Unit Effect-based Analysis and Toxicogenomics

Our tasks

The unit examines the biochemical effects of food ingredients and contaminants. This involves the analysis of the intake, distribution, metabolism and excretion of these substances (toxicokinetics) with the help of cell culture and molecular biological methods as well as classic chemical analytical methods. The further development and validation of cell-based test systems for effect-based analytics is another main task of the unit.

The data are used to assess the risks of food ingredients and contaminants. When doing so, the protective as well as the health-damaging effects for humans are taken into account. In particular substances which are currently the focus of interest in food toxicology, such as botanicals (pyrrolizidine alkaloids), nanomaterials and heat-induced contaminants (3-MCPD fatty acid esters) are examined with regard to their absorption and/or molecular effects.

As so-called “omics” techniques are used here, another area on which the unit focuses is the further development, validation and establishment of innovative methods in the fields of proteomics and transcriptomics. The unit has long years of expertise in the identification and quantification of genetically modified organisms in foods and feeds and is involved in the establishment of standard methods as a member of national and international committees. As the origin and composition of foods and feeds are also examined, the

  • National Reference Laboratory for Animal Proteins in Feeds and the
  • Reference laboratory of the network on genetically modified organisms (GMO)

are also located within the unit.

Research

The unit is actively involved in national and international research projects.

Peer-reviewed publications with participation of the Unit from 2023 (selection)

Eisenreich, A., Monien, B. H., Goetz, M. E., Buhrke, T., Oberemm, A., Schultrich, K., Abraham, K., Braeuning, A. and B. Schaefer. 2023. 3-MCPD as contaminant in processed foods: State of knowledge and remaining challenges. Food Chem 403:134332. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.foodchem.2022.134332

Fritsche, K., Ziková-Kloas, A., Marx-Stoelting, Pshort forphosphorus. and A. Braeuning. 2023. Metabolism-Disrupting Chemicals Affecting the Liver: Screening, Testing, and Molecular Pathway Identification. Int J Mol Sci 24:2686. DOI: External Link:10.3390/ijms24032686

Wuerger, L. T. D., Kudiabor, F., Alarcan, J., Templin, M., Poetz, Oshort foroxygen., Sieg, H. and A. Braeuning. 2023. Okadaic Acid Activates JAK/STAT Signaling to Affect Xenobiotic Metabolism in HepaRG Cells. Cells 12:770. DOI: External Link:10.3390/cells12050770

Varunjikar, M. S., Bøhn, T., Sanden, M., Belghit, I., Pineda-Pampliega, J., Palmblad, M., Broll, H., Braeuning, A. and J. D. Rasinger. 2023. Proteomics analyses of herbicide-tolerant genetically modified, conventionally, and organically farmed soybean seeds. Food Control 151:109795. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.foodcont.2023.109795

Braeuning, A., Balaguer, Pshort forphosphorus., Bourguet, W., Carreras-Puigvert, J., Feiertag, K., Kamstra, J. H., Knapen, D., Lichtenstein, D., Marx-Stoelting, Pshort forphosphorus., Rietdijk, J., Schubert, K., Spjuth, Oshort foroxygen., Stinckens, E., Thedieck, K., van den Boom, R., Vergauwen, L., von Bergen, M., Wewer, N. and D. Zalko. 2023. Development of new approach methods for the identification and characterization of endocrine metabolic disruptors—a PARC project. Front Toxicol 5:1212509. DOI: External Link:10.3389/ftox.2023.1212509

Schmeisser, S., Miccoli, A., von Bergen, M., Berggren, E., Braeuning, A., Busch, W., Desaintes, C., Gourmelon, A., Grafstroem, R., Harrill, J., Hartung, T., Herzler, M., Kass, G., Kleinstreuer, N., Leist, M., Luijten, M., Marx-Stoelting, Pshort forphosphorus., Poetz, Oshort foroxygen., van Ravenzwaay, B., Roggeband, R., Rogiers, V., Roth, A., Sanders, Pshort forphosphorus., Thomas, R. S., Marie Vinggaard, A., Vinken, M., van de Water, B., Luch, A. and T.  Tralau. 2023. New approach methodologies in human regulatory toxicology - Not if, but how and when! Environ Int 178:108082. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108082

Brozova, Z. R., Dusek, J., Palsa, N., Maixnerova, J., Kamaraj, R., Smutna, L., Matous, Pshort forphosphorus., Braeuning, A., Pavek, Pshort forphosphorus., Kunes, J., Gathergood, N., Spulak, M., Pour, M. and A. Carazo. 2023. 2-Substituted quinazolines: Partial agonistic and antagonistic ligands of the constitutive androstane receptor (CAR). Eur J Med Chem 259:115631. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.ejmech.2023.115631

Karpale, M., Kummu, Oshort foroxygen., Karkkainen, Oshort foroxygen., Lehtonen, M., Napankangas, J., Herfurth, U. M., Braeuning, A., Rysa, J. and J. Hakkola. 2023. Pregnane X receptor activation remodels glucose metabolism to promote NAFLD development in obese mice. Mol Metab 76:101779. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.molmet.2023.101779

De Castelbajac, T., Aiello, K., Arenas, C. G., Svingen, T., Ramhøj, L., Zalko, D., Barouki, R., Vanhaecke, T., Rogiers, V., Audebert, M., Oelgeschlaeger, M., Braeuning, A., Blanc, E., Tal, T., Rüegg, J., Fritsche, E., Marx-Stoelting, Pshort forphosphorus. and G. Rivière. 2023. Innovative tools and methods for toxicity testing within PARC work package 5 on hazard assessment. Front Toxicol 5:1216369. DOI: External Link:10.3389/ftox.2023.1216369

Audebert, M., Assmann, A. S., Azqueta, A., Babica, Pshort forphosphorus., Benfenati, E., Bortoli, S., Bouwman, Pshort forphosphorus., Braeuning, A., Burgdorf, T., Coumoul, X., Debizet, K., Dusinska, M., Ertych, N., Fahrer, J., Fetz, V., Le Hegarat, L., Lopez de Cerain, A., Heusinkveld, H. J., Hogeveen, K., Jacobs, M. N., Luijten, M., Raitano, G., Recoules, C., Runden-Pran, E., Saleh, M., Sovadinova, I., Stampar, M., Thibol, L., Tomkiewicz, C., Vettorazzi, A., Van de Water, B., El Yamani, N., Zegura, B. and M. Oelgeschlaeger. 2023. New approach methodologies to facilitate and improve the hazard assessment of non-genotoxic carcinogens-a PARC project. Front Toxicol 5:1220998. DOI: External Link:10.3389/ftox.2023.1220998

Karaca, M., Fritsche, K., Lichtenstein, D., Vural, Oshort foroxygen., Kreuzer, K., Alarcan, J., Braeuning, A., Marx-Stoelting, Pshort forphosphorus. and T. Tralau. 2023. Adverse outcome pathway-based analysis of liver steatosis in vitro using human liver cell lines. STAR Protoc 4:102500. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.xpro.2023.102500

Paul, M. B., Boehmert, L., Hsiao, I. L., Braeuning, A. and H. Sieg. 2023. Complex intestinal and hepatic in vitro barrier models reveal information on uptake and impact of micro-, submicro- and nanoplastics. Environ Int 179:108172. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.envint.2023.108172

Wuerger, L. T. D., Birkholz, G., Oberemm, A., Sieg, H. and A. Braeuning. 2023. Proteomic analysis of hepatic effects of okadaic acid in HepaRG human liver cells. EXCLI Journal 22:1135-1145. DOI: External Link:10.17179/excli2023-6458

Sadrabadi, F., Alarcan, J., Sprenger, H., Braeuning, A. and T. Buhrke. 2023. Impact of perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and PFAS mixtures on lipid metabolism in differentiated HepaRG cells as a model for human hepatocytes. Arch Toxicol in press DOI: External Link:10.1007/s00204-023-03649-3

Vink, M. J. A., Alarcan, J., Martens, J., Buma, W. J., Braeuning, A., Berden, G. and J. Oomens. 2023. Structural Elucidation of Agrochemical Metabolic Transformation Products Based on Infrared Ion Spectroscopy to Improve In Silico Toxicity Assessment. Chem Res Toxicol in press DOI: External Link:10.1021/acs.chemrestox.3c00316

Blaschke, V., Berten, A., Sprenger, H., Zagon, J. and Winkel, M. (2023). Filling Analytical Gaps in Allergen Detection?Real-Time PCR for the Detection of Commercially Relevant Cephalopods and Gastropods in Food. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry 71(31): 12029-12042. DOI: External Link:10.1021/acs.jafc.2c08966

Blaschke, V. M., Tran, T. U., Naneh, M., Zagon, J. and Winkel, M. (2023). An improved duplex real-time PCR method for the systematic detection of commercially relevant crustaceans in food. Food Control 146:109517. DOI: External Link:10.1016/j.foodcont.2022.109517

Delgado, L., Garino, C., Moreno, F. J., Zagon, J. and Broll, H. (2023). Sustainable Food Systems: EU Regulatory Framework and Contribution of Insects to the Farm-To-Fork Strategy. Food Reviews International 39(9): 6955-6976. DOI: External Link:10.1080/87559129.2022.2130354

Stobernack, T., Zarske, M., Niedzwiecka, A., Zagon, J., Steinhilber, A., Poetz, Oshort foroxygen. and Herfurth, U. M. (2023). LC-MS-based detection of silkworm pupae in feed with and without prior immunoaffinity enrichment. Journal of Insects as Food and Feed 9(4): 463-474. DOI: External Link:10.3920/JIFF2022.0098

Paul, M. B., Schlief, M., Daher, H., Braeuning, A., Sieg, H. and Böhmert, L. (2023). A human Caco-2-based co-culture model of the inflamed intestinal mucosa for particle toxicity studies. In vitro models 2(1): 43-64. DOI: External Link:https://doi.org/10.1007/s44164-023-00047-y

Further information

Contact

Prof Dr Albert Braeuning BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment Administrator BfRshort forGerman Federal Institute for Risk Assessment-Commission - Genetically Modified Food and Feed E-mail: 51@bfr.bund.de

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