Application of innovative stem cell technologies in genetic toxicology, teratology and reproductive toxicology
Application of innovative stem cell technologies in genetic toxicology, teratology and reproductive toxicology
Date: Thursday November 18, 2021
Time: 13:30 – 16:00
Location: Online
Cost: Free
Registration: https://bit.ly/3wq6g92
Speakers:
Prof. Dr. David Phillips – Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King’s College London, United Kingdom
dr. Victoria de Leeuw – RIVM, The Netherlands
Dr. Amer Jamalpoor – Toxys, The Netherlands
In the last decade, stem cells have been the subject of increasing scientific interest because of their utility in numerous applications. Recent progresses in the field of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPSCs) have opened up many fantastic opportunities for research into new therapeutic possibilities but also in toxicology. iPSCs are the cells which are reprogrammed from somatic cells using different transcription factors. Stem cells, including iPSCs possess unique properties of self renewal, they can be continuously cultured in an undifferentiated state. In addition, they can be differentiated giving rise to more specialized cells of the human body such as heart, liver, bone marrow, blood vessel and nerve cells. Therefore, stem cells are an important new tool for developing unique, in vitro model systems to test drugs and chemicals and a potential to predict or anticipate toxicity in humans.
In genetic toxicology, stem cells have been used for a long time in mutagenesis and genome stability research. Due to their stable diploid genome and high replication rate, stem cells have been applied extensively for mutation analysis and mutation fingerprinting, gene targeting, CRISPR- mediated gene modifications and genome stability research. More recently, mouse embryonic stem cells have been in various toxicogenomics studies as well as in the ToxTracker reporter assay for genotoxicity testing.
In the last years, a great deal of research has revolved around the implementation of stem cells for developmental toxicity testing. Differentiation of mouse embryonic stem cells has been used to test the developmental toxicity.
The mEST was validated by the European Center for the Validation of Alternative Methods and was able to correctly categorize 78% of tested teratogens. The availability of human induced pluripotent stem cells has spurred the development of assays for developmental toxicity testing. Examples of some of the assays that have been developed using iPSCs are emerging.
This fall, the genetic toxicology and teratology and reproductive toxicology sections of the NVT will organize a joint symposium about the state-of-the-art developments and applications of stem cells in toxicology.
Click here to register for this session.
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