Interaction of probiotics and mycotoxins: benefits to human health

Conference Theme: Minimizing Risks, Maximizing Benefits - A Role for Food Safety and Nutritionpostprin

Growth and endocrine disrupting effects of the mycotoxins zeralenone and aflatoxin B1 on breast cancer cells

Zearalenone (ZEA) and aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) are secondary metabolites produced by the fungi Fusarium and Aspergillus respectively. ZEA is proven to be an estrogenic endocrine disruptor since 1950s, while AFB1 is recently found to disrupt steroidogenesis in placenta. Both mycotoxins are constant contaminants of cereals worldwide and can both be found at significant levels in human plasma/urine of people in developing countries. Due to the co-occurrence of ZEA and AFB1 in food and human samples and the possibility of endocrine disruptors to modulate the growth of hormonal dependent breast cancer, we hypothesized that exposure to ZEA and AFB1 would affect the growth and cell cycle progression of breast cancer cells by modulating gene expressions and disrupting steroidogenesis and hormone …postprin

Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG modulates intestinal barrier function and inflammation in BALB/C mice following dietary exposure to deoxynivalenol and zearalenone through changes in gut

Oral Presentation 2Conference Theme: From Experience to PerspectivesDeoxynivalenol (DON) and zearalenone are mycotoxins produced by Fusarium species, which naturally co-occur in foods and feeds. The gastrointestinal tract represents the first barrier met by exogenous food/feed compounds. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the ability of Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) to improve intestinal barrier functions and ameliorate inflammation in Balb/c mice (6 weeks old) fed diets containing mycotoxin mixtures (i.e. DON and ZEA) through modulation of intestinal bacterial …published_or_final_versio

Exposure to dietary ochratoxin in Egypt and Hong Kong

Conference Theme: Nutrition Security for AllPoster Presentation: no. P152-04Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin with worldwide occurrence in a variet of foods and feeds. This carcinogenic and teratogenic mycotoxin has been linked to human endemic nephro…link_to_OA_fulltex

Modulation of mucin mRNA (MUC5AC and MUC5B) expression and protein production and secretion in Caco-2/HT29-MTX co-cultures following exposure to individual and combined Fusarium mycotoxins.

Intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) are a critical component of the innate local immune response. In order to reduce the risk of pathogen infection or xenobiotic intoxication, different host defense mechanisms have been evolved. Evidence has shown that upon ingestion of food or feed contaminated with toxins (e.g., mycotoxins), IECs respond by regulating mucin secretions, which act as a physical barrier inhibiting bacterial attachment and subsequent infection-related processes. However, the effect of Fusarium mycotoxins on mucin production remains unclear. Consequently, the aim of this study was to evaluate individual and interactive effects of four common Fusarium mycotoxins, deoxynivalenol, nivalenol, zearalenone, and fumonisins B1 on mRNA expression and secretion of mucins, MUC5AC, and MUC5B, as well as total mucin-like glycoprotein secretion, using Caco-2 (absorptive-type) and HT29-MTX (secretive-type) cells and their co-cultures (initial seeding ratios Caco-2/HT29-MTX: 90/10 and 70/30). Our results showed that individual and mixtures of mycotoxins significantly modulated MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA and protein, and total mucin-like glycoprotein secretion as measured by quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and enzyme-linked lectin assay, respectively. Additive effects were not always observed for mixtures. Also, the present study showed that in co-cultures, lower MUC5AC and MUC5B mRNA, protein and total mucin production occurred following exposure, which might suggest higher intestinal permeability and susceptibility to toxin exposure. This study demonstrates the importance of selecting an appropriate cell model for the in vitro investigation of Fusarium mycotoxin effects either alone or in combinations on the immunological defense mechanisms of IECs, and will contribute to improved toxin risk assessments.link_to_OA_fulltex

Toxicological evaluation and risk assessment for effects of Fusarium toxin mixtures on intestinal immunity using a fractional factorial design

Poster Session: Toxicity of Chemical Mixtures: no. 1008 (Poster Board no. 462