Brazilian National Network of Alternative Methods (RENAMA) 10th Anniversary: Meeting of the Associated Laboratories, May 2022.

The Brazilian National Network of Alternative Methods (RENAMA), which is linked to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is currently comprised of 51 laboratories from CROs, academia, industry and government. RENAMA's aim is to develop and validate new approach methodologies (NAMs), as well as train researchers and disseminate information on their use - thus reducing Brazilian, and consequently Latin American, dependence on external technology. Moreover, it promotes the adoption of NAMs by educators and trained researchers, as well as the implementation of good laboratory practice (GLP) and the use of certified products. The RENAMA network started its activities in 2012, and was originally comprised of three central laboratories - the National Institute of Metrology, Quality and Technology (INMETRO); the National Institute of Quality Control in Health (INCQS); and the National Brazilian Biosciences Laboratory (LNBio) - and ten associated laboratories. In 2022, RENAMA celebrated its 10th anniversary, a milestone commemorated by the organisation of a meeting attended by different stakeholders, including the RENAMA-associated laboratories, academia, non-governmental organisations and industry. Ninety-six participants attended the meeting, held on 26 May 2022 in Balneário Camboriú, SC, Brazil, as part of the programme of the XXIII Brazilian Congress of Toxicology 2022. Significant moments of the RENAMA were remembered, and new goals and discussion themes were established. The lectures highlighted recent innovations in the toxicological sciences that have translated into the assessment of consumer product safety through the use of human-relevant NAMs instead of the use of existing animal-based approaches. The challenges and opportunities in accepting such practices for regulatory purposes were also presented and discussed.

Carbendazim induces death in alveolar epithelial cells: A comparison between submerged and at the air-liquid interface cell culture.

The fungicide Carbendazim is widely used in agriculture and preservation of films and fibers. In mammals, it can promote germ cell mutagenicity, carcinogenicity, and reproductive toxicity. However, few data about the effects of this toxicant upon the respiratory system are available. In this work, we evaluated Carbendazim toxicity upon A549 alveolar cells both in monolayer and upon air-liquid interface cell system. Monolayer cell exposed to non-cytotoxic concentrations of this fungicide showed cell arrest at G2/M phase, and did not show additional alterations. On the other hand, alveolar 3D reconstructed epithelial model (air-liquid interface cell system) was characterized and exposed to IC25 of Carbendazim using the Vitrocell® Cloud 12 chamber. Expression of Active Caspase-3, α-tubulin and ROS was significantly increased after such exposure. Mitochondrial activity was also reduced after exposed to Carbendazim. The obtained results indicate that besides the environmental and reproductive toxicity concerns regarding Carbendazim exposure, pulmonary toxicity must be considered for this fungicide. In addition, we observed that the way of exposure impacts considerably on the cell response for in vitro assessment of chemicals inhalation toxicity profile.