Open AccessFunctional impairment of rat Kupffer cells induced by aflatoxin B 1 and its metabolites
Author(s) -
Cusumano V.,
Costa G.B.,
Trifiletti R.,
Merendino R.A.,
Mancuso G.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
fems immunology & medical microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1574-695X
pISSN - 0928-8244
DOI - 10.1111/j.1574-695x.1995.tb00025.x
Subject(s) - aflatoxin , phagocytosis , biology , mycotoxin , toxicity , candida albicans , in vitro , kupffer cell , immune system , toxin , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , biochemistry , medicine , food science
Contamination of food with mycotoxins is a major health problem. Impairment of several immune functions has been repeatedly reported in animals fed with contaminated fodder. Since the liver is a major target of toxicity by aflatoxins, the effects of aflatoxins B1, and its hepatic metabolites Q 1 and M 1 on Kupffer cell function was investigated in vitro. Aflatoxin B 1 induced significant ( P < 0.05) inhibition of phagocytosis, intracellular killing of Candida albicans , and intrinsic anti‐Herpes virus activity at concentrations as low as 0.01 pg ml −1 . Aflatoxin Q 1 and M 1 had similar effects on phagocytosis and microbicidal activity, but were two‐ to ten‐fold less potent than aflatoxin B 1 .