title: Three-dimensional cell cultures in toxicology.
abstract: Toxicity testing with animals is expensive, ethically controversial, and not always predictive of the human response. Cell-based assays are regarded as an alternative. However, conventional two-dimensional cell cultures do not reproduce the tissue architecture in vivo, and do not forecast organ-specific toxicity. On the other hand, three-dimensional cultures emulate the biochemistry and mechanics of the microenvironment in tissues more closely. Therefore, they address the limitations of both animals and two-dimensional cultures, and provide more accurate data on the effects of short- and long-term exposure to toxicants. We provide an up-to-date overview on the use of three-dimensional cell cultures in toxicology. We anticipate that three-dimensional cultures will become invaluable to accomplish the 3R agenda (refinement, reduction, and replacement) for animal-based toxicity testing and will play a major role for the Registration, Evaluation and Authorisation of Chemicals in the European Union (REACH legislation).
authors.affiliation: Cell Biology and Biophysics Unit, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany. francesco.pampaloni@embl.de
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Pampaloni
authors.forename: Ernst
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stelzer
mesh_terms: D000826:Animal Testing Alternatives / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D005062:European Union; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D008954:Models, Biological; D018874:Spheroids, Cellular / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances