Differences in the anatomy and physiology of the human and rat respiratory tracts and impact on toxicological assessments.

Inhalation is a critical route through which substances can exert adverse effects in humans; therefore, it is important to characterize the potential effects that inhaled substances may have on the human respiratory tract by using fit for purpose, reliable, and human relevant testing tools. In regulatory toxicology testing, rats have primarily been used to assess the effects of inhaled substances as they-being mammals-share similarities in structure and function of the respiratory tract with humans. However, questions about inter-species differences impacting the predictability of human effects have surfaced. Disparities in macroscopic anatomy, microscopic anatomy, or physiology, such as breathing mode (e.g., nose-only versus oronasal breathing), airway structure (e.g., complexity of the nasal turbinates), cell types and location within the respiratory tract, and local metabolism may impact inhalation toxicity testing results. This review shows that these key differences describe uncertainty in the use of rat data to predict human effects and supports an opportunity to harness modern toxicology tools and a detailed understanding of the human respiratory tract to develop testing approaches grounded in human biology. Ultimately, as the regulatory purpose is protecting human health, there is a need for testing approaches based on human biology and mechanisms of toxicity.

Towards a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny - Part IV: the ECETOC and CLE Proposal for a Thyroid Function-Related Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Testing and Assessment Scheme (Thyroid-NDT-TAS).

Following the European Commission Endocrine Disruptor Criteria, substances shall be considered as having endocrine disrupting properties if they (a) elicit adverse effects, (b) have endocrine activity, and (c) the two are linked by an endocrine mode-of-action (MoA) unless the MoA is not relevant for humans. A comprehensive, structured approach to assess whether substances meet the Endocrine Disruptor Criteria for the thyroid modality (EDC-T) is currently unavailable. Here, the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals Thyroxine Task Force and CropLife Europe propose a Thyroid Function-Related Neurodevelopmental Toxicity Testing and Assessment Scheme (Thyroid-NDT-TAS). In Tier 0, before entering the Thyroid-NDT-TAS, all available in vivo, in vitro and in silico data are submitted to weight-of-evidence (WoE) evaluations to determine whether the substance of interest poses a concern for thyroid disruption. If so, Tier 1 of the Thyroid-NDT-TAS includes an initial MoA and human relevance assessment (structured by the key events of possibly relevant adverse outcome pathways) and the generation of supportive in vitro/in silico data, if relevant. Only if Tier 1 is inconclusive, Tier 2 involves higher-tier testing to generate further thyroid- and/or neurodevelopment-related data. Tier 3 includes the final MoA and human relevance assessment and an overarching WoE evaluation to draw a conclusion on whether, or not, the substance meets the EDC-T. The Thyroid-NDT-TAS is based on the state-of-the-science, and it has been developed to minimise animal testing. To make human safety assessments more accurate, it is recommended to apply the Thyroid-NDT-TAS during future regulatory assessments.

Evidential requirements for the regulatory hazard and risk assessment of respiratory sensitisers: methyl methacrylate as an example.

This review addresses the need for a framework to increase the consistency, objectivity and transparency in the regulatory assessment of respiratory sensitisers and associated uncertainties. Principal issues are considered and illustrated through a case study (with methyl methacrylate). In the absence of test methods validated for regulatory use, formal documentation of the weight-of-evidence for hazard classification both at the level of integration of individual studies within lines of evidence and across a broad range of data streams was agreed to be critical for such a framework. An integrated approach is proposed to include not only occupational studies and clinical evidence for the regulatory assessment of respiratory sensitisers, but also information on structure and physical and chemical factors, predictive approaches such as structure activity analysis and in vitro and in vivo mechanistic and toxicokinetic findings. A weight-of-evidence protocol, incorporating integration of these sources of data based on predefined considerations, would contribute to transparency and consistency in the outcome of the assessment. In those cases where a decision may need to be taken on the basis of occupational findings alone, conclusions should be based on transparent weighting of relevant data on the observed prevalence of occupational asthma in various studies taking into account all relevant information including the range and nature of workplace exposures to the substance of interest, co-exposure to other chemicals and study quality.

