiol: A Potential Confounding Factor in Assessing Risks of Environmental Estrogens to Fish. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020; 39:2028-2040. [PMID: 33448467 PMCID: PMC8015245 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Feminization of male fish and the role of endocrine-active chemicals in this phenomenon has been an area of intense study for many years. Estrone (E1), a natural steroid, is found in aquatic environments sometimes at high concentrations relative to the estrogenic steroids 17β-estradiol (E2) and 17α-ethynylestradiol. However, E1 has been less thoroughly studied than E2 or 17α-ethynylestradiol due in part to a relatively lower potency in metabolically limited estrogen receptor (ER) binding/activation assays. Recent evidence suggests that in vivo biotransformation of E1 to E2 may occur in fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) residing in environments with high concentrations of E1, such as near wastewater treatment plants. The enzymes likely responsible for this biotransformation, 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases (17βHSDs), have been well characterized in mammals but to a lesser extent in fish species. In the present study, a novel systematic analysis of amino acid sequence data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information database demonstrated that multiple 17βHSD isoforms are conserved across different fish species. Experimentally, we showed that metabolically active hepatic cytosolic preparations from 2 commercially important salmonid species, rainbow trout and lake trout, biotransformed E1 to E2 to a degree sufficient to alter results of competitive ER binding assays. These results from in silico and in vitro analyses indicate that E1 and biotransformation may play a significant role in adverse effects on development and reproduction of a variety of fish species in contaminated aquatic environments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:2028-2040. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Tapper
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Richard C Kolanczyk
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jeffrey S Denny
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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18
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Doering JA, Villeneuve DL, Fay KA, Randolph EC, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, LaLone CA, Ankley GT. Differential Sensitivity to In Vitro Inhibition of Cytochrome P450 Aromatase (CYP19) Activity Among 18 Freshwater Fishes. Toxicol Sci 2020; 170:394-403. [PMID: 31099392 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfz115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
There is significant concern regarding potential impairment of fish reproduction associated with endocrine disrupting chemicals. Aromatase (CYP19) is a steroidogenic enzyme involved in the conversion of androgens to estrogens. Inhibition of aromatase by chemicals can result in reduced concentrations of estrogens leading to adverse reproductive effects. These effects have been extensively investigated in a small number of laboratory model fishes, such as fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas), Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes), and zebrafish (Danio rerio). But, differences in sensitivity among species are largely unknown. Therefore, this study took a first step toward understanding potential differences in sensitivity to aromatase inhibitors among fishes. Specifically, a standard in vitro aromatase inhibition assay using subcellular fractions of whole tissue homogenates was used to evaluate the potential sensitivity of 18 phylogenetically diverse species of freshwater fish to the nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitor fadrozole. Sensitivity to fadrozole ranged by more than 52-fold among these species. Five species were further investigated for sensitivity to up to 4 additional nonsteroidal aromatase inhibitors, letrozole, imazalil, prochloraz, and propiconazole. Potencies of each of these chemicals relative to fadrozole ranged by up to 2 orders of magnitude among the 5 species. Fathead minnow, Japanese medaka, and zebrafish were among the least sensitive to all the investigated chemicals; therefore, ecological risks of aromatase inhibitors derived from these species might not be adequately protective of more sensitive native fishes. This information could guide more objective ecological risk assessments of native fishes to chemicals that inhibit aromatase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Doering
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division.,National Research Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
| | | | - Kellie A Fay
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division.,Biology Department, University of Minnesota-Duluth
| | - Eric C Randolph
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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19
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Yang D, Han J, Hall DR, Sun J, Fu J, Kutarna S, Houck KA, LaLone CA, Doering JA, Ng CA, Peng H. Nontarget Screening of Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances Binding to Human Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein. Environ Sci Technol 2020; 54:5676-5686. [PMID: 32249562 PMCID: PMC7477755 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c00049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
More than 1000 per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have been discovered by nontarget analysis (NTA), but their prioritization for health concerns is challenging. We developed a method by incorporating size-exclusion column co-elution (SECC) and NTA, to screen PFASs binding to human liver fatty acid binding protein (hL-FABP). Of 74 PFASs assessed, 20 were identified as hL-FABP ligands in which eight of them have high binding affinities. Increased PFAS binding affinities correlate with stronger responses in electrospray ionization (ESI-) and longer retention times on a C18 column. This is well explained by a mechanistic model, which revealed that both polar and hydrophobic interactions are crucial for binding affinities. Encouraged by this, we then developed an SECC method to identify hL-FABP ligands, and all eight high-affinity ligands were selectively captured from 74 PFASs. The method was further applied to an aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF) product in which 31 new hL-FABP ligands were identified. Suspect and nontargeted screening revealed these ligands as analogues of perfluorosulfonic acids and homologues of alkyl ether sulfates (C8- and C10/EOn, C8H17(C2H4O)nSO4-, and C10H21(C2H4O)nSO4-). The SECC method was then applied to AFFF-contaminated surface waters. In addition to perfluorooctanesulfonic acid and perfluorohexanesulfonic acid, eight other AFFF chemicals were discovered as novel ligands, including four C14- and C15/EOn. This study implemented a high-throughput method to prioritize PFASs and revealed the existence of many previously unknown hL-FABP ligands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diwen Yang
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jiajun Han
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - David Ross Hall
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jianxian Sun
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jesse Fu
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven Kutarna
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Keith A. Houck
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27711 USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Jon A. Doering
- Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804 United States
- National Research Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804 USA
| | - Carla A. Ng
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of Pittsburgh, 3700 O’Hara St, Pittsburgh, USA
| | - Hui Peng
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- School of the Environment, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Corresponding author: Hui Peng, , Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, M5S3H6, Canada
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20
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Brooks BW, Sabo-Attwood T, Choi K, Kim S, Kostal J, LaLone CA, Langan LM, Margiotta-Casaluci L, You J, Zhang X. Toxicology Advances for 21 st Century Chemical Pollution. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020; 2:312-316. [PMID: 34171027 PMCID: PMC7181993 DOI: 10.1016/j.oneear.2020.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Pollution represents a leading threat to global health and ecosystems. Systems-based initiatives, including Planetary Health, EcoHealth, and One Health, require theoretical and translational platforms to address chemical pollution. Comparative and predictive toxicology are providing integrative approaches for identifying problematic contaminants, designing less hazardous alternatives, and reducing the impacts of chemical pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan W Brooks
- Environmental Health Science Program, Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA.,Guangdong Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tara Sabo-Attwood
- Department of Environmental and Global Health, College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Kyungho Choi
- Department of Environmental Health Science, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University, Seoul, Korea
| | - Sujin Kim
- Environmental Health Science Program, Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Jakub Kostal
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, George Washington University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Center for Computational Toxicology and Exposure, Office of Research and Development, United States Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Laura M Langan
- Environmental Health Science Program, Department of Environmental Science, Institute of Biomedical Studies, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
| | - Luigi Margiotta-Casaluci
- Department of Life Sciences, College of Health and Life Sciences, Brunel University London, London, UK
| | - Jing You
- Guangdong Key Laboratory for Environmental Pollution and Health, School of Environment, Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse, School of Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
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21
