Evaluation of developmental toxicants and signaling pathways in a functional test based on the migration of human neural crest cells.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Information on the potential developmental toxicity (DT) of the majority of chemicals is scarce, and test capacities for further animal-based testing are limited. Therefore, new approaches with higher throughput are required. A screening strategy based on the use of relevant human cell types has been proposed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and others. Because impaired neural crest (NC) function is one of the known causes for teratologic effects, testing of toxicant effects on NC cells is desirable for a DT test battery.

Objective

We developed a robust and widely applicable human-relevant NC function assay that would allow for sensitive screening of environmental toxicants and defining toxicity pathways.

Methods

We generated NC cells from human

SUBMITTER: Zimmer B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3440079 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature