Importance of Toxicology to Disease Prevention
SOT 2013 Annual Meeting Session Focused on "Biomarkers of Disease and Toxicity: Exploiting the Interconnections"
The SOT Disease Prevention Task Force sponsored and supported the videotaping of the 2013 SOT Annual Meeting session, “Biomarkers of Disease and Toxicity: Exploiting the Interconnections,” which illustrates the important role of toxicology in disease prevention. SOT is committed to communicating the contributions of toxicology in disease prevention to policy makers, politicians, and the general public. There is no quick fix to this issue, however, a greater emphasis in highlighting the importance of prevention in the science of toxicology, and the presentation of this science to other stakeholders, will better position SOT and toxicology in general as a central component of discussions establishing societal priorities for safety and preservation of health.
An abstract summary of this session and the presentations are below:
Symposium Abstract
With the recent focus on (a) cellular pathways involved in toxicity sequelae and (b) translational biomarkers that may link animal and in vitro model observations with clinical reality, there is a need to broaden the understanding of how experimental models may replicate human toxicity and disease processes. Multicellular organisms may have large numbers of genes and proteins, but a relatively limited repertoire in terms of pathophysiology in response to disease or toxicant exposure. This fact allows research to improve and protect human health to be founded on the use of model systems that allow for tractable experimentation. Animal models and, more recently, in vitro systems have served as a means of both exploring mechanisms and identifying hazards in terms of disease and adverse events. However, the interconnections between disease and toxicity are rarely explored leaving the information in silos. This symposium examines organ-based toxicity and disease processes and compares lessons learned in biomarker identification and use across toxicity, disease, and species.
Presentations
Select the presentation title to view the recorded presentations below.
Introduction
Presenter: Donna L. Mendrick
The usefulness of biomarkers that translate between in vitro/in vivo environments, across species, and are shared by disease and toxicity is introduced, with N-acetyltransferase 2 as an example.
Use of Biomarkers in Hepatology, Liver Disease, and Liver Toxicity
Presenter: Arie Regev
Biomarkers are often used in clinical hepatology to detect the presence of a liver disease, distinguish among different types of liver disorders, assess the extent and severity of liver damage, and follow response to treatment. This presentation discusses these biomarkers and their inability to distinguish drug-induced liver injury (DILI) from other causes of hepatic damage and disease.
Fibrinogen: A New Kid on the Block of Translational Biomarkers for Kidney Damage
Presenter: Vishal S. Vaidya
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a serious public health concern, especially due to the lack of early biomarkers of injury. We provide evidence that fibrinogen may function as a key molecular link between tubulo-vascular damage and regeneration in the kidney and provides new opportunities for its use in the diagnosis and prevention of kidney disease.
Cardiac Disease, Cardiotoxicity, and Translational Biomarkers
Presenter: James R. Turk
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, and myocardial damage from ischemia or cardiotoxic drugs may be followed with biomarkers such as the troponins, natriuretic peptides, and their combination in panels with multiple evolving biomarkers. These tools facilitate an understanding of the parallels between toxicity and background disease in animal models and human heart disease.
Links Between Neurological Disease and Toxicity
Presenter: David Gerhold
Neurological damage may be caused by environmental agents; MPTP serves as an example, where it, as a contaminant in drugs, let users to develop Parkinson-like symptoms. Indeed nervous system toxicities and disease share common modes and pathways, and the combined use of models of neurological damage caused by drugs, toxicants, and disease may move the field forward faster in the identification and use of translational biomarkers.
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