title: Validation and interpretation of CALUX as a tool for the estimation of dioxin-like activity in marine biological matrixes.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Scientific Institute of Public Health, 1050 Brussels, Belgium. isabelle.windal@iph.fgov.be
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Windal
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Van Wouwe
authors.forename: Gauthier
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Eppe
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xhrouet
authors.forename: Virginie
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Debacker
authors.forename: Willy
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Baeyens
authors.forename: Edwin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: De Pauw
authors.forename: Leo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Goeyens
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D004147:Dioxins; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D008156:Luciferases