Jump to content

In vitro

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from In vitro techniques)

Cloned plants in vitro

In vitro (meaning in glass, or in the glass) studies are performed with microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules outside their normal biological context. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology and its subdisciplines are traditionally done in labware such as test tubes, flasks, Petri dishes, and microtiter plates. Studies conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological surroundings permit a more detailed or more convenient analysis than can be done with whole organisms; however, results obtained from in vitro experiments may not fully or accurately predict the effects on a whole organism. In contrast to in vitro experiments, in vivo studies are those conducted in living organisms, including humans, known as clinical trials, and whole plants.[1][2]

Definition

[edit]

In vitro (Latin for "in glass"; often not italicized in English usage[3][4][5]) studies are conducted using components of an organism that have been isolated from their usual biological surroundings, such as microorganisms, cells, or biological molecules. For example, microorganisms or cells can be studied in artificial culture media, and proteins can be examined in solutions. Colloquially called "test-tube experiments", these studies in biology, medicine, and their subdisciplines are traditionally done in test tubes, flasks, Petri dishes, etc.[6][7] They now involve the full range of techniques used in molecular biology, such as the omics.[8]

In contrast, studies conducted in living beings (microorganisms, animals, humans, or whole plants) are called in vivo.[9]

Examples

[edit]

Examples of in vitro studies include: the isolation, growth and identification of cells derived from multicellular organisms (in cell or tissue culture); subcellular components (e.g. mitochondria or ribosomes); cellular or subcellular extracts (e.g. wheat germ or reticulocyte extracts); purified molecules (such as proteins, DNA, or RNA); and the commercial production of antibiotics and other pharmaceutical products.[10][11][12][13] Viruses, which only replicate in living cells, are studied in the laboratory in cell or tissue culture, and many animal virologists refer to such work as being in vitro to distinguish it from in vivo work in whole animals.[14][15]

  • Polymerase chain reaction is a method for selective replication of specific DNA and RNA sequences in the test tube.[16]
  • Protein purification involves the isolation of a specific protein of interest from a complex mixture of proteins, often obtained from homogenized cells or tissues.[17]
  • In vitro fertilization is used to allow spermatozoa to fertilize eggs in a culture dish before implanting the resulting embryo or embryos into the uterus of the prospective mother.[18]
  • In vitro diagnostics refers to a wide range of medical and veterinary laboratory tests that are used to diagnose diseases and monitor the clinical status of patients using samples of blood, cells, or other tissues obtained from a patient.[19]
  • In vitro testing has been used to characterize specific adsorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion processes of drugs or general chemicals inside a living organism; for example, Caco-2 cell experiments can be performed to estimate the absorption of compounds through the lining of the gastrointestinal tract;[20] The partitioning of the compounds between organs can be determined to study distribution mechanisms;[21] Suspension or plated cultures of primary hepatocytes or hepatocyte-like cell lines (Hep G2, HepaRG) can be used to study and quantify metabolism of chemicals.[22] These ADME process parameters can then be integrated into so called "physiologically based pharmacokinetic models" or PBPK.

Advantages

[edit]

In vitro studies permit a species-specific, simpler, more convenient, and more detailed analysis than can be done with the whole organism. Just as studies in whole animals more and more replace human trials, so are in vitro studies replacing studies in whole animals.

Simplicity

[edit]

Living organisms are extremely complex functional systems that are made up of, at a minimum, many tens of thousands of genes, protein molecules, RNA molecules, small organic compounds, inorganic ions, and complexes in an environment that is spatially organized by membranes, and in the case of multicellular organisms, organ systems.[23][24] These myriad components interact with each other and with their environment in a way that processes food, removes waste, moves components to the correct location, and is responsive to signalling molecules, other organisms, light, sound, heat, taste, touch, and balance.

Top view of a Vitrocell mammalian exposure module "smoking robot", (lid removed) view of four separated wells for cell culture inserts to be exposed to tobacco smoke or an aerosol for an in vitro study of the effects

This complexity makes it difficult to identify the interactions between individual components and to explore their basic biological functions. In vitro work simplifies the system under study, so the investigator can focus on a small number of components.[25][26]

For example, the identity of proteins of the immune system (e.g. antibodies), and the mechanism by which they recognize and bind to foreign antigens would remain very obscure if not for the extensive use of in vitro work to isolate the proteins, identify the cells and genes that produce them, study the physical properties of their interaction with antigens, and identify how those interactions lead to cellular signals that activate other components of the immune system.

