Effects of Mycotoxins on the Intestine

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by several fungal species. They can contaminate human food and animal feed, and have been a threat for thousands of years. The gastrointestinal tract is the first target when ingesting mycotoxin-contaminated food or feed. As unlikely as it sounds, the investigations concerning the effects of mycotoxins on the intestine are still in their early stages. This book gathers the most recent advances related to the characterization of the intestinal toxicity of mycotoxins. Substantial data assembled on the damage caused to a number of histological structures and functions of the intestine remove any remaining doubt about this organ being a primary target for the toxicity of mycotoxins. An interesting overview of the detrimental effects of mycotoxins on the gut-hosted microbiota—now regarded as a fully-fledged organ associated with the gut—is also given. Finally, outstanding contributions in this book address questions relating to the suitability of current regulations to protect against alterations of the intestine, and to the efficacy assessment of new detoxification strategies using the intestinal toxicity of mycotoxins as a relevant endpoint

Risks to human and animal health related to the presence of moniliformin in food and feed

The CONTAM Panel wishes to acknowledge all European competent authorities and other stakeholders that provided occurrence data on moniliformin in food and feed, and supported the consumption data collection for the Comprehensive European Food Consumption Database. Adopted: 21 November 2017Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Risks to human and animal health related to the presence of deoxynivalenol and its acetylated and modified forms in food and feed

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a mycotoxin primarily produced by Fusarium fungi, occurring predominantly in cereal grains. Following the request of the European Commission, the CONTAM Panel assessed the risk to animal and human health related to DON, 3-acetyl-DON (3-Ac-DON), 15-acetyl-DON (15-Ac-DON) and DON-3-glucoside in food and feed. A total of 27,537, 13,892, 7,270 and 2,266 analytical data for DON, 3-Ac-DON, 15-Ac-DON and DON-3-glucoside, respectively, in food, feed and unprocessed grains collected from 2007 to 2014 were used. For human exposure, grains and grain-based products were main sources, whereas in farm and companion animals, cereal grains, cereal by-products and forage maize contributed most. DON is rapidly absorbed, distributed, and excreted. Since 3-Ac-DON and 15-Ac-DON are largely deacetylated and DON-3-glucoside cleaved in the intestines the same toxic effects as DON can be expected. The TDI of 1 μg/kg bw per day, that was established for DON based on reduced body weight gain in mice, was therefore used as a group-TDI for the sum of DON, 3-Ac-DON, 15-Ac-DON and DON-3-glucoside. In order to assess acute human health risk, epidemiological data from mycotoxicoses were assessed and a group-ARfD of 8 μg/kg bw per eating occasion was calculated. Estimates of acute dietary exposures were below this dose and did not raise a health concern in humans. The estimated mean chronic dietary exposure was above the group-TDI in infants, toddlers and other children, and at high exposure also in adolescents and adults, indicating a potential health concern. Based on estimated mean dietary concentrations in ruminants, poultry, rabbits, dogs and cats, most farmed fish species and horses, adverse effects are not expected. At the high dietary concentrations, there is a potential risk for chronic adverse effects in pigs and fish and for acute adverse effects in cats and farmed mink

Toxicité intestinale des mycotoxines : analyse des interactions entre Trichothécènes B

L'intestin est la première barrière de l'organisme contre les contaminants alimentaires, dont les mycotoxines. Le déoxynivalenol (DON) est un contaminant majeur des céréales, souvent retrouvé en association avec d'autres trichothécènes B (TCTs B), le 3- et 15-acétyldéoxynivalénol (3-ADON et 15-ADON), le nivalénol (NIV) et la fusarénone X (FX). Au niveau cellulaire, le DON interagit avec l'ARN ribosomique, bloquant ainsi la synthèse protéique et activant la cascade de la voie de signalisation de MAPKinases impliquée dans des mécanismes de la réponse inflammatoire. Au niveau intestinal, cette mycotoxine pourrait donc perturber le renouvellement continu de l'épithélium, et l'homéostasie de la réponse inflammatoire. On suggère ainsi qu'elle pourrait jouer un rôle dans la pathogénie des maladies inflammatoires chroniques de l'intestin. Si les effets du DON sont relativement connus, ceux du NIV et de leurs dérivés acétylés sont moins bien documentés. De même, peu de données existent quant à la toxicité combinée de ces mycotoxines dont la co-occurrence est avérée. Sur des modèles in vitro de cellules épithéliales intestinales humaines et porcines et sur un modèle ex vivo d'explants de jéjunum de porc, nous avons comparé les toxicités individuelles de cinq TCTs B (DON, 3- et 15-ADON, NIV et FX) et analysé leur toxicité combinée en termes de synergie, additivité ou antagonisme vis-à-vis de l'intestin. Les résultats montrent qu'à des concentrations de l'ordre du micromolaire, les TCTs B inhibent la croissance des cellules épithéliales intestinales par ordre croissant de toxicité 3-ADON, DON, 15-ADON, NIV et FX. Aux faibles doses correspondant à des niveaux d'exposition rencontrés chez le consommateur français ou européen, des synergies d'un facteur 3 à 10 ont été observées. Ces travaux ont également permis de caractériser l'activité pro-inflammatoire au niveau intestinal des TCTs B, et l'analyse benchmark de données de transcriptomique a montré que l'exposition de l'intestin à des doses aussi faibles que 0.04µM de FX, 0.1µM de DON ou 0.1µM de NIV s'accompagne d'une activation significative des mécanismes de l'inflammation. Ces doses sont de l'ordre des concentrations attendues dans le chyle sur la base des valeurs toxicologiques de référence actuelles. En conclusion, ces données montrent que le renouvellement de l'épithélium intestinal et l'activité pro-inflammatoire au niveau intestinal pourraient être des marqueurs très sensibles dans le cadre de l'évaluation de la toxicité individuelle et des interactions entre TCTs B.As for other food-born contaminants, the gastro-intestinal tract represents the first barrier against deoxynivalenol (DON). This mycotoxin frequently co-occurs with other type B trichothecenes (TCTs B) namely 3-acetyldeoxynivalenol (3-ADON), 15-acetyldeoxynivalenol (15-ADON), nivalenol (NIV) and fusarenon-X (FX). At the cellular level, DON binding to ribosomal RNA results in the inhibition of protein synthesis and triggers the mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) pathway that have been linked to immune response mechanisms. Thus, intestinal epithelial cell renewing is considered a putative target in DON toxicity. Moreover, based on the ability of DON to disturb the state of homeostasis of the inflammatory response in the intestine mimicking what is found in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), it is proposed that this mycotoxin may play a role in such diseases. However, very few is known about the intestinal toxicity of the other co-occuring TCT B, and their combined effects eventually. By means of in vitro human and porcine intestinal epithelial cells models and an ex vivo porcine jejunal explants model, we assessed the individual toxicity of five TCT B (DON, 3- and 15-ADON, NIV and FX) toward the intestine and we analyzed their combined toxicity in terms of additivity, synergy or antagonism. The tested TCT B significantly impaired the intestinal epithelial cell growth in the micromolar range, in increasing order of potency 3-ADON, DON, 15-ADON, NIV and FX. The toxicity of low doses of TCT B was synergistic. For mycotoxin concentrations corresponding to exposure levels reported for French and European consumers, the amplitude of this synergy ranged between 3 and 10. Benchmark dose analyses of the transcriptional data also showed that the exposure of the intestine to mycotoxin concentrations as low as 0.04µM for FX, 0.1µM for DON and 0.1µM for NIV could be associated to a significant activation of the inflammatory response mechanisms. Taken together, these results suggest that epithelial cell renewing and pro-inflammatory effects at the intestinal level may be consider very sensitive biomarkers for the assessment of the individual toxicity and interactions between the co-occurring TCTs B

Saccharomyces cerevisiae Boulardii Reduces the Deoxynivalenol-Induced Alteration of the Intestinal Transcriptome

Type B trichothecene mycotoxin deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of the most frequently occurring food contaminants. By inducing trans-activation of a number of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increasing the stability of their mRNA, trichothecene can impair intestinal health. Several yeast products, especially Saccharomyces cerevisiae, have the potential for improving the enteric health of piglets, but little is known about the mechanisms by which the administration of yeast counteracts the DON-induced intestinal alterations. Using a pig jejunum explant model, a whole-transcriptome analysis was performed to decipher the early response of the small intestine to the deleterious effects of DON after administration of S. cerevisiae boulardii strain CNCM I-1079. Compared to the control condition, no differentially expressed gene (DE) was observed after treatment by yeast only. By contrast, 3619 probes—corresponding to 2771 genes—were differentially expressed following exposure to DON, and 32 signaling pathways were identified from the IPA software functional analysis of the set of DE genes. When the intestinal explants were treated with S. cerevisiae boulardii prior to DON exposure, the number of DE genes decreased by half (1718 probes corresponding to 1384 genes). Prototypical inflammation signaling pathways triggered by DON, including NF-κB and p38 MAPK, were reversed, although the yeast demonstrated limited efficacy toward some other pathways. S. cerevisiae boulardii also restored the lipid metabolism signaling pathway, and reversed the down-regulation of the antioxidant action of vitamin C signaling pathway. The latter effect could reduce the burden of DON-induced oxidative stress. Altogether, the results show that S. cerevisiae boulardii reduces the DON-induced alteration of intestinal transcriptome, and point to new mechanisms for the healing of tissue injury by yeast

Toxicité intestinale des mycotoxines (Analyse des interactions entre Trichothécènes B)

Thèse confidentielleConfidential thesisTOULOUSE-INP (315552154) / SudocSudocFranceF

Impact of mycotoxin on immune response and consequences for pig health

Mycotoxins are fungal secondary metabolites detected in many agricultural commodities, especially cereals. Due to their high consumption of cereals, pigs are exposed to these toxins. In the European Union, regulations and/or recommendations exist in pig feed for aflatoxins, ochratoxin A, fumonisins, zearalenone, and trichothecenes, deoxynivalenol and T-2 toxin. These mycotoxins have different toxic effects, but they all target the immune system. They have immunostimulatory or immunosuppressive effects depending on the toxin, the concentration and the parameter investigated. The immune system is primarily responsible for defense against invading organisms. The consequences of the ingestion of mycotoxin-contaminated feed are an increased susceptibility to infectious diseases, a reactivation of chronic infection and a decreased vaccine efficacy. In this review we summarized the data available on the effect of mycotoxins on the immune system and the consequences for pig health

Effects of Mycotoxins on the Intestine

The gastrointestinal tract is the first physiological barrier against food contaminants, as well as the first target for these toxicants [...