Reconstructed human Cornea-like Epithelium (RhCE) test method for identifying chemicals not requiring classification and labelling for eye irritation or serious eye damage
Commonly used acronym: RhCE test method, OECD TG 492
Scope of the method
- Human health
- Regulatory use - Routine production
- In vitro - Ex vivo
- Human derived cells / tissues / organs
Description
- RhCE
- HCE EIT
- Epidermal model
- 3D model
- cytotoxicity
- Tissue viability
- MTT assayRhCE
- MTT assay
- eye irritation
- Chemical testing
- toxicity testing
- hazard assessment
- Ocular irritation
- Serious Eye Damage
Four validated test methods using commercially available RhCE models are included in this Test Guideline 492. Here we focus on the SkinEthic Human Corneal Epithelium (HCE) Eye Irritation Test (EIT). It is an in vitro procedure allowing the identification of chemicals (substances and mixtures) not requiring classification and labelling for eye irritation or serious eye damage in accordance with UN GHS. It makes use of reconstructed human cornea-like epithelium (RhCE) which closely mimics the histological, morphological, biochemical and physiological properties of the human corneal epithelium. The purpose of this Test Guideline is to describe the procedure used to evaluate the eye hazard potential of a test chemical based on its ability to induce cytotoxicity in a RhCE tissue construct, as measured by the tetrazolium dye, i.e. MTT [3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide. RhCE tissue viability following exposure to a test chemical is measured by enzymatic conversion of the vital dye MTT by the viable cells of the tissue into a blue MTT formazan salt that is quantitatively measured after extraction from tissues. The viability of the RhCE tissue following exposure to a test chemical is determined in comparison to tissues treated with the negative control substance (%viability), and is then used to predict the eye hazard potential of the test chemical. Test chemicals absorbing light in the same range as formazan dye and test chemicals able to directly reduce the vital dye may interfere with the tissue viability measurements and need the use of adapted controls for corrections. The test chemical is applied topically to a minimum of two three-dimensional RhCE tissue constructs and tissue viability is measured following exposure and a posttreatment incubation period. The RhCE tissues have been cultured for several days to form a stratified, highly differentiated squamous epithelium morphologically similar to that found in the human cornea. The SkinEthic™ HCE RhCE tissue construct consists of at least 4 viable layers of cells including columnar basal cells, transitional wing cells, and superficial squamous cells similar to that of the normal human corneal epithelium.
- - Standard equipment for working with cell cultures;
- - Microplate reader (OD) or HPLC/UPLC-spectrophotometer.
- Validated by an external party (e.g. OECD, EURL ECVAM,…)
Pros, cons & Future potential
- - Use of commercially available RhCE tissue constructs.
- - Recommended method to identify chemicals that do not require classification for eye irritation or serious eye damage according to UN GHS.
- - Similar to the in vivo corneal epithelium three-dimensional structure and are produced using cells from the species of interest.
- - Directly measures cytotoxicity resulting from penetration of the chemical through the cornea and production of cell and tissue damage following chemical exposure, which determines the overall in vivo serious eye damage/eye irritation response.
- - Can be used on a variety of chemical types, chemical classes, molecular weights, LogPs, chemical structures, etc.
- - Mainly for mono-constituent substances, but also for several multi-constituent substances.
- - Applicable to substances and mixtures, and to solids, liquids, semi-solids and waxes. The liquids may be aqueous or non-aqueous; solids may be soluble or insoluble in water. Whenever possible, solids should be ground to a fine powder before application; no other pre-treatment of the sample is required.
- - High level of reproducibility within- and between laboratories.
- - High level of accuracy.
For more information: see OECD TG nr. 492
- - This method does not allow discrimination between eye irritation/reversible effects on the eye and serious eye damage/irreversible effects on the eye, nor between eye irritants and mild eye irritants.
- - Gases and aerosols have not been assessed in a validation study.
- - Test chemicals absorbing light in the same range as formazan dye (FD, naturally or after treatment) and test chemicals able to directly reduce the vital dye TD (to FD) may interfere with the tissue viability measurements and need the use of adapted controls for corrections.
- - It is currently generally accepted that, in the foreseeable future, no single in vitro test method will be able to fully replace the in vivo Draize eye test to predict across the full range of serious eye damage/eye irritation responses for different chemical classes. However, strategic combinations of several alternative test methods within (tiered) testing strategies such as the Bottom-Up/Top-Down approach may be able to fully replace the Draize eye test.
For more information: see OECD TG nr. 492
References, associated documents and other information
Van Rompay AR, Alépée N, Nardelli L, Hollanders K, Leblanc V, Drzewiecka A, Gruszka K, Guest R, Kandarova H, Willoughby Sr JA, Verstraelen S, Adriaens E, 2018. “CON4EI: SkinEthic™ Human Corneal Epithelium Eye Irritation Test (SkinEthic™ HCE EIT) for hazard identification and labelling of eye irritating chemicals.” Toxicol In Vitro. 49, 11-20. DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2017.06.012
Contact person
Sandra VerstraelenOrganisations
Vlaamse Instelling voor Technologisch Onderzoek (VITO)Health
Belgium
Flemish Region
