The cytotoxic effect of fumonisin B1 and ochratoxin A on human and pig lymphocytes using the Methyl Thiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) assay

Lymphocytes cell obtained from healthy human donors and pigs were exposed to fumonisin B₁ (FB₁) and ochratoxin A (OTA), which have been found to be immunosuppressive, carcinogenic and mutagenic, to ascertain their single and combined cytotoxic effects with time and to assess the suitability of animal lymphocytes as test agents in comparison to human cells. The main objectives of this work were to assess the use of animal lymphocytes, particularly pig lymphocytes, for their use in the Methyl Thiazol Tetrazolium (MTT) cytotoxicity test, making them more accessible to animal research-based institutes in comparison to human lymphocytes previously used, and to study the cytotoxic and synergism or antagonistic effects of FB1 and OTA. The MTT assay, which measures cell viability and proliferation based on reduction of MTT to a blue dye, also used the addition of phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) to stimulate the blood cells. The results showed a progressive decrease in lymphocytes viability with time of exposure to the toxins. It was also noted that FB1, as compared to OTA, had a lower cytotoxicity on both human and pig lymphocytes cells. In addition, when the two mycotoxins were combined, a synergistic decrease of cell viability in both human and pig lymphocytes was observed, with pig lymphocytes showing a greater sensitivity. This study has shown that the MTT assay can be used for the determination of cytotoxicity of mycotoxins using animal, and in particular pig, lymphocytes, which eliminates the use of human donors and other cell cultures.