Dissolution Rate of Nanomaterials Determined by Ions and Particle Size under Lysosomal Conditions: Contributions to Standardization of Simulant Fluids and Analytical Methods.

Dissolution of inhaled engineered nanomaterials (ENM) under physiological conditions is essential to predict the clearance of the ENM from the lungs and to assess their biodurability and the potential effects of released ions. Alveolar macrophage (AM) lysosomes contain a pH 4.5 saline brine with enzymes and other components. Different types of artificial phagolysosomal simulant fluids (PSFs) have been developed for dissolution testing, but the consequence of using different media is not known. In this study, we tested to which extent six fundamentally different PSFs affected the ENM dissolution kinetics and particle size as determined by a validated transmission electron microscopy (TEM) image analysis. Three lysosomal simulant media were consistent with each other and with in vivo clearance. These media predict the quick dissolution of ZnO, the partial dissolution of SiO2, and the very slow dissolution of TiO2. The valid media use either a mix of organic acids (with the total concentration below 0.5 g/L, thereof citric acid below 0.15 g/L) or another organic acid (KH phthalate). For several ENM, including ZnO, BaSO4, and CeO2, all these differences induce only minor modulation of the dissolution rates. Only for TiO2 and SiO2, the interaction with specific organic acids is highly sensitive, probably due to sequestration of the ions, and can lead to wrong predictions when compared to the in vivo behavior. The media that fail on TiO2 and SiO2 dissolution use citric acid at concentrations above 5 g/L (up to 28 g/L). In the present selection of ENM, fluids, and methods, the different lysosomal simulant fluids did not induce changes of particle morphology, except for small changes in SiO2 and BaSO4 particles most likely due to ion dissolution, reprecipitation, and coalescence between neighboring particles. Based on the current evidence, the particle size by TEM analysis is not a sufficiently sensitive analytical method to deduce the rate of ENM dissolution in physiological media. In summary, we recommend the standardization of ENM dissolution testing by one of the three valid lysosomal simulant fluids with determination of the dissolution rate and halftime by the quantification of ions. This recommendation was established for a continuous flow system but may be relevant as well for static (batch) solubility testing.

Towards a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny-part III: how is substance-mediated thyroid hormone imbalance in pregnant/lactating rats or their progeny related to neurodevelopmental effects?

This review investigated which patterns of thyroid- and brain-related effects are seen in rats upon gestational/lactational exposure to 14 substances causing thyroid hormone imbalance by four different modes-of-action (inhibition of thyroid peroxidase, sodium-iodide symporter and deiodinase activities, enhancement of thyroid hormone clearance) or to dietary iodine deficiency. Brain-related parameters included motor activity, cognitive function, acoustic startle response, hearing function, periventricular heterotopia, electrophysiology and brain gene expression. Specific modes-of-action were not related to specific patterns of brain-related effects. Based upon the rat data reviewed, maternal serum thyroid hormone levels do not show a causal relationship with statistically significant neurodevelopmental effects. Offspring serum thyroxine together with offspring serum triiodothyronine and thyroid stimulating hormone appear relevant to predict the likelihood for neurodevelopmental effects. Based upon the collated database, thresholds of ≥60%/≥50% offspring serum thyroxine reduction and ≥20% and statistically significant offspring serum triiodothyronine reduction indicate an increased likelihood for statistically significant neurodevelopmental effects; accuracies: 83% and 67% when excluding electrophysiology (and gene expression). Measurements of brain thyroid hormone levels are likely relevant, too. The extent of substance-mediated thyroid hormone imbalance appears more important than substance mode-of-action to predict neurodevelopmental impairment in rats. Pertinent research needs were identified, e.g. to determine whether the phenomenological offspring thyroid hormone thresholds are relevant for regulatory toxicity testing. The insight from this review shall be used to suggest a tiered testing strategy to determine whether gestational/lactational substance exposure may elicit thyroid hormone imbalance and potentially also neurodevelopmental effects.

