Update on the Development of Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) for Immunotoxicity and Its Application

Abstract

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is developing a framework for assessing the safety of chemicals based on adverse outcome pathways (AOPs). Such AOPs are expected to serve as the theoretical basis for creating integrated approaches to testing and assessment, which combine test results and information on specific toxicity endpoints to guide the safety assessment. In the midst of this international movement, Japan is actively promoting the development of AOPs for immunotoxicity and in vitro assays. After providing an overview of the basic concepts of AOPs, this paper first discusses the development of AOPs for immunotoxicity by Japan and then discusses skin sensitization as an example of how AOPs have become the theoretical basis for OECD test guidelines.