Species specificity

[edit]

Another advantage of in vitro methods is that human cells can be studied without "extrapolation" from an experimental animal's cellular response.[27][28][29]

Convenience, automation

[edit]

In vitro methods can be miniaturized and automated, yielding high-throughput screening methods for testing molecules in pharmacology or toxicology.[30]

Disadvantages

[edit]

The primary disadvantage of in vitro experimental studies is that it may be challenging to extrapolate from the results of in vitro work back to the biology of the intact organism. Investigators doing in vitro work must be careful to avoid over-interpretation of their results, which can lead to erroneous conclusions about organismal and systems biology.[31][32]

For example, scientists developing a new viral drug to treat an infection with a pathogenic virus (e.g., HIV-1) may find that a candidate drug functions to prevent viral replication in an in vitro setting (typically cell culture). However, before this drug is used in the clinic, it must progress through a series of in vivo trials to determine if it is safe and effective in intact organisms (typically small animals, primates, and humans in succession). Typically, most candidate drugs that are effective in vitro prove to be ineffective in vivo because of issues associated with delivery of the drug to the affected tissues, toxicity towards essential parts of the organism that were not represented in the initial in vitro studies, or other issues.[33]

In vitro test batteries

[edit]

A method which could help decrease animal testing is the use of in vitro batteries, where several in vitro assays are compiled to cover multiple endpoints. Within developmental neurotoxicity and reproductive toxicity there are hopes for test batteries to become easy screening methods for prioritization for which chemicals to be risk assessed and in which order.[34][35][36][37] Within ecotoxicology in vitro test batteries are already in use for regulatory purpose and for toxicological evaluation of chemicals.[38] In vitro tests can also be combined with in vivo testing to make a in vitro in vivo test battery, for example for pharmaceutical testing.[39]

In vitro to in vivo extrapolation

[edit]

Results obtained from in vitro experiments cannot usually be transposed, as is, to predict the reaction of an entire organism in vivo. Building a consistent and reliable extrapolation procedure from in vitro results to in vivo is therefore extremely important. Solutions include:

  • Increasing the complexity of in vitro systems to reproduce tissues and interactions between them (as in "human on chip" systems)[40]
  • Using mathematical modeling to numerically simulate the behavior of the complex system, where the in vitro data provide model parameter values[41]

These two approaches are not incompatible; better in vitro systems provide better data to mathematical models. However, increasingly sophisticated in vitro experiments collect increasingly numerous, complex, and challenging data to integrate. Mathematical models, such as systems biology models, are much needed here.[42]

Extrapolating in pharmacology

[edit]

In pharmacology, IVIVE can be used to approximate pharmacokinetics (PK) or pharmacodynamics (PD).[citation needed] Since the timing and intensity of effects on a given target depend on the concentration time course of candidate drug (parent molecule or metabolites) at that target site, in vivo tissue and organ sensitivities can be completely different or even inverse of those observed on cells cultured and exposed in vitro. That indicates that extrapolating effects observed in vitro needs a quantitative model of in vivo PK. Physiologically based PK (PBPK) models are generally accepted to be central to the extrapolations.[43]

