Reliable and Truly Animal-Free Skin Sensitization Testing – Adaption of the In vitro GARD™skin to Animal-Free Conditions

Poster presented at the 2021 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences

Andy Forreryd, Anders Jerre, Fiona Jacobs, Carol Treasure, Henrik Johansson | SenzaGen AB, 22381 Lund, Sweden; XCellR8 Ltd, Techspace One, Sci-Tech Daresbury, Cheshire WA4 4AB, UK

 

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Conclusion

  • Senzacells adapted well to routine culture in human serum with comparable cell growth, morphology, and minimal impact on cellular phenotypes.
  • GARDskin based on HS demonstrated full concordance to protocols based on animal-derived FCS for hazard identification of skin sensitizers.
  • This work represents our ambition to gradually replace all animal derived components with human equivalents to enable completely animal-free skin sensitization testing.

Abstract

A plethora of in vitro approaches for hazard assessment of skin sensitizers have recently been described and demonstrated to exhibit discriminatory properties competitive with those of accepted in vivo methods. However, the majority of these in vitro methods still use animal-derived components such as Foetal Calf Serum (FCS) within their standard protocols, imposing the question whether these methods should truly be considered as animal-free replacements.

Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection – GARD – is a genomics-based in vitro testing platform for assessment of numerous immunotoxicity endpoints. The endpoint-specific classification of skin sensitizers is a well-established application of the platform, referred to as GARDskin (OECD TGP 4.106). The assay is based on a human DC-like cell line (SenzaCells) and utilizes state-of-the-art machine learning to classify chemicals by monitoring the expression of 200 genes involved in cellular pathways associated with skin sensitization. GARDskin is progressing towards regulatory acceptance, and consistently reports accuracies > 90%.

Here, we present an adaption of the GARDskin standard protocol to enable for testing under animal-product-free conditions by replacing animal-based FCS with human derived serum. SenzaCells adapted well to routine culture in the human serum, showing comparable cell viability and growth rates to the animal-based FCS. A phenotypic analysis of common DC maturity markers showed minor changes in cell surface expression of the markers CD14 and CD1a, indicating that serum replacement did not significantly alter the phenotypic characteristics of the cells. Finally, a proficiency set of nine chemicals covering the full range from extreme sensitizers to non-sensitizers were evaluated. The protocol adapted to animal-free conditions showed full concordance to the conventional protocol, correctly classifying all chemicals.

In conclusion, this study demonstrates the potential to perform the GARDskin assay without the use of animal-derived components associated with animal welfare concerns, thus paving the way for truly animal-free and highly accurate hazard testing of skin sensitizers.

Hazard Assessment of Photoallergens Using GARD™skin

Poster presented at the 2021 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences

Andy Forreryd, Angelica Johansson, Gretchen Ritacco, Anne Marie Api, Henrik Johansson | SenzaGen AB, 22381 Lund, Sweden; Research Institute for Fragrance Materials, Inc., 50 Tice Boulevard, Woodcliff Lake, NJ, 07677, USA.

 

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Conclusion

  • The GARDskin assay for assessment of chemical skin sensitizers can be used to predict photoallergens.
  • By implementing a UV-light exposure step into the conventional GARDskin protocols, photoactivation was achieved. Non-irradiated photoallergens remain accurately classified as non-sensitizers.
  • UV-light exposure did not have an impact on classifications on true non-sensitizing and conventional sensitizing controls.

Abstract

Chemicals of different categories, such as cosmetics and drugs, have the potential to become photoactivated when exposed to UV light, giving rise to otherwise dormant adverse effects such as sensitization. Such chemicals, referred to as photoallergens, causes a Type IV delayed hypersensitivity, typically manifested as allergic contact dermatitis. While in vitro assays for prediction of a chemical’s potential to provoke phototoxicity (photoirritation) have been proposed, there is no recognized assay that specifically predicts photoallergens. Therefore, development of accurate in vitro assays that can detect photoallergens remains a high priority.

