Projects

Complex environments Respiratory Toxicity

R2-TNO: The Role of Irritancy and Irritant-Induced Inflammation in the Elicitation of Respiratory Hypersensitivity Reactions

A range of low molecular weight chemicals can cause adverse reactions in the airways such as allergic asthma, including occupational asthma. Allergies involve a generally symptom-free induction phase where sensitisation is induced, and an elicitation (challenge) phase, where inhalation of […]

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Complex environments Endocrine Disruption

EMSG8: Are Connexins, the Gap Junctional Integral Proteins, Involved in Male Reproductive Disorders Associated With Possible Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Agents?

The objective of the project is to verify whether impairment of expression and/or function of the gap junctional connexins (elements of the gap junction structure; this structure facilitates "communication" between cells) could be implicated in human male reproductive disorders. An […]

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Complex environments Chemical Carcinogenesis

CC2-LUMC: Gene Expression Profiling in DNA Repair-Deficient XPA Transgenic Mice Following Treatment With Benzo[A]Pyrene and Cyclosporin-A: Lymphomagens with Different Modes of Action

Many environmental chemicals which have been shown to cause cancer in rodents have been implicated in human cancer. However, establishing cause and effect in humans is often impossible. Today, the only accepted test for human carcinogenicity is the two-year rodent […]

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Complex environments Respiratory Toxicity

IRTA2-001-SYNG: Transcript Profiling and Cytokine Fingerprinting : Identification and Characterisation of Chemical Respiratory Allergens

Allergic hypersensitivity of the respiratory tract is an important occupational health problem. A major constraint in the development of appropriate methods for the prospective identification of chemical respiratory allergens is the continuing uncertainty regarding the immunobiological mechanisms of this disease […]

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Complex environments Endocrine Disruption

EMSG9: Development of a Sensitive Assay for Androgenic Activity Using Prostate Cells Lines

The objective of the project is to develop an in vitro assay for androgenic activity based on the use of prostate cell lines. This involves testing and validation of the cell line LNCaP, which is sensitive to weak androgens, anti-androgens, […]

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Complex environments, Intelligent testing Chemical Carcinogenesis

CC2-MRCT: Gene Expression Profiling of Skin Carcinogenesis in Mice Using cDNA Microarrays

Skin cancers are very common in humans - with around one million cases/year in the US - and their development can be affected by stimulators of growth such as certain chemicals. Although initiation is clearly extremely important, clonal expansion (promotion) […]

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Complex environments Respiratory Toxicity

IRTA2-001-TNOV: Characterisation of Respiratory Tract Sensitization to Improve Hazard Identification of Respiratory Allergens

This project aimed to improve hazard identification of respiratory chemical allergens, as is presently being done by measuring proliferation and cytokine production in local lymph nodes and IgE in serum upon dermal application of the chemical in question. To this […]

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Complex environments Endocrine Disruption

EMSG10: Do Industrial Oestrogens or Their Metabolites Influence Male Reproductive Function?

The objective of the study was to investigate if alkylphenols, which had been shown to bind to oestrogen receptors, might also influence the catabolism and bioavailablity of natural oestrogens by acting as substrates and/or inhibitors of phenolsulphotransferase activity. The results […]

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Complex environments Chemical Carcinogenesis

CC2-UNBI: Determination of Human and Rodent Gene Expression Patterns in Response to Chemical Carcinogens: Facilitation of Knowledge-Based Human Risk Assessment From Molecular Mechanisms

Naturally-occurring and man-made chemicals are widespread in the environment. Predictions of human health risks are usually based on laboratory tests on animals such as rats and mice. Occasionally, cancer does occur in mice alone or in both rats and mice […]

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Complex environments Immunotoxicity, Respiratory Toxicology and Allergy, Respiratory Toxicity

IRTA2-001-VITO: In Vivo and In Vitro Characterisation of Chemical Respiratory Allergens: Development of an In Vitro Assay Using Gene Expression Profiling

The main objective of this project is the development of an approach/strategy that can be used to identify chemical allergens and if possible to discern respiratory from contact sensitizers. In order to accomplish this, the proposed study aims to identify […]

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