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Açar Y, Akbulut G. Evaluation of Aflatoxins Occurrence and Exposure in Cereal-Based Baby Foods: An Update Review. Curr Nutr Rep 2024; 13:59-68. [PMID: 38282161 PMCID: PMC10923960 DOI: 10.1007/s13668-024-00519-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The first stages of human life, which include the fetal period, infancy, and early childhood, are the most critical for human growth and development. This is the most vulnerable phase to health challenges due to the immature immune system and rapid development. Mycotoxins such as aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, patulin, fumonisins, zearalenone, and deoxynivalenol are secondary metabolites secreted by various fungal species, primarily Aspergillus, Fusarium, Penicillium, and Alternaria. Aflatoxins are one of the major mycotoxins produced in cereals and cereal-based foods by several species of Aspergillus, mainly Aspergillus flavus. In this context, this review provides a brief overview of the occurrence, exposure, legal regulations, and health effects of aflatoxins (B1, B2, G1, G2, and M1) in cereal-based baby foods and breast milk. RECENT FINDINGS Human aflatoxin exposure in utero and through breast milk, infant formulas, cereals, and cereal-based foods has been linked to various health consequences, including adverse birth outcomes, impaired growth and development, immune system suppression, and hepatic dysfunction. Recent evidence suggests that especially infants and children are more susceptible to aflatoxins due to their lower body weight, lowered capacity to detoxify harmful substances, more restrictive diet, immature metabolism and elimination, and faster rates of growth and development. It is essential for both food safety and infant and child health that aflatoxins in cereal and cereal-based products are precisely detected, detoxified, and managed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasemin Açar
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
| | - Gamze Akbulut
- Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, Istanbul Kent University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Sun J, Ning X, Cui L, Qin W, Wang W, He S. Sensitive detection of aflatoxin B1 in foods by aptasensing-based qPCR. Food Chem 2024; 432:137240. [PMID: 37639887 DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
In this study, a reproductive switch DNA template was designed using aptasensing principles for the accurate quantification of aflatoxins. The template transformed the aflatoxin molecule into linear DNA of 102 nt. The linear DNA was subjected to a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to determine its initial copy number, which was positively correlated with the aflatoxin concentration. Using aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) as a model, the established method could quantify AFB1 within the range of 10-16-10-11 Mol/mL (detection limit equals 0.03 pg/mL), with a linear correlation coefficient R2 of 0.974. Good anti-interference abilities against common food ingredients and high specificity towards other mycotoxins were demonstrated. The established method was successfully applied for the quantification of AFB1 in complex foods such as soy sauce, milk, yellow wine, and peanut butter. The design of a reproductive switch template introduces a novel approach for the sensitive detection of small-molecule toxicants in foods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China
| | - Xueping Ning
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China
| | - Lanyu Cui
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China
| | - Wenhui Qin
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China
| | - Wenxu Wang
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China
| | - Shengbin He
- Key Laboratory of Longevity and Aging-related Diseases of Chinese Ministry of Education, Guangxi Colleges and Universities Key Laboratory of Biological Molecular Medicine Research, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, Guangxi 530021, PR China.
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Adedara IA, Atanda OE, Sant'Anna Monteiro C, Rosemberg DB, Aschner M, Farombi EO, Rocha JBT, Furian AF, Emanuelli T. Cellular and molecular mechanisms of aflatoxin B 1-mediated neurotoxicity: The therapeutic role of natural bioactive compounds. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116869. [PMID: 37567382 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116869] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/05/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/13/2023]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a dietary toxin from the mold Aspergillus species, is well acknowledged to elicit extra-hepatic toxicity in both animals and humans. The neurotoxicity of AFB1 has become a global public health concern. Contemporary research on how AFB1 enters the brain to elicit neuronal dysregulation leading to noxious neurological outcomes has increased greatly in recent years. The current review discusses several neurotoxic outcomes and susceptible targets of AFB1 toxicity at cellular, molecular and genetic levels. Specifically, neurotoxicity studies involving the use of brain homogenates, neuroblastoma cell line IMR-32, human brain microvascular endothelial cells, microglial cells, and astrocytes, as well as mammalian and non-mammalian models to unravel the mechanisms associated with AFB1 exposure are highlighted. Further, some naturally occurring bioactive compounds with compelling therapeutic effects on AFB1-induced neurotoxicity are reviewed. In conclusion, available data from literature highlight AFB1 as a neurotoxin and its possible pathological contribution to neurological disorders. Further mechanistic studies aimed at discovering and developing effective therapeutics for AFB1 neurotoxicity is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Isaac A Adedara
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil; Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria.
| | - Oluwadarasimi E Atanda
- Human Toxicology Program, Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, 52242, USA
| | - Camila Sant'Anna Monteiro
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Denis B Rosemberg
- Laboratory of Experimental Neuropsychobiology, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Michael Aschner
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology; Albert Einstein College of Medicine Forchheimer 209; 1300 Morris Park Avenue, Bronx, NY 10461, USA
| | - Ebenezer O Farombi
- Drug Metabolism and Toxicology Research Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry, College of Medicine, University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria
| | - Joao B T Rocha
- Department of Biochemical and Molecular Biology, Federal University of Santa Maria, 97105-900, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Ana Flávia Furian
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Tatiana Emanuelli
- Department of Food Science and Technology, Center of Rural Sciences, Federal University of Santa Maria, Camobi, 97105-900 Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
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Zhou Z, Luo D, Li M, Lao G, Zhou Z, Dinnyés A, Xu W, Sun Q. A Novel Multicellular Placental Barrier Model to Investigate the Effect of Maternal Aflatoxin B 1 Exposure on Fetal-Side Neural Stem Cells. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15050312. [PMID: 37235346 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15050312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 04/21/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Ingestion of food toxins such as aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) during pregnancy may impair fetal neurodevelopment. However, animal model results may not be accurate due to the species' differences, and testing on humans is ethically impermissible. Here, we developed an in vitro human maternal-fetal multicellular model composed of a human hepatic compartment, a bilayer placental barrier, and a human fetal central nervous system compartment using neural stem cells (NSCs) to investigate the effect of AFB1 on fetal-side NSCs. AFB1 passed through the HepG2 hepatocellular carcinoma cells to mimic the maternal metabolic effects. Importantly, even at the limited concentration (0.0641 ± 0.0046 μM) of AFB1, close to the national safety level standard of China (GB-2761-2011), the mixture of AFB1 crossing the placental barrier induced NSC apoptosis. The level of reactive oxygen species in NSCs was significantly elevated and the cell membrane was damaged, causing the release of intracellular lactate dehydrogenase (p < 0.05). The comet experiment and γ-H2AX immunofluorescence assay showed that AFB1 caused significant DNA damage to NSCs (p < 0.05). This study provided a new model for the toxicological evaluation of the effect of food mycotoxin exposure during pregnancy on fetal neurodevelopment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhiwei Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Dongmei Luo
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Mengxue Li
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Guangjie Lao
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Department of Food Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - András Dinnyés
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- BioTalentum Ltd., Aulich Lajos Str. 26, 2100 Godollo, Hungary
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, University of Szeged, 6720 Szeged, Hungary
| | - Wenming Xu
- Key Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Ministry of Education, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
- Reproductive Endocrinology and Regulation Laboratory West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
| | - Qun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Bio-Resources and Eco-Environment Ministry of the Education, College of Life Sciences, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610064, China
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