Metodi alternativi all’uso di animali per la valutazione del rischio chimico: studi in vitro degli effetti di sostanze neurotossiche o pneumotossiche

The proper use of cell cultures, which could be a completing methods to data obtained with laboratory animals, could be a valid approach to define and characterize toxicity of single compounds or mixtures. In the present study we used in vitro models to evaluate the effects of known neurotoxic or pneumotoxic chemicals. We analysed the behavior of selected markers of oxidative stress in SK-N-MC (neuroblastoma human cell line) which were exposed to styrene oxide; and the asynchronous combined exposure to MeHg and PCB153 to better understand the kind of interactions between these substances. Finally we studied the cytoprotective and anti-apoptotic role of clusterin (confirmed by human biopsies) in a human lung fibroblasts (HFL1) exposed to cigarette smoke. We conclude that use of in vitro models could be useful for the characterization and identification of risk assessment. However, some interdependent factors have to be taken into account to do a correct extrapolation of in vitro data to the in vivo situation.