Inge Nelissen

Problems and challenges in the development and validation of human cell-based assays to determine nanoparticle-induced immunomodulatory effects

BackgroundWith the increasing use of nanomaterials, the need for methods and assays to examine their immunosafety is becoming urgent, in particular for nanomaterials that are deliberately administered to human subjects (as in the case of nanomedicines). To obtain reliable results, standardised in vitro immunotoxicological tests should be used to determine the effects of engineered nanoparticles on human immune responses. However, before assays can be standardised, it is important that suitable methods are established and validated.ResultsIn a collaborative work between European laboratories, existing immunological and toxicological in vitro assays were tested and compared for their suitability to test effects of nanoparticles on immune responses. The prototypical nanoparticles used were metal (oxide) particles, either custom-generated by wet synthesis or commercially available as powders. Several problems and challenges were encountered during assay validation, ranging from particle agglomeration in biological media and optical interference with assay systems, to chemical immunotoxicity of solvents and contamination with endotoxin.ConclusionThe problems that were encountered in the immunological assay systems used in this study, such as chemical or endotoxin contamination and optical interference caused by the dense material, significantly affected the data obtained. These problems have to be solved to enable the development of reliable assays for the assessment of nano-immunosafety.

A cell-based in vitro alternative to identify skin sensitizers by gene expression

The ethical and economic burden associated with animal testing for assessment of skin sensitization has triggered intensive research effort towards development and validation of alternative methods. In addition, new legislation on the registration and use of cosmetics and chemicals promote the use of suitable alternatives for hazard assessment. Our previous studies demonstrated that human CD34(+) progenitor-derived dendritic cells from cord blood express specific gene profiles upon exposure to low molecular weight sensitizing chemicals. This paper presents a classification model based on this cell type which is successful in discriminating sensitizing chemicals from non-sensitizing chemicals based on transcriptome analysis of 13 genes. Expression profiles of a set of 10 sensitizers and 11 non-sensitizers were analyzed by RT-PCR using 9 different exposure conditions and a total of 73 donor samples. Based on these data a predictive dichotomous classifier for skin sensitizers has been constructed, which is referred to as VITOSENS. In a first step the dimensionality of the input data was reduced by selectively rejecting a number of exposure conditions and genes. Next, the generalization of a linear classifier was evaluated by a cross-validation which resulted in a prediction performance with a concordance of 89%, a specificity of 97% and a sensitivity of 82%. These results show that the present model may be a useful human in vitro alternative for further use in a test strategy towards the reduction of animal use for skin sensitization.

The suitability of different cellular in vitro immunotoxicity and genotoxicity methods for the analysis of nanoparticle-induced events

Abstract Suitable assays and test strategies are needed to analyze potential genotoxic and immunotoxic health effects caused by nanoparticle exposure. The development and validation of such methods is challenging because nanoparticles may show unexpected behavior, like aggregation or interference with optical measurements, when routine in vitro assays are performed. In our interdisciplinary study, the effects of inorganic gold (4.5 nm) and iron oxide (7.3 nm) nanoparticles with a narrow size distribution were tested on human cells using different assay systems. The results show that cytotoxicity as well as immunotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by these two inorganic nanoparticles was low or absent when using a panel of cell-based tests in different laboratories. However, several technical issues had to be tackled that were specific for working with nanoparticles. The methods used, their suitability for nanotoxicity testing, and the technical problems encountered are carefully described and discussed in this paper.

Cell types involved in allergic asthma and their use in in vitro models to assess respiratory sensitization.

This review first describes the mechanism and cell types involved in allergic asthma, which is a complex clinical disease characterized by airway obstruction, airway inflammation and airway hyperresponsiveness to a variety of stimuli. The development of allergic asthma exists of three phases, namely the induction phase, the early-phase asthmatic reaction (EAR) and the late-phase asthmatic reaction (LAR). In the induction phase, antigen-presenting cells play a major role. Most important cells in the EAR are mast cells, and during the LAR, various cell types, such as eosinophils, neutrophils, T cells, macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), and cells that endow structure are involved. In occupational asthma, this immunological mechanism is involved in 90% of the cases. The second part of this review gives an overview of in vitro models to assess the hazardous potential of high- and low-molecular weight chemicals on the respiratory system. In order to develop a good in vitro model for respiratory allergy, the choice of appropriate cell types is important. Epithelial cells, macrophages and DCs are currently the most used models in this field of research.

