Investigations on learning and memory function in extended one-generation reproductive toxicity studies - when considered needed and based on what?

To justify investigations on learning and memory (L&M) function in extended one-generation reproductive toxicity studies (EOGRTS; Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline (TG) 443) for registration under Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemical (REACH), the European Chemicals Agency has referred to three publications based on which the Agency concluded that "perturbation of thyroid hormone signaling in offspring affects spatial cognitive abilities (learning and memory)" and "Therefore, it is necessary to conduct spatial learning and memory tests for F1 animals". In this paper, the inclusion of the requested L&M tests in an EOGRTS is challenged. In addition, next to the question on the validity of rodent models in general for testing thyroid hormone-dependent perturbations in brain development, the reliability of the publications specifically relied upon by the agency is questioned as these contain numerous fundamental errors in study methodology, design, and data reporting, provide contradicting results, lack crucial information to validate the results and exclude confounding factors, and finally show no causal relationship. Therefore, in our opinion, these publications cannot be used to substantiate, support, or conclude that decreases in blood thyroid (T4) hormone level on their own would result in impaired L&M in rats and are thus not adequate to use as fundament to ask for L&M testing as part of an EOGRTS.

Progress towards an OECD reporting framework for transcriptomics and metabolomics in regulatory toxicology.

Omics methodologies are widely used in toxicological research to understand modes and mechanisms of toxicity. Increasingly, these methodologies are being applied to questions of regulatory interest such as molecular point-of-departure derivation and chemical grouping/read-across. Despite its value, widespread regulatory acceptance of omics data has not yet occurred. Barriers to the routine application of omics data in regulatory decision making have been: 1) lack of transparency for data processing methods used to convert raw data into an interpretable list of observations; and 2) lack of standardization in reporting to ensure that omics data, associated metadata and the methodologies used to generate results are available for review by stakeholders, including regulators. Thus, in 2017, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Extended Advisory Group on Molecular Screening and Toxicogenomics (EAGMST) launched a project to develop guidance for the reporting of omics data aimed at fostering further regulatory use. Here, we report on the ongoing development of the first formal reporting framework describing the processing and analysis of both transcriptomic and metabolomic data for regulatory toxicology. We introduce the modular structure, content, harmonization and strategy for trialling this reporting framework prior to its publication by the OECD.

Immunophenotyping does not improve predictivity of the local lymph node assay in mice.

The local lymph node assay (LLNA) is a regulatory accepted test for the identification of skin sensitizing substances by measuring radioactive thymidine incorporation into the lymph node. However, there is evidence that LLNA is overestimating the sensitization potential of certain substance classes in particular those exerting skin irritation. Some reports describe the additional use of flow cytometry-based immunophenotyping to better discriminate irritants from sensitizing irritants in LLNA. In the present study, the 22 performance standards plus 8 surfactants were assessed using the radioactive LLNA method. In addition, lymph node cells were immunophenotyped to evaluate the specificity of the lymph node response using cell surface markers such as B220 or CD19, CD3, CD4, CD8, I-A(κ) and CD69 with the aim to allow a better discrimination above all between irritants and sensitizers, but also non-irritating sensitizers and non-sensitizers. However, the markers assessed in this study do not sufficiently differentiate between irritants and irritant sensitizers and therefore did not improve the predictive capacity of the LLNA.

The short-term toxicity and metabolome of dicyclopentadiene.

Dicyclopentadiene (DCPD) was investigated in a 14-day oral rat toxicity study based on the OECD 407 guideline in combination with plasma metabolomics. Wistar rats received the compound daily via gavage at dose levels of 0, 50 and 150 mg/kg bw. The high dose induced transient clinical signs of toxicity and in males only reduced body weight gain. High dose liver changes were characterized by altered clinical chemistry parameters in both sexes and pathological changes in females. In high dose males an accumulation of alpha-2 u-globulin in the kidney was noted. Comparing the DCPD metabolome with previously established specific metabolome patterns in the MetaMap® Tox data base suggested that the high dose would result in liver enzyme induction leading to increased breakdown of thyroid hormones for males and females. An indication for liver toxicity in males was also noted. Metabolomics also suggested an effect on the functionality of the adrenals in high dose males, which together with published data, is suggestive of a stress related effect in this organ. The results of the present 14-day combined toxicity and metabolome investigations were qualitatively in line with literature data from subchronic oral studies in rats with DCPD. Importantly no other types of organ toxicity, or hormone dysregulation beyond the ones associated with liver enzyme induction and stress were indicated, again in line with results of published 90-day studies. It is therefore suggested that short term "smart" studies, combining classical toxicity with 'omics technologies, could be a 2 R (refine and reduce) new approach method allowing for the reduction of in vivo toxicity testing.

