The HUPO Toxicoproteomics interest group (HTP) is an international interdisciplinary initiative focusing on toxicological mechanisms, drug-induced organ injury and the indirect detection of such events in body fluids (safety biomarkers). Toxicoproteomics can be defined as addressing and identifying toxicological effects on the global protein level.

There is growing interest in pharmacologically and toxicologically relevant events called drug-drug interaction processes. Here, endo- and exogenous substances (xenobiotics) lead to the over-expression of Phase I, II and/or III proteins, which leads to faster transformation rates, thereby lowering the bioavailability of other drugs. Another, critical issue of such processes can occur during the activation process of molecules by phase I enzymes. Usually those molecules are oxidized to reactive molecules like e.g. chinons or epoxides and then become substrates of phase II enzymes. During this metabolic chain such reactive molecules can damage proteins and as a consequence cellular processes. Finally, such events can cause liver damage, which results in leakage of liver proteins into the blood stream. This can also occur in other tissues and organs. Such proteins are of interest as safety biomarkers for the detection of drug-induced liver, kidney or cardiovascular injuries. 

Current lines of work:

Leadership:

Oliver Poetz, Chair

Lekha Sleno, Co-Chair