Integrated Decision-tree Testing Strategies for Acute Systemic Toxicity and Toxicokinetics with Respect to the Requirements of the EU REACH Legislation

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 91-109 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Combes ◽  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME conducted a joint research project, sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for acute systemic toxicity and toxicokinetic testing. The paper reviews in vitro tests based on basal cytotoxicity and target organ toxicity, along with QSAR models and expert systems available for this endpoint. The use of PBPK modelling for the prediction of ADME properties is also discussed. These tests are then incorporated into a decision-tree style, integrated testing strategy, which also includes the use of refined in vivo acute toxicity tests, as a last resort. The implementation of the strategy is intended to minimise the use of animals in the testing of acute systemic toxicity and toxicokinetics, whilst satisfying the scientific and logistical demands of the EU REACH legislation.

2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Combes ◽  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME conducted a joint research project, sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for acute systemic toxicity and toxicokinetic testing. The paper reviews in vitro tests based on basal cytotoxicity and target organ toxicity, along with QSAR models and expert systems available for this endpoint. The use of PBPK modelling for the prediction of ADME properties is also discussed. These tests are then incorporated into a decision-tree style, integrated testing strategy, which also includes the use of refined in vivo acute toxicity tests, as a last resort. The implementation of the strategy is intended to minimise the use of animals in the testing of acute systemic toxicity and toxicokinetics, whilst satisfying the scientific and logistical demands of the EU REACH legislation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 75-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

This report presents some of the results of a joint research project, sponsored by Defra and conducted by FRAME and Liverpool John Moores University, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity end-points associated with the REACH system. This report focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for skin sensitisation testing. The manuscript reviews in vitro tests based on protein-ligand binding, dendritic/Langerhans cells and T-lymphocyte activation, and also the QSAR models and expert systems available for this endpoint. These tests are then incorporated into an integrated, decision-tree testing strategy, which also includes the Local Lymph Node Assay (in its original and new reduced protocols) and the traditional guinea-pig tests (which should only be used as a last resort). The aim of the strategy is to minimise the use of animals in testing for skin sensitisation, while satisfying the scientific and logistical demands of the EU REACH legislation.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 81-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

This paper presents some results of a joint research project, sponsored by Defra and conducted by FRAME and Liverpool John Moores University, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for eye irritation testing. The manuscript reviews numerous in vitro tests and their possible collation into test batteries, in silico models and a refined in vivo method (the low volume eye test), before combining the use of all these methods into an integrated testing strategy. The aim of this strategy is a reduction in the number of animal tests which would need to be performed in the process of fulfilling the REACH system criteria; this would also lead to a lowering of the number of animals required in compliance with the REACH system requirements.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 111-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

This paper presents some results of a joint research project, sponsored by Defra and conducted by FRAME and Liverpool John Moores University, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for eye irritation testing. The manuscript reviews numerous in vitro tests and their possible collation into test batteries, in silico models and a refined in vivo method (the low volume eye test), before combining the use of all these methods into an integrated testing strategy. The aim of this strategy is a reduction in the number of animal tests which would need to be performed in the process of fulfilling the REACH system criteria; this would also lead to a lowering of the number of animals required in compliance with the REACH system requirements.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

This paper presents some results of a joint research project conducted by FRAME and Liverpool John Moores University, and sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity end-points associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for repeat dose (sub-acute, sub-chronic and chronic) toxicity testing. It reviews the limited number of in silico and in vitro tests available for this endpoint, and outlines new technologies which could be used in the future, e.g. the use of biomarkers and the ‘omics’ technologies. An integrated testing strategy is proposed, which makes use of as much non-animal data as possible, before any essential in vivo studies are performed. Although none of the non-animal tests are currently undergoing validation, their results could help to reduce the number of animals required for testing for repeat dose toxicity.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 29-42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME recently conducted a research project sponsored by Defra on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with the REACH system. This paper focuses on the prospects for using alternative methods (both in vitro and in silico) for environmental (aquatic) toxicity testing. The manuscript reviews tests based on fish cells and cell lines, fish embryos, lower organisms, and the many expert systems and QSARs for aquatic toxicity testing. Ways in which reduction and refinement measures can be used are also discussed, including the Upper Threshold Concentration — Step Down (UTC) approach, which has recently been retrospectively validated by ECVAM and subsequently endorsed by the ECVAM Scientific Advisory Committee (ESAC). It is hoped that the application of this approach could reduce the number of fish used in acute toxicity studies by around 65–70%. Decision-tree style integrated testing strategies are also proposed for acute aquatic toxicity and chronic toxicity (including bioaccumulation), followed by a number of recommendations for the future facilitation of aquatic toxicity testing with respect to environmental risk assessment.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 139-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

This paper presents some results of a joint research project conducted by FRAME and Liverpool John Moores University, and sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity end-points associated with REACH. This paper focuses on the use of alternative (non-animal) methods (both in vitro and in silico) for repeat dose (sub-acute, sub-chronic and chronic) toxicity testing. It reviews the limited number of in silico and in vitro tests available for this endpoint, and outlines new technologies which could be used in the future, e.g. the use of biomarkers and the ‘omics’ technologies. An integrated testing strategy is proposed, which makes use of as much non-animal data as possible, before any essential in vivo studies are performed. Although none of the non-animal tests are currently undergoing validation, their results could help to reduce the number of animals required for testing for repeat dose toxicity.


2000 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 29-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephan Zinke ◽  
Ingrid Gerner ◽  
Gabriele Graetschel ◽  
Eva Schlede

The notification procedure for new chemicals of the European Union (EU) requires protocols on physicochemical and toxicological tests for the evaluation of physico-chemical properties and probable toxic effects of each notified substance. In order to reduce the amount of animal testing, alternative methods should be introduced into toxicity testing. Therefore, we have developed a rule-based decision support system (DSS) for the prediction of the local corrosive/irritant properties of new chemicals. To this end, data on more than 1000 substances were examined, which resulted in approximtely 180 “exception-rules” of the kind IF (physicochemical property) A THEN not (toxic) Effect B. In addition, the structural formulae of the chemicals were analysed, which resulted in approximately 160 “structure-rules” of the kind IF Substructure A THEN Effect B. The DSS can predict (based on theoretical structure-activity relationships) whether a chemical produces: a) corrosive effects (i.e. no testing is necessary; b) might have corrosive effects (i.e. no animal testing, in vitro tests are suitable); and c) will produce no effects or only marginal effects (i.e. animal tests are necessary based on current EU legislation for hazard assessment purposes). In addition, the DSS provides reliable data for legal classification and labelling based on a specific result.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 65-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME conducted a research project, sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with the REACH system. This paper focuses on the prospects for the use of alternative methods (both in vitro and in silico) in developmental and reproductive toxicity testing. It considers many tests based on primary cells and cell lines, and the available expert systems and QSARs for developmental and reproductive toxicity, and also covers tests for endocrine disruption. Ways in which reduction and refinement measures can be used are also discussed, particularly the use of an enhanced one-generation reproductive study, which could potentially replace the two-generation study, and therefore considerably reduce the number of animals required in reproductive toxicity. Decision-tree style integrated testing strategies are also proposed for developmental and reproductive toxicity and for endocrine disruption, followed by a number of recommendations for the future facilitation of developmental and reproductive toxicity testing, with respect to human risk assessment.


2008 ◽  
Vol 36 (1_suppl) ◽  
pp. 65-74
Author(s):  
Christina Grindon ◽  
Robert Combes ◽  
Mark T.D. Cronin ◽  
David W. Roberts ◽  
John F. Garrod

Liverpool John Moores University and FRAME recently conducted a research project, sponsored by Defra, on the status of alternatives to animal testing with regard to the European Union REACH (Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals) system for the safety testing and risk assessment of chemicals. The project covered all the main toxicity endpoints associated with the REACH system. This report focuses on how to maximise the use of alternative methods (both in vitro and in silico) for skin corrosion and irritation testing within a tiered testing strategy. It considers the latest developments in in vitro testing, with particular reference to the reconstituted skin models which have now been now been successfully validated and independently endorsed as suitable for both skin corrosivity and irritancy testing within the EU.


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