Cytoprotective and genoprotective effects of β-glucans against aflatoxin B1-induced DNA damage in broiler chicken lymphocytes

• Published in: Toxicology in vitro Vol. 29; no. 3; pp. 538 - 543
• Main Authors: Zimmermann, C.E.P., Cruz, I.B.M., Cadoná, F.C., Machado, A.K., Assmann, C., Schlemmer, K.B., Zanette, R.A., Leal, D.B.R., Santurio, J.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Aflatoxin B1; Aflatoxin B1 - toxicity; Animals; Antimutagenic Agents - pharmacology; beta-Glucans - pharmacology; Cell Survival - drug effects; Cells, Cultured; Chickens - physiology; Comet Assay; Cytotoxicity; DNA - metabolism; DNA Damage; Genotoxicity; Lymphocytes - drug effects; Oxidative stress; Protective Agents - pharmacology; β-glucans; DCFH-DA; Oxidative stress; ROS; Genotoxicity; Aflatoxin B1; Cytotoxicity; AFB1; β-glucans; dsDNA; Aflatoxin B
• ISSN: 0887-2333; 1879-3177
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2015.01.005

•AFB1 cytotoxicity was evaluated by the MTT, DCFH-DA and fluorescent PicoGreen assays.•β-glucan showed genoprotective effect on lymphocytes exposed to AFB1.•The genoprotective effect of β-glucan was confirmed by the alkaline comet assay. The polysaccharide β-glucan presents beneficial effects on the immune system, although the mechanisms of the immunomodulatory effect remain poorly understood. The potential cytoprotective and genoprotective effects of β-glucans were evaluated in broiler chicken lymphocytes exposed to increasing concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and/or β-glucans. AFB1 significantly decreased cell viability at the concentrations of 10 and 20μg/ml at 72h of incubation (p<0.01 and p<0.001, respectively). Moreover, the AFB1 concentrations of 1, 10 and 20μg/ml increased DNA fragmentation levels at 24h (p<0.001). Conversely, lymphocyte death was prevented by β-glucans at the concentrations of 1% and 10%, indicating a cytoprotective effect. Reactive oxygen species levels were increased in the cells treated with 20μg/ml AFB1 at 24h (p<0.05) and 10% β-glucans with or without AFB1 at 24, 48 and 72h of incubation (p<0.001). DNA damage increased by more than 100% in AFB1-treated lymphocytes when compared to control group. β-glucans at 1% was able to fully revert the AFB1-induced lymphocyte DNA damage, indicating a genoprotective effect and maintaining DNA integrity. In conclusion, β-glucans showed in vitro dose-dependent cytoprotective and genoprotective effects in broiler chicken lymphocytes exposed to AFB1.