Functional impairment of rat Kupffer cells induced by aflatoxin B1 and its metabolites |
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| Authors: | V. Cusumano G.B. Costa R. Trifiletti R.A. Merendino G. Mancuso |
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| Affiliation: | Institute of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Messina, Messina, Italy |
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| Abstract: | Abstract Contamination of food with mycotoxins is a major health problem. Impairment of several immune functions has been repeatedly reported in animals fed with contaminated fodder. Since the liver is a major target of toxicity by aflatoxins, the effects of aflatoxins B1, and its hepatic metabolites Q1 and M1 on Kupffer cell function was investigated in vitro. Aflatoxin B1 induced significant ( P < 0.05) inhibition of phagocytosis, intracellular killing of Candida albicans , and intrinsic anti-Herpes virus activity at concentrations as low as 0.01 pg ml−1. Aflatoxin Q1 and M1 had similar effects on phagocytosis and microbicidal activity, but were two- to ten-fold less potent than aflatoxin B1. |
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| Keywords: | Aflatoxin Mycotoxin Kupffer cells Phagocytosis Macrophage |
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