The Use of Nanomaterial In Vivo Organ Burden Data for In Vitro Dose Setting.

Effects of nanomaterials are usually observed at higher concentrations in vitro compared to animal studies. This is pointing to differences between in vivo situations and generally less complex in vitro models. These differences concern toxicodynamics and the internal exposure (at the target cells of the in vitro and in vivo test system). The latter can be minimized by appropriate in vivo to in vitro dose extrapolations (IVIVE). An IVIVE six-step procedure is proposed here: 1) determine in vivo exposure; 2) identify in vivo organ burden at lowest observed adverse effect concentration; 3) extrapolate in vivo organ burden to in vitro effective dose; 4) extrapolate in vitro effective dose to nominal concentration; 5) set dose ranges to establish dose-response relationships; and 6) consider uncertainties and specificities of in vitro test system. Assessing the results of in vitro studies needs careful consideration of discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo models: apart from different endpoints (usually cellular responses in vitro and adverse effects on organs or organisms in vivo), nanomaterials can also have a different potency in relatively simple in vitro models and the more complex corresponding organ in vivo. IVIVE can, nonetheless, reduce the differences in exposures.

Critical Choices in Predicting Stone Wool Biodurability: Lysosomal Fluid Compositions and Binder Effects.

The hazard potential, including carcinogenicity, of inhaled man-made vitreous fibers (MMVFs) is correlated with their biodurability in the lung, as prerequisite for biopersistence. Abiotic dissolution testing serves to predict biodurability. We re-analyzed the International Agency for Research on Cancer Monograph on MMVFs and found that the correlation between in vivo biopersistence and abiotic dissolution presented therein confounded different simulant fluids and further confounded evaluation of leaching vs structural elements. These are critical choices for abiotic dissolution testing, as are binder removal and the rate of the flow that removes ions during testing. Therefore, we experimentally demonstrated how fluid composition and binder affect abiotic dissolution of a representative stone wool MMVF. We compared six simulant fluids (all pH 4.5, reflecting the environment of alveolar macrophage lysosomes) that differed in organic acids, which have a critical role in their ability to modulate the formation of Si-rich gels on the fiber surfaces. Removing the binder accelerates the average dissolution rate by +104% (max. + 273%) across the fluids by suppression of gel formation. Apart from the high-citrate fluid that predicted a 10-fold faster dissolution than is observed in vivo, none of the five other fluids resulted in dissolution rates above 400 ng/cm2/h, the limit associated with the exoneration from classification for carcinogenicity in the literature. These findings were confirmed with and without binder. For corroboration, five more stone wool MMVFs were assessed with and without binder in one specific fluid. Again, the presence of the binder caused gel formation and reduced dissolution rates. To enhance the reliability and robustness of abiotic predictions of biodurability, we recommend replacing the critically influential citric acid in pH 4.5 fluids with other organic acids. Also, future studies should consider structural transformations of the fibers, including changes in fiber length, fiber composition, and reprecipitation of gel layers.

Towards a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny - part II: how can key events of relevant adverse outcome pathways be addressed in toxicological assessments?

The current understanding of thyroid-related adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) with adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in mammals has been reviewed. This served to establish if standard rodent toxicity test methods and in vitro assays allow identifying thyroid-related modes-of-action potentially leading to adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes, and the human relevance of effects - in line with the European Commission's Endocrine Disruptor Criteria. The underlying hypothesis is that an understanding of the key events of relevant AOPs provides insight into differences in incidence, magnitude, or species sensitivity of adverse outcomes. The rodent studies include measurements of serum thyroid hormones, thyroid gland pathology and neurodevelopmental assessments, but do not directly inform on specific modes-of-action. Opportunities to address additional non-routine parameters reflecting critical events of AOPs in toxicological assessments are presented. These parameters appear relevant to support the identification of specific thyroid-related modes-of-action, provided that prevailing technical limitations are overcome. Current understanding of quantitative key event relationships is often weak, but would be needed to determine if the triggering of a molecular initiating event will ultimately result in an adverse outcome. Also, significant species differences in all processes related to thyroid hormone signalling are evident, but the biological implications thereof (including human relevance) are often unknown. In conclusion, careful consideration of the measurement (e.g. timing, method) and interpretation of additional non-routine parameters is warranted. These findings will be used in a subsequent paper to propose a testing strategy to identify if a substance may elicit maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and potentially also neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny.

