Antibody producing ability of mouse spleen cells after subacute dietary exposure to T-2 toxin

The effects of T-2 toxin on the antibody producing ability of CD-1 mice after dietary exposure to 0, 2.5, 5 and 15 ppm of T-2 toxin for 29 days was studied. The antibody response against sheep red blood cells, a T-lymphocyte and macrophage-dependent response was suppressed at 2.5, 5 and 15 ppm of T-2 toxin exposure. In contrast, the antibody responses against dinitrophenyl-aminoethylcarbamylmethyl - Ficoll (DNP - Ficoll), a T-lymphocyte independent macrophage-dependent response, and Escherichia coli 0127 (LPS), a T-lymphocyte and macrophage-independent response, were not affected. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of T-2 toxin on antibody-producing ability after subacute dietary exposure appear to be a direct affect on T-lymphocyte function, possibly involving the T-helper lymphocytes.