Gentronix has successfully co-cultured its GreenScreen HC genotoxicity reporter cells with fresh hepatocytes preserved in Abcellute's matrix in the presence of test material
Safety assessment in drug discovery requires the in vitro genotoxicity assessment of metabolites.
This is currently achieved by incubating compounds with liver extracts (S9), because when genotoxicity tests were developed there was no reliable supply of fresh hepatocytes.
Being able to use fresh hepatocytes for testing metabolites, instead of extracts with their limited metabolic activity, could be a major advance.
This possibility has now moved a significant step closer.
In the first stage of a major collaboration, Gentronix have successfully co-cultured their GreenScreen HC genotoxicity reporter cells with fresh hepatocytes preserved in Abcellute's matrix in the presence of test material.
The results were presented by Gentronix at the recent US Society of Toxicology Meeting.
According to Professor Richard Walmsley of Gentronix these results promise a major breakthrough: "We are extremely encouraged by these results.
"Our initial work shows that the GreenScreen HC assay can be used to assess the genotoxicity of metabolites generated by either S9 extracts or non-frozen preserved primary hepatocytes provided by Abcellute.
"The predictable differences in metabolism provided by S9 extracts and hepatocytes are readily apparent from the results - and represent a refinement in the use of animal material.
"It is now conceivable that preserved human hepatocytes could be routinely used in pre-clinical safety assessment".
Nathan Griffiths, Abcellute's chief scientific officer, said: "The results indicate the potential for our matrix in this exciting area.
"They match similar evaluations in our core preclinical market conducted by leading pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and academic institutes in Europe, the USA and Japan".