Transcriptional Profiling of Human Dendritic Cell Populations and Models - Unique Profiles of In Vitro Dendritic Cells and Implications on Functionality and Applicability

Background Dendritic cells (DCs) comprise heterogeneous populations of cells, which act as central orchestrators of the immune response. Applicability of primary DCs is restricted due to their scarcity and therefore DC models are commonly employed in DC-based immunotherapy strategies and in vitro tests assessing DC function. However, the interrelationship between the individual in vitro DC models and their relative resemblance to specific primary DC populations remain elusive. Objective To describe and assess functionality and applicability of the available in vitro DC models by using a genome-wide transcriptional approach. Methods Transcriptional profiling was performed with four commonly used in vitro DC models (MUTZ-3-DCs, monocyte-derived DCs, CD34-derived DCs and Langerhans cells (LCs)) and nine primary DC populations (dermal DCs, LCs, blood and tonsillar CD123+, CD1c+ and CD141+ DCs, and blood CD16+ DCs). Results Principal Component Analysis showed that transcriptional profiles of each in vitro DC model most closely resembled CD1c+ and CD141+ tonsillar myeloid DCs (mDCs) among primary DC populations. Thus, additional differentiation factors may be required to generate model DCs that more closely resemble other primary DC populations. Also, no model DC stood out in terms of primary DC resemblance. Nevertheless, hierarchical clustering showed clusters of differentially expressed genes among individual DC models as well as primary DC populations. Furthermore, model DCs were shown to differentially express immunologically relevant transcripts and transcriptional signatures identified for each model DC included several immune-associated transcripts. Conclusion The unique transcriptional profiles of in vitro DC models suggest distinct functionality in immune applications. The presented results will aid in the selection of an appropriate DC model for in vitro assays and assist development of DC-based immunotherapy.

Assessment of Chemical Skin-Sensitizing Potency by an In Vitro Assay Based on Human Dendritic Cells

The skin-sensitizing potential of chemicals is an important concern for public health and thus a significant end point in the hazard identification process. To determine skin-sensitizing capacity, large research efforts focus on the development of assays, which do not require animals. As such, an in vitro test has previously been developed based on the differential expression of CREM and CCR2 transcripts in CD34(+) progenitor-derived dendritic cells (CD34-DC), which allows to classify chemicals as skin (non-)sensitizing. However, skin sensitization is not an all-or-none phenomenon, and up to now, the assessment of relative potency can only be derived using the in vivo local lymph node assay (LLNA). In our study, we analyzed the feasibility to predict the sensitizing potency, i.e., the LLNA EC3 values, of 15 skin sensitizers using in vitro data from the CD34-DC-based assay. Hereto, we extended the in vitro-generated gene expression data set by an additional source of information, the concentration of the compound that causes 20% cell damage (IC20) in CD34-DC. We statistically confirmed that this IC20 is linearly independent from the gene expression changes but that it does correlate with LLNA EC3 values. In a further analysis, we applied a robust linear regression with both IC20 and expression changes of CREM and CCR2 as explanatory variables. For 13 out of 15 compounds, a high linear correlation was established between the in vitro model and the LLNA EC3 values over a range of four orders of magnitude, i.e., from weak to extreme sensitizers.

Gene profiles of a human alveolar epithelial cell line after in vitro exposure to respiratory (non-)sensitizing chemicals: identification of discriminating genetic markers and pathway analysis.

There are currently no accepted biological prediction models for assessing the potential of a substance to cause respiratory sensitization. New tests should be based on mechanistic understanding and should be preferentially restricted to in vitro assays. The major goal of this study was to investigate the alterations in gene expression of human alveolar epithelial (A549) cells after exposure to respiratory sensitizing and non-respiratory sensitizing chemicals, and to identify genes that are able to discriminate between both groups of chemicals. A549 cells were exposed during 6, 10, and 24 h to the respiratory sensitizers ammonium hexachloroplatinate IV, hexamethylene diisocyanate, and trimellitic anhydride, the irritants acrolein and methyl salicylate, and the skin sensitizer 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Overall changes in gene expression were evaluated using Agilent Whole Human Genome 4x44K oligonucleotide arrays. A Fisher linear discriminant analysis was used to obtain a ranking of genes that reflects their potential to discriminate between respiratory sensitizing and respiratory non-sensitizing chemicals. Among the 20 most discriminating genes, which were categorized into molecular and biological gene ontology (GO) terms, CTLA4 could be associated with asthma and/or respiratory sensitization. When categorizing the top-1000 genes into biological GO terms, 22 genes were associated with immune function. Using a pathway analysis tool to identify possible underlying mechanisms of respiratory sensitization, no known canonical signaling pathway was observed to be activated in the A549 cell line.

