THE USE OF STEM CELLS IN TOXICOLOGY STUDIES

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Several studies have been conducted to determine the potential toxic effects of new drug molecules and chemicals on humans. The chemicals are generally applied to animals or in vitro cell cultures. However, due to the differences in metabolism, these models can not show the possible effects of chemicals on human completely. Therefore it is thought that in vitro models based on human stem cells could be used as a new alternative in toxicology studies. Stem cells are currently being used in drug/toxicity screening studies, mechanical studies such as developmental toxicity and in the investigation of disease pathways. Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) can be obtained by manipulation of pluripotency genes from differentiated, mature and specialized cells. Thus the toxicity caused by environmental exposure can be determined, as well as effecting the genetic structure of the individual. Pathways underlying disease and toxicity conditions can be illuminated by identifying genomic, proteomic, transcriptomic and metabolomic patterns of human embryonic stem cells (hESC) and iPSC extensively. Although technological challenges and ethical restrictions prevent common use, the use of human stem cell-based systems in drug discovery and toxicity studies allows reducing cost and experimental animal use, making safer personalized medicine and more accurate risk assessments for environmental toxicants.In this review, the use of human stem cell based systems in toxicology studies such as neurotoxicity, hepatotoxicity, cardiotoxicity, embryotoxicity has been mentioned.

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Embryonic stem cells , Induced pluripotent stem cells , Stem cells , Toxicity tests

Anadolu University Journal of Science and Technology C - Life Sciences and Biotechnology

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Anadolu University Journal of Science and Technology C - Life Sciences and Biotechnology