{"title":"Assessment of ocular irritation potential of moisturizing and sunscreen cosmetic creams marketed in Algeria using the HET-CAM test","authors":"Mecheri Imane , Djafer Rachid , Belmahi Mohamed Habib","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106168","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106168","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Cosmetic products applied around the eyes, such as moisturizing and sunscreen creams, can come into contact with the conjunctiva, potentially causing irritation due to the thinness of the ocular epithelium. These products, widely used by the general population, remain in contact with the skin for extended periods. In this study, 41 cosmetic creams marketed in Algeria (moisturizers and sunscreens) were evaluated using the Hen's Egg Test on the Chorioallantoic Membrane (HET-CAM), an alternative to the Draize test. The results showed that 36.6 % of the tested creams induced irritation, with varying degrees of severity. Moisturizing creams were more frequently associated with irritation (44.0 %) compared to sunscreens (25.0 %). Among products intended for children, 44.4 % elicited an irritation response, and 60 % of irritating products carried the precautionary statement “avoid contact with eyes.” These findings provide the first data on the ocular irritation potential of cosmetic creams available in the Algerian market and contribute to regional safety assessment by identifying specific product categories with irritant potential.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"111 ","pages":"Article 106168"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145309859","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Toxicology in VitroPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-26DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106132
Aleksandra K. Gładysz , Jan Stępniak , Laura López-Pingarrón , Joaquin J. Garcia , Małgorzata Karbownik-Lewińska
{"title":"Stronger prooxidative effects of chromium(VI) comparing to chromium(III) in endocrine and non-endocrine tissues with the thyroid being completely resistant to antioxidant protection","authors":"Aleksandra K. Gładysz , Jan Stępniak , Laura López-Pingarrón , Joaquin J. Garcia , Małgorzata Karbownik-Lewińska","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106132","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106132","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Chromium (Cr) is a harmful heavy metal pollutant. Cr(VI) is a group 1 carcinogen (carcinogenic to humans), whereas Cr(III) is a group 3 carcinogen (not classifiable as to its carcinogenicity to humans). Cr is also documented to be an endocrine disrupting chemical. The study aimed to check whether Cr(VI) compound (K<sub>2</sub>Cr<sub>2</sub>O<sub>7</sub>) or Cr(III) compound (CrCl<sub>3</sub>·6H<sub>2</sub>O) induce oxidative damage to membrane lipids (lipid peroxidation, LPO) in homogenates of two endocrine (the thyroid and the ovary) and two non-endocrine (the kidney and the liver) tissues, and whether antioxidants, such as melatonin, indole-3-propionic acid (IPA) and 17β-estradiol, reveal protective effects. Of note, the healthy thyroid gland is characterized by relatively high oxidative stress. Porcine tissue homogenates were incubated in the presence of Cr(VI) (0.05–10.0 mM) or Cr(III) (5.0–200.0 mM) with/without melatonin (5 mM) or IPA (5 mM) or 17β-estradiol (1 mM). The malondialdehyde+4-hydroxyalkenals (MDA + 4-HDA) concentration (LPO index) was measured spectrophotometrically. Cr(VI) (≥0.1–1.25 mM) significantly increased LPO in all tissues but these damaging effects were not prevented by any antioxidant tested. In turn, Cr(III) (≥25 mM) also significantly increased LPO in all examined tissues. All antioxidants reduced Cr(III)-induced LPO in the ovary, kidney, and liver but had no protective effects in the thyroid. Our findings highlight chromium's strong prooxidative effects, especially in the thyroid. The inability of antioxidants to prevent Cr-induced damage, especially in the thyroid, underscores the need for further research to identify effective protective strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106132"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144913329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergistic and divergent effects of dietary sugars on hepatocyte viability and steatosis","authors":"Ajay Kumar , Garhima Arora , Deepika Kumari , Harish Changotra , Samrat Chatterjee","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106148","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106148","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Our study explores the effects of glucose, fructose, and sucrose on hepatocyte health, focusing on cell viability and lipid accumulation. Hepatocyte cells (HepG2) were exposed to a range of concentrations of glucose, fructose and sucrose, both individually and in combination, over 24, 48, and 72 h. Cell viability was monitored using the MTT assay, while lipid accumulation was estimated fluorometrically using Nile red staining. Our findings suggest that higher concentrations of fructose significantly improves cell viability in a dose-dependent manner, especially in hepatocyte cells exposed to fructose for extended duration. Additionally, a time-dependent increase in lipid accumulation was seen, particularly in cells exposed to fructose. Interestingly, enhanced hepatocyte viability was noted with combinations of glucose with fructose or sucrose, without detrimental effects. Lipid accumulation was more pronounced with glucose-fructose combinations. These results provide insights into the differential effects of dietary sugars on liver health and metabolism, with implications for understanding metabolic disorders like MASLD and MASH.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106148"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Toxicology in VitroPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-26DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106151
