T-2 toxin immunotoxicity on human B and T lymphoid cell lines

• Published in: Toxicology (Amsterdam) Vol. 210; no. 1; pp. 81 - 91
• Main Authors: Minervini, Fiorenza, Fornelli, Francesca, Lucivero, Giacomo, Romano, Ciro, Visconti, Angelo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Shannon Elsevier Ireland Ltd 15.05.2005; Amsterdam Elsevier Science
• Subjects: Annexin A5 - metabolism; Apoptosis; B-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Biological and medical sciences; Bromodeoxyuridine; Caspase 3; Caspases - metabolism; Cell Cycle - drug effects; Cell Line; Cell Proliferation - drug effects; Cell Survival - drug effects; Coloring Agents; Cytotoxicity; Edible Grain; Flow cytometry; Food Contamination; Humans; IM-9; Medical sciences; MOLT-4; Plant poisons toxicology; T-2 toxin; T-2 Toxin - toxicity; T-Lymphocytes - drug effects; Tetrazolium Salts; Thiazoles; Toxicology; Flow cytometry; Cytotoxicity; T-2 toxin; IM-9; MOLT-4; Apoptosis; Human; Immunopathology; Lymphoid cell; Toxicity; Mycotoxin; In vitro; Toxin; Cell line; Cell death; Established cell line; T-Lymphocyte
• ISSN: 0300-483X; 1879-3185
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2005.01.007

T-2 toxin belongs to a group of mycotoxins synthesized by Fusarium fungi that are widely encountered as natural contaminants in cereals. Human lymphoid cell lines of T (MOLT-4) or B (IM-9) lineage were used to characterize the cytotoxic effects mediated by T-2 at different concentrations (0.1 pg/ml to 1 μg/ml). After 24 h, membrane damage was observed by Trypan blue dye exclusion in IM-9 cells with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC 50) of 0.2 ng/ml, whereas CC 50 for MOLT-4 cells was 0.6 μg/ml (gmicro). At a T-2 concentration of 0.01 μg/ml, apoptosis was seen in MOLT-4 cells by Annexin V binding as early as after 4 h. T-2 toxin determined sustained (48 h) immunosuppression on both cell lines, as evaluated by BrdU and MTT assays. Cytotoxicity appeared to be due to early apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells, as indicated by increased Annexin V binding and activation of caspase-3, and to direct cell membrane damage in IM-9 cells.