The short-term toxicity and metabolome of Benzene.

A 14-day rat study with plasma metabolomics was conducted to evaluate the toxicity of Benzene. Wistar rats were orally administered Benzene daily at doses of 0, 300 and 1000 mg/kg bw. The study identified liver and kidneys as target organs of Benzene toxicity and found reductions in total white blood cells, absolute lymphocyte and eosinophil cell counts, and increased relative monocyte counts suggesting bone marrow as a target organ. The study also confirmed liver as a target organ using metabolomics, which showed indications of a stress reaction in rats and changes in metabolites suggestive of a metabolic disorder. The metabolomics investigations did not find any other toxicologically relevant modes of action, and the observed metabolite changes were not associated with markers for mitochondrial dysfunction. The study concludes that integration of omics technologies, such as metabolomics, in regulatory toxicity studies is possible, confirms existing knowledge and adds additional information that can be used for mechanistic understanding of observed toxicity.

Evaluating the sensitization potential of surfactants: integrating data from the local lymph node assay, guinea pig maximization test, and in vitro methods in a weight-of-evidence approach.

An integral part of hazard and safety assessments is the estimation of a chemical's potential to cause skin sensitization. Currently, only animal tests (OECD 406 and 429) are accepted in a regulatory context. Nonanimal test methods are being developed and formally validated. In order to gain more insight into the responses induced by eight exemplary surfactants, a battery of in vivo and in vitro tests were conducted using the same batch of chemicals. In general, the surfactants were negative in the GPMT, KeratinoSens and hCLAT assays and none formed covalent adducts with test peptides. In contrast, all but one was positive in the LLNA. Most were rated as being irritants by the EpiSkin assay with the additional endpoint, IL1-alpha. The weight of evidence based on this comprehensive testing indicates that, with one exception, they are non-sensitizing skin irritants, confirming that the LLNA tends to overestimate the sensitization potential of surfactants. As results obtained from LLNAs are considered as the gold standard for the development of new nonanimal alternative test methods, results such as these highlight the necessity to carefully evaluate the applicability domains of test methods in order to develop reliable nonanimal alternative testing strategies for sensitization testing.

Cell growth-dependent coordination of lipid signaling and glycosylation is mediated by interactions between Sac1p and Dpm1p.

The integral membrane lipid phosphatase Sac1p regulates local pools of phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PtdIns(4)P) at endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi membranes. PtdIns(4)P is important for Golgi trafficking, yet the significance of PtdIns(4)P for ER function is unknown. It also remains unknown how localization of Sac1p to distinct organellar membranes is mediated. Here, we show that a COOH-terminal region in yeast Sac1p is crucial for ER targeting by directly interacting with dolicholphosphate mannose synthase Dpm1p. The interaction with Dpm1p persists during exponential cell division but is rapidly abolished when cell growth slows because of nutrient limitation, causing translocation of Sac1p to Golgi membranes. Cell growth-dependent shuttling of Sac1p between the ER and the Golgi is important for reciprocal control of PtdIns(4)P levels at these organelles. The fraction of Sac1p resident at the ER is also required for efficient dolichol oligosaccharide biosynthesis. Thus, the lipid phosphatase Sac1p may be a key regulator, coordinating the secretory capacity of ER and Golgi membranes in response to growth conditions.

Modes of action considerations in threshold expectations for health effects of benzene.

Understanding the Mode of Action (MOA) for a chemical can help guide decisions in development of Occupational Exposure Limits (OELs). Where sufficient information exists, it can provide the OEL developer the basis for selecting either a health-based or risk-based approach. To support the development of an OEL for benzene, scientific information relevant to MOA assessment for risk-based and health-based OEL approaches was reviewed. Direct-acting mutagenicity was considered as a basis for a risk-based OEL, versus MOAs consistent with a health-based approach: indirect mutagenicity via topoisomerase II inhibition, indirect mutagenicity via reactive oxygen species generation, or an immune-based bone marrow dysfunction. Based on the evidence against direct DNA reactivity, threshold expectations for remaining MOAs, and evidence for dose rate affecting acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome risk, the weight of evidence favors a health-based OEL approach. In the case of benzene, development of an OEL based on observations of earlier key events (i.e., hematologic changes and genetic toxicity) is anticipated to provide protection from later adverse outcomes such as leukemia.

Derivation of an occupational exposure limit for benzene using epidemiological study quality assessment tools.

This paper derives an occupational exposure limit for benzene using quality assessed data. Seventy-seven genotoxicity and 36 haematotoxicity studies in workers were scored for study quality with an adapted tool based on that of Vlaanderen et al., 2008 (Environ Health. Perspect. 116 1700-5). These endpoints were selected as they are the most sensitive and relevant to the proposed mode of action (MOA) and protecting against these will protect against benzene carcinogenicity. Lowest and No- Adverse Effect Concentrations (LOAECs and NOAECs) were derived from the highest quality studies (i.e. those ranked in the top tertile or top half) and further assessed as being "more certain" or "less certain". Several sensitivity analyses were conducted to assess whether alternative "high quality" constructs affected conclusions. The lowest haematotoxicity LOAECs showed effects near 2 ppm (8 h TWA), and no effects at 0.59 ppm. For genotoxicity, studies also showed effects near 2 ppm and showed no effects at about 0.69 ppm. Several sensitivity analyses supported these observations. These data define a benzene LOAEC of 2 ppm (8 h TWA) and a NOAEC of 0.5 ppm (8 h TWA). Allowing for possible subclinical effects in bone marrow not apparent in studies of peripheral blood endpoints, an OEL of 0.25 ppm (8 h TWA) is proposed.

Growth control of Golgi phosphoinositides by reciprocal localization of sac1 lipid phosphatase and pik1 4-kinase.

Compartment-specific control of phosphoinositide lipids is essential for cell function. The Sac1 lipid phosphatase regulates endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate [PI(4)P] in response to nutrient levels and cell growth stages. During exponential growth, Sac1p interacts with Dpm1p at the ER but shuttles to the Golgi during starvation. Here, we report that a C-terminal region in Sac1p is required for retention in the perinuclear ER, whereas the N-terminal domain is responsible for Golgi localization. We also show that starvation-induced shuttling of Sac1p to the Golgi depends on the coat protein complex II and the Rer1 adaptor protein. Starvation-induced shuttling of Sac1p to the Golgi specifically eliminates a pool of PI(4)P generated by the lipid kinase Pik1p. In addition, absence of nutrients leads to a rapid dissociation of Pik1p, together with its non-catalytical subunit Frq1p, from Golgi membranes. Reciprocal rounds of association/dissociation of the Sac1p lipid phosphatase and the Pik1p/Frq1p lipid kinase complex are responsible for growth-dependent control of Golgi phosphoinositides. Sac1p and Pik1p/Frq1p are therefore elements of a unique machinery that synchronizes ER and Golgi function in response to different growth conditions.

Retention of the yeast Sac1p phosphatase in the endoplasmic reticulum causes distinct changes in cellular phosphoinositide levels and stimulates microsomal ATP transport.

The yeast phosphoinositide phosphatase Sac1p localizes to endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and Golgi membranes and has compartment-specific functions in these organelles. In this study we analyzed in detail the topology of Sac1p. Our data show that Sac1p is a type II transmembrane protein with a large N-terminal cytosolic domain, which is anchored in the membrane by the two potential transmembrane helices near the C terminus. Based on this topology, we created a mutation that caused retention of Sac1p in the ER and as a consequence showed specific alterations in cellular phosphoinositide levels. Our results suggest that Sac1p controls a pool of phosphatidylinositol 3-phosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate in the ER. Retention of Sac1p in the ER also stimulates ATP transport into the ER lumen but causes the same Golgi-specific defects that are seen in a sac1 null mutant. Taken together this study provides evidence that Sac1p is an important 4-phosphatase in the ER controlling different aspects of ER-based protein processing and secretion.