Comparative acute and combinative toxicity of aflatoxin B1 and T-2 toxin in animals and immortalized human cell lines

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and T-2 toxin (T-2) are important food-borne mycotoxins that have been implicated in human health and as potential biochemical weapons threats. In this study the acute and combinative toxicity of AFB1 and T-2 were tested in F-344 rats, mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis), immortalized human hepatoma cells (HepG2) and human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). Preliminary experiments were conducted in order to assess the acute toxicity and to obtain LD50, LC50 and IC50 values for individual toxins in each model, respectively. This was followed by testing combinations of AFB1 and T-2 to obtain LD50, LC50 and IC50 values for the combination in each model. All models demonstrated a significant dose response in the observed parameters to treatment. The potency of the mixture was gauged through the determination of the interaction index metric. The results of this study demonstrate that these two toxins interacted to produce alterations in the toxic responses generally classifiable as additive; however, a synergistic interaction was noted in the case of BEAS-2B. It can be gathered that this combination may pose a significant threat to public health and further research needs to be completed addressing alterations in metabolism and detoxification that may influence the toxic manifestations in combination.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, and their combination in cultured Vero cells

“…The cytotoxicity of both AFB1 and OTA has been investigated in some in vitro systems especially hepatic cells (HepG2). Different IC 50 values were obtained and proved the cytotoxicity of both AFB1 and OTA [38][39][40].…”

Secondary metabolites from species of the biocontrol agent Trichoderma

“…T-2 toxin (98) was produced from a T. lignorum strain isolated from moldy corn (Bamburg and Strong 1969). It is a potent mycotoxin with an important bearing on human health (McKean et al 2006). In addition, a culture of T. harzianum was found in 1994 to produce harzianum A (102) (Corley et al 1994).…”

Individual and combined cytotoxic effects of Fusarium toxins (deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone and fumonisins B1) on swine jejunal epithelial cells

“…Because of the natural co-occurrence of these mycotoxins in food and globalization of food markets (McKean et al, 2006), there is an increasing concern about the health hazard of exposure of mycotoxin mixtures in human and animals. During the last decades, the Scientific Committee on Food from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA; Directorate General for Consumers) has expressed scientific opinions on some commonly occurring Fusarium toxins, their occurrence in food and assessment of dietary intakes by the population of European Union (EU) member states and are publically available (http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/chemicalsafety/contaminants/fusarium_en.htm) (EFSA, 2008).…”