Validation and interpretation of CALUX as a tool for the estimation of dioxin-like activity in marine biological matrixes.
Among the different analytical tools proposed as an alternative to the very expensive gas chromatography high-resolution mass spectrometry (GC-HRMS) analyses of polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin and polychlorodibenzofurans, Chemically Activated LUciferase gene eXpression (CALUX) in vitro cell bioassay is very promising. It allows the analyses of a high number of samples since it is relatively fast, inexpensive, and sensitive. However, this technique is not yet widely applied for screening or environmental monitoring. The main reasons are probably the lack of validation and the difficulty in interpreting the global biological response of the bioassay. In this paper, the strict quality control criteria set up for the validation of CALUX are described. The validation has shown good repeatability (relative standard deviation (RSD) = 9%) and good within-lab reproducibility (RSD = 15%) of the results. The quantification limit, in the conditions applied in this paper, is 1.25 pg CALUX-TEQ/g fat. Comparison of CALUX and GC-HRMS analysis was made forvarious marine matrixes (fishes, mussels, starfishes, sea birds, and marine mammals). Good correlations are usually observed, but there are systematic differences between the results. Attempts are made to identify the origin of the discrepancy between the two methods.
Windal
Isabelle
I
Scientific Institute of Public Health, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. isabelle.windal@iph.fgov.be
Van Wouwe
Nathalie
N
Eppe
Gauthier
G
Xhrouet
Céline
C
Debacker
Virginie
V
Baeyens
Willy
W
De Pauw
Edwin
E
Goeyens
Leo
L
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods; D001717:Birds; D049872:Bivalvia; D004147:Dioxins / Q000032:analysis*; D004289:Dolphins; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects; D008156:Luciferases / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics; D011786:Quality Control; D013215:Starfish; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014907:Whales
D004147:Dioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008156:Luciferases