Assessing chemical carcinogenicity: hazard identification, classification, and risk assessment. Insight from a Toxicology Forum state-of-the-science workshop.

The Toxicology Forum convened an international state-of-the-science workshop Assessing Chemical Carcinogenicity: Hazard Identification, Classification, and Risk Assessment in December 2020. Challenges related to assessing chemical carcinogenicity were organized under the topics of (1) problem formulation; (2) modes-of-action; (3) dose-response assessment; and (4) the use of new approach methodologies (NAMs). Key topics included the mechanisms of genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogenicity and how these in conjunction with consideration of exposure conditions might inform dose-response assessments and an overall risk assessment; approaches to evaluate the human relevance of modes-of-action observed in rodent studies; and the characterization of uncertainties. While the scientific limitations of the traditional rodent chronic bioassay were widely acknowledged, knowledge gaps that need to be overcome to facilitate the further development and uptake of NAMs were also identified. Since one single NAM is unlikely to replace the bioassay, activities to combine NAMs into integrated approaches for testing and assessment, or preferably into defined approaches for testing and assessment that include data interpretation procedures, were identified as urgent research needs. In addition, adverse outcome pathway networks can provide a framework for organizing the available evidence/data for assessing chemical carcinogenicity. Since a formally accepted decision tree to guide use of the best and most current science to advance carcinogenicity risk assessment is currently unavailable, a Decision Matrix for carcinogenicity assessment could be useful. The workshop organizers developed and presented a decision matrix to be considered within a carcinogenicity hazard and risk assessment that is offered in tabular form.

Application of grouping and read-across for the evaluation of parabens of different chain lengths with a particular focus on endocrine properties.

This article presents the outcomes of higher-tier repeated-dose toxicity studies and developmental and reproductive toxicity (DART) studies using Wistar rats requested for methyl paraben and propyl paraben under the European Union chemicals legislation. All studies revealed no-observed adverse effects (NOAELs) at 1000 mg/kg body weight/day. These findings (absence of effects) were then used to interpolate the hazard profile for ethyl paraben, further considering available data for butyl paraben. The underlying read-across hypothesis (all shorter-chained linear n-alkyl parabens are a 'category' based on very high structural similarity and are transformed to a common compound) was confirmed by similarity calculations and comparative in vivo toxicokinetics screening studies for methyl paraben, ethyl paraben, propyl paraben and butyl paraben. All four parabens were rapidly taken up systemically following oral gavage administration to rats, metabolised to p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and rapidly eliminated (parabens within one hour; p-hydroxybenzoic acid within 4-8 h). Accordingly, for ethyl paraben, the NOAELs for repeated-dose toxicity and DART were interpolated to be 1000 mg/kg body weight/day. Finally, all evidence was evaluated to address concerns expressed in the literature that parabens might be endocrine disruptors. This evaluation showed that the higher-tier studies do not provide any indication for any endocrine disrupting property. This is the first time that a comprehensive dataset from higher-tier in vivo studies following internationally agreed test protocols has become available for shorter-chained linear n-alkyl parabens. Consistently, the dataset shows that these parabens are devoid of repeated-dose toxicity and do not possess any DART or endocrine disrupting properties.

Hazard identification, classification, and risk assessment of carcinogens: too much or too little? - Report of an ECETOC workshop.

