Aflatoxin exposure is inversely associated with IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels in vitro and in Kenyan schoolchildren

Castelino, Jovita M.; Routledge, Michael N.; Wilson, Shona; Dunne, David W.; Mwatha, Joseph K.; Kimani, Gachuhi; Wild, Christopher P.; Gong, Yun

doi:10.1002/mnfr.201300619

Cited by 50 publications

(50 citation statements)

References 27 publications

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“…It has been suggested that aflatoxin exposure may disrupt the insulin-like growth factors (IGF) pathway through liver toxicity. In the study in Kenya mentioned above 68) AF-alb concentrations were inversely associated with IGF1 levels (P = 0.039) and IGF binding protein 3 levels (P = 0.046). A path analysis showed that lower IGF1 levels explained about 16% of the effect of aflatoxin on child height.…”

Section: Potential Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 80%

“…The children in that study were aged between 6 and 9 years. Another study in Kenyan children (n = 199) aged 6 to 17 years old found a borderline inverse correlation between aflatoxin exposure and child height (P = 0.048) 68) . Taken together these studies highlight that weaning is a critical period for the growth impact of aflatoxin exposure.…”

Section: Exposure Via Weaning Foodmentioning

confidence: 94%

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Aflatoxin Exposure and Associated Human Health Effects, a Review of Epidemiological Studies

2016

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Aflatoxins are fungal toxins that possess acute life threatening toxicity, carcinogenic properties and other potential chronic adverse effects. Dietary exposure to aflatoxins is considered a major public health concern, especially for subsistence farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, where dietary staple food crops such as groundnuts and maize are often highly contaminated with aflatoxin due to hot and humid climates and poor storage, together with low awareness of risk and lack of enforcement of regulatory limits. Biomarkers have been developed and applied in many epidemiological studies assessing aflatoxin exposure and the associated health effects in these high-risk population groups. This review discusses the recent epidemiological evidence for aflatoxin exposure, co-exposure with other mycotoxins and associated health effects in order to provide evidence on risk assessment, and highlight areas where further research is necessary. Aflatoxin exposure can occur at any stage of life and is a major risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma, especially when hepatitis B infection is present. Recent evidence suggests that aflatoxin may be an underlying determinant of stunted child growth, and may lower cell-mediated immunity, thereby increasing disease susceptibility. However, a causal relationship between aflatoxin exposure and these latter adverse health outcomes has not been established, and the biological mechanisms for these have not been elucidated, prompting further research. Furthermore, there is a dearth of information regarding the health effects of co-exposure to aflatoxin with other mycotoxins. Recent developments of biomarkers provide opportunities for important future research in this area.

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Section: Potential Mechanismsmentioning

confidence: 80%

Section: Exposure Via Weaning Foodmentioning

confidence: 94%

Aflatoxin Exposure and Associated Human Health Effects, a Review of Epidemiological Studies

2016

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“…In Kenyan children exposed to AFs in utero, reduced IGF1 mRNA and protein levels were observed (Castelino et al, 2015). In vitro exposure of human hepatocyte cell line 16 (HHL-16) to AFB 1 also significantly decreased IGF1 mRNA and protein expression (Castelino et al, 2015). Furthermore, differential DNA methylation of fibroblast growth factor-12 (FGF12) and insulin growth factor 1 receptor (IGF1R) genes were observed in the white blood cells from Gambian infants whose mothers were exposed to AFs during early pregnancy (Hernandez-Vargas et al, 2015).…”

Section: Aflatoxin Exposure During Pregnancy Intrauterine Growth Resmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…One postulated mechanism by which AF exposure could impact on growth is through interference with the insulinlike growth factor (IGF) axis. In Kenyan children exposed to AFs in utero, reduced IGF1 mRNA and protein levels were observed (Castelino et al, 2015). In vitro exposure of human hepatocyte cell line 16 (HHL-16) to AFB 1 also significantly decreased IGF1 mRNA and protein expression (Castelino et al, 2015).…”

Section: Aflatoxin Exposure During Pregnancy Intrauterine Growth Resmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mycotoxin exposure and adverse reproductive health outcomes in Africa: a review

