Fumonisins: oxidative stress-mediated toxicity and metabolism in vivo and in vitro

Abstract

Fumonisins (FBs) are widespread Fusarium toxins commonly found as corn contaminants. FBs could cause a variety of diseases in animals and humans, such as hepatotoxic, nephrotoxic, hepatocarcinogenic and cytotoxic effects in mammals. To date, almost no review has addressed the toxicity of FBs in relation to oxidative stress and their metabolism. The focus of this article is primarily intended to summarize the progress in research associated with oxidative stress as a plausible mechanism for FB-induced toxicity as well as the metabolism. The present review showed that studies have been carried out over the last three decades to elucidate the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress as a result of FBs treatment and have correlated them with various types of FBs toxicity, indicating that oxidative stress plays critical roles in the toxicity of FBs. The major metabolic pathways of FBs are hydrolysis, acylation and transamination. Ceramide synthase, carboxylesterase FumD and aminotransferase FumI could degrade FB1 and FB2. The cecal microbiota of pigs and alkaline processing such as nixtamalization can also transform FB1 into metabolites. Most of the metabolites of FB1 were less toxic than FB1, except its partial (pHFB1) metabolites. Further understanding of the role of oxidative stress in FB-induced toxicity will throw new light on the use of antioxidants, scavengers of ROS, as well as on the blind spots of metabolism and the metabolizing enzymes of FBs. The present review might contribute to reveal the toxicity of FBs and help to protect against their oxidative damage.

Quantification of mycotoxins in vegetable oil by UPLC-MS/MS after magnetic solid-phase extraction

“…They are produced by F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum, and are commonly found as corn contaminants worldwide. Among all the FBs, the most abundant naturally occurring analogue FB 1 has been classified as possible carcinogenic to humans by the IARC (Bryla et al 2016;Wang et al 2016). Zearalenone is one of the most common Fusarium mycotoxins in the temperate regions of America, Europe and Asia.…”

Highlight report: metabolism and toxicity by fumonisins

“…effects such as hepatotoxicity, nephrotoxicity and cardiotoxicity (Wang et al 2015). Moreover, the IARC has classified fumonisin B 1 as possibly carcinogenic to humans (IARC 2002).…”

“…Perhaps it may be advisable to include fumonisins into these sets of compounds because of their well-documented hepatotoxicity and kidney toxicity in animals, and evidence for human exposure from recent biomonitoring studies (Gerding et al 2015;Riley et al 2015;van der Westhuizen et al 2013). The present review of Wang et al (2015) represents a must-read to anyone interested in mycotoxins. Recently, Wang et al (2015) from Huazhong University in China have published a comprehensive review about metabolism and toxicity of fumonisins.…”

“…The present review of Wang et al (2015) represents a must-read to anyone interested in mycotoxins. Recently, Wang et al (2015) from Huazhong University in China have published a comprehensive review about metabolism and toxicity of fumonisins. Fumonisins are a group of mycotoxins that occur worldwide, mostly in corn (maize) and corn-based products, but have also been found in wheat, rice, wine, black tea, nuts and other food commodities (Logrieco et al 2010;Marín et al 2007;Martins et al 2001;Zimmer et al 2008).…”

“…This spectrum of toxicities necessitates a better understanding of the underlaying mechanisms, not only for an improved risk assessment, but also for developing mechanism-based approaches to counteract the toxic potential of fumonisins. Fumonisins inhibit ceramide synthase leading to disrupted sphingolipid metabolism [references in Wang et al (2015)]. Most recently, disruption of sphingolipid metabolism has been shown to be an apical event in FB 1 -induced autophagic cell death in kidney cells (Yin et al 2015).…”