Immune effects of four Fusarium-Toxins ( FB1, ZEA, NIV, DON) on the proliferation of Jurkat cells and porcine lymphocytes: in vitro study.

Fusarium toxins are secondary metabolites produced by fungi belonging to Fusarium spp., commonly found as contaminants in products of vegetable origin, particularly in cereal grains, in regions with temperate climate in Europe, America and Asia. Numerous toxic effects are attributed to mycotoxins both in humans and animals, such as mutagenic, cencerogenic and teratogenic properties. Moreover, some of them can alter normal immune responses when they are present in food at levels lower than those necessary to cause the symptoms of mycotoxicosis. In the present work, we evaluated the immunomodulatory effects of four Fusarium toxins (FB1, ZEA, NIV, DON) using two different experimental models: Jurkat cells and porcine lymphocytes. In addition to the activity of single mycotoxins, we evaluated possible interactions between Fusarium toxins to reproduce experimental conditions in vitro as near as possible to field conditions. Our results revealed the immunomodulatory properties of the mycotoxin objects of the current study. They also underline the interest in studying possible interactions among different mycotoxins, particularly among those mainly present in food such as Fusarium mycotoxins, not only regarding their toxicodinamic aspect but also to define tolerable maximum levels of Fusarium toxins in food.