AltTox Digest Trouble with links or images? View this message.   AltTox Digest July 2009       Feature Story NAS Holds Workshop on Epigenetic Mechanisms The National Academy of Sciences held a workshop on July 30-31 to evaluate the state of the science of epigenetics, with particular attention to understanding whether it is a significant contributor to a number of human diseases. Epigenetics refers to changes that occur in the gene expression that are not attributable to changes in DNA sequence. The best known epigenetic changes are those that occur during development; while each cell contains the same complement of DNA, genes become silenced as cells become differentiated. This silencing is generally life-long and in some instances can be transmitted to the next generation. Newer evidence indicates that epigenetic changes are important in some forms of cancer, and there are even some therapies that rely on manipulation of epigenetics. Epigenetic mechanisms may also be at play in the etiology of some adult diseases that are of developmental origin. The molecular mechanisms for epigenetic changes involve the modification of DNA by methylation, and the acetylation of histones. While it is clear that epigenetics are an important developmental mechanism, there are many uncertainties about the extent to which epigenetic changes are responsible for diseases, or even which epigenetic mechanisms are susceptible to environmental influences. This lack of information makes it difficult for regulatory agencies to make decisions about how to evaluate the potential for chemicals and drugs to cause disease by epigenetic mechanisms. There was much discussion at the workshop about whether existing animal studies are indirectly testing for epigenetic effects, and on how to screen large numbers of chemicals for epigenetic effects. The most promising alternative methods would use stem cells, as these undergo epigenetic changes as they differentiate. However, the details on setting up such assays, let alone their interpretation, remain to be worked out. 7th World Congress Pre-Registration Deadline Reminder The deadline for pre-registration to the 7th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences is August 18. After this date, it will be possible to register only on site. This meeting will take place in Rome, Italy, August 30-September 3, 2009. To register, please click here. Thank You to our Sponsors!                             New on AltTox Forum Postings Some of the recent posts on the AltTox forums include the following: Toxicity Endpoints & Tests forum ICCVAM-NICEATM Report on Ocular Safety Testing Methods now available 2009 snapshot of European Union-funded 3Rs activities Emerging Technologies forum Environmental Toxicity Prediction Challenge Marine toxins testing - Biosensors as an alternative to mouse assays Training Courses for Use of the OECD QSAR Application Toolbox Oct 2009 Programs & Policies forum JSAAE Annual Meeting November 2009 EPAA Annual Conference 2009: Dissemination of 3Rs information Open Call: New members for ECVAM scientific advisory committee (ESAC) sought Overarching Challenges & Opportunities forum NC3Rs awards £4.5 million for projects on animal testing alternatives Nanotechnology: Applying the 3Rs to risk assessment New commentary on Toxicology in the 21st Century Be sure to visit the forums, respond to previous postings, or start a new message thread. Enter Forums >> New and Updated Information The AltTox.org Management Team and Editorial Board strive to give readers the most up-to-date summary information related to non-animal methods of toxicity testing. Check out our latest material: In the Spotlight Implementation of the NICEATM-ICCVAM Five-Year Plan The Way Forward Way Forward Essay on Current and Future State of Developmental Toxicology Assays by Karen Augustine-Rauch, Cindy Z. Zhang, and Julie Panzica-Kelly Toxicity Testing Resource Center Neurotoxicity Informational Resources Meetings & Events Upcoming Events Here are some of the many upcoming events listed on AltTox that may be of interest to the AltTox community: Engineering Cell Biology III, August 9-12, 2009, Santa Cruz, California, US 5th International Workshop on Genotoxicity Testing, August 17-19, 2009, Basel, Switzerland X2009 Sixth International Conference on Innovations in Exposure Assessment, August 17-20, 2009, Boston, Massachusetts, US 10th International Conference on Environmental Mutagens (ICEM)/39th Annual Meeting of the European Environmental Mutagen Society (EEMS)/18th Annual Meeting of the Italian Environmental Mutagen Society (SIMA), August 20-25, 2009, Firenze, Italy 8th International Comet Assay Workshop, August 27-30, 2009, Perugia, Italy Genomics in Cancer Risk Assessment, August 27-28, 2009, Venice, Italy Symposium: From tissue engineering to alternatives: research, discovery and development, August 30, 2009, Rome, Italy 7th World Congress on Alternatives & Animal Use in the Life Sciences, August 30-September 3, 2009, Rome, Italy More Events >> User Participation We welcome your participation in the AltTox forums, as well as your comments and suggestions, which can be submitted by using the online Website Feedback survey, or by e-mailing info@alttox.org. 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