In the case of early effects or those without intercellular communications, the same cellular exposure concentration is assumed to cause the same effects, both qualitatively and quantitatively, in vitro and in vivo. In these conditions, developing a simple PD model of the dose–response relationship observed in vitro, and transposing it without changes to predict in vivo effects is not enough.[44]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "In vitro methods - ECHA". echa.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  2. ^ Toxicity, National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Reproductive and Developmental (2001). Experimental Animal and In Vitro Study Designs. National Academies Press (US).
  3. ^ Merriam-Webster, Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, archived from the original on 2020-10-10, retrieved 2014-04-20.
  4. ^ Iverson, Cheryl; et al., eds. (2007). "12.1.1 Use of Italics". AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.). Oxford, Oxfordshire: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-517633-9.
  5. ^ American Psychological Association (2010), "4.21 Use of Italics", The Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.), Washington, DC, US: APA, ISBN 978-1-4338-0562-2.
  6. ^ "In vitro methods - ECHA". echa.europa.eu. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  7. ^ Toxicity, National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Reproductive and Developmental (2001). Experimental Animal and In Vitro Study Designs. National Academies Press (US).
  8. ^ "Omics technologies in chemical testing - OECD". www.oecd.org. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  9. ^ Toxicity, National Research Council (US) Subcommittee on Reproductive and Developmental (2001). Experimental Animal and In Vitro Study Designs. National Academies Press (US).
  10. ^ Spielmann, Horst; Goldberg, Alan M. (1999-01-01), Marquardt, Hans; Schäfer, Siegfried G.; McClellan, Roger; Welsch, Frank (eds.), "Chapter 49 - In Vitro Methods", Toxicology, San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 1131–1138, doi:10.1016/b978-012473270-4/50108-5, ISBN 978-0-12-473270-4, retrieved 2023-04-11
  11. ^ Connolly, Niamh M. C.; Theurey, Pierre; Adam-Vizi, Vera; Bazan, Nicolas G.; Bernardi, Paolo; Bolaños, Juan P.; Culmsee, Carsten; Dawson, Valina L.; Deshmukh, Mohanish; Duchen, Michael R.; Düssmann, Heiko; Fiskum, Gary; Galindo, Maria F.; Hardingham, Giles E.; Hardwick, J. Marie (March 2018). "Guidelines on experimental methods to assess mitochondrial dysfunction in cellular models of neurodegenerative diseases". Cell Death & Differentiation. 25 (3): 542–572. doi:10.1038/s41418-017-0020-4. ISSN 1476-5403. PMC 5864235. PMID 29229998.
  12. ^ Hammerling, Michael J.; Fritz, Brian R.; Yoesep, Danielle J.; Kim, Do Soon; Carlson, Erik D.; Jewett, Michael C. (2020-02-28). "In vitro ribosome synthesis and evolution through ribosome display". Nature Communications. 11 (1): 1108. Bibcode:2020NatCo..11.1108H. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-14705-2. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 7048773. PMID 32111839.
  13. ^ Bocanegra, Rebeca; Ismael Plaza, G. A.; Pulido, Carlos R.; Ibarra, Borja (2021-01-01). "DNA replication machinery: Insights from in vitro single-molecule approaches". Computational and Structural Biotechnology Journal. 19: 2057–2069. doi:10.1016/j.csbj.2021.04.013. ISSN 2001-0370. PMC 8085672. PMID 33995902.
  14. ^ Bruchhagen, Christin; van Krüchten, Andre; Klemm, Carolin; Ludwig, Stephan; Ehrhardt, Christina (2018), Yamauchi, Yohei (ed.), "In Vitro Models to Study Influenza Virus and Staphylococcus aureus Super-Infection on a Molecular Level", Influenza Virus: Methods and Protocols, vol. 1836, New York, NY: Springer, pp. 375–386, doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-8678-1_18, ISBN 978-1-4939-8678-1, PMID 30151583, retrieved 2023-04-11
  15. ^ Xie, Xuping; Lokugamage, Kumari G.; Zhang, Xianwen; Vu, Michelle N.; Muruato, Antonio E.; Menachery, Vineet D.; Shi, Pei-Yong (March 2021). "Engineering SARS-CoV-2 using a reverse genetic system". Nature Protocols. 16 (3): 1761–1784. doi:10.1038/s41596-021-00491-8. ISSN 1750-2799. PMC 8168523. PMID 33514944.
