Effects of the Fusarium toxin zearalenone and/or deoxynivalenol on the serum IL-1, IL-4, and C3 levels in mice

Enhanced Competitive Immunomagnetic Beads Assay Assisted with PAMAM-Gold Nanoparticles Multi-Enzyme Probes for Detection of Deoxynivalenol

Contamination of deoxynivalenol (DON) in grains has attracted widespread concern. It is urgently needed to develop a highly sensitive and robust assay for DON high-throughput screening. Antibody against DON was assembled on the surface of immunomagnetic beads orientationally by the aid of Protein G. AuNPs were obtained under the scaffolding of poly(amidoamine) dendrimer (PAMAM). DON-horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was combined on the periphery of AuNPs/PAMAM by a covalent link to develop DON-HRP/AuNPs/PAMAM. Magnetic immunoassay based on DON-HRP/AuNPs/PAMAM was optimized and that based on DON-HRP/AuNPs and DON-HRP was adopted as comparison. The limits of detection (LODs) were 0.447 ng/mL, 0.127 ng/mL and 0.035 ng/mL for magnetic immunoassays based on DON-HRP, DON-HRP/Au and DON-HRP/Au/PAMAM, respectively. Magnetic immunoassay based on DON-HRP/AuNPs/PAMAM displayed higher specificity towards DON and was utilized to analyze grain samples. The recovery for the spiked DON in grain samples was 90.8-116.2% and the method presented a good correlation with UPLC/MS. It was found that the concentration of DON was in the range of ND-3.76 ng/mL. This method allows the integration of dendrimer-inorganic NPs with signal amplification properties for applications in food safety analysis.

Dihydroartemisinin alleviates deoxynivalenol induced liver apoptosis and inflammation in piglets

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the mycotoxins that contaminate cereals and feed, thereby endangering human and animal health. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA), a derivative of artemisinin, has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions in addition to anti-malaria and anti-cancer. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of DHA on alleviating liver apoptosis and inflammation induced by DON in piglets. The experimental design followed a 2 (normal diet and DON-contaminated diet) × 2 (with and without supplementation of DHA) factorial arrangement. 36 weaned piglets were subjected to a 21-day experiment. Results showed that DON increased ALT activity, the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2, and reduced the levels of total protein (TP) and albumin (ALB) in the serum. However, DHA decreased the levels of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-2, and increased the levels of TP and ALB. Also, DON decreased glutathione (GSH) content and catalase (CAT) activity, and increased methane dicarboxylic aldehyde (MDA) content. But GSH content was increased by DHA. In addition, DHA decreased DON-induced increase in apoptosis rate of hepatocytes. Furthermore, DON activated death receptor pathway to promote apoptosis by up-regulating the protein expression of FasL and caspase-3, and the mRNA expression of FasL, TNFR1, caspase-8, Bid, Bax, CYC and caspase-3. However, DHA reduced caspase-3 protein expression, as well as the mRNA expression of FADD, Bid, Bax, CYC and caspase-3. Besides, DON also activated TNF/NF-κB pathway to induce an inflammatory response by up-regulating TNF-α protein expression, and the mRNA expression of TNFR1, RIP1, IKKβ, IκBα, IL-1β and IL-8. Nevertheless, DHA reduced the mRNA expression of RIP1, IκBα, NF-κB, IL-1β and IL-6, and the protein expression of TNF-α and NF-κB. In conclusion, DHA improved DON-induced negative effects on serum biochemical parameters and inflammatory cytokine levels, hepatic antioxidant capacity, hepatic apoptosis and inflammation.

Research Progress on the Toxic Antagonism of Selenium Against Mycotoxins

Animal feed is prone to becoming infected with molds during production and storage, resulting in secondary metabolite mycotoxins, such as aflatoxin B₁ (AFB₁), T-2 toxins, deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxin A (OTA), which are harmful to humans and animals. Selenium is an essential trace element for humans and animals, and it is also an effective antioxidant. Many studies have shown that selenium can reduce the damage caused by mycotoxins in animals. This article reviews the current literature on the antagonistic effects of selenium on AFB₁, T-2, DON, and OTA toxicity.

Changes in the Subpopulations of Porcine Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes Induced by Exposure to Low Doses of Zearalenone (ZEN) and Deoxynivalenol (DON)

Zearalenone and deoxynivalenol are secondary metabolites of fungi of the genus Fusarium. The presence of mycotoxins in cereals and the resulting contamination of feeds and foods pose health risks for animals and humans. The dangers associated with high doses of mycotoxins have been extensively researched but very little is known about NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) doses or exposure to a combination of mycotoxins (mixed mycotoxicoses). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six-week exposure to NOAEL doses of individual and combined mycotoxins on the subpopulations of CD4⁺8(-), CD4(-)8⁺ and CD4⁺8⁺ lymphocytes in the peripheral blood of pigs. The experiment was performed on 72 gilts with average body weight of 25 kg, divided into three experimental groups (E1, E2 and E3, administered zearalenone (ZEN), deoxynivalenol (DON) and ZEN + DON, respectively, on a daily basis) and a control group (C) receiving placebo. Changes in lymphocyte subpopulations were evaluated by flow cytometry at weekly intervals (experimental days 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42). A linear increase in the percentage of CD4⁺8⁺ lymphocytes was highly correlated with time (r = 0.682) in group C. The correlations and linear increase in the above subpopulation were disrupted in the remaining groups. In group E3, a statistically significant (p < 0.05) decrease in CD4⁺8⁺ counts was observed in week 5, which could point to a transient depletion of regulatory mechanisms of immune responses. The noted results also suggest that in mixed mycotoxicosis, ZEN and DON exerted stronger immunomodulatory effects.