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The point of transition on the dose‐effect curve as a reference point in the evaluation of in vitro toxicity data
Author(s) -
Sand Salomon,
Ringblom Joakim,
Håkansson Helen,
Öberg Mattias
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
journal of applied toxicology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.784
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1099-1263
pISSN - 0260-437X
DOI - 10.1002/jat.2757
Subject(s) - reference dose , potency , ranking (information retrieval) , mathematics , confidence interval , statistics , dose–response relationship , benchmark (surveying) , toxicology , pharmacology , chemistry , in vitro , econometrics , medicine , risk assessment , computer science , biology , biochemistry , computer security , machine learning , geodesy , geography
Dose‐effect evaluation is an increasingly important step of health risk assessment. The foreseen increase of in vitro methods argues for the development and evaluation of a clearly defined reference points for dose‐effect modelling of in vitro data. In the present study, the traditional use of a concentration corresponding to 10% or 50% of the maximal effect (EC 10 or EC 50 ) is compared with a strategy, under which, a reference point (Benchmark dose, BMD T ) is calculated that represents the dose where the slope of the dose‐effect curve changes the most (per unit log‐dose) in the low dose region. To illustrate the importance of the reference point, dose‐effect data on CYP1A1 enzyme activity for 30 polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners were evaluated in order to calculate relative potencies, in relation to 2,3,7,8‐TCDD, with confidence intervals (CIs). The present study shows that the interpretation of the results as potency and rank orders potentially depends on the choice and definition of the reference point (BMD T , EC 10 or EC 50 ). This is important as potency ranking may be used as a method for screening and prioritization, in research, in policy development or in pharmaceutical development. The use of the BMD T implies a focus on the change of structure in the parameter's dose–response rather than a particular percentage change in the response in such a parameter. In conclusion, the BMD T may be used as an alternative base for evaluation of dose‐effect relationships in vitro . It offers an objective geometrical definition of a reference point in the low‐dose region of the dose‐effect curve. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.