The Genomic Allergen Rapid Detection – GARD – platform constitutes a unique framework for classification of numerous immunotoxicity endpoints. The endpoint-specific classification of skin sensitizing chemicals is a well-established application of the platform, referred to as the GARDskin assay. GARDskin utilizes the readout of a genomic biomarker signature of 200 genes, which allows for machine learning-assisted classification of skin sensitizers. The assay is progressing towards regulatory acceptance, and demonstrates high predictive performance.

Here, we present an adaptation of GARD protocols, allowing for assessment of chemical photoallergens. By incorporating UVA exposure during sample preparation, photoactivation of latent photoallergens has been demonstrated. In a first step, protocols were optimized using the photoallergens 6-methylcoumarin and Ketoprofen, exposed to UVA light, both prior to and in association with cellular exposure, along with appropriate radiated/non-radiated controls. Photoallergenicity was accurately predicted in both test chemicals exposed to UVA light, while non-radiated counterparts were accurately classified as non-sensitizers.

In summary, our initial data demonstrates a potential of GARDskin to assess photoallergenicity of chemicals. Further evaluation and optimization of the method are currently in progress, in which an extended panel of fragrances are being studied in a collaboration with the Research Institute for Fragrance Materials (RIFM).

The GARD™potency assay for potency-associated subclassification of chemical skin sensitizers – Rationale, method development and ring trial results of predictive performance and reproducibility

Poster presented at the 2021 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences

Robin Gradin, Angelica Johansson, Andy Forreryd, Amber Edwards, Veronika Hoepflinge, Florence Burleson, Helge Gehrke, Erwin Roggen, Henrik Johansson| SenzaGen AB, 22381 Lund, Sweden; Burleson Research Technologies, Morrisville, NC 27560, USA; Eurofins BioPharma Product Testing Munich Gmbh, 82152 Planegg, Germany; 43RsMC Aps, 2800 Kongens Lyngby, Denmark

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Conclusion

  • GARDpotency is an assay for sub-categorization of strong sensitizers (CLP sub-category 1A), allowing for discrimination from weak sensitizers (CLP sub-category 1B) and non-sensitizers. The method is based on the GARD platform, combining human immune cells, a genomic biomarker readout and machine learning-assisted classifications.
  • Sequential combination of GARDskin and GARDpotency forms the GARD Defined Approach, for complete hazard and risk assessment of skin sensitizers into three categories (CLP 1A, CLP 1B, non-sensitizers).
  • A blinded ring trial, comprising 28 chemicals, demonstrated that GARDpotency is functional and reproducible, with an accumulated predictive accuracy of 91% across three laboratories. In the same dataset, the GARD Defined Approach classifies chemicals into three categories with 86% accuracy.

Abstract

The advancement of non-animal approaches for hazard assessment of skin sensitizers have generated a variety of alternative assays with discriminatory properties comparable with those of accepted in vivo methods. However, hazard identification is rarely sufficient and information permitting the relative ranking of chemicals’ skin sensitization potency is desired. For example, the globally harmonized system of classification and labelling of chemicals (GHS/CLP) extends the binary hazard assessment with a qualitative subcategorization to distinguish between weak and strong skin sensitizers.

Though substantial efforts have been made towards developing alternative methods for potency assessment, none have gained regulatory acceptance, emphasizing that continued development of improved alternative assays remains a high priority.

The genomic allergen rapid detection (GARD) is an in vitro testing platform for assessment and characterization of chemical sensitizers, based on evaluation of transcriptional patterns of endpoint-specific genomic biomarker signatures in a human dendritic-like cell line following chemical exposure, in order to provide machine learning-assisted classifications of tested substances. The GARDskin assay was recently subjected to a formal validation procedure (OECD TGP 4.106) and reported a reproducibility between laboratories of 92%, as well as a predictive accuracy of 94%, for sensitization hazard assessment.

Here, we present the implementation of the related GARD application GARDpotency, for potency-associated subcategorization of chemical sensitizers. Following prediction model establishment, the functionality of the assay was validated in a blinded ring-trial, in accordance with OECD-guidance documents, by assessing predictive performance and reproducibility. It was found that the assay is functional and predictive, with an estimated cumulative accuracy of 88% across three laboratories and nine independent experiments. The within-laboratory reproducibility measures ranged between 63-89%, and the between-laboratory reproducibility was estimated to 61%. In conclusion, the in vitro GARDpotency assay constitute a standardized, functional assay, which could be a valuable tool for hazard characterization of skin sensitizer potency.

