Immunotoxicity of aflatoxin M 1 : as a potent suppressor of innate and acquired immune systems in a subacute study

BACKGROUND Although, to date, there have been several in vitro and in vivo studies of immunomodulatory effects of aflatoxin M 1 (AFB 1 ), little is known about the effect of AFM 1 on various aspects of innate and acquired immunity. In the present study, AFM 1 was administered intraperitoneally, at doses of 25 and 50 μg kg −1 , body mass for 28 days and various immunological parameters were measured. RESULTS Several parameters related to immune function were suppressed: organ mass, cellularity of spleen, proliferation response to lipopolysaccaride and phytohemagglutinin‐A, hemagglutination titer, delayed type of hypersensitivity response, spleen cell subtypes, serum hemolytic activity, serum immunoglobulin G level and cytokine production. AFM 1 did not cause changes in body mass, hematological parameters or the concentration of immunoglobulin M in blood serum. Conclusions Overall, the data suggested that AFM 1 suppressed innate and acquired immunity. Therefore, with respect to consumer safety, it is extremely important to further control the level of AFM 1 in milk, and this should be considered as a precedence for risk management actions. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry