The Center for Alternatives to Animal Testing is an academic center affiliated with the Division of Toxicological Sciences in the Department of Environmental Health Sciences of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

 

Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

Research Grants 1983-1984

Determination of Photosensitivity by an In Vitro Assay as an Alternative to Animal Testing

John A. Parrish, MD
Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts

Problem

The researcher proposes to develop an in vitro test which predicts the photosensitizing potential (PSP) of chemicals. The assay involves the exposure of human leukocytes and transformed T-lymphoblastoid cells, mostly lymphocytes, to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in the presence of chemicals. Measurement of specific cellular function shows an excellent correlation with reported photosensitizing capacity of chemicals in humans.

Impact of the Research

The major aim of this proposal is to determine the usefulness of the assay as a screening test for compounds with which humans come into contact.

It will provide quantitative results for comparison of the PSP of various chemicals in easily obtainable human cells.