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Ankley GT, Blackwell BR, Cavallin JE, Doering JA, Feifarek DJ, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, LaLone CA, Poole ST, Randolph EC, Saari TW, Villeneuve DL. Adverse Outcome Pathway Network-Based Assessment of the Interactive Effects of an Androgen Receptor Agonist and an Aromatase Inhibitor on Fish Endocrine Function. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020; 39:913-922. [PMID: 31965587 PMCID: PMC7357796 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2019] [Revised: 11/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/14/2020] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Predictive approaches to assessing the toxicity of contaminant mixtures have been largely limited to chemicals that exert effects through the same biological molecular initiating event. However, by understanding specific pathways through which chemicals exert effects, it may be possible to identify shared "downstream" nodes as the basis for forecasting interactive effects of chemicals with different molecular initiating events. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) networks conceptually support this type of analysis. We assessed the utility of a simple AOP network for predicting the effects of mixtures of an aromatase inhibitor (fadrozole) and an androgen receptor agonist (17β-trenbolone) on aspects of reproductive endocrine function in female fathead minnows. The fish were exposed to multiple concentrations of fadrozole and 17β-trenbolone individually or in combination for 48 or 96 h. Effects on 2 shared nodes in the AOP network, plasma 17β-estradiol (E2) concentration and vitellogenin (VTG) production (measured as hepatic vtg transcripts) responded as anticipated to fadrozole alone but were minimally impacted by 17β-trenbolone alone. Overall, there were indications that 17β-trenbolone enhanced decreases in E2 and vtg in fadrozole-exposed fish, as anticipated, but the results often were not statistically significant. Failure to consistently observe hypothesized interactions between fadrozole and 17β-trenbolone could be due to several factors, including lack of impact of 17β-trenbolone, inherent biological variability in the endpoints assessed, and/or an incomplete understanding of interactions (including feedback) between different pathways within the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:913-922. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
- Corresponding author: Gerald T. Ankley;
| | - Brett R. Blackwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kathleen M. Jensen
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Michael D. Kahl
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Eric C. Randolph
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, GLTED, Duluth, MN, USA
| | | | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Great Lakes Toxicology and Ecology Division (GLTED), Duluth, MN, USA
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22
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Doering JA, Lee S, Kristiansen K, Evenseth L, Barron MG, Sylte I, LaLone CA. In Silico Site-Directed Mutagenesis Informs Species-Specific Predictions of Chemical Susceptibility Derived From the Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) Tool. Toxicol Sci 2019; 166:131-145. [PMID: 30060110 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chemical hazard assessment requires extrapolation of information from model organisms to all species of concern. The Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS) tool was developed as a rapid, cost-effective method to aid cross-species extrapolation of susceptibility to chemicals acting on specific protein targets through evaluation of protein structural similarities and differences. The greatest resolution for extrapolation of chemical susceptibility across species involves comparisons of individual amino acid residues at key positions involved in protein-chemical interactions. However, a lack of understanding of whether specific amino acid substitutions among species at key positions in proteins affect interaction with chemicals made manual interpretation of alignments time consuming and potentially inconsistent. Therefore, this study used in silico site-directed mutagenesis coupled with docking simulations of computational models for acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and ecdysone receptor (EcR) to investigate how specific amino acid substitutions impact protein-chemical interaction. This study found that computationally derived substitutions in identities of key amino acids caused no change in protein-chemical interaction if residues share the same side chain functional properties and have comparable molecular dimensions, while differences in these characteristics can change protein-chemical interaction. These findings were considered in the development of capabilities for automatically generated species-specific predictions of chemical susceptibility in SeqAPASS. These predictions for AChE and EcR were shown to agree with SeqAPASS predictions comparing the primary sequence and functional domain sequence of proteins for more than 90% of the investigated species, but also identified dramatic species-specific differences in chemical susceptibility that align with results from standard toxicity tests. These results provide a compelling line of evidence for use of SeqAPASS in deriving screening level, species-specific, susceptibility predictions across broad taxonomic groups for application to human and ecological hazard assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Doering
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division.,National Research Council, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55804
| | - Sehan Lee
- Gulf Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561.,Molecular Design Team, New Drug Development Center, Daegu-Gyeongbuk Medical Innovation Foundation (DGMIF), 41061 Daegu City, Korea
| | - Kurt Kristiansen
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromso, Norway
| | - Linn Evenseth
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromso, Norway
| | - Mace G Barron
- Gulf Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Gulf Breeze, Florida 32561
| | - Ingebrigt Sylte
- Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromso-The Arctic University of Norway, NO-9037, Tromso, Norway
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23
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Doering JA, Villeneuve DL, Poole ST, Blackwell BR, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, Kittelson AR, Feifarek DJ, Tilton CB, LaLone CA, Ankley GT. Quantitative Response-Response Relationships Linking Aromatase Inhibition to Decreased Fecundity are Conserved Across Three Fishes with Asynchronous Oocyte Development. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:10470-10478. [PMID: 31386814 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b02606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative adverse outcome pathways (qAOPs) describe quantitative response-response relationships that can predict the probability or severity of an adverse outcome for a given magnitude of chemical interaction with a molecular initiating event. However, the taxonomic domain of applicability for these predictions is largely untested. The present study began defining this applicability for a previously described qAOP for aromatase inhibition leading to decreased fecundity developed using data from fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). This qAOP includes quantitative response-response relationships describing plasma 17β-estradiol (E2) as a function of plasma fadrozole, plasma vitellogenin (VTG) as a function of plasma E2, and fecundity as a function of plasma VTG. These quantitative response-response relationships simulated plasma E2, plasma VTG, and fecundity measured in female zebrafish (Danio rerio) exposed to fadrozole for 21 days but not these responses measured in female Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). However, Japanese medaka had different basal levels of plasma E2, plasma VTG, and fecundity. Normalizing basal levels of each measurement to equal those of female fathead minnow enabled the relationships to accurately simulate plasma E2, plasma VTG, and fecundity measured in female Japanese medaka. This suggests that these quantitative response-response relationships are conserved across these three fishes when considering relative change rather than absolute measurements. The present study represents an early step toward defining the appropriate taxonomic domain of applicability and extending the regulatory applications of this qAOP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jon A Doering
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
- National Research Council , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Shane T Poole
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Michael D Kahl
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Ashley R Kittelson
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - David J Feifarek
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Charlene B Tilton
- Oak Ridge Institute of Science Education , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division , U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Duluth , Minnesota 55804 United States
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24
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Hecker M, LaLone CA. Adverse Outcome Pathways: Moving from a Scientific Concept to an Internationally Accepted Framework. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019; 38:1152-1163. [PMID: 31132168 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Markus Hecker
- School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN
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25
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LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Doering JA, Blackwell BR, Transue TR, Simmons CW, Swintek J, Degitz SJ, Williams AJ, Ankley GT. Evidence for Cross Species Extrapolation of Mammalian-Based High-Throughput Screening Assay Results. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:13960-13971. [PMID: 30351027 PMCID: PMC8283686 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
