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From 3Rs to 3D: In vitro alternative models for replacement.

ALTEX 35(3), 2018 420 Dr Alessia Bertero (Università degli Studi di Milano – DIMEVET) presented by video conference call a project entitled “Emerging mycotoxins: Toxicological evaluation with in vitro model for endocrine disruptor”. Mycotoxins are low molecular weight secondary metabolites produced by a large variety of moulds that can contaminate foods and feeds. A high prevalence of the so-called “emerging” mycotoxins has been recently detected using new technology. These mycotoxins frequently occur in combination with traditional mycotoxins such as zearalenone, a known endocrine disruptor, and many others. The aim of the project is to evaluate the endocrine disruptor effects of emerging mycotoxins and their possible interactions with traditional mycotoxins by exposing bovine granulosa cells to emerging mycotoxins alone and combinations with traditional mycotoxoins. Cristian T. Matea and Teodora Mocan from the Regional Institute of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Cluj-Napoca, Department of Nanomedicine and University of Medicine and Pharmacy Cluj-Napoca, Romania, spoke on “Alternative approaches for biological testing in nanomedicine”. One key aspect of nanoparticle-based therapy and diagnostics is the proper characterization of the pure and functionalized nanomaterial. The advantages of using dark-field hyper-spectral microscopy as a tool for nanoparticle characterization and to determine the distribution of nanoparticles inside cells were presented and the use of atomic force microscopy force-distance curves to determine the rigidity of cells co-incubated with nanoparticles was explained. Concepts for constructing biological testing platforms, such as in vitro blood exposure to nanoparticles, erythrocyte toxicity assessment and examples of ex vivo platforms using human liver or pancreas explants were introduced. Also, examples of dynamic in vitro platforms, such as chemotaxis, migration and adhesion assays using cell lines were presented and primary macrophage cell culture with nanoparticle activation followed by skin Langerhans cell targeting was discussed as a preliminary testing option for anticancer effects. The use of simulated body fluid for standardized testing of digestive stability and behaviour of bioparticles was presented, as well as available methods for the assessment of particulate absorption along the different digestive segments. Practical aspects for each platform, including reproducibility issues, milestones, positive aspects and limitations were also discussed. All concepts presented demonstrated the need for considering alternative methods of biological testing, requiring both innovation and standardization. On February 21, 2018, a third meeting was held at the University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine (USAMV) in Cluj-Napoca, Romania with representatives of the Romanian Center for Alternative Test Methods (ROCAM), the Italian Platform on Alternative Methods (IPAM) and the Italian Association of in vitro Toxicology (CELLTOX). The main objective of the meeting was to promote alternative testing models in research and education and to present different in vitro models to be used for xenobiotic testing. Prof. Francesca Caloni (Università degli Studi di MilanoDIMEVET), emphasised, during her presentation entitled “Innovative 3D in vitro alternative models in Veterinary Science”, that new in vitro models for safety assessment are urgently needed to evaluate risks related to the environment, and human and animal health in accordance with the application of the 3Rs (Directive 2010/63 EU). She also presented in vitro predictive models, from 2D to epithelial barriers, that could be used in veterinary medicine, especially veterinary toxicology, such as porcine IPEC-J2 and IPEC-J2 MDR1s intestinal epithelial cells, bovine mammary epithelial cells cultured on inserts, stem cell based in vitro models, and feline hepatic organoids. These species-specific models could be promising as stand-alone models or as part of a testing strategy. Dr Teresa Coccini (ICS Maugeri – IRCCS Pavia) gave a presentation by video conference call entitled “Species-specific cell-based model: human CNS co-culture system platform for toxicity screening”. An in vitro model was implemented using a Transwell system combining human neuronal cells (SH-SY5Y cell line) and astrocytes (D384 cell line) to investigate protection of neurons by astrocytes and vice versa. The model was applied to test the cytotoxicity of different neurotoxic agents, such as methyl mercury, iron oxide nanoparticles and methylglyoxal. All tested compounds affected mitochondrial activity and cell morphology in both mono-culture and co-culture conditions. However, astrocytes, when cultured together with neurons, diminished the cytotoxic effects of all tested agents observed when neurons were cultured alone, and astrocytes were more resilient in the presence of neurons. This human CNS co-culture model can be an effective tool to investigate toxic effects of different compounds on the CNS, including new and emerging contaminants (e.g., nanomaterials, toxins); it provides a more representative human in vivo-like tissue and it provides species-specific information on the mechanisms of neurotoxicants, avoiding many of the uncertainties and problems that are inherent to interspecies extrapolations. Meeting Report