  16. ^ "Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (article)". Khan Academy. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  17. ^ Labrou, Nikolaos E. (2014), Labrou, Nikolaos E. (ed.), "Protein Purification: An Overview", Protein Downstream Processing: Design, Development and Application of High and Low-Resolution Methods, Methods in Molecular Biology, vol. 1129, Totowa, NJ: Humana Press, pp. 3–10, doi:10.1007/978-1-62703-977-2_1, ISBN 978-1-62703-977-2, PMID 24648062, retrieved 2023-04-11
  18. ^ Johnson, M. H. (2013-01-01), "In Vitro Fertilization", in Maloy, Stanley; Hughes, Kelly (eds.), Brenner's Encyclopedia of Genetics (Second Edition), San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 44–45, doi:10.1016/b978-0-12-374984-0.00777-4, ISBN 978-0-08-096156-9, retrieved 2023-04-11
  19. ^ "In vitro diagnostics - Global". www.who.int. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  20. ^ Artursson P.; Palm K.; Luthman K. (2001). "Caco-2 monolayers in experimental and theoretical predictions of drug transport". Advanced Drug Delivery Reviews. 46 (1–3): 27–43. doi:10.1016/s0169-409x(00)00128-9. PMID 11259831.
  21. ^ Gargas M.L.; Burgess R.L.; Voisard D.E.; Cason G.H.; Andersen M.E. (1989). "Partition-Coefficients of low-molecular-weight volatile chemicals in various liquids and tissues". Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology. 98 (1): 87–99. Bibcode:1989ToxAP..98...87G. doi:10.1016/0041-008x(89)90137-3. PMID 2929023. S2CID 6928235.
  22. ^ Pelkonen O.; Turpeinen M. (2007). "In vitro-in vivo extrapolation of hepatic clearance: biological tools, scaling factors, model assumptions and correct concentrations". Xenobiotica. 37 (10–11): 1066–1089. doi:10.1080/00498250701620726. PMID 17968737. S2CID 3043750.
  23. ^ Alberts, Bruce (2008). Molecular biology of the cell. New York: Garland Science. ISBN 978-0-8153-4105-5.
  24. ^ "Biological Complexity and Integrative Levels of Organization | Learn Science at Scitable". www.nature.com. Retrieved 2023-04-11.
  25. ^ Vignais, Paulette M.; Pierre Vignais (2010). Discovering Life, Manufacturing Life: How the experimental method shaped life sciences. Berlin: Springer. ISBN 978-90-481-3766-4.
  26. ^ Jacqueline Nairn; Price, Nicholas C. (2009). Exploring proteins: a student's guide to experimental skills and methods. Oxford [Oxfordshire]: Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0-19-920570-7.
  27. ^ "Existing Non-animal Alternatives". AltTox.org. 20 November 2016. Archived from the original on March 13, 2020.
  28. ^ Pound, Pandora; Ritskes-Hoitinga, Merel (2018-11-07). "Is it possible to overcome issues of external validity in preclinical animal research? Why most animal models are bound to fail". Journal of Translational Medicine. 16 (1): 304. doi:10.1186/s12967-018-1678-1. ISSN 1479-5876. PMC 6223056. PMID 30404629.
  29. ^ Zeiss, Caroline J. (December 2021). "Comparative Milestones in Rodent and Human Postnatal Central Nervous System Development". Toxicologic Pathology. 49 (8): 1368–1373. doi:10.1177/01926233211046933. ISSN 0192-6233. PMID 34569375. S2CID 237944066.
  30. ^ Quignot N.; Hamon J.; Bois F. (2014). Extrapolating in vitro results to predict human toxicity, in In Vitro Toxicology Systems, Bal-Price A., Jennings P., Eds, Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology series. New York, US: Springer Science. pp. 531–550.
  31. ^ Rothman, S. S. (2002). Lessons from the living cell: the culture of science and the limits of reductionism. New York: McGraw-Hill. ISBN 0-07-137820-0.
  32. ^ Spielmann, Horst; Goldberg, Alan M. (1999-01-01), Marquardt, Hans; Schäfer, Siegfried G.; McClellan, Roger; Welsch, Frank (eds.), "Chapter 49 - In Vitro Methods", Toxicology, San Diego: Academic Press, pp. 1131–1138, doi:10.1016/b978-012473270-4/50108-5, ISBN 978-0-12-473270-4, retrieved 2023-04-11
  33. ^ De Clercq E (October 2005). "Recent highlights in the development of new antiviral drugs". Curr. Opin. Microbiol. 8 (5): 552–60. doi:10.1016/j.mib.2005.08.010. PMC 7108330. PMID 16125443.