Ok Joo Sul , Hye Won Choi , Seo Hee Park , Min Ju Kim , Seung Won Ra
{"title":"Effects of heated tobacco products and conventional cigarettes on oxidative stress and inflammation in alveolar macrophages","authors":"Ok Joo Sul , Hye Won Choi , Seo Hee Park , Min Ju Kim , Seung Won Ra","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106151","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106151","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Oxidative stress in macrophages is a major factor contributing to smoking-induced chronic respiratory diseases. However, the oxidative stress induced by heat-not-burn tobacco products (HTP) and conventional cigarettes (3R4F) in macrophages has not been sufficiently investigated. This study compared the effects of HTP and 3R4F cigarettes on cytotoxicity and oxidative stress. We also investigated the underlying mechanisms of autophagy-induced inflammation in macrophages. Our results showed that both HTP and 3R4F cigarette aerosols induced cytotoxicity; however, HTP aerosol was less cytotoxic than conventional cigarette aerosol in RAW264.7 cells. In addition, both aerosols resulted in increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels in RAW 264.7 and bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMMs), although the levels were lower for HTP aerosol than for 3R4F aerosol. Additionally, acute exposure to HTP aerosol elevated the levels of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in macrophages. Oxidative stress-triggered TFEB oxidation induced TFEB nuclear translocation, thereby enhancing autophagy and inflammation in HTP- and 3R4F-exposed macrophages. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that aerosols from HTP and 3R4F cigarettes increased the cytotoxicity in macrophages. Cigarette aerosols increase oxidative stress, which triggers TFEB oxidation and increases its nuclear translocation. TFEB oxidation leads to increased autophagy and inflammation in HTP- or 3R4F aerosol-exposed macrophages. Exposure to HTP aerosols resulted in lower cytotoxicity, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses than the exposure to conventional cigarettes in vitro.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106151"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145187579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Toxicology in VitroPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-25DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106153
Dana Macejova , Jakub Kollar , Zdenek Dvorak , Daniela Schuster , Julius Brtko
{"title":"Tributyltin propionate and tributyltin salicylate represent novel RXR ligands: Effects on transcriptional activity of thyroid hormone receptor and vitamin D3 receptor","authors":"Dana Macejova , Jakub Kollar , Zdenek Dvorak , Daniela Schuster , Julius Brtko","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106153","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106153","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Several organometallic trialkyltins or triaryltins are known to act as retinoid X receptor (RXR) agonists, which were also reported to exert eminent cytotoxic properties. In the present study, binding properties of tributyltin propionate (TBT-P) and tributyltin salicylate (TBT-S) in RXRα molecule were theoretically investigated using docking in Schrödinger small molecule drug discovery suite. Our data has shown that TBT-P and TBT-S bind in the binding pocket of RXRα and represent novel RXR agonists. <em>In vitro</em> data has shown that both TBT-P and TBT-S exert transcriptional activity under basal and ligand-activated conditions through RXR − nuclear thyroid hormone receptor (TR) heterodimer in the human reporter cell line for the assessment of thyroid receptor transcriptional activity (PZ-TR). In the human reporter cell line, enabling sensitive and selective identification of nuclear dihydroxyvitamin D<sub>3</sub> receptor (VDR) agonists (IZ-VDRE), TBT-P and TBT-S did not exert any transcriptional activity through VDR under basal and ligand-activated conditions, which is in agreement with the properties of the non-permissive type of RXR-VDR heterodimer. Our <em>in silico</em> and <em>in vitro</em> data demonstrate that both organometallic compounds TBT-P and TBT-S represent new nuclear retinoid X receptor agonists.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106153"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145158180","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Toxicology in VitroPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106145
K. Bobadilla-Lozoya , J. Morales-Montor , K.G. Mejía-Salgado , K.E. Nava-Castro
{"title":"The emerging pollutants polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAH'S) bisphenol a (BPA), and phthalates impair immune system function: Effects on human macrophages","authors":"K. Bobadilla-Lozoya , J. Morales-Montor , K.G. Mejía-Salgado , K.E. Nava-Castro","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106145","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106145","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human activity has led to the increment of diverse pollutants. Plastics have great practical value since they are present in everyday products. However, not only plastics have gained importance, but their plasticizers such as bisphenol A (BPA), phthalates and other chemicals such as the polyaromatic hydrocarbon compounds (PAHs) have described to impact in human and animal health because of its chronic exposure and that they are endocrine disruptors (EDs). Since