Effects of Zearalenone on IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γmRNA Levels in the Splenic Lymphocytes of Chickens

Abstract

<jats:p>Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several<jats:italic>Fusarium</jats:italic>species, which can contaminate food and feed. These compounds elicit a wide spectrum of toxic effects, including the capacity to alter normal immune function. In this study, the in vitro effects of the treatment of ConA-stimulated splenic lymphocytes with ZEN (0–25 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi></mml:math>g/mL) were examined. ZEN modulates the expression of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>γ</mml:mi></mml:math>. The IL-2 levels were up to fourfold higher (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>) compared with the levels in the control at toxin concentrations of 25 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi></mml:math>g/mL after 48 h of treatment. The IL-6 levels were critically suppressed at this concentration; these changes were very statistically significant (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). At lower ZEN concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1.6 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi></mml:math>g/mL), the IFN-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>γ</mml:mi></mml:math>levels changed slightly; however at 6.25 and 25 <mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>μ</mml:mi></mml:math>g/mL, the IFN-<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mi>γ</mml:mi></mml:math>results reached statistical significance compared with the control levels (<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML"><mml:mrow><mml:mi>P</mml:mi><mml:mo>&lt;</mml:mo><mml:mn>0.05</mml:mn></mml:mrow></mml:math>). These data suggest that ZEN has potent effects on the expression of chicken splenic lymphocytes cytokines at the mRNA level.</jats:p>

Lycopene protects against acute zearalenone-induced oxidative, endocrine, inflammatory and reproductive damages in male mice

“…It is suggested that ZEA operates in male germ cells through the induction of oxidative stress causing the inhibition of glutathione-S-transferase (GST) [8,9]. http ZEA has also been shown to be immunotoxic [15] in different animal species [15,16]. In blood of weanling piglets, ZEA increased the inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) synthesis [17].…”

“…In blood of weanling piglets, ZEA increased the inflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-a) and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1b) synthesis [17]. In chickens, ZEA presented potent effects on the expression of splenic lymphocyte cytokine interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) [15]. ZEA seems to work as both suppressor and inductor of the production of inflammatory cytokines [17].…”

The effect of manganese-induced toxicity on the cytokine mRNA expression of chicken spleen lymphocytes in vitro

“…RNA extraction, cDNA synthesis, and RT-PCR followed the method described in our previous study (Zhu et al, 2013). The primers and probes for the housekeeping β-actin gene used for sequencing were previously reported (Zhao et al, 2013;Wang et al, 2012;Hangalapura et al, 2006) and were synthesized by Invitrogen (Shanghai, China). The IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-12β, IL-17, IFN-γ, and β-actin mRNA GenBank accession numbers are as follows: AY510091, AJ621249, NM204628, AJ564202, AY744450, DQ470471, and L08165, respectively.…”

Effects of the Fusarium toxin zearalenone (ZEA) and/or deoxynivalenol (DON) on the serum IgA, IgG and IgM levels in mice

“…As the secondary metabolites of fungi, mycotoxins are of great importance in agriculture, food and feed production due to their frequent occurrence in toxicologically relevant concentrations in cereal grains. Moreover, mycotoxins cause serious health problems both in human and animal (Abbès et al, 2006;Goyarts et al, 2007;Wang, Deng, Xu, Peng, & Zuo, 2012).…”