Potency ranking of valproic acid analogues as to inhibition of cardiac differentiation of embryonic stem cells in comparison to their in vivo embryotoxicity.
The embryonic stem cell test (EST) is one of the more promising and extensively studied tests in the field of developmental toxicology. We evaluated the effect of a series of structurally related valproic acid analogues on cardiomyocyte differentiation in the EST. The goal of the present study was to determine the applicability of the EST by potency ranking within this chemical class. Cardiomyocyte differentiation was evaluated by morphological scoring as well as by gene expression analysis of cardiac markers using RT-PCR. All VPA analogues tested inhibited cardiomyocyte differentiation, with the exception of (±)-2-ethyl-4-methyl pentanoic acid, which correlates to their known in vivo developmental toxicity. Effects were also evident on gene expression of cardiomyocyte differentiation-regulated genes, such as MHC and Nkx2.5. Overall, the present results indicate that the assay can be a valuable screening tool in potency ranking of structurally related compounds.
Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Esther.de.Jong@rivm.nl
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Doedée
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Reis-Fernandes
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Piersma
D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D053595:Embryonic Stem Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D051379:Mice; D015394:Molecular Structure; D009200:Myocardial Contraction / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics; D032383:Myocytes, Cardiac / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009436:Neural Tube Defects / Q000139:chemically induced; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013329:Structure-Activity Relationship; D013997:Time Factors; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity*
D014635:Valproic Acid