  34. ^ Blum, Jonathan; Masjosthusmann, Stefan; Bartmann, Kristina; Bendt, Farina; Dolde, Xenia; Dönmez, Arif; Förster, Nils; Holzer, Anna-Katharina; Hübenthal, Ulrike; Keßel, Hagen Eike; Kilic, Sadiye; Klose, Jördis; Pahl, Melanie; Stürzl, Lynn-Christin; Mangas, Iris (2023-01-01). "Establishment of a human cell-based in vitro battery to assess developmental neurotoxicity hazard of chemicals". Chemosphere. 311 (Pt 2): 137035. Bibcode:2023Chmsp.31137035B. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.137035. ISSN 0045-6535. PMID 36328314.
  35. ^ OECD (2023-04-14). "OECD work on in vitro assays for developmental neurotoxicity". Retrieved 2023-07-04.
  36. ^ Piersma, A. H.; Bosgra, S.; van Duursen, M. B. M.; Hermsen, S. A. B.; Jonker, L. R. A.; Kroese, E. D.; van der Linden, S. C.; Man, H.; Roelofs, M. J. E.; Schulpen, S. H. W.; Schwarz, M.; Uibel, F.; van Vugt-Lussenburg, B. M. A.; Westerhout, J.; Wolterbeek, A. P. M. (2013-07-01). "Evaluation of an alternative in vitro test battery for detecting reproductive toxicants". Reproductive Toxicology. 38: 53–64. Bibcode:2013RepTx..38...53P. doi:10.1016/j.reprotox.2013.03.002. ISSN 0890-6238. PMID 23511061.
  37. ^ Martin, Melissa M.; Baker, Nancy C.; Boyes, William K.; Carstens, Kelly E.; Culbreth, Megan E.; Gilbert, Mary E.; Harrill, Joshua A.; Nyffeler, Johanna; Padilla, Stephanie; Friedman, Katie Paul; Shafer, Timothy J. (2022-09-01). "An expert-driven literature review of "negative" chemicals for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) in vitro assay evaluation". Neurotoxicology and Teratology. 93: 107117. Bibcode:2022NTxT...9307117M. doi:10.1016/j.ntt.2022.107117. ISSN 0892-0362. OSTI 1981723. PMID 35908584. S2CID 251187782.
  38. ^ Repetto, Guillermo (2013), "Test Batteries in Ecotoxicology", in Férard, Jean-François; Blaise, Christian (eds.), Encyclopedia of Aquatic Ecotoxicology, Dordrecht: Springer Netherlands, pp. 1105–1128, doi:10.1007/978-94-007-5704-2_100, ISBN 978-94-007-5704-2, retrieved 2023-07-04
  39. ^ European Medicines Agency (EMA) (2013-02-11). "ICH S2 (R1) Genotoxicity testing and data interpretation for pharmaceuticals intended for human use - Scientific guideline" (PDF). European Medicines Agency - Science Medicines Health.
  40. ^ Sung, JH; Esch, MB; Shuler, ML (2010). "Integration of in silico and in vitro platforms for pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic modeling". Expert Opinion on Drug Metabolism & Toxicology. 6 (9): 1063–1081. doi:10.1517/17425255.2010.496251. PMID 20540627. S2CID 30583735.
  41. ^ Quignot, Nadia; Bois, Frédéric Yves (2013). "A computational model to predict rat ovarian steroid secretion from in vitro experiments with endocrine disruptors". PLOS ONE. 8 (1): e53891. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...853891Q. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0053891. PMC 3543310. PMID 23326527.
  42. ^ Proença, Susana; Escher, Beate I.; Fischer, Fabian C.; Fisher, Ciarán; Grégoire, Sébastien; Hewitt, Nicky J.; Nicol, Beate; Paini, Alicia; Kramer, Nynke I. (2021-06-01). "Effective exposure of chemicals in in vitro cell systems: A review of chemical distribution models". Toxicology in Vitro. 73: 105133. Bibcode:2021ToxVi..7305133P. doi:10.1016/j.tiv.2021.105133. ISSN 0887-2333. PMID 33662518. S2CID 232122825.
  43. ^ Yoon M, Campbell JL, Andersen ME, Clewell HJ (2012). "Quantitative in vitro to in vivo extrapolation of cell-based toxicity assay results". Critical Reviews in Toxicology. 42 (8): 633–652. doi:10.3109/10408444.2012.692115. PMID 22667820. S2CID 3083574.
  44. ^ Louisse J, de Jong E, van de Sandt JJ, Blaauboer BJ, Woutersen RA, Piersma AH, Rietjens IM, Verwei M (2010). "The use of in vitro toxicity data and physiologically based kinetic modeling to predict dose–response curves for in vivo developmental toxicity of glycol ethers in rat and man". Toxicological Sciences. 118 (2): 470–484. doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfq270. PMID 20833708.
[edit]
  • Media related to In vitro at Wikimedia Commons