Background
Occupational exposure limits are set based on chemical risk assessment and is important to secure safe work environments and for the prevention of occupational disease. So-called Integrated Approaches to Testing and Assessment are now created by incorporation of data from computer simulations, knowledge about the properties of specific chemical structures, historical human and animal data and cell culture experiments. Because many chemical toxicants target the liver, one of the first IATAs to develop is for assessment of liver toxicity with liver fibrosis as the specific outcome. This IATA will serve as a template for the development of further IATAs for the toxicity of other organs.
Aim of the project
At STAMI we aim to develop a liver model for use in toxicological risk assessment of chemicals that are commonly used in occupational settings. To better reflect the cellular composition of the liver, this model includes four of the most abundant liver cells and thus is more complex than traditional systems with only one cell type. The cell model will be exposed to occupationally relevant chemicals, and damaged liver cells, activated immune cells and increased deposition of scar tissue protein will be analyzed and evaluated as signs of liver toxicity. The information from this liver model is meant to be included in an IATA for liver toxicity, as well as in future risk assessments of occupationally relevant chemicals.
Project leader:
Lina Wik
Project group members:
Graciela L. Soop
Steen Mollerup
Shan Narui
Financial Contributors:
Horizon Europe (EU)
Parc project number:
PARC P6.1.1.d – IATA for Specific Target Organ Toxicity (STOT)
More information about the research program: https://www.eu-parc.eu/
More information is to be found on the Norwegian project page.