Chairperson(s): Donna L. Mendrick, US FDA, Division of Systems Biology, Jefferson, AR, and William B. Mattes, PharmPoint Consulting, Poolesville, MD.

With the recent focus on (a) cellular pathways involved in toxicity sequelae and (b) translational biomarkers that may link animal and in vitro model observations with clinical reality, there is a need to broaden the understanding of how experimental models may replicate human toxicity and disease processes. Multicellular organisms may have large numbers of genes and proteins, but a relatively limited repertoire in terms of pathophysiology in response to disease or toxicant exposure. This fact allows research to improve and protect human health to be founded on the use of model systems that allow for tractable experimentation. Animal models and, more recently, in vitro systems have served as a means of both exploring mechanisms and identifying hazards in terms of disease and adverse events. However, the interconnections between disease and toxicity are rarely explored leaving the information in silos. This symposium will examine organ-based toxicity and disease processes, and compare lessons learned in biomarker identification and use across toxicity, disease, and species.

Presenter: Arie Regev

Biomarkers are often used in clinical hepatology to detect the presence of a liver disease, distinguish among different types of liver disorders, assess the extent and severity of liver damage, and follow response to treatment. This presentation discusses these biomarkers and their inability to distinguish drug-induced liver injury (DILI) from other causes of hepatic damage and disease.

 

SOT2013 Use of Biomarkers in Hepatology, Liver Disease, and Liver Toxicity from Society of Toxicology on Vimeo.