High-throughput screening (HTS) and computational technologies have emerged as important tools for chemical hazard identification. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) launched the Toxicity ForeCaster (ToxCast) Program, which has screened thousands of chemicals in hundreds of mammalian-based HTS assays for biological activity. The data are being used to prioritize toxicity testing on those chemicals likely to lead to adverse effects. To use HTS assays in predicting hazard to both humans and wildlife, it is necessary to understand how broadly these data may be extrapolated across species. The US EPA Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS; https://seqapass.epa.gov/seqapass/ ) tool was used to assess conservation of the 484 protein targets represented in the suite of ToxCast assays and other HTS assays. To demonstrate the utility of the SeqAPASS data for guiding extrapolation, case studies were developed which focused on targets of interest to the US Endocrine Disruptor Screening Program and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. These case studies provide a line of evidence for conservation of endocrine targets across vertebrate species, with few exceptions, and demonstrate the utility of SeqAPASS for defining the taxonomic domain of applicability for HTS results and identifying organisms for suitable follow-up toxicity tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
- Corresponding Author: Carlie A. LaLone:
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Jon A. Doering
- National Research Council, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Brett R. Blackwell
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Thomas R. Transue
- CSRA Inc., 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Cody W. Simmons
- CSRA Inc., 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Joe Swintek
- Badger Technical Services, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Sigmund J. Degitz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Antony J. Williams
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Computational Toxicology, 109 T.W. Alexander Drive, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711, USA
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
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26
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LaLone CA, Ankley GT, Belanger SE, Embry MR, Hodges G, Knapen D, Munn S, Perkins EJ, Rudd MA, Villeneuve DL, Whelann M, Willett C, Zhang X, Markus H. Advancing the adverse outcome pathway framework-An international horizon scanning approach. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017; 36:1411-1421. [PMID: 28543973 PMCID: PMC6156781 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Our ability to conduct whole-organism toxicity tests to understand chemical safety has been outpaced by the synthesis of new chemicals for a wide variety of commercial applications. As a result, scientists and risk assessors are turning to mechanistically based studies to increase efficiencies in chemical risk assessment and making greater use of in vitro and in silico methods to evaluate potential environmental and human health hazards. In this context, the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework has gained traction in regulatory science because it offers an efficient and effective means for capturing available knowledge describing the linkage between mechanistic data and the apical toxicity end points required for regulatory assessments. A number of international activities have focused on AOP development and various applications to regulatory decision-making. These initiatives have prompted dialogue between research scientists and regulatory communities to consider how best to use the AOP framework. Although expert-facilitated discussions and AOP development have been critical in moving the science of AOPs forward, it was recognized that a survey of the broader scientific and regulatory communities would aid in identifying current limitations while guiding future initiatives for the AOP framework. To that end, a global horizon scanning exercise was conducted to solicit questions concerning the challenges or limitations that must be addressed to realize the full potential of the AOP framework in research and regulatory decision-making. The questions received fell into several broad topical areas: AOP networks, quantitative AOPs, collaboration on and communication of AOP knowledge, AOP discovery and development, chemical and cross-species extrapolation, exposure/toxicokinetics considerations, and AOP applications. Expert ranking was then used to prioritize questions for each category, where 4 broad themes emerged that could help inform and guide future AOP research and regulatory initiatives. In addition, frequently asked questions were identified and addressed by experts in the field. Answers to frequently asked questions will aid in addressing common misperceptions and will allow for clarification of AOP topics. The need for this type of clarification was highlighted with surprising frequency by our question submitters, indicating that improvements are needed in communicating the AOP framework among the scientific and regulatory communities. Overall, horizon scanning engaged the global scientific community to help identify key questions surrounding the AOP framework and guide the direction of future initiatives. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1411-1421. © 2017 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
- Corresponding Authors: ,
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Scott E. Belanger
- Environmental Safety and Sustainability, Global Product Stewardship, Mason Business Center, The Procter and Gamble Company, Mason, Ohio 45040, USA
| | - Michelle R. Embry
- ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Geoff Hodges
- Safety and Environmental Assurance Centre, Unilever, Colworth Science Park, Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire, MK44 1LQ, United Kingdom
| | - Dries Knapen
- ILSI Health and Environmental Sciences Institute, 1156 15th Street, NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20005, USA
| | - Sharon Munn
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Edward J. Perkins
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Murray A. Rudd
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory College, E538 Math and Science Building, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, USA
| | - Maurice Whelann
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy
| | - Catherine Willett
- The Humane Society of the United States, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Xiaowei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hecker Markus
- Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada, S7N 5B3
- Corresponding Authors: ,
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Fay KA, Villeneuve DL, LaLone CA, Song Y, Tollefsen KE, Ankley GT. Practical approaches to adverse outcome pathway development and weight-of-evidence evaluation as illustrated by ecotoxicological case studies. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017; 36:1429-1449. [PMID: 28198554 PMCID: PMC6058314 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) describe toxicant effects as a sequential chain of causally linked events beginning with a molecular perturbation and culminating in an adverse outcome at an individual or population level. Strategies for developing AOPs are still evolving and depend largely on the intended use or motivation for development and data availability. The present review describes 4 ecotoxicological AOP case studies, developed for different purposes. In each situation, creation of the AOP began in a manner determined by the initial motivation for its creation and expanded either to include additional components of the pathway or to address the domains of applicability in terms of chemical initiators, susceptible species, life stages, and so forth. Some general strategies can be gleaned from these case studies, which a developer may find to be useful for supporting an existing AOP or creating a new one. Several web-based tools that can aid in AOP assembly and evaluation of weight of evidence for scientific robustness of AOP components are highlighted. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1429-1449. © 2017 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellie A. Fay
- Mid Continent Ecology Division, U.S. EPA, Duluth, Minnesota
- University of Minnesota – Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Address correspondence to
| | | | | | - You Song
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo, Norway
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28
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LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Wu-Smart J, Milsk RY, Sappington K, Garber KV, Housenger J, Ankley GT. Weight of evidence evaluation of a network of adverse outcome pathways linking activation of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in honey bees to colony death. Sci Total Environ 2017; 584-585:751-775. [PMID: 28126277 PMCID: PMC6156782 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 04/14/2023]
Abstract
Ongoing honey bee (Apis mellifera) colony losses are of significant international concern because of the essential role these insects play in pollinating crops. Both chemical and non-chemical stressors have been implicated as possible contributors to colony failure; however, the potential role(s) of commonly-used neonicotinoid insecticides has emerged as particularly concerning. Neonicotinoids act on the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) in the central nervous system to eliminate pest insects. However, mounting evidence indicates that neonicotinoids also may adversely affect beneficial pollinators, such as the honey bee, via impairments on learning and memory, and ultimately foraging success. The specific mechanisms linking activation of the nAChR to adverse effects on learning and memory are uncertain. Additionally, clear connections between observed impacts on individual bees and colony level effects are lacking. The objective of this review was to develop adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) as a means to evaluate the biological plausibility and empirical evidence supporting (or refuting) the linkage between activation of the physiological target site, the nAChR, and colony level consequences. Potential for exposure was not a consideration in AOP development and therefore this effort should not be considered a risk assessment. Nonetheless, development of the AOPs described herein has led to the identification of research gaps which, for example, may be of high priority in understanding how perturbation of pathways involved in neurotransmission can adversely affect normal colony functions, causing colony instability and subsequent bee population failure. A putative AOP network was developed, laying the foundation for further insights as to the role of combined chemical and non-chemical stressors in impacting bee populations. Insights gained from the AOP network assembly, which more realistically represents multi-stressor impacts on honey bee colonies, are promising toward understanding common sensitive nodes in key biological pathways and identifying where mitigation strategies may be focused to reduce colony losses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA.
