International Journal of Molecular Sciences (Apr 2020)
Removing Critical Gaps in Chemical Test Methods by Developing New Assays for the Identification of Thyroid Hormone System-Disrupting Chemicals—The ATHENA Project
- Andreas Kortenkamp,
- Marta Axelstad,
- Asma H. Baig,
- Åke Bergman,
- Carl-Gustaf Bornehag,
- Peter Cenijn,
- Sofie Christiansen,
- Barbara Demeneix,
- Arash Derakhshan,
- Jean-Baptiste Fini,
- Caroline Frädrich,
- Timo Hamers,
- Lina Hellwig,
- Josef Köhrle,
- Tim I.M. Korevaar,
- Johan Lindberg,
- Olwenn Martin,
- Marcel E. Meima,
- Philipp Mergenthaler,
- Nikolai Nikolov,
- David Du Pasquier,
- Robin P. Peeters,
- Bjorn Platzack,
- Louise Ramhøj,
- Sylvie Remaud,
- Kostja Renko,
- Martin Scholze,
- Harald Stachelscheid,
- Terje Svingen,
- Fabian Wagenaars,
- Eva Bay Wedebye,
- R. Thomas Zoeller
Affiliations
- Andreas Kortenkamp
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
- Marta Axelstad
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Asma H. Baig
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
- Åke Bergman
- School of Science and Technology, Orebro University, SE-701 82 Orebro, Sweden
- Carl-Gustaf Bornehag
- Department of Health Sciences, Karlstad University, SE-651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
- Peter Cenijn
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUA, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Sofie Christiansen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Barbara Demeneix
- Unité PhyMA Laboratory, Adaptation du Vivant, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS 7, rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
- Arash Derakhshan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Jean-Baptiste Fini
- Unité PhyMA Laboratory, Adaptation du Vivant, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS 7, rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
- Caroline Frädrich
- Department of Experimental Endocrinology, Charitė - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
- Timo Hamers
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUA, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Lina Hellwig
- Dept. of Experimental Neurology, Dept. of Neurology, Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Josef Köhrle
- Department of Experimental Endocrinology, Charitė - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
- Tim I.M. Korevaar
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Johan Lindberg
- Department of C4hemical Process and Pharmaceutical Development, Research Institutes Sweden, RISE, SE-151 36 Sodertalje, Sweden
- Olwenn Martin
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
- Marcel E. Meima
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Philipp Mergenthaler
- Dept. of Experimental Neurology, Dept. of Neurology, Center for Stroke Research Berlin, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-10117 Berlin, Germany
- Nikolai Nikolov
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- David Du Pasquier
- Laboratoire Watchfrog, F-91000 Evry, France
- Robin P. Peeters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Academic Center for Thyroid Diseases, Erasmus Medical Centre, 3000 CA Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Bjorn Platzack
- Department of C4hemical Process and Pharmaceutical Development, Research Institutes Sweden, RISE, SE-151 36 Sodertalje, Sweden
- Louise Ramhøj
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Sylvie Remaud
- Unité PhyMA Laboratory, Adaptation du Vivant, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique CNRS 7, rue Cuvier, F-75005 Paris, France
- Kostja Renko
- Department of Experimental Endocrinology, Charitė - Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
- Martin Scholze
- Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Uxbridge UB8 3PH, UK
- Harald Stachelscheid
- Charité-BIH Centrum Therapy and Research, BIH Stem Cell Core Facility, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, D-13353 Berlin, Germany
- Terje Svingen
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- Fabian Wagenaars
- Department of Environment and Health, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, VUA, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
- Eva Bay Wedebye
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, DK-2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
- R. Thomas Zoeller
- School of Science and Technology, Orebro University, SE-701 82 Orebro, Sweden
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21093123
- Journal volume & issue
-
Vol. 21,
no. 9
p. 3123
Abstract
The test methods that currently exist for the identification of thyroid hormone system-disrupting chemicals are woefully inadequate. There are currently no internationally validated in vitro assays, and test methods that can capture the consequences of diminished or enhanced thyroid hormone action on the developing brain are missing entirely. These gaps put the public at risk and risk assessors in a difficult position. Decisions about the status of chemicals as thyroid hormone system disruptors currently are based on inadequate toxicity data. The ATHENA project (Assays for the identification of Thyroid Hormone axis-disrupting chemicals: Elaborating Novel Assessment strategies) has been conceived to address these gaps. The project will develop new test methods for the disruption of thyroid hormone transport across biological barriers such as the blood–brain and blood–placenta barriers. It will also devise methods for the disruption of the downstream effects on the brain. ATHENA will deliver a testing strategy based on those elements of the thyroid hormone system that, when disrupted, could have the greatest impact on diminished or enhanced thyroid hormone action and therefore should be targeted through effective testing. To further enhance the impact of the ATHENA test method developments, the project will develop concepts for better international collaboration and development in the area of thyroid hormone system disruptor identification and regulation.
Keywords
- endocrine disruptors
- thyroid hormone system
- brain development
- test method development
- test method validation
- risk assessment
