Towards tailored assays for cell-based approaches to toxicity testing.

Area of Science:

• Toxicology
• Cellular Biology
• Computational Biology

Background:

• The field of toxicology is transitioning towards cellular and computational approaches.
• Mechanistic understanding of toxicity pathways and networks is crucial for developing new testing methods.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the role of cell models in advancing toxicology.
• To discuss the development of cell-based assays for toxicity testing, considering different application needs.

Main Methods:

• Characterization of toxicity pathways and networks.
• Development of cell-based assays with varying complexity (e.g., organotypic cultures, high-throughput tests).
• Case studies illustrating advancements in endocrine disruption, pyrogenicity, and shellfish toxin testing.

Main Results:

• Cellular approaches and computational integration are central to modern toxicology.
• Diverse cell models are required, from complex human-on-a-chip systems to simple, robust high-throughput assays.
• Selective cell-based assays are effective for detecting novel toxicants and biothreats.

Conclusions:

• The evolution of toxicology, termed Toxicology for the 21st Century, requires both complex models for pathway identification and simpler assays for perturbation testing.
• Increasing mechanistic knowledge will drive changes in model complexity and test specificity.
• Cell-based assays are essential for advancing toxicological assessments and ensuring safety.