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Judy Wu-Smart
- University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Department of Entomology, 105A Entomology Hall, Lincoln, NE 68583, USA
| | - Rebecca Y Milsk
- ORISE Research Participation Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Keith Sappington
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington D.C. 20460, USA
| | - Kristina V Garber
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington D.C. 20460, USA
| | - Justin Housenger
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pesticide Programs, Washington D.C. 20460, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
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Martinović-Weigelt D, Mehinto AC, Ankley GT, Berninger JP, Collette TW, Davis JM, Denslow ND, Durhan EJ, Eid E, Ekman DR, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, LaLone CA, Teng Q, Villeneuve DL. Derivation and Evaluation of Putative Adverse Outcome Pathways for the Effects of Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors on Reproductive Processes in Female Fish. Toxicol Sci 2017; 156:344-361. [PMID: 28201806 PMCID: PMC11017233 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfw257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors are ubiquitous in aquatic systems and have been detected in fish tissues. The exposure of fish to these pharmaceuticals is concerning because COX inhibitors disrupt the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs), which modulate a variety of essential biological functions, including reproduction. In this study, we investigated the effects of well-characterized mammalian COX inhibitors on female fathead minnow reproductive health. Fish (n = 8) were exposed for 96 h to water containing indomethacin (IN; 100 µg/l), ibuprofen (IB; 200 µg/l) or celecoxib (CX; 20 µg/l), and evaluated for effects on liver metabolome and ovarian gene expression. Metabolomic profiles of IN, IB and CX were not significantly different from control or one another. Exposure to IB and CX resulted in differential expression of comparable numbers of genes (IB = 433, CX = 545). In contrast, 2558 genes were differentially expressed in IN-treated fish. Functional analyses (canonical pathway and gene set enrichment) indicated extensive effects of IN on PG synthesis pathway, oocyte meiosis, and several other processes consistent with physiological roles of PGs. Transcriptomic data were congruent with PG data; IN-reduced plasma PG F2α concentration, whereas IB and CX did not. Five putative AOPs were developed linking the assumed molecular initiating event of COX inhibition, with PG reduction and the adverse outcome of reproductive failure via reduction of: (1) ovulation, (2) reproductive behaviors mediated by exogenous or endogenous PGs, and (3) oocyte maturation in fish. These pathways were developed using, in part, empirical data from the present study and other publicly available data.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Alvine C. Mehinto
- University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32611
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
| | - Gerald T. Ankley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Jason P. Berninger
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Timothy W. Collette
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecosystems Research Division, Athens, GA, 30605
| | - John M. Davis
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecosystems Research Division, Athens, GA, 30605
| | | | - Elizabeth J. Durhan
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Evan Eid
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Drew R. Ekman
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecosystems Research Division, Athens, GA, 30605
| | - Kathleen M. Jensen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Mike D. Kahl
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Carlie A. LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
| | - Quincy Teng
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Exposure Research Laboratory, Ecosystems Research Division, Athens, GA, 30605
| | - Daniel L. Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, MN, 55804
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Davis JM, Ekman DR, Skelton DM, LaLone CA, Ankley GT, Cavallin JE, Villeneuve DL, Collette TW. Metabolomics for informing adverse outcome pathways: Androgen receptor activation and the pharmaceutical spironolactone. Aquat Toxicol 2017; 184:103-115. [PMID: 28129603 PMCID: PMC6145081 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2017.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2016] [Revised: 01/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2017] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
One objective in developing adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) is to connect biological changes that are relevant to risk assessors (i.e., fecundity) to molecular and cellular-level alterations that might be detectable at earlier stages of a chemical exposure. Here, we examined biochemical responses of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to inform an AOP relevant to spironolactone's activation of the androgen receptor, as well as explore other biological impacts possibly unrelated to this receptor. Liquid chromatography with high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-MS) was used to measure changes in endogenous polar metabolites in livers of male and female fish that were exposed to five water concentrations of spironolactone (0, 0.05, 0.5, 5, or 50μgL-1) for 21days. Metabolite profiles were affected at the two highest concentrations (5 and 50μgL-1), but not in the lower-level exposures, which agreed with earlier reported results of reduced female fecundity and plasma vitellogenin (VTG) levels. We then applied partial least squares regression to assess whether metabolite alterations covaried with changes in fecundity, VTG gene expression and protein concentrations, and plasma 17β-estradiol and testosterone concentrations. Metabolite profiles significantly covaried with all measured endpoints in females, but only with plasma testosterone in males. Fecundity reductions occurred in parallel with changes in metabolites important in osmoregulation (e.g., betaine), membrane transport (e.g., l-carnitine), and biosynthesis of carnitine (e.g., methionine) and VTG (e.g., glutamate). Based on a network analysis program (i.e., mummichog), spironolactone also affected amino acid, tryptophan, and fatty acid metabolism. Thus, by identifying possible key events related to changes in biochemical pathways, this approach built upon an established AOP describing spironolactone's androgenic properties and highlighted broader implications potentially unrelated to androgen receptor activation, which could form a basis for the development of an AOP network.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Davis
- U.S. EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605, USA.
| | - D R Ekman
- U.S. EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605, USA.
| | - D M Skelton
- U.S. EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605, USA
| | - C A LaLone
- U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - G T Ankley
- U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - J E Cavallin
- U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - D L Villeneuve
- U.S. EPA, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - T W Collette
- U.S. EPA, National Exposure Research Laboratory, 960 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30605, USA
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Ankley GT, LaLone CA, Gray LE, Villeneuve DL, Hornung MW. Evaluation of the scientific underpinnings for identifying estrogenic chemicals in nonmammalian taxa using mammalian test systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016; 35:2806-2816. [PMID: 27074246 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 04/03/2016] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
The US Environmental Protection Agency has responsibility for assessing endocrine activity of more than 10 000 chemicals, a task that cannot reasonably be achieved solely through use of available mammalian and nonmammalian in vivo screening assays. Hence, it has been proposed that chemicals be prioritized for in vivo testing using data from in vitro high-throughput assays for specific endocrine system targets. Recent efforts focused on potential estrogenic chemicals-specifically those that activate estrogen receptor-alpha (ERα)-have broadly demonstrated feasibility of the approach. However, a major uncertainty is whether prioritization based on mammalian (primarily human) high-throughput assays accurately reflects potential chemical-ERα interactions in nonmammalian species. The authors conducted a comprehensive analysis of cross-species comparability of chemical-ERα interactions based on information concerning structural attributes of estrogen receptors, in vitro binding and transactivation data for ERα, and the effects of a range of chemicals on estrogen-signaling pathways in vivo. Overall, this integrated analysis suggests that chemicals with moderate to high estrogenic potency in mammalian systems also should be priority chemicals in nonmammalian vertebrates. However, the degree to which the prioritization approach might be applicable to invertebrates is uncertain because of a lack of knowledge of the biological role(s) of possible ERα orthologs found in phyla such as annelids. Further, comparative analysis of in vitro data for fish and reptiles suggests that mammalian-based assays may not effectively capture ERα interactions for low-affinity chemicals in all vertebrate classes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2806-2816. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gerald T Ankley
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota.
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - L Earl Gray
- Toxicity Assessment Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
| | - Michael W Hornung
- Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Lyons D, Helgen HW, Robinson SL, Swintek JA, Saari TW, Ankley GT. Editor’s Highlight: Sequence Alignment to Predict Across Species Susceptibility (SeqAPASS): A Web-Based Tool for Addressing the Challenges of Cross-Species Extrapolation of Chemical Toxicity. Toxicol Sci 2016; 153:228-45. [DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfw119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
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Berninger JP, LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Ankley GT. Prioritization of pharmaceuticals for potential environmental hazard through leveraging a large-scale mammalian pharmacological dataset. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016; 35:1007-20. [PMID: 25772004 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2014] [Revised: 12/01/2014] [Accepted: 03/02/2015] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
The potential for pharmaceuticals in the environment to cause adverse ecological effects is of increasing concern. Given the thousands of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) that can enter the aquatic environment through human and/or animal (e.g., livestock) waste, a current challenge in aquatic toxicology is identifying those that pose the greatest risk. Because empirical toxicity information for aquatic species is generally lacking for pharmaceuticals, an important data source for prioritization is that generated during the mammalian drug development process. Applying concepts of species read-across, mammalian pharmacokinetic data were used to systematically prioritize APIs by estimating their potential to cause adverse biological consequences to aquatic organisms, using fish as an example. Mammalian absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) data (e.g., peak plasma concentration, apparent volume of distribution, clearance rate, and half-life) were collected and curated, creating the Mammalian Pharmacokinetic Prioritization For Aquatic Species Targeting (MaPPFAST) database representing 1070 APIs. From these data, a probabilistic model and scoring system were developed and evaluated. Individual APIs and therapeutic classes were ranked based on clearly defined read-across assumptions for translating mammalian-derived ADME parameters to estimate potential hazard in fish (i.e., greatest predicted hazard associated with lowest mammalian peak plasma concentrations, total clearance and highest volume of distribution, half-life). It is anticipated that the MaPPFAST database and the associated API prioritization approach will help guide research and/or inform ecological risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason P Berninger
- National Research Council, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Water Resources Center, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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34
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Cavallin JE, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, Villeneuve DL, Lee KE, Schroeder AL, Mayasich J, Eid EP, Nelson KR, Milsk RY, Blackwell BR, Berninger JP, LaLone CA, Blanksma C, Jicha T, Elonen C, Johnson R, Ankley GT. Pathway-based approaches for assessment of real-time exposure to an estrogenic wastewater treatment plant effluent on fathead minnow reproduction. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016; 35:702-716. [PMID: 26332155 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2015] [Revised: 08/03/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents are known contributors of chemical mixtures into the environment. Of particular concern are endocrine-disrupting compounds, such as estrogens, which can affect the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis function in exposed organisms. The present study examined reproductive effects in fathead minnows exposed for 21 d to a historically estrogenic WWTP effluent. Fathead minnow breeding pairs were held in control water or 1 of 3 effluent concentrations (5%, 20%, and 100%) in a novel onsite, flow-through system providing real-time exposure. The authors examined molecular and biochemical endpoints representing key events along adverse outcome pathways linking estrogen receptor activation and other molecular initiating events to reproductive impairment. In addition, the authors used chemical analysis of the effluent to construct a chemical-gene interaction network to aid in targeted gene expression analyses and identifying potentially impacted biological pathways. Cumulative fecundity was significantly reduced in fish exposed to 100% effluent but increased in those exposed to 20% effluent, the approximate dilution factor in the receiving waters. Plasma vitellogenin concentrations in males increased in a dose-dependent manner with effluent concentration; however, male fertility was not impacted. Although in vitro analyses, analytical chemistry, and biomarker responses confirmed the effluent was estrogenic, estrogen receptor agonists were unlikely the primary driver of impaired reproduction. The results provide insights into the significance of pathway-based effects with regard to predicting adverse reproductive outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Cavallin
- ORISE Research Participation Program, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
- Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, University of Minnesota-Duluth, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kathleen M Jensen
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Michael D Kahl
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Kathy E Lee
- Toxic Substances Hydrology Program, US Geological Survey, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, USA
| | - Anthony L Schroeder
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, University of Minnesota-Water Resources Center, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Joe Mayasich
- Western Lake Superior Sanitary District, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Evan P Eid
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Krysta R Nelson
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rebecca Y Milsk
- ORISE Research Participation Program, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Brett R Blackwell
- ORISE Research Participation Program, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Jason P Berninger
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Chad Blanksma
- Badger Technical Services, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Terri Jicha
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Colleen Elonen
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Rodney Johnson
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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Cavallin JE, Schroeder AL, Jensen KM, Villeneuve DL, Blackwell BR, Carlson K, Kahl MD, LaLone CA, Randolph EC, Ankley GT. Evaluation of whole-mount in situ hybridization as a tool for pathway-based toxicological research with early-life stage fathead minnows. Aquat Toxicol 2015; 169:19-26. [PMID: 26485527 DOI: 10.1016/j.aquatox.2015.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/04/2015] [Revised: 10/02/2015] [Accepted: 10/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Early-life stage fish can be more sensitive to toxicants than adults, so delineating mechanisms of perturbation of biological pathways by chemicals during this life stage is crucial. Whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH) paired with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (QPCR) assays can enhance pathway-based analyses through determination of specific tissues where changes in gene expression are occurring. While WISH has frequently been used in zebrafish (Danio rerio), this technology has not previously been applied to fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), another well-established small fish model species. The objective of the present study was to adapt WISH to fathead minnow embryos and larvae, and use the approach to evaluate the effects of estrone, an environmentally-relevant estrogen receptor (ER) agonist. Embryos were exposed via the water to 0, 18 or 1800 ng estrone/L (0, 0.067 and 6.7nM) for 3 or 6 days in a solvent-free, flow-through test system. Relative transcript abundance of three estrogen-responsive genes, estrogen receptor-α (esr1), cytochrome P450-aromatase B (cyp19b), and vitellogenin (vtg) was examined in pooled whole embryos using QPCR, and the spatial distribution of up-regulated gene transcripts was examined in individual fish using WISH. After 3 days of exposure to 1800 ng estrone/L, esr1 and cyp19b were significantly up-regulated, while vtg mRNA expression was not affected. After 6 days of exposure to 1800 ng estrone/L, transcripts for all three genes were significantly up-regulated. Corresponding WISH assays revealed spatial distribution of esr1 and vtg in the liver region, an observation consistent with activation of the hepatic ER. This study clearly demonstrates the potential utility of WISH, in conjunction with QPCR, to examine the mechanistic basis of the effects of toxicants on early-life stage fathead minnows.
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Affiliation(s)
- J E Cavallin
- University of Minnesota-Duluth, Integrated Biosciences Graduate Program, 1035 University Drive, Duluth, MN 55812, USA.
| | - A L Schroeder
- University of Minnesota-Water Resources Center, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - K M Jensen
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - D L Villeneuve
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - B R Blackwell
- ORISE Research Participation Program, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - K Carlson
- University of St. Thomas, Department of Biology, 2115 Summit Ave., St. Paul, MN 55105, USA
| | - M D Kahl
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - C A LaLone
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - E C Randolph
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - G T Ankley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd., Duluth, MN 55804, USA
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LaLone CA, Berninger JP, Villeneuve DL, Ankley GT. Leveraging existing data for prioritization of the ecological risks of human and veterinary pharmaceuticals to aquatic organisms. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2015; 369:rstb.2014.0022. [PMID: 25405975 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2014.0022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Medicinal innovation has led to the discovery and use of thousands of human and veterinary drugs. With this comes the potential for unintended effects on non-target organisms exposed to pharmaceuticals inevitably entering the environment. The impracticality of generating whole-organism chronic toxicity data representative of all species in the environment has necessitated prioritization of drugs for focused empirical testing as well as field monitoring. Current prioritization strategies typically emphasize likelihood for exposure (i.e. predicted/measured environmental concentrations), while incorporating only rather limited consideration of potential effects of the drug to non-target organisms. However, substantial mammalian pharmacokinetic and mechanism/mode of action (MOA) data are produced during drug development to understand drug target specificity and efficacy for intended consumers. An integrated prioritization strategy for assessing risks of human and veterinary drugs would leverage available pharmacokinetic and toxicokinetic data for evaluation of the potential for adverse effects to non-target organisms. In this reiview, we demonstrate the utility of read-across approaches to leverage mammalian absorption, distribution, metabolism and elimination data; analyse cross-species molecular target conservation and translate therapeutic MOA to an adverse outcome pathway(s) relevant to aquatic organisms as a means to inform prioritization of drugs for focused toxicity testing and environmental monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- Water Resources Center, College of Food, Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, University of Minnesota, 1985 Buford Avenue, St Paul, MN 55108, USA Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Jason P Berninger
