Application of high-content screening for the study of hepatotoxicity: Focus on food toxicology.

Autores de IIS La Fe

• María Teresa Donato Martín

  Autor

• Laia Tolosa Pardo

  Autor

Grupos

• Hepatología experimental y Trasplante hepático

  Investigador Principal

  Laia Tolosa Pardo

Abstract

Safety evaluation of thousands of chemicals that are directly added to or come in contact with food is needed. Due to the central role of the liver in intermediary and energy metabolism and in the biotransformation of foreign compounds, the hepatotoxicity assessment is essential. New approach methodologies have been proposed for the safety evaluation of compounds with the idea of rapidly gaining insight into effects on biochemical mechanisms and cellular processes and screening large number of compounds. In this sense, high-content screening (HCS) is the application of automated microscopy and image analysis for better understanding of complex biological functions and mechanisms of toxicity. HCS multiparametric measurements have been shown to be a useful tool in early toxicity testing during drug development, but also in assessing the impact from food chemicals and environmental toxicants. Reviewing the use of cellular imaging technology in the safety evaluation of food-relevant chemicals offers evidence about the impact of this technology in safety assessment.

Keywords

• High-content screening; Hepatotoxicity; Food chemicals