The European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) organized a workshop "Hazard Identification, Classification and Risk Assessment of Carcinogens: Too Much or Too Little?" to explore the scientific limitations of the current binary carcinogenicity classification scheme that classifies substances as either carcinogenic or not. Classification is often based upon the rodent 2-year bioassay, which has scientific limitations and is not necessary to predict whether substances are likely human carcinogens. By contrast, tiered testing strategies founded on new approach methodologies (NAMs) followed by subchronic toxicity testing, as necessary, are useful to determine if a substance is likely carcinogenic, by which mode-of-action effects would occur and, for non-genotoxic carcinogens, the dose levels below which the key events leading to carcinogenicity are not affected. Importantly, the objective is not for NAMs to mimic high-dose effects recorded in vivo, as these are not relevant to human risk assessment. Carcinogenicity testing at the "maximum tolerated dose" does not reflect human exposure conditions, but causes major disturbances of homeostasis, which are very unlikely to occur at relevant human exposure levels. The evaluation of findings should consider biological relevance and not just statistical significance. Using this approach, safe exposures to non-genotoxic substances can be established.

Toward a science-based testing strategy to identify maternal thyroid hormone imbalance and neurodevelopmental effects in the progeny - part I: which parameters from human studies are most relevant for toxicological assessments?

The 2018 European Food Safety Authority/European Chemicals Agency Guidance on the Identification of Endocrine Disruptors lacks clarity on how the presence or absence of substance-induced maternal thyroid hormone imbalance, or the potential for subsequent deleterious consequences in child neurodevelopment, should be established by toxicological assessments. To address these uncertainties, this narrative review evaluates human evidence on how altered maternal thyroid function may be associated with child neurodevelopmental outcomes; and seeks to identify parameters in human studies that appear most relevant for toxicological assessments. Serum levels of free thyroxine (fT4) and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) are most frequently measured when assessing thyroid function in pregnant women, whereas a broad spectrum of neurodevelopmental parameters is used to evaluate child neurodevelopment. The human data confirms an association between altered maternal serum fT4 and/or TSH and increased risk for child neurodevelopmental impairment. Quantitative boundaries of effects indicative of increased risks need to be established. Moreover, it is unknown if altered serum levels of total T4, free or total triiodothyronine, or parameters unrelated to serum thyroid hormones might be more relevant indicators of such effects. None of the human studies established a link between substance-mediated liver enzyme induction and increased serum thyroid hormone clearance, let alone further to child neurodevelopmental impairment. This review identifies research needs to contribute to the development of toxicity testing strategies, to reliably predict whether substances have the potential to impair child neurodevelopment via maternal thyroid hormone imbalance.

21st Century Approaches for Evaluating Exposures, Biological Activity, and Risks of Complex Substances: Workshop highlights.

The June 2019 workshop 21st Century Approaches for Evaluating Exposures, Biological Activity, and Risks of Complex Substances, co-organised by the International Council of Chemical Association's Long-Range Research Initiative and the European Commission's Joint Research Centre, is summarised. Focus was the need for improved approaches to evaluate the safety of complex substances. Approximately 10% and 20% of substances registered under the EU chemicals legislation are 'multi-constituent substances' and 'substances of unknown or variable compositions, complex reaction products and biological substances' (UVCBs), respectively, and UVCBs comprise approximately 25% of the U.S. Toxic Substances Control Act Inventory. Workshop participants were asked to consider how the full promise of new approach methodologies (NAMs) could be brought to bear to evaluate complex substances. Sessions focused on using NAMs for screening, biological profiling, and in complex risk evaluations; improving read-across approaches employing new data streams; and methods to evaluate exposure and dosimetry. The workshop concluded with facilitated discussions to explore actionable steps forward. Given the diversity of complex substances, no single 'correct' approach was seen as workable. The path forward should focus on 'learning by doing' by developing and openly sharing NAM-based fit-for-purpose case examples for evaluating biological activity, exposures and risks of complex substances.

The Grouping and Assessment Strategy for Organic Pigments (GRAPE): Scientific evidence to facilitate regulatory decision-making.

