Frontiers in Toxicology (Nov 2023)

Advancing chemical safety assessment through an omics-based characterization of the test system-chemical interaction

  • Giusy del Giudice,
  • Giusy del Giudice,
  • Giusy del Giudice,
  • Giusy del Giudice,
  • Giorgia Migliaccio,
  • Giorgia Migliaccio,
  • Giorgia Migliaccio,
  • Nicoletta D’Alessandro,
  • Nicoletta D’Alessandro,
  • Nicoletta D’Alessandro,
  • Laura Aliisa Saarimäki,
  • Laura Aliisa Saarimäki,
  • Laura Aliisa Saarimäki,
  • Laura Aliisa Saarimäki,
  • Marcella Torres Maia,
  • Marcella Torres Maia,
  • Marcella Torres Maia,
  • Maria Emilia Annala,
  • Maria Emilia Annala,
  • Maria Emilia Annala,
  • Jenni Leppänen,
  • Jenni Leppänen,
  • Jenni Leppänen,
  • Lena Mӧbus,
  • Lena Mӧbus,
  • Lena Mӧbus,
  • Alisa Pavel,
  • Alisa Pavel,
  • Alisa Pavel,
  • Maaret Vaani,
  • Maaret Vaani,
  • Maaret Vaani,
  • Anna Vallius,
  • Anna Vallius,
  • Anna Vallius,
  • Laura Ylä‐Outinen,
  • Laura Ylä‐Outinen,
  • Laura Ylä‐Outinen,
  • Dario Greco,
  • Dario Greco,
  • Dario Greco,
  • Dario Greco,
  • Dario Greco,
  • Angela Serra,
  • Angela Serra,
  • Angela Serra,
  • Angela Serra,
  • Angela Serra

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/ftox.2023.1294780
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 5

Abstract

Read online

Assessing chemical safety is essential to evaluate the potential risks of chemical exposure to human health and the environment. Traditional methods relying on animal testing are being replaced by 3R (reduction, refinement, and replacement) principle-based alternatives, mainly depending on in vitro test methods and the Adverse Outcome Pathway framework. However, these approaches often focus on the properties of the compound, missing the broader chemical-biological interaction perspective. Currently, the lack of comprehensive molecular characterization of the in vitro test system results in limited real-world representation and contextualization of the toxicological effect under study. Leveraging omics data strengthens the understanding of the responses of different biological systems, emphasizing holistic chemical-biological interactions when developing in vitro methods. Here, we discuss the relevance of meticulous test system characterization on two safety assessment relevant scenarios and how omics-based, data-driven approaches can improve the future generation of alternative methods.

Keywords