The effect of T-2 toxin on percentages of CD4+, CD8+, CD4+CD8+ and CD21+ lymphocytes, and mRNA expression levels of selected cytokines in porcine ileal Peyer’s patches

Abstract

The immune system is one of the main toxicity targets of the T-2 toxin. In view of scant research data demonstrating the effect of T-2 on cellular and humoral responses in gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), this study set out to investigate the effects of chronic exposure to low doses of the T-2 toxin (200 μg T-2 toxin kg -1 feed) on percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes, CD4 + /CD8 + double-positive T lymphocytes, CD21 + B cells, and IL-2, IFN-γ, IL-4 and IL-10 mRNA expression levels in porcine ileal Peyer's patches. The investigated material comprised ileum sections sampled from piglets (aged 8-10 weeks, body weight of 15-18 kg) on days 14, 28 and 42 of the experiment.After 42 days of exposure to T-2, a significant drop in the quantity of the IL-10 product was observed (R=0.94; S.E. 0.49-0.79; p<0.001). A gradual decrease in the amount of IL-4 and IFN-γ cytokine transcripts was found throughout the experiment, but the reported trend was not significant. On experimental days 14 and 42, a significant increase in the percentage of CD8 + T lymphocytes was observed in comparison with the control (p=0.04 and p=0.05, respectively), whereas on day 28, a significant decrease in the percentage of the above subpopulation was noted (p=0.00). The percentage of CD21 + B cells in the experimental group decreased steadily in comparison with the control, and the observed drop was significant on days 28 and 42 (p=0.06 and p=0.00, respectively). On days 14 and 28, the percentages of CD4 + and CD8 + T lymphocytes were lower in the experimental animals than in the control group, and the drop reported on day 28 was statistically significant (p=0.03).

T2 Toxin-Induced Changes in Cocaine- and Amphetamine-Regulated Transcript (CART)-Like Immunoreactivity in the Enteric Nervous System Within Selected Fragments of the Porcine Digestive Tract

“…To sum up, the obtained results show that T-2 toxin in low doses may affect the enteric nervous system and therefore even suggested permissible doses in feed cannot be qualified as completely safe for living organisms, what has been suggested in previous studies (Obremski et al 2008, 2013). Moreover, the present study confirms that CART seems to be an important neuronal factor within the enteric nervous system, which takes part in regulation of intestinal functions both in physiological conditions and during pathological states.…”

The Influence of Low Doses of Zearalenone and T-2 Toxin on Calcitonin Gene Related Peptide-Like Immunoreactive (CGRP-LI) Neurons in the ENS of the Porcine Descending Colon

“…The main, and relatively well-known, effect of T-2 toxin is the inhibition of protein synthesis [10] which, among others, may manifest itself by the influence of this toxin on the immunological system [10,59]. Previous studies described that this substance reduces the proliferative response of lymphocytes and impairs the antibody production [9,26].…”

“…Moreover, T-2 toxin may hinder the maturation of dendritic cells [60] and suppresses the immune response to bacterial infections [9]. T-2 toxin-induced modulatory effects on the immunological system have been also described within the GI tract, where low subclinical doses of this substance caused the changes in immune cells polarization, T cell memory, and humoral immunological response mediated by B lymphocytes in the ileal Peyear’s patches [59]. In turn, the influence of T-2 toxin on the immunological system may be connected with hematological effects—the second-most important toxic activity of this substance—which includes the decrease in the number of red blood cells, leukopenia, and changes in the composition of blood serum [9,10].…”

T-2 mycotoxin: toxicological effects and decontamination strategies

“…It also reduces lymphocyte proliferation, alters the membrane function, impairs the production of antibodies and alters the development of dendritic cells [61]. The T-2 toxin causes apoptosis in various cell types in vitro , such as human liver cells, HL-60 cells, Jurkat cells, U937 cells, and Vero cells.…”