Gene profiles of a human bronchial epithelial cell line after in vitro exposure to respiratory (non-)sensitizing chemicals: Identification of discriminating genetic markers and pathway analysis

Respiratory sensitization is a concern for occupational and environmental health in consumer product development. Despite international regulatory requirements there is no established protocol for the identification of chemical respiratory sensitizers. New tests should be based on mechanistic understanding and should be preferentially restricted to in vitro assays. The major goal of this study was to investigate the alterations in gene expression of human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells after exposure to respiratory sensitizers and respiratory non-sensitizing chemicals, and to identify genes that are able to discriminate between both groups of chemicals. BEAS-2B cells were exposed during 6, 10, and 24h to the respiratory sensitizers ammonium hexachloroplatinate IV, hexamethylene diisocyanate, and trimellitic anhydride, the irritants acrolein and methyl salicylate, and the skin sensitizer 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene. Overall changes in gene expression were evaluated using Agilent Whole Human Genome 4x 44K oligonucleotide arrays. Fisher Linear Discriminant Analysis was used to obtain a ranking of genes that reflects their potential to discriminate between respiratory sensitizing and respiratory non-sensitizing chemicals. The 10 most discriminative genes were BC042064, A_24_P229834, DOCK11, THC2544911, DLGAP4, NINJ1, PFKM, FLJ10986, IL28RA, and CASP9. Based on the differentially expressed genes, pathway analysis was used to identify possible underlying mechanisms of respiratory sensitization. We demonstrated that in bronchial epithelial cells the canonical PTEN signaling pathway is probably the most specific pathway in the context of respiratory sensitization. Results are indicative that the BEAS-2B cell line can be used as an alternative cell model to screen chemical compounds for their respiratory sensitizing potential.

MUTZ-3-derived dendritic cells as an in vitro alternative model to CD34+ progenitor-derived dendritic cells for testing of chemical sensitizers

The cytokine-dependent CD34(+) human acute myeloid leukaemia cell line MUTZ-3 was used to generate immature dendritic-like cells (MUTZ-3 DC) and their validity as an alternative to primary CD34(+) progenitor-derived DC (CD34-DC) for testing chemical-induced sensitization was assessed. Expression levels of the DC maturation markers HLA-DR, CD86, CD83 and CD11c were studied using flow cytometry after 24 and 48 h exposure to the model compound nickel sulphate (100 and 300 microM). No maturation of MUTZ-3 DC was observed, whereas significantly upregulated expression levels of CD83 and CD86 were noticed in CD34-DC after 24h treatment with 300 microM nickel sulphate compared to control cells. Differential expression of the cytokine genes IL1beta, IL6, IL8, CCL2, CCL3, CCL3L1, CCL4 was analyzed using real-time RT-PCR after 6, 10 and 24h of nickel sulphate exposure. In response to 100 microM nickel sulphate MUTZ-3 DC revealed slightly upregulated mRNA levels after 24h, whereas 300 microM induced transcription of CCL3, CCL3L1 and IL8 significantly after 6 or 10h. These cytokine data correspond to the previously observed effects of 100 microM nickel sulphate in CD34-DC. Our findings underline the stimulatory capacity of nickel sulphate in MUTZ-3 DC with regard to cytokine mRNA induction, but not surface marker expression. Compared to CD34-DC, however, the studied endpoint markers seemed to be less inducible, making the MUTZ-3 DC model in its presented form less suitable for in vitro testing of sensitization. Further assessment of MUTZ-3 DC using other differentiation protocols and an extended set of chemicals will be required to reveal whether this cell line may be a valid alternative model system to primary CD34-DC.

A Road Map Toward a Globally Harmonized Approach for Occupational Health Surveillance and Epidemiology in Nanomaterial Workers.

Objective: Few epidemiological studies have addressed the health of workers exposed to novel manufactured nanomaterials. The small current workforce will necessitate pooling international cohorts. Method: A road map was defined for a globally harmonized framework for the careful choice of materials, exposure characterization, identification of study populations, definition of health endpoints, evaluation of appropriateness of study designs, data collection and analysis, and interpretation of the results. Results: We propose a road map to reach global consensus on these issues. The proposed strategy should ensure that the costs of action are not disproportionate to the potential benefits and that the approach is pragmatic and practical. Conclusions: We should aim to go beyond the collection of health complaints, illness statistics, or even counts of deaths; the manifestation of such clear endpoints would indicate a failure of preventive measures.