This article presents the Grouping and Assessment Strategy for Organic Pigments (GRAPE). GRAPE is driven by the hypotheses that low (bio)dissolution and low permeability indicate absence of systemic bioavailability and hence no systemic toxicity potential upon oral exposure, and, for inhalation exposure, that low (bio)dissolution (and absence of surface reactivity, dispersibility and in vitro effects) indicate that the organic pigment is a 'poorly soluble particle without intrinsic toxicity potential'. In GRAPE Tier 1, (bio)solubility and (bio)dissolution are assessed, and in Tier 2, in vitro Caco-2 permeability and in vitro alveolar macrophage activation. Thereafter, organic pigments are grouped by common properties (further considering structural similarity depending on the regulatory requirements). In Tier 3, absence of systemic bioavailability is verified by limited in vivo screening (rat 28-day oral and 5-day inhalation toxicity studies). If Tier 3 confirms no (or only very low) systemic bioavailability, all higher-tier endpoint-specific animal testing is scientifically not-relevant. Application of the GRAPE can serve to reduce animal testing needs for all but few representative organic pigments within a group. GRAPE stands in line with the EU REACH Regulation (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals). An ongoing research project aims at establishing a proof-of-concept of the GRAPE.

Finding synergies for 3Rs - Toxicokinetics and read-across: Report from an EPAA partners' Forum.

The European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) convened a Partners' Forum Toxicokinetics and Read-Across to provide an overview on research activities to develop in vitro toxicokinetics methods and physiologically-based kinetic (PBK) models and to find synergies to enhance use of toxicokinetic data to strengthen read-across. Currently, lacking toxicokinetic data often prevent the application of read-across. Preferably, toxicokinetic data should be generated using in vitro and in silico tools and anchored towards human relevance. In certain sectors, PBK modelling is being used for risk assessment, but less so in others. Specific activities were identified to facilitate the use of in vitro and in silico toxicokinetic data to support read-across: The collation of available tools indicating the parameters and applicability domains covered; endpoint-specific guidance on toxicokinetics parameters required for read-across; case studies exemplifying how toxicokinetic data help support read-across. Activities to enhance the scientific robustness of read-across include the further user-friendly combination of read-across tools and formal guidance by the authorities specifying the minimum information requirements to justify read-across for a given toxicity endpoint. The EPAA was invited to continue dissemination activities and to explore possibilities to collate a contemporaneous list of open toxicokinetics tools that assist risk assessment.

Modern science for better quality control of medicinal products "Towards global harmonization of 3Rs in biologicals": The report of an EPAA workshop.

This article summarizes the outcome of an international workshop organized by the European Partnership for Alternative Approaches to Animal Testing (EPAA) on Modern science for better quality control of medicinal products: Towards global harmonization of 3Rs in biologicals. As regards the safety testing of biologicals, the workshop participants agreed to actively encourage the deletion of abnormal toxicity tests and target animal batch safety tests from all relevant legal requirements and guidance documents (country-specific guidelines, pharmacopoeia monographs, WHO recommendations). To facilitate the global regulatory acceptance of non-animal methods for the potency testing of, e.g., human diphtheria and tetanus vaccines and veterinary swine erysipelas vaccines, international convergence on the scientific principles of the use of appropriately validated in vitro assays for replacing in vivo methods was identified as an overarching goal. The establishment of scientific requirements for new assays was recognized as a further means to unify regulatory approaches in different jurisdictions. It was recommended to include key regulators and manufacturers early in the corresponding discussions. Manufacturers and responsible expert groups, e.g. at the European Directorate for the Quality of Medicines and Health Care of the Council of Europe or the European Medicines Agency, were invited to consider leadership for international collaboration.

The challenge of the application of 'omics technologies in chemicals risk assessment: Background and outlook.

This survey by the European Centre for Ecotoxicology and Toxicology of Chemicals (ECETOC) highlights that 'omics technologies are generally not yet applied to meet standard information requirements during regulatory hazard assessment. While they are used within weight-of-evidence approaches to investigate substances' modes-of-action, consistent approaches for the generation, processing and interpretation of 'omics data are not applied. To date, no 'omics technology has been standardised or validated. Best practices for performing 'omics studies for regulatory purposes (e.g., microarrays for transcriptome profiling) remain to be established. Therefore, three frameworks for (i) establishing a Good-Laboratory Practice-like context for collecting, storing and curating 'omics data; (ii) 'omics data processing; and (iii) quantitative WoE approaches to interpret 'omics data have been developed, that are presented in this journal supplement. Application of the frameworks will enable between-study comparison of results, which will facilitate the regulatory applicability of 'omics data. The frameworks do not constitute prescriptive protocols precluding any other data analysis method, but provide a baseline for analysis that can be applied to all data allowing ready cross-comparison. Data analysis that does not follow the frameworks can be justified and the resulting data can be compared with the Framework-based common analysis output.

In chemico, in vitro and in vivo comparison of the skin sensitizing potential of eight unsaturated and one saturated lipid compounds.

The applicability of the Direct Peptide Reactivity Assay (DPRA), the KeratinoSens™ assay and the human cell line activation test (OECD Test Guidelines 442C, 442D, 442E) in predicting the skin sensitising potential of nine lipid (bio)chemicals was investigated. The results from the three assays were integrated using a published prediction model (PM), by which skin sensitisation is predicted if at least two of the three assays yield positive results. Of the eight test substances that were classified as non-sensitisers using available Guinea Pig Maximisation Test (GPMT) data, only five were correctly predicted as 'negative' in the PM. (However, only two were correctly predicted as 'negative' in the murine Local Lymph Node Assay.) The one lipid (bio)chemical that tested positive in the GPMT was also positive applying the PM. Based upon the outcome of the present study, lipid (bio)chemicals with a log Kow up to 7-8 appear amenable to the three assays. However, solubility problems, that were not evident initially, affected the performance of the DPRA. Further investigations are merited to address the conclusiveness of negative test results with concurrent lack of cytotoxicity in the in vitro assays, to evaluate if poorly soluble substances come into contact with the cells.

Framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes.

A framework for the quantitative weight-of-evidence (QWoE) analysis of 'omics data for regulatory purposes is presented. The QWoE framework encompasses seven steps to evaluate 'omics data (also together with non-'omics data): (1) Hypothesis formulation, identification and weighting of lines of evidence (LoEs). LoEs conjoin different (types of) studies that are used to critically test the hypothesis. As an essential component of the QWoE framework, step 1 includes the development of templates for scoring sheets that predefine scoring criteria with scores of 0-4 to enable a quantitative determination of study quality and data relevance; (2) literature searches and categorisation of studies into the pre-defined LoEs; (3) and (4) quantitative assessment of study quality and data relevance using the respective pre-defined scoring sheets for each study; (5) evaluation of LoE-specific strength of evidence based upon the study quality and study relevance scores of the studies conjoined in the respective LoE; (6) integration of the strength of evidence from the individual LoEs to determine the overall strength of evidence; (7) characterisation of uncertainties and conclusion on the QWoE. To put the QWoE framework in practice, case studies are recommended to confirm the relevance of its different steps, or to adapt them as necessary.

A generic Transcriptomics Reporting Framework (TRF) for 'omics data processing and analysis.

A generic Transcriptomics Reporting Framework (TRF) is presented that lists parameters that should be reported in 'omics studies used in a regulatory context. The TRF encompasses the processes from transcriptome profiling from data generation to a processed list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) ready for interpretation. Included within the TRF is a reference baseline analysis (RBA) that encompasses raw data selection; data normalisation; recognition of outliers; and statistical analysis. The TRF itself does not dictate the methodology for data processing, but deals with what should be reported. Its principles are also applicable to sequencing data and other 'omics. In contrast, the RBA specifies a simple data processing and analysis methodology that is designed to provide a comparison point for other approaches and is exemplified here by a case study. By providing transparency on the steps applied during 'omics data processing and analysis, the TRF will increase confidence processing of 'omics data, and regulatory use. Applicability of the TRF is ensured by its simplicity and generality. The TRF can be applied to all types of regulatory 'omics studies, and it can be executed using different commonly available software tools.