Fumonisins alone or mixed with other fusariotoxins increase the C22–24:C16 sphingolipid ratios in chickens and ducks, while deoxynivalenol and zearalenone have no effect

Abstract

Background The inhibitory effect of fumonisins on ceramide synthases results in several effects on the sphingolipidome, and recent results in chickens suggest that the C22–24:C16 sphingolipid ratios may be complementary biomarkers to Sa:So. Feeding diets containing fumonisins, deoxynivalenol, or zearalenone alone or in combination up to the maximum levels recommended by the European Commission for 35 days in chickens and 12 days in ducks resulted in no effects on performance or toxicity. The aim of this study was to investigate their effects on the liver sphingolipidome. Results Sphingolipids were characterised by UHPLC-MSMS. Numerous significant effects of fusariotoxins on sphingolipids were observed at the class and analyte levels. Fusariotoxins alone decreased sphingolipids in chickens but had weak effects in ducks. Feeding fumonisins in combination with deoxynivalenol and zearalenone increased sphingolipid levels in chickens but not in ducks. These increases were mainly due to an increase in C22–24 sphingolipids, whereas C16 sphingolipids decreased. The Sa:So ratio and the C22–24:C16 ratio for ceramides, sphingomyelins, monohexosylceramides, dihydroceramides, and dihydrosphingomyelins were unaffected in chickens and ducks fed the diets containing deoxynivalenol or zearalenone but increased in animals fed the fumonisin diets. Interestingly, while the effects of feeding fumonisins alone or in combination on the total amount of sphingolipids differed in chickens, the Sa:So and C22-24:C16 ratios were similar. Partial least squares-discriminant analysis of sphingolipids did not allow discrimination of the animals exposed to deoxynivalenol or zearalenone from the unexposed animals. By contrast, good discrimination of the animals fed the diets containing fumonisins was achieved. Sphinganine, d20 sphinganine, a large number of C16 sphingolipids, and dihydrosphingomyelins for which the fatty acid contains more than 18 carbon atoms, were important variables in the models obtained in chickens and ducks. Conclusions The C22–24:C16 ratios of sphingolipids are increased in chickens and ducks by intake of fumonisins but not deoxynivalenol or zearalenone. The increases were similar when fumonisins were fed alone or in combination with deoxynivalenol or zearalenone. The increase in the C22–24:C16 ratio may be an important factor in explaining the interspecies differences in sensitivity to fumonisin toxicity.