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Use of hepatic in vitro systems for detection of liver carcinogens by application of toxicogenomics
Project
Project code: BfR-LMS-08-1334-177
Contract period: 01.05.2007
- 31.03.2011
Purpose of research: Applied research
At present, toxicogenomics is mostly used in vivo in order to retrieve comprehensive information from short-tenn studies. If mechanistic data are available for risk assessment, long-term animal studies for prediction of carcinogenic effects of substances may not be required. Available information from toxicogenomic in vivo studies can be used to validate potential in vitro systems, which may be used to further reduce animal testing. The project follows a tiered-step approach: in a first stage, it is planned to develop a suitable rat hepatic in vitro test System by modulation of cell culture conditions and the use of model carcinogens. RT-PCR will be used to detected target genes, which were selected on the basis of existing in vivo data. In a second stage, the specifity and predictivity of the developed in vitro System will be assessed using rat DNA-chips and testing a range of carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances. In perspective, this testing approach could aid to differentiate between genotoxic and nongenotoxic substances, filling the gap of existing in vitro approaches, which are designed to detect mutagenic effects. This is a prerequisite to replace controversial long-term animal testing for detection of carcinogenic substance properties.
Section overview
Subjects
- Animal health
- Biotechnology