- National Research Council, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Daniel L Villeneuve
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
| | - Gerald T Ankley
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, 6201 Congdon Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55804, USA
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Villeneuve DL, Crump D, Garcia-Reyero N, Hecker M, Hutchinson TH, LaLone CA, Landesmann B, Lettieri T, Munn S, Nepelska M, Ottinger MA, Vergauwen L, Whelan M. Adverse outcome pathway development II: best practices. Toxicol Sci 2015; 142:321-30. [PMID: 25466379 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 161] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Organization of existing and emerging toxicological knowledge into adverse outcome pathway (AOP) descriptions can facilitate greater application of mechanistic data, including those derived through high-throughput in vitro, high content omics and imaging, and biomarker approaches, in risk-based decision making. The previously ad hoc process of AOP development is being formalized through development of internationally harmonized guidance and principles. The goal of this article was to outline the information content desired for formal AOP description and some rules of thumb and best practices intended to facilitate reuse and connectivity of elements of an AOP description in a knowledgebase and network context. For example, key events (KEs) are measurements of change in biological state that are indicative of progression of a perturbation toward a specified adverse outcome. Best practices for KE description suggest that each KE should be defined as an independent measurement made at a particular level of biological organization. The concept of "functional equivalence" can help guide both decisions about how many KEs to include in an AOP and the specificity with which they are defined. Likewise, in describing both KEs and evidence that supports a causal linkage or statistical association between them (ie, a key event relationship; KER), best practice is to build from and contribute to existing KE or KER descriptions in the AOP knowledgebase rather than creating redundant descriptions. The best practices proposed address many of the challenges and uncertainties related to AOP development and help promote a consistent and reliable, yet flexible approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Villeneuve
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Doug Crump
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Natàlia Garcia-Reyero
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Markus Hecker
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Thomas H Hutchinson
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Landesmann
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
| | - Teresa Lettieri
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
| | - Sharon Munn
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
| | - Malgorzata Nepelska
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
| | - Mary Ann Ottinger
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
| | - Lucia Vergauwen
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Maurice Whelan
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Mississippi State University, Starkville, MS 39762, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada SK S7N 5B3, School of Biological Sciences, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, Water Resources Center, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, MN 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada K1A 0H3, Institute for Genomics, Biocompu
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Villeneuve DL, Crump D, Garcia-Reyero N, Hecker M, Hutchinson TH, LaLone CA, Landesmann B, Lettieri T, Munn S, Nepelska M, Ottinger MA, Vergauwen L, Whelan M. Adverse outcome pathway (AOP) development I: strategies and principles. Toxicol Sci 2015; 142:312-20. [PMID: 25466378 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfu199] [Citation(s) in RCA: 420] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
An adverse outcome pathway (AOP) is a conceptual framework that organizes existing knowledge concerning biologically plausible, and empirically supported, links between molecular-level perturbation of a biological system and an adverse outcome at a level of biological organization of regulatory relevance. Systematic organization of information into AOP frameworks has potential to improve regulatory decision-making through greater integration and more meaningful use of mechanistic data. However, for the scientific community to collectively develop a useful AOP knowledgebase that encompasses toxicological contexts of concern to human health and ecological risk assessment, it is critical that AOPs be developed in accordance with a consistent set of core principles. Based on the experiences and scientific discourse among a group of AOP practitioners, we propose a set of five fundamental principles that guide AOP development: (1) AOPs are not chemical specific; (2) AOPs are modular and composed of reusable components-notably key events (KEs) and key event relationships (KERs); (3) an individual AOP, composed of a single sequence of KEs and KERs, is a pragmatic unit of AOP development and evaluation; (4) networks composed of multiple AOPs that share common KEs and KERs are likely to be the functional unit of prediction for most real-world scenarios; and (5) AOPs are living documents that will evolve over time as new knowledge is generated. The goal of the present article was to introduce some strategies for AOP development and detail the rationale behind these 5 key principles. Consideration of these principles addresses many of the current uncertainties regarding the AOP framework and its application and is intended to foster greater consistency in AOP development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel L Villeneuve
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Doug Crump
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Natàlia Garcia-Reyero
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Markus Hecker
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Thomas H Hutchinson
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Carlie A LaLone
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Brigitte Landesmann
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Teresa Lettieri
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Sharon Munn
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Malgorzata Nepelska
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Mary Ann Ottinger
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Lucia Vergauwen
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Maurice Whelan
- *US EPA Mid-Continent Ecology Division, 6201 Congdon Blvd, Duluth, Minnesota 55804, Environment Canada, Ecotoxicology and Wildlife Health Division, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3 Canada, Mississippi State University, Institute for Genomics, Biocomputing and Biotechnology, Starkville, Mississippi 39762, University of Saskatchewan, School of the Environment and Sustainability and Toxicology Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, SK S7N 5B3, Canada, University of Plymouth, School of Biological Sciences, Plymouth, Devon, PL4 8AA, UK, University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center, St. Paul, Minnesota 55108, European Commission, Joint Research Centre, Via E. Fermi 2749, 21027 Ispra, Italy, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, Texas, 77004, Zebrafishlab, Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Antwerp, Universiteitsplein 1, 2610 Wilrijk, Belgium
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Russom CL, LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Ankley GT. Development of an adverse outcome pathway for acetylcholinesterase inhibition leading to acute mortality. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:2157-69. [PMID: 24922588 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2014] [Revised: 04/13/2014] [Accepted: 06/08/2014] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) are designed to describe linkages of key events within a biological pathway that result in an adverse outcome associated with chemical perturbation of a well-defined molecular initiating event. Risk assessors have traditionally relied on data from apical endpoints (e.g., mortality, growth, reproduction) to derive benchmark values for use in determining the potential adverse impacts of chemicals. One goal in building reliable and well-characterized AOPs is to identify relevant in vitro assays and/or in vivo biomarkers that could be used in screening the potential hazard of substances, thereby reducing costs and increasing the number of chemicals that can be evaluated in a timely fashion. The purpose of this review article is to build an AOP for substances with a molecular initiating event of acetylcholinesterase inhibition leading to acute mortality following guidance developed by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. In contrast to most other AOPs developed to date, in which coverage is for a relatively limited taxonomic group or life stage, this AOP is applicable to a wide range of species at multiple life stages. Furthermore, while development of most AOPs has relied on data for a few model chemicals, the AOP described in the present review captures information from a large number of studies with a diversity of organophosphate and carbamate insecticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine L Russom
- National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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40