Quantitative Sensitizing Potency Assessment Using GARD™skin Dose-Response

Poster presented at the 2021 World Congress on Alternatives and Animal Use in the Life Sciences

Henrik Johansson, Robin Gradin, Andy Forreryd, Joshua Schmidt
SenzaGen AB, Lund, Sweden. SenzaGen Inc., Raleigh, NC.

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Conclusion

  • As an adaptation from the GARDskin assay, GARDskin Dose-Response is suitable for quantitative skin sensitizing potency assessment of chemicals.
  • The experimental readout, referred to as cDV0, corresponds to the lowest dose required to elicit a positive response in GARDskin. As such, experimental protocols are analogous to the LLNA, in which the cDV0 corresponds to the EC3-value.
  • The cDV0 may be used to directly monitor sensitizing potency, or further used to extrapolate LLNA EC3-values, estimation of Human potency categories, or CLP 1A/1B classifications.

Abstract

Proactive identification and characterization of sensitization hazards are central aspects of risk assessment of chemicals. Current legislations and trends in predictive toxicology advocate a transition from in vivo methods to non-animal alternatives, with a number of methods for hazard assessment of skin sensitizers currently available. However, non-animal methods capable of providing quantitative assessment of sensitizing potency are currently lacking.

The GARDskin assay is a next-generation in vitro assay for hazard assessment of skin sensitizers, currently progressing towards regulatory acceptance. Recently, the GARDskin Dose-Response (DR) testing strategy was introduced, in which test chemicals are evaluated by the GARDskin assay in a titrated range of concentrations, in order to investigate the dose-response relationship between GARDskin classifications and test chemical concentration. As such, it provides a quantitative estimation of sensitizing potency, referred to as cDV0, which corresponds to the least required dose able to generate a positive response in the GARDskin assay. The cDV0 value obtained for a test chemical may be viewed as an analogue to the LLNA EC3 value, based on which further hazard characterization and risk assessment may be performed. Statistically significant correlation between the GARDskin DR cDV0 and the LLNA EC3, as well as with human No Expected Sensitization Induction level (NESIL) estimations has been confirmed, thus enabling direct extrapolation between the different metrics.

Here, we further illustrate how these results can be used on their own to facilitate direct potency-associated ranking of test chemicals. Furthermore, we demonstrate how obtained cDV0 values can be extrapolated to LLNA EC3 values with a 95% confidence interval, thereby also facilitating potency-associated subcategorization of test chemicals according to UN GHS classification criteria. Lastly, we illustrate how results generated with GARDskin DR can be directly incorporated into existing strategies for Quantitative Risk Assessment using an entirely in vitro setup.

Big pharma screens development candidates with GARDskin

SenzaGen has been selected to test substances from a leading global pharmaceuticals company. The pharmaceuticals company, which is one of the largest in the world, has global operations with a uniquely wide range of treatment areas. With GARD®skin, the company aims to determine whether new development candidates can cause allergic reactions on the skin.

“We are delighted that one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world has chosen to partner with SenzaGen and has decided to test substances with GARD®skin, which once again validates the value of GARD®skin internationally. Our test method provides them with fast and reliable results, making it possible to ensure that their substances cannot cause skin allergies already during the development phase. This project serves as further proof that our innovative technology is highly interesting to leading companies in the pharmaceuticals industry,” says Peter Nählstedt, CEO of SenzaGen.

SenzaGen’s GARD® test platform is designed for companies looking to improve their testing strategy and enhance the accuracy of their test results while avoiding animal testing.

Read more about GARDskin.

New distribution agreement with Enthalpy Analytical, USA

We are happy to team up with Enthalpy Analytical by welcoming them as distributor of our innovative GARD technology. Based in the USA, Enthalpy is an established CRO in the field of in vitro toxicology, and we jointly strive to provide our clients with best-in-class testing support, innovative science, and high-quality data.

Joint marketing activities 2021

  • Webinar, September 22 (more information coming soon)
  • CORESTA SSPT2021 Virtual Conference, Oct 18-28

We look forward to a fruitful cooperation!