title: Cytotoxic and immunotoxic effects of Fusarium mycotoxins using a rapid colorimetric bioassay.
abstract: A colorimetric MTT (tetrazolium salt) cleavage test was used to evaluate cytotoxicity of twenty-three Fusarium mycotoxins on two cultured human cell lines (K-562 and MIN-GL1) as well as their inhibitory effect on proliferation of phytohemagglutinin-stimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The values of 50% inhibition of lymphocyte blastogenesis were very close to the 50% cytotoxic doses observed with the more sensitive cell line (MIN-GL1). T-2 toxin was the most cytotoxic with CD50 and ID50 values less than 1 ng/ml. Type A trichothecenes were the most cytotoxic followed by the type B trichothecenes; the non-trichothecenes were the least cytotoxic. The MTT cleavage test, in conjunction with cell culture, is a simple and rapid bioassay to evaluate cytotoxicity and immunotoxicity of Fusarium mycotoxins.
authors.affiliation: Istituto Tossine e Micotossine da Parassiti Vegetali, CNR, Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visconti
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucivero
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gambatesa
mesh_terms: D002461:Cell Line, Transformed; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003124:Colorimetry; D005670:Fusarium; D006801:Humans; D004915:Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation / Q000187:drug effects*; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D009183:Mycotoxins; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts