Practical use of the Virtual Cell Based Assay: Simulation of repeated exposure experiments in liver cell lines.

The Virtual Cell Based Assay (VCBA) was applied to simulate the long-term (repeat dose) toxic effects of chemicals, including substances in cosmetics and personal care products. The presented model is an extension of the original VCBA for simulation of single exposure and is implemented in a KNIME workflow. This work illustrates the steps taken to simulate the repeated dose effects of two reference compounds, caffeine and amiodarone. Using caffeine, in vitro experimental viability data in single exposure from two human liver cell lines, HepG2 and HepaRG, were measured and used to optimize the VCBA, subsequently repeated exposure simulations were run. Amiodarone was then tested and simulations were performed under repeated exposure conditions in HepaRG. The results show that the VCBA can adequately predict repeated exposure experiments in liver cell lines. The refined VCBA model can be used not only to support the design of long term in vitro experiments but also practical applications in risk assessment. Our model is a step towards the development of in silico predictive approaches to replace, refine, and reduce the in vivo repeated dose systemic toxicity studies in the assessment of human safety.

MicroRNA profiling as a tool for pathway analysis in a human in vitro model for neural development.

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are a recently recognised class of small, non-coding RNAs involved in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and with crucial implication for mammalian development. In particular, they play key roles in neuronal development, from early neurogenesis to neuronal differentiation and synaptic development, and also in in vitro systems. The detection of embryotoxic hazards in the preclinical phase is still a challenge, often due to species-species variations. In this study we analysed whether miRNA expression profiles in a human pluripotent cell model can be a helpful tool for a more mechanistic approach to pharmacology and toxicology. Differentiating human pluripotent cells were repeatedly treated with non-cytotoxic doses of methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl), a well known brain developmental toxicant. The expression of proteins, mRNA and miRNAs were used to monitor successful neural differentiation. Significant changes in the expression of 12 miRNAs were detected. By using available bioinformatics tools, we obtained validated and predicted targets for the identified miRNAs, on which we performed functional clustering analysis. Through this approach, we identified several terms and functional clusters associated with neural development, together with indicators of general toxic effect, such as apoptosis or stress response-related genes. Interestingly, our results also suggest a previously undiscovered association between MeHgCl and the ubiquitin-proteasome protein degradation pathway. Although further investigations are needed, our results suggest that miRNA expression analysis is a powerful tool in pathway-oriented toxicity and could improve early-phase hazard assessments.

Tumor endothelial marker 8 enhances tumor immunity in conjunction with immnization against differentiation Ag.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that xenogenic DNA vaccines encoding rat neu and melanosomal differentiation Ag induce tumor immunity. Others have developed vaccines targeting tumor neovasculature. Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) is expressed in the neovasculature of human tumors, and in the mouse melanoma B16, but its expression is limited in normal adult tissues. We describe a DNA vaccine combining xenogeneic tumor Ag and TEM8. METHODS: In-situ hybridization was used to detect TEM8 RNA in mouse tumors. Mice transgenic for the rat neu proto-oncogene were immunized with DNA vaccines encoding TEM8 and the extracellular domain of rat neu and challenged with the 233-VSGA1 breast cancer cell line. In parallel experiments, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TEM8 and human tyrosinase-related protein 1 (hTYRP1/hgp75) and challenged with B16F10 melanoma. RESULTS: TEM8 was expressed in the stroma of transplantable mouse breast and melanoma tumors. In both model systems, TEM8 DNA had no activity as a single agent but significantly enhanced the anit-tumor immunity of neu and hTYRP1/hgp75 DNA vaccines when given in concert. The observed synergy was dependent upon CD8+ T cells, as depletion of this cell population just prior to tumor challenge obviated the effect of the TEM8 vaccine in both tumor models. DISCUSSION: A local immune responses to TEM8 may increase inflammation or tumor necrosis within the tumor, resulting in improved Ag presentation of HER2/neu and hTYRP1/hgp75. Alternatively, TEM8 expression in host APC may act more as an adjuvant than an immunologic target.

Tumor endothelial marker 8 enhances tumor immunity in conjunction with immunization against differentiation Ag.

BACKGROUND: We have previously shown that xenogeneic DNA vaccines encoding rat neu and melanosomal differentiation Ag induce tumor immunity. Others have developed vaccines targeting tumor neovasculature. Tumor endothelial marker 8 (TEM8) is expressed in the neovasculature of human tumors, and in the mouse melanoma B16, but its expression is limited in normal adult tissues. We describe a DNA vaccine combining xenogeneic tumor Ag and TEM8. METHODS: In-situ hybridization was used to detect TEM8 RNA in mouse tumors. Mice transgenic for the rat neu proto-oncogene were immunized with DNA vaccines encoding TEM8 and the extracellular domain of rat neu and challenged with the 233-VSGA1 breast cancer cell line. In parallel experiments, C57BL/6 mice were immunized with TEM8 and human tyrosinase-related protein 1 (hTYRP1/hgp75) and challenged with B16F10 melanoma. RESULTS: TEM8 was expressed in the stroma of transplantable mouse breast and melanoma tumors. In both model systems, TEM8 DNA had no activity as a single agent but significantly enhanced the anti-tumor immunity of neu and hTYRP1/hgp75 DNA vaccines when given in concert. The observed synergy was dependent upon CD8+ T cells, as depletion of this cell population just prior to tumor challenge obviated the effect of the TEM8 vaccine in both tumor models. DISCUSSION: A local immune response to TEM8 may increase inflammation or tumor necrosis within the tumor, resulting in improved Ag presentation of HER2/neu and hTYRP1/hgp75. Alternatively, TEM8 expression in host APC may alter T-cell interactions or homing. In this way, TEM8 may act more as an adjuvant than an immunologic target.

[Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia. Report of a familial case]. / Displasia aritmogena del ventricolo destro. Descrizione di un caso di familiarità.

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular dysplasia is a pathologic condition of unknown origin that primarily affects the right ventricle free wall characterized by progressive atrophy with fibrous-fatty substitution of the myocardium. The patient affected may present in childhood or as an adult with cardiomegaly or/and ventricular arrhythmias with a left bundle branch block configuration. The reports of familial occurrence suggest the etiologic role of a genetic defect with autosomal dominance and variable expression and penetrance, an alternative, myocarditis (toxic or infectious) is a possible cause. The aim of the present study is an non-invasive instrumental evaluation of the family of a young patient affected by arrhythmogenic right ventricle dysplasia. The authors evaluated 10 patients, 7 women and 3 men, all asymptomatic, with electrocardiography, exercise stress test on a bicycle ergometer, 24-hour Holter monitoring and two-dimensional echocardiography. A patient had certain ARVD diagnosis, while in the other 9 patients all the instrumental investigations were normal. This observation seem to confirm that ARVD may be familial and justify a systematic in-depth familial study in all demonstrated cases of ARVD and the follow-up of all patients identified who had arrhythmias or isolated right ventricular morphologic anomalies.