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Cytotoxicity of Mycotoxins and Their Combinations on Different Cell Lines: A Review
Paweł Skrzydlewski1, Magdalena Twarużek1, Jan Grajewski1
1Department of Physiology and Toxicology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Kazimierz Wielki University, 85-064 Bydgoszcz, Poland.
Abstract:
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of molds and mainly produced by species of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium and Fusarium. They can be synthesized on the field, during harvest as well as during storage. They are fairly stable compounds and difficult to remove. Among several hundreds of mycotoxins, according to the WHO, ochratoxin A, aflatoxins, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, patulin, fumonisins as well as T-2 and HT-2 toxins deserve special attention. Cytotoxicity is one of the most important adverse properties of mycotoxins and is generally assessed via the MTT assay, the neutral red assay, the LDH assay, the CCK-8 assay and the ATP test in different cell lines. The apoptotic cell ratio is mainly assessed via flow cytometry. Aside from the assessment of the toxicity of individual mycotoxins, it is important to determine the cytotoxicity of mycotoxin combinations. Such combinations often exhibit stronger cytotoxicity than individual mycotoxins. The cytotoxicity of different mycotoxins often depends on the cell line used in the experiment and is frequently time- and dose-dependent. A major drawback of assessing mycotoxin cytotoxicity in cell lines is the lack of interaction typical for complex organisms (for example, immune responses).
Insights
Mycotoxins, toxic mold byproducts, can contaminate food during growth, harvest, or storage. Their cytotoxicity is assessed in cell lines, but these models lack complex organism interactions like immune responses.
Area of Science:
- Food safety and toxicology
- Mycology and microbial metabolites
Background:
- Mycotoxins are toxic secondary metabolites produced by molds like Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Fusarium.
- These stable compounds can form during field growth, harvest, or storage, posing significant food contamination risks.
- Key mycotoxins of concern include aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, patulin, fumonisins, and T-2/HT-2 toxins.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review methods for assessing mycotoxin cytotoxicity.
- To highlight the importance of evaluating mycotoxin combinations.
- To discuss limitations of current in vitro cytotoxicity assessment models.
Main Methods:
- Cytotoxicity is commonly evaluated using assays like MTT, neutral red, LDH, CCK-8, and ATP tests in various cell lines.
- Apoptotic cell ratios are typically measured via flow cytometry.
- Studies assess both individual mycotoxin toxicity and the combined effects of mycotoxin mixtures.
Main Results:
- Mycotoxin cytotoxicity is cell line-dependent and exhibits time- and dose-dependent effects.
- Mycotoxin combinations frequently display enhanced cytotoxicity compared to individual toxins.
- In vitro cell line models do not fully replicate the complex interactions found in whole organisms, such as immune responses.
Conclusions:
- Current cell-based assays provide valuable insights into mycotoxin cytotoxicity but have limitations.
- Understanding the combined effects of mycotoxins is crucial for accurate risk assessment.
- Future research should consider more complex models to better represent in vivo toxicological outcomes.
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