PUBLICATION

The multi-dimensional embryonic zebrafish platform predicts flame retardant bioactivity

Authors
Truong, L., Marvel, S., Reif, D.M., Thomas, D., Pande, P., Dasgupta, S., Simonich, M.T., Waters, K.M., Tanguay, R.L.
ID
ZDB-PUB-200823-9
Date
2020
Source
Reproductive toxicology (Elmsford, N.Y.)   96: 359-369 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Tanguay, Robyn L.
Keywords
Benchmark dose, Classification model, Developmental toxicity, Flame retardants, Lowest effect concentration, Neurotoxicity
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Embryonic Development/drug effects
  • Flame Retardants/toxicity*
  • Models, Animal
  • Neurotoxicity Syndromes
  • Risk Assessment
  • Structure-Activity Relationship
  • Teratogens/chemistry
  • Teratogens/toxicity*
  • Zebrafish
PubMed
32827657 Full text @ Reprod. Toxicol.
Abstract
Flame retardant chemicals (FRCs) commonly added to many consumer products present a human exposure burden associated with adverse health effects. Under pressure from consumers, FRC manufacturers have adopted some purportedly safer replacements for first-generation brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs). In contrast, second and third-generation organophosphates and other alternative chemistries have limited bioactivity data available to estimate their hazard potential. In order to evaluate the toxicity of existing and potential replacement FRCs, we need efficient screening methods. We built a 61-FRC library in which we systemically assessed developmental toxicity and potential neurotoxicity effects in the embryonic zebrafish model. Data were compared to publicly available data generated in a battery of cell-based in vitro assays from ToxCast, Tox21, and other alternative models. Of the 61 FRCs, 19 of 45 that were tested in the ToxCast assays were bioactive in our zebrafish model. The zebrafish assays detected bioactivity for 10 of the 12 previously classified developmental neurotoxic FRCs. Developmental zebrafish were sufficiently sensitive at detecting FRC structure-bioactivity impacts that we were able to build a classification model using 13 physicochemical properties and 3 embryonic zebrafish assays that achieved a balanced accuracy of 91.7%. This work illustrates the power of a multi-dimensional in vivo platform to expand our ability to predict the hazard potential of new compounds based on structural relatedness, ultimately leading to reliable toxicity predictions based on chemical structure.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping