Effects of Zearalenone on IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γmRNA Levels in the Splenic Lymphocytes of Chickens

Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species, which can contaminate food and feed. These compounds elicit a wide spectrum of toxic effects, including the capacity to alter normal immune function. In this study, the in vitro effects of the treatment of ConA-stimulated splenic lymphocytes with ZEN (0–25  μ g/mL) were examined. ZEN modulates the expression of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN- γ . The IL-2 levels were up to fourfold higher ( P < 0.05) compared with the levels in the control at toxin concentrations of 25  μ g/mL after 48 h of treatment. The IL-6 levels were critically suppressed at this concentration; these changes were very statistically significant ( P < 0.05). At lower ZEN concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1.6  μ g/mL), the IFN- γ levels changed slightly; however at 6.25 and 25  μ g/mL, the IFN- γ results reached statistical significance compared with the control levels ( P < 0.05). These data suggest that ZEN has potent effects on the expression of chicken splenic lymphocytes cytokines at the mRNA level.