Broad-scale efforts are underway to predict chemical hazards based on screening assays, such as those executed in the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ToxCast efforts. The ability to predict in vivo toxicity based on in vitro screening is a broadly desired utility and an effort currently also being pursued within the EGSB. The EGSB is utilizing human cell co-culture assays representative of 5 organ systems to screen the hazard associated with chemical exposures. The co-culture system has been coupled with transcriptomic and metabolomic profiling to understand the role of metabolism by liver on the toxicological profile of the chemicals of interest (Maurais et al submitted). Responses thus far have identified affects on signaling and metabolic pathways critical in in vivo outcomes even for chronic toxicological responses. This approach shows promise for a broad range of chemical screening applications. Contact us for details.
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