Metabolic Disruption by Naturally Occurring Mycotoxins in Circulation: A Focus on Vascular and Bone Homeostasis Dysfunction

Abstract

Naturally occurring food/feed contaminants have become a significant global issue due to animal and human health implications. Despite risk assessments and legislation setpoints on the mycotoxins' levels, exposure to lower amounts occurs, and it might affect cell homeostasis. However, the inflammatory consequences of this possible everyday exposure to toxins on the vascular microenvironment and arterial dysfunction are unexplored in detail. Circulation is the most accessible path for food-borne toxins, and the consequent metabolic and immune shifts affect systemic health, both on vascular apparatus and bone homeostasis. Their oxidative nature makes mycotoxins a plausible underlying source of low-level toxicity in the bone marrow microenvironment and arterial dysfunction. Mycotoxins could also influence the function of cardiomyocytes with possible injury to the heart. Co-occurrence of mycotoxins can modulate the metabolic pathways favoring osteoblast dysfunction and bone health losses. This review provides a novel insight into understanding the complex events of coexposure to mixed (low levels) mycotoxicosis and subsequent metabolic/immune disruptions contributing to chronic alterations in circulation.

Indicators of Immunity in Associated Mycotoxicosis of Cows

“…The use of an immunomodulator based on recombinant α-and g-interferons (experimental Group 4) gave the best result. The increase in the bactericidal activity of the blood was caused by the immune system stimulation, based on an increase in the formation of cytokines and blocking of lymphocyte receptors, which is confirmed by the results of studies by Malvandi et al (2022).…”

Aflatoxin B1 Impairs Bone Mineralization in Broiler Chickens

“…AFB1 has been shown to bind to the VDR, a protein that acts as the receptor for vitamin D [ 22 ]. This competitive binding effectively blocks vitamin D from interacting with the VDR, hindering its ability to maintain calcium and phosphorus homeostasis [ 23 ]. Chronic exposure to AFB1 can also lead to a decrease in the expression of VDR itself.…”

“…The liver damage, production of reactive oxygen species and interference with cellular processes caused by aflatoxicosis might intensify bone health issues in modern broilers. Recent human and animal studies have revealed new insights into the bone disorders caused by aflatoxicosis, where AFB1 interferes with the expression and function of the vitamin D receptor (VDR), affecting the metabolism of vitamin D2 and D3 into 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-OH) and 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25-OHD), resulting in decreased bone quality [ 21 , 22 , 23 ].…”

A complementary method with PFBBr-derivatization based on a GC-EI-MS platform for the simultaneous quantitation of short-, medium- and long-chain fatty acids in murine plasma and feces samples

“…51,52 It was found that mycotoxins can disrupt lipid metabolism by affecting the expression of key genes and enzymes involved in lipid synthesis, oxidation, and transport. 53 Additionally, mycotoxins can induce inammation and oxidative stress, further contributing to lipid dysregulation. 54 Herein, we quantitatively determined 44 FAs in the feces and plasma of DON exposure mice by the validated GC-MS/MS method.…”