Development of a Targeted Biomarker Assay to Predict Developmental Toxicity Using Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells [ACT 2013]
Presented at the American College of Toxicology 34th Annual Meeting, November 2013, in San Antonio, Texas.
Assessment of the developmental toxicity potential of new chemicals is both resource intensive and time consuming. Large numbers of laboratory animals are required and the predictive value of these decades-old tests has been challenged. Availability of more predictive developmental toxicity screens would reduce costs and increase pharmaceutical and chemical safety. A small molecule biomarker-based in vitro assay was developed using human induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells and two metabolites (ornithine and cystine), previously identified as biomarkers of teratogenicity in human embryonic stem (hES) cells. The assay uses the ratio of the two metabolites (o/c ratio) to indicate the concentration at which a test compound may perturb cellular metabolism in a manner indicative of teratogenicity.