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Cavallin JE, Durhan EJ, Evans N, Jensen KM, Kahl MD, Kolpin DW, Kolodziej EP, Foreman WT, LaLone CA, Makynen EA, Seidl SM, Thomas LM, Villeneuve DL, Weberg MA, Wilson VS, Ankley GT. Integrated assessment of runoff from livestock farming operations: Analytical chemistry, in vitro bioassays, and in vivo fish exposures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1849-57. [PMID: 24831736 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2014] [Revised: 02/21/2014] [Accepted: 04/24/2014] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Animal waste from livestock farming operations can contain varying levels of natural and synthetic androgens and/or estrogens, which can contaminate surrounding waterways. In the present study, surface stream water was collected from 6 basins containing livestock farming operations. Aqueous concentrations of 12 hormones were determined via chemical analyses. Relative androgenic and estrogenic activity was measured using in vitro cell assays (MDA-kb2 and T47D-Kbluc assays, respectively). In parallel, 48-h static-renewal in vivo exposures were conducted to examine potential endocrine-disrupting effects in fathead minnows. Mature fish were exposed to surface water dilutions (0%, 25%, 50%, and 100%) and 10-ng/L of 17α-ethynylestradiol or 50-ng/L of 17β-trenbolone as positive controls. Hepatic expression of vitellogenin and estrogen receptor α mRNA, gonadal ex vivo testosterone and 17β-estradiol production, and plasma vitellogenin concentrations were examined. Potentially estrogenic and androgenic steroids were detected at low nanogram per liter concentrations. In vitro estrogenic activity was detected in all samples, whereas androgenic activity was detected in only 1 sample. In vivo exposures to the surface water had no significant dose-dependent effect on any of the biological endpoints, with the exception of increased male testosterone production in 1 exposure. The present study, which combines analytical chemistry measurements, in vitro bioassays, and in vivo fish exposures, highlights the integrated value and future use of a combination of techniques to obtain a comprehensive characterization of an environmental chemical mixture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna E Cavallin
- ORISE Research Participation Program, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Office of Research and Development, US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota
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41
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Kahl MD, Villeneuve DL, Stevens K, Schroeder A, Makynen EA, LaLone CA, Jensen KM, Hughes M, Holmen BA, Eid E, Durhan EJ, Cavallin JE, Berninger J, Ankley GT. An inexpensive, temporally integrated system for monitoring occurrence and biological effects of aquatic contaminants in the field. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:1584-95. [PMID: 24668901 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Revised: 02/26/2014] [Accepted: 03/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Assessment of potential risks of complex contaminant mixtures in the environment requires integrated chemical and biological approaches. In support of the US Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, the US Environmental Protection Agency lab in Duluth, MN, is developing these types of methods for assessing possible risks of aquatic contaminants in near-shore Great Lakes (USA) sites. One component involves an exposure system for caged fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) adults suitable for the wide range of habitat and deployment situations encountered in and around the Great Lakes. To complement the fish exposure system, the authors developed an automated device for collection of composite water samples that could be simultaneously deployed with the cages and reflect a temporally integrated exposure of the animals. The present study describes methodological details of the design, construction, and deployment of a flexible yet comparatively inexpensive (<600 USD) caged-fish/autosampler system. The utility and performance of the system were demonstrated with data collected from deployments at several Great Lakes sites. For example, over 3 field seasons, only 2 of 130 deployed cages were lost, and approximately 99% of successfully deployed adult fish were recovered after exposures of 4 d or longer. A number of molecular, biochemical, and apical endpoints were successfully measured in recovered animals, changes in which reflected known characteristics of the study sites (e.g., upregulation of hepatic genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism in fish held in the vicinity of wastewater treatment plants). The automated composite samplers proved robust with regard to successful water collection (>95% of deployed units in the latest field season), and low within- and among-unit variations were found relative to programmed collection volumes. Overall, the test system has excellent potential for integrated chemical-biological monitoring of contaminants in a variety of field settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Kahl
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Cavallin JE, Kahl MD, Durhan EJ, Makynen EA, Jensen KM, Stevens KE, Severson MN, Blanksma CA, Flynn KM, Hartig PC, Woodard JS, Berninger JP, Norberg-King TJ, Johnson RD, Ankley GT. Cross-species sensitivity to a novel androgen receptor agonist of potential environmental concern, spironolactone. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013; 32:2528-2541. [PMID: 23881739 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Revised: 04/24/2013] [Accepted: 07/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Spironolactone is a pharmaceutical that in humans is used to treat conditions like hirsutism, various dermatologic afflictions, and female-pattern hair loss through antagonism of the androgen receptor. Although not routinely monitored in the environment, spironolactone has been detected downstream of a pharmaceutical manufacturer, indicating a potential for exposure of aquatic species. Furthermore, spironolactone has been reported to cause masculinization of female western mosquitofish, a response indicative of androgen receptor activation. Predictive methods to identify homologous proteins to the human and western mosquitofish androgen receptor suggest that vertebrates would be more susceptible to adverse effects mediated by chemicals like spironolactone that target the androgen receptor compared with invertebrate species that lack a relevant homolog. In addition, an adverse outcome pathway previously developed for activation of the androgen receptor suggests that androgen mimics can lead to reproductive toxicity in fish. To assess this, 21-d reproduction studies were conducted with 2 fish species, fathead minnow and Japanese medaka, and the invertebrate Daphnia magna. Spironolactone significantly reduced the fecundity of medaka and fathead minnows at 50 μg/L, whereas daphnia reproduction was not affected by concentrations as large as 500 μg/L. Phenotypic masculinization of females of both fish species was observed at 5 μg/L as evidenced by formation of tubercles in fathead minnows and papillary processes in Japanese medaka. Effects in fish occurred at concentrations below those reported in the environment. These results demonstrate how a priori knowledge of an adverse outcome pathway and the conservation of a key molecular target across vertebrates can be utilized to identify potential chemicals of concern in terms of monitoring and highlight potentially sensitive species and endpoints for testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, Duluth, Minnesota, USA
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Perkins EJ, Ankley GT, Crofton KM, Garcia-Reyero N, LaLone CA, Johnson MS, Tietge JE, Villeneuve DL. Current perspectives on the use of alternative species in human health and ecological hazard assessments. Environ Health Perspect 2013; 121:1002-10. [PMID: 23771518 PMCID: PMC3764090 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1306638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2013] [Accepted: 06/12/2013] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Traditional animal toxicity tests can be time and resource intensive, thereby limiting the number of chemicals that can be comprehensively tested for potential hazards to humans and/or to the environment. OBJECTIVE We compared several types of data to demonstrate how alternative models can be used to inform both human and ecological risk assessment. METHODS We reviewed and compared data derived from high throughput in vitro assays to fish reproductive tests for seven chemicals. We investigated whether human-focused assays can be predictive of chemical hazards in the environment. We examined how conserved pathways enable the use of nonmammalian models, such as fathead minnow, zebrafish, and Xenopus laevis, to understand modes of action and to screen for chemical risks to humans. RESULTS We examined how dose-dependent responses of zebrafish embryos exposed to flusilazole can be extrapolated, using pathway point of departure data and reverse toxicokinetics, to obtain human oral dose hazard values that are similar to published mammalian chronic toxicity values for the chemical. We also examined how development/safety data for human health can be used to help assess potential risks of pharmaceuticals to nontarget species in the environment. DISCUSSION Using several examples, we demonstrate that pathway-based analysis of chemical effects provides new opportunities to use alternative models (nonmammalian species, in vitro tests) to support decision making while reducing animal use and associated costs. CONCLUSIONS These analyses and examples demonstrate how alternative models can be used to reduce cost and animal use while being protective of both human and ecological health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edward J Perkins
- US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi, USA.
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LaLone CA, Villeneuve DL, Olmstead AW, Medlock EK, Kahl MD, Jensen KM, Durhan EJ, Makynen EA, Blanksma CA, Cavallin JE, Thomas LM, Seidl SM, Skolness SY, Wehmas LC, Johnson RD, Ankley GT. Effects of a glucocorticoid receptor agonist, dexamethasone, on fathead minnow reproduction, growth, and development. Environ Toxicol Chem 2012; 31:611-22. [PMID: 22189798 DOI: 10.1002/etc.1729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2011] [Revised: 10/17/2011] [Accepted: 10/20/2011] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic glucocorticoids are pharmaceutical compounds prescribed in human and veterinary medicine as anti-inflammatory agents and have the potential to contaminate natural watersheds via inputs from wastewater treatment facilities and confined animal-feeding operations. Despite this, few studies have examined the effects of this class of chemicals on aquatic vertebrates. To generate data to assess potential risk to the aquatic environment, we used fathead minnow 21-d reproduction and 29-d embryo-larvae assays to determine reproductive toxicity and early-life-stage effects of dexamethasone. Exposure to 500 µg dexamethasone/L in the 21-d test caused reductions in fathead minnow fecundity and female plasma estradiol concentrations and increased the occurrence of abnormally hatched fry. Female fish exposed to 500 µg dexamethasone/L also displayed a significant increase in plasma vitellogenin protein levels, possibly because of decreased spawning. A decrease in vitellogenin messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression in liver tissue from females exposed to the high dexamethasone concentration lends support to this hypothesis. Histological results indicate that a 29-d embryo-larval exposure to 500 µg dexamethasone/L caused a significant increase in deformed gill opercula. Fry exposed to 500 µg dexamethasone/L for 29 d also exhibited a significant reduction in weight and length compared with control fry. Taken together, these results indicate that nonlethal concentrations of a model glucocorticoid receptor agonist can impair fish reproduction, growth, and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A LaLone
- Office of Research and Development, National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Mid-Continent Ecology Division, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota, USA.
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LaLone CA, Huang N, Rizshsky L, Yum MY, Singh N, Hauck C, Nikolau BJ, Wurtele ES, Kohut ML, Murphy PA, Birt DF. Enrichment of Echinacea angustifolia with Bauer alkylamide 11 and Bauer ketone 23 increased anti-inflammatory potential through interference with cox-2 enzyme activity. J Agric Food Chem 2010; 58:8573-84. [PMID: 20681645 PMCID: PMC3738191 DOI: 10.1021/jf1014268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Bauer alkylamide 11 and Bauer ketone 23 were previously found to be partially responsible for Echinacea angustifolia anti-inflammatory properties. This study further tested their importance using the inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) and nitric oxide (NO) production by RAW264.7 mouse macrophages in the absence and presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and E. angustifolia extracts, phytochemical enriched fractions, or pure synthesized standards. Molecular targets were probed using microarray, qRT-PCR, Western blot, and enzyme assays. Fractions with these phytochemicals were more potent inhibitors of LPS-induced PGE(2) production than E. angustifolia extracts. Microarray did not detect changes in transcripts with phytochemical treatments; however, qRT-PCR showed a decrease in TNF-alpha and an increase of iNOS transcripts. LPS-induced COX-2 protein was increased by an E. angustifolia fraction containing Bauer ketone 23 and by pure phytochemical. COX-2 activity was decreased with all treatments. The phytochemical inhibition of PGE(2) production by Echinacea may be due to the direct targeting of COX-2 enzyme.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program at Iowa State University
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University
| | - Nan Huang
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University
| | - Ludmila Rizshsky
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University
| | - Man-Yu Yum
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Statistics at Iowa State University
| | - Navrozedeep Singh
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University
| | - Cathy Hauck
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University
| | - Basil J. Nikolau
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics, and Molecular Biology at Iowa State University
| | - Eve S. Wurtele
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Genetics, Development, and Cell Biology at Iowa State University
| | - Marian L. Kohut
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Kinesiology at Iowa State University
| | - Patricia A. Murphy
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University
| | - Diane F. Birt
- Center for Research on Botanical Dietary Supplements at Iowa State University and the University of Iowa
- Interdepartmental Genetics Graduate Program at Iowa State University
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition at Iowa State University
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel: (515) 294-9873.
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LaLone CA, Rizshsky L, Hammer KD, Wu L, Solco AK, Yum M, Nikolau BJ, Wurtele ES, Murphy PA, Kim M, Birt DF. Endogenous levels of Echinacea alkylamides and ketones are important contributors to the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 and nitric oxide production in cultured macrophages. J Agric Food Chem 2009; 57:8820-30. [PMID: 19807154 PMCID: PMC2777644 DOI: 10.1021/jf901202y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Because of the popularity of Echinacea as a dietary supplement, researchers have been actively investigating which Echinacea constituent or groups of constituents are necessary for immune-modulating bioactivities. Our prior studies indicate that alkylamides may play an important role in the inhibition of prostaglandin E2 (PGE(2)) production. High-performance liquid chromatography fractionation, employed to elucidate interacting anti-inflammatory constituents from ethanol extracts of Echinacea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea pallida, and Echinacea tennesseensis, identified fractions containing alkylamides and ketones as key anti-inflammatory contributors using lipopolysaccharide-induced PGE(2) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells. Nitric oxide (NO) production and parallel cytotoxicity screens were also employed to substantiate an anti-inflammatory response. E. pallida showed significant inhibition of PGE(2) with a first round fraction, containing gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) peaks for Bauer ketones 20, 21, 22, 23, and 24, with 23 and 24 identified as significant contributors to this PGE(2) inhibition. Chemically synthesized Bauer ketones 21 and 23 at 1 microM each significantly inhibited both PGE(2) and NO production. Three rounds of fractionation were produced from an E. angustifolia extract. GC-MS analysis identified the presence of Bauer ketone 23 in third round fraction 3D32 and Bauer alkylamide 11 making up 96% of third round fraction 3E40. Synthetic Bauer ketone 23 inhibited PGE(2) production to 83% of control, and synthetic Bauer alkylamide 11 significantly inhibited PGE(2) and NO production at the endogenous concentrations determined to be present in their respective fraction; thus, each constituent partially explained the in vitro anti-inflammatory activity of their respective fraction. From this study, two key contributors to the anti-inflammatory properties of E. angustifolia were identified as Bauer alkylamide 11 and Bauer ketone 23.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Diane F. Birt
- To whom correspondence should be addressed: Tel: (515) 294-9873.
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LaLone CA, Rizshsky L, Solco A, Nikolau B, Murphy P, Birt DF. Unraveling the complexity of Echinacea fractions to identify alkylamides and ketones important for anti‐inflammatory bioactivity. FASEB J 2009. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.23.1_supplement.104.5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Basil Nikolau
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State UniversityAmesIA
| | | | - Diane F. Birt
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State UniversityAmesIA
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LaLone CA, Hammer KDP, Wu L, Bae J, Leyva N, Liu Y, Solco AKS, Kraus GA, Murphy PA, Wurtele ES, kim OK, Seo K, Widrlechner MP, Birt DF. Echinacea species and alkamides inhibit prostaglandin E(2) production in RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells. J Agric Food Chem 2007; 55:7314-22. [PMID: 17696440 PMCID: PMC2365466 DOI: 10.1021/jf063711a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW264.7 mouse macrophage cells was assessed with an enzyme immunoassay following treatments with Echinacea extracts or synthesized alkamides. Results indicated that ethanol extracts diluted in media to a concentration of 15 microg/mL from E. angustifolia, E. pallida, E. simulata, and E. sanguinea significantly inhibited PGE2 production. In further studies, PGE2 production was significantly reduced by all synthesized alkamides assayed at 50 microM, by Bauer alkamides 8, 12A analogue, and 14, Chen alkamide 2, and Chen alkamide 2 analogue at 25 microM and by Bauer alkamide 14 at 10 microM. Cytotoxicity did not play a role in the noted reduction of PGE2 production in either the Echinacea extracts or synthesized alkamides. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis identified individual alkamides present at concentrations below 2.8 microM in the extracts from the six Echinacea species (15 microg/mL crude extract). Because active extracts contained <2.8 microM of specific alkamide and the results showed that synthetic alkamides must have a minimum concentration of 10 microM to inhibit PGE2, it is likely that alkamides may contribute toward the anti-inflammatory activity of Echinacea in a synergistic or additive manner.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Diane F. Birt
- * Author to whom correspondence should be addressed [telephone (515) 294-9873; e-mail ]
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49
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LaLone CA, Solco AKS, Kim M, Murphy PA, Birt DF. Fractions from Echinacea Species Inhibit Prostaglandin E2. FASEB J 2007. [DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.21.5.a733-b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Carlie A. LaLone
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State University220 MacKay HallAmesIA50011
| | | | - Meehye Kim
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State University220 MacKay HallAmesIA50011
| | - Patricia A. Murphy
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State University220 MacKay HallAmesIA50011
| | - Diane F. Birt
- Food Science and Human NutritionIowa State University220 MacKay HallAmesIA50011
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