Breaking down the wall between human health and environmental testing of endocrine disrupters: EndocRine Guideline Optimisation

Project Information

ERGO

Grant agreement ID: 825753

DOI

10.3030/825753

Project closed

EC signature date 4 December 2018

Start date 1 January 2019

End date 30 June 2024

Funded under

• SOCIETAL CHALLENGES - Health, demographic change and well-being

Total cost

€ 6 929 938,66

EU contribution

€ 5 992 437,41

Coordinated by

SYDDANSK UNIVERSITET
Denmark

Periodic Reporting for period 4 - ERGO (Breaking down the wall between human health and environmental testing of endocrine disrupters: EndocRine Guideline Optimisation)

Reporting period: 2023-07-01 to 2024-06-30

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

In ERGO, we break down the wall between mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrate regulatory testing of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). We demonstrate that you can extrapolate effects of EDCs across vertebrate classes, implying that adverse effects (AEs) on an endocrine-specific endpoint in a fish or amphibian study raises concern about AEs in humans and vice versa.

ERGO has identified, developed, and aligned thyroid hormone system (THS) sensitive biomarkers and endpoints to link effects between vertebrate classes, using an integrated approach to extrapolate the effects of EDCs across vertebrate classes. The approach envisions faster, safer, and simpler hazard assessment procedures (figure 1).

An adverse outcome pathway (AOP) network covering modes of THS disruption (THSD) in vertebrate classes has been developed. An AOP starts from a molecular initiating event (MIE) and outlines key events leading to a relevant adverse outcome. The AOP network provided the scientifically plausible and evidence-based foundation for selection of endpoints and assays in vitro, in embryo and in vivo in lower vertebrates, like fish and amphibians, predictive of human health outcomes. Promising assays and endpoints have been prioritized for validation in ERGO and some brought to validation in OECD.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

ERGO collaborated with the seven sister projects in the EURION cluster under BHC-27-2018 on specific relevant scientific topics and synergized research outputs, e.g. on the thyroid hormone system and developmental neurotoxicity.

Knowledge management, data generation & infrastructure
Initially, model chemicals were chosen to cover relevant Modes of Action (MoA) of chemicals interfering with the THS of vertebrates via intensive literature reviews to contribute to existing data. The selected chemicals were used for case studies in experimental approaches to generate a comprehensive data warehouse.

For data generation, more than 50 embryo and in vivo experiments with amphibians, fish, and mammals (mice) as well as in vitro assays and in silico model simulations were made.

ERGO has investigated in vitro cell-based assays for THS activity related to MIEs of THS active chemicals. Four were prioritized for the first phase of characterization for pre-validation, aligned with the strategy used by the EU Joint Research Center (JRC). Selection of the assays for prevalidation was based on the outputs and results of mammalian in vitro tests as well as alignment with the JRC effort to support validation of bioassays for prioritized endpoints.

For in embryo and in vivo experiments, ERGO has investigated, developed, and prevalidated more than 30 fish THS sensitive endpoints. Four endpoints (eye development, swim bladder inflation, thyroid hormone levels and thyroid histopathology) have been prevalidated and approved by OECD to enter validation. Early 2024, the validation started with two OECD Test Guidelines (TGs); TG 236 (fish embryo toxicity test) and TG 210 (fish early life-stage toxicity test), representing non-protected embryonic testing and embryo to juvenile developmental testing. The validation is ongoing with 15 international partner laboratories for four fish species. Standard operational procedures (SOPs) for the assessment of the new endpoints were developed and shared with participating organizations as annexes to the original TGs. The validation continues after the end of the ERGO project with support from other projects.

In amphibians, focus has been on new, more sensitive endpoints and comparison of sensitivities between amphibians and fish, using embryonic and in vivo assays as well as omics. New endpoints like eye development and omics outputs should be further explored. Main results indicates that sensitivities of endpoints are comparable between amphibians and fish, but more knowledge is needed before a comparison covers all relevant effects and life-stages.

ERGO investigated new mammalian endpoints and epidemiology and built a database on pollutants detected in epidemiological studies. The database was used for an AOP strategy for epidemiological and human exposure studies. Genomics data from mice, showed that transcriptome and metabolome analyses detect effects of chemicals during gestation and lactation.

Review-based data and generated data investigated cross-vertebrate classes extrapolation of assays and endpoints by AOPs and an AOP network: Single AOP development has focused on fish THS sensitive endpoints, because no endpoints have yet been validated, and they are needed for regulatory purposes.

Five AOPs linking THSD to impaired swim bladder inflation in fish have been published in the OECD Series on Adverse Outcome Pathways. An AOP linking THSD to impaired eye development has been published as AOP report and is being reviewed by OECD. A case study on THSD potential of resorcinol in fish illustrates how AOPs inform on activity and adversity of potential EDCs. A cross-species assessment of the THSD AOP network showed potential for applicability of AOPs across vertebrate taxa, supporting share of data between human and environmental health. Finally, ERGO has proposed an AOP network-based assay battery for THSD with a set of endpoints.

To support identification and prediction of THSD potential of chemicals, a decision support system (DSS) has been developed, publicly available on the ERGO webpage. It is based on experimental data and data from qualitative and quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs), consensus modelling and Bayesian statistics to account for conflicting input information and varying levels of information and confidence.

Examples of many Knowledge Transfer, Communication, Dissemination and Exploitation activities:
• A Dissemination and Exploitation Plan
• An ERGO Introductory Video (https://ergo-project.eu/ergo-launches-introductory-video/)
• The ERGO Project website (https://ergo-project.eu/)
• ERGO social media; Twitter page (https://twitter.com/ERGO_EU; @ERGO_EU) & LinkedIn
• ERGO publications: 40+ peer reviewed publications and OECD endorsed AOPs
• Participation in international events

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

ERGO has attempted to fill gaps in the field of THS disruption in different vertebrate classes. ERGO has improved methodologies for cell tests and fish, mammalian, and amphibian assays for early screening of substances as well as identification of adverse effects. ERGO has developed new in silico models for predicting internal dose of THSD to design physiologically based toxicokinetic modelling (PBTK) models.

ERGO has increased knowledge on the role of THS disturbances important for the safety assessment of existing chemicals that lacks endocrine and developmental toxicity data and new chemicals at an early stage of development. New endpoints for fish in embryo and in vivo have been brought to OECD validation, and in vitro assays have been prevalidated. The methodologies allow (implemented in regulatory contexts):

• Simultaneously screening chemicals for potential human THSD effects and environmental impact on fish and amphibians
• Reducing the requirement of vertebrate animal testing with respect to animal welfare
• Relevant assessment at the vitro scale, opening the door to automation and higher throughput screening of chemicals, increasing chemical turnover and reducing costs

For details on ERGO objectives and strategies, see https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/21/8/2954).

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