Eze

Routledge

et al. 2018

WMJ

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It is well established that mycotoxin exposure can have adverse effects on reproductive health resulting to poor reproductive potential. The most studied mycotoxin in relation to poor reproductive health in humans is aflatoxin, although fumonisins, trichothecenes and zearalenone have also been reported to impair reproductive function and cause abnormal foetal development. These potent fungal toxins contaminate many food products making them a prominent agricultural, food safety and public health challenge, especially in Africa due to little or lack of mycotoxin regulation in agricultural products. Neonates can be exposed to aflatoxins in utero, as the toxins pass from mother to the foetus through the placenta. This exposure may continue during breast feeding, to the introduction of weaning foods, and then foods taken by adults. The consequences of aflatoxin exposure in mothers, foetus and children are many, including anaemia in pregnancy, low birth weight, interference with nutrient absorption, suppression of immune function, child growth retardation and abnormal liver function. In males, reports have indicated a possible relationship between aflatoxin exposure and poor sperm quality culminating in infertility. Maternal exposure to fumonisin during early pregnancy has been associated with increased risk of neural tube defects among newborns in regions where maize is the common dietary staple with the possibility of chronic fumonisin exposure. Furthermore, zearalenone has been linked to precocious puberty and premature thelarche in girls, correlating with extremely high serum oestrogen levels. This review presents an overview of the several reports linking aflatoxins, fumonisins, trichothecenes, and zearalenone exposure to poor reproductive health outcomes in Africa, with emphasis on birth outcomes, foetal health and infertility.

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“…Growth faltering makes young children particularly vulnerable to mycotoxins as fetal and early postnatal growth and development appear to be affected and because aflatoxin is known to cross the placental barrier (Castelino et al, 2014;Castelino et al, 2015). Interventions should focus on reducing mold exposures during critical periods of fetal and infant development, particularly for nursing infants having possible contaminated milk (Adejumo et al, 2013).…”

Section: At Risk Populationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities

Joubert

Mantooth²,

McAllister

2020

Front. Genet.

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The World Health Organization in 2016 estimated that over 20% of the global disease burden and deaths were attributed to modifiable environmental factors. However, data clearly characterizing the impact of environmental exposures and health endpoints in African populations is limited. To describe recent progress and identify important research gaps, we reviewed literature on environmental health research in African populations over the last decade, as well as research incorporating both genomic and environmental factors. We queried PubMed for peer-reviewed research articles, reviews, or books examining environmental exposures and health outcomes in human populations in Africa. Searches utilized medical subheading (MeSH) terms for environmental exposure categories listed in the March 2018 US National Report on Human Exposure to Environmental Chemicals, which includes chemicals with worldwide distributions. Our search strategy retrieved 540 relevant publications, with studies evaluating health impacts of ambient air pollution (n=105), indoor air pollution (n = 166), heavy metals (n = 130), pesticides (n = 95), dietary mold (n = 61), indoor mold (n = 9), per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, n = 0), electronic waste (n = 9), environmental phenols (n = 4), flame retardants (n = 8), and phthalates (n = 3), where publications could belong to more than one exposure category. Only 23 publications characterized both environmental and genomic risk factors. Cardiovascular and respiratory health endpoints impacted by air pollution were comparable to observations in other countries. Air pollution exposures unique to Africa and some other resource limited settings were dust and specific occupational exposures. Literature describing harmful health effects of metals, pesticides, and dietary mold represented a context unique to Africa. Studies of exposures to phthalates, PFASs, phenols, and flame retardants were very limited. These results underscore the need for further focus on current and emerging environmental and chemical health risks as well as better integration of genomic and environmental factors in African research studies. Environmental exposures with distinct routes of exposure, unique co-exposures and co-morbidities, combined with the extensive genomic diversity in Africa may lead to the identification of novel mechanisms underlying complex disease and promising potential for translation to global public health.

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Aflatoxin exposure is inversely associated with IGF1 and IGFBP3 levels in vitro and in Kenyan schoolchildren

Cited by 50 publications

References 27 publications

Aflatoxin Exposure and Associated Human Health Effects, a Review of Epidemiological Studies

Aflatoxin Exposure and Associated Human Health Effects, a Review of Epidemiological Studies

Mycotoxin exposure and adverse reproductive health outcomes in Africa: a review

Environmental Health Research in Africa: Important Progress and Promising Opportunities

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