immune cells express hormone receptors and AhR, they are susceptible to these EDs. We hypothesized that these compounds may alter their maturation and function. We focus on macrophages since they link the innate and adaptive immune response, playing different roles in disease. We cultured human monocytes in the presence of phthalates, bisphenol A or PAH's and analyze both maturation and function such as phagocytosis, antigen processing and antigen presentation. Our results show that these compounds affect differentially macrophage function, being the phtalates DEHP and DBP the ones that have the greatest impact. Both inhibit human macrophage maturation, observed by the lack of expression of MHC-II, CD80/86, which in consequence, impair antigen presentation and phagocytosis. BPA did not alter maturation but changed antigen processing activity while PAHs alter both antigen processing and presentation. These results may have great implications on human health and disease, since emergent pollutants affect normal macrophage function.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106145"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145014410","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Liposomal nanoparticles containing adenosine triphosphate targeted by heart-specific peptide ligands as antidotes for aluminum phosphide poisoning in isolated rat cardiomyocyte cell line","authors":"Roghayeh Jahani , Hamidreza Mohammadi , Mohammad Seyedabadi , Vajihe Alinezhad , Javad Akhtari","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106155","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106155","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aluminum phosphide (ALP) poisoning remains a critical challenge because of the limited number of treatment options. ALP disrupts the electron transport chain, causing ATP depletion, oxidative stress, and cytotoxicity. This study developed ischemic myocardium-targeting peptide (IMTP)-conjugated ATP-loaded liposomes (ATP-L) to mitigate ALP-induced cardiotoxicity. ATP-L was prepared via thin-film hydration and freeze–thaw methods, followed by peptide conjugation via maleimide-PEG<sub>2000</sub>-DSPE. Liposome characterization revealed average sizes of 134.8 nm (DLS) and 113 nm (TEM), zeta potential of +11.33 mV, PDI of 0.17, and ATP encapsulation efficiency of 41 %.</div><div>In this study, the rat cardiomyocyte cell line (H<sub>9</sub>C<sub>2</sub>) was used. In H<sub>9</sub>C<sub>2</sub> cells, ALP exhibited dose-dependent toxicity, whereas ATP, non-targeted ATP-loaded liposomes (NT-ATP-L), and ATP-L showed no cytotoxicity. Co-treatment with ATP, NT-ATP-L, and ATP-L via ALP (18.27 μg/ml) for 3 h significantly reduced the levels of oxidative stress markers, restoring the cellular redox balance.</div><div>These findings highlight ATP-L as a promising antioxidant nanotherapy for treating ALP poisoning. ATP-L combats ALP-induced cardiotoxicity by restoring ATP and reducing oxidative damage. The use of IMTP ensures precise targeting to ischemic cardiac tissues, potentially improving efficacy and minimizing off-target effects. This strategy offers a novel approach to managing ALP toxicity. Further studies are needed to validate the in vivo results and optimize the formulation for clinical use. Overall, ATP-L represents a significant advancement in targeted nanomedicine for toxicological emergencies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106155"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145253793","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Toxicology in VitroPub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106146
G. Drouet , A. Bourgois , K. Devilliers , M. Defrance , A. Van der Meeren
{"title":"Binding of plutonium and americium to small molecular weight ligands favors their paracellular transfer across lung epithelium in vitro","authors":"G. Drouet , A. Bourgois , K. Devilliers , M. Defrance , A. Van der Meeren","doi":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106146","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.tiv.2025.106146","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Pulmonary absorption is a critical step in the time-dependent processes governing actinide biodistribution and toxicity following internal contamination by inhalation. The current study was undertaken to investigate on a simple in vitro Calu-3 model the mechanisms involved in the transfer across epithelial cells of plutonium (Pu) and americium (Am) as a function of their intrinsic properties (nature, physicochemical form) or their association with serum proteins, inorganic ligands or synthetic chelating agents. Both the contribution of the transcellular and paracellular routes to the transfer of these various forms were studied. Results show that uptake of Pu and Am by epithelial cells is not positively correlated with their transfer, which suggests that radionuclides transcytosis is a continuous process in comparison with the quick translocation of Pu/Am-small size complexes. Furthermore, reducing epithelial cells paracellular permeability with the glucocorticoid hormone Dexamethasone (DEX) resulted into a lower transfer of Pu citrate, and of both actinides in the presence of diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and 3,4,3-LI(1,2-HOPO). Taken together, these results seem to indicate that a paracellular pathway may be responsible, at least partly, for the higher pulmonary absorption observed in vivo for actinides bound to low-molecular weight ligands such as citrate, DTPA or HOPO.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":54423,"journal":{"name":"Toxicology in Vitro","volume":"110 ","pages":"Article 106146"},"PeriodicalIF":2.7,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145103256","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}