title: Immunomodulative effects of aflatoxins and selenium on human natural killer cells.
abstract: The possible immunomodulative effects of aflatoxin B1 and selenium (as sodium selenite) at concentrations lower than 5.10(-11) M or 0.05ppb and 10(-5) M, respectively on natural killer (NK) cells from healthy volunteers were evaluated by a 51Cr release natural killer assay. Aflatoxin B1 and selenium separately had an immunosuppressive effect on NK cell activity. When they were studied in combination, they caused a statistically significant increase of the cytotoxic activity of NK cells in the presence of the lowest concentrations of aflatoxin B1 (0.005ppb) and of sodium selenite (10(-8)M).
authors.affiliation: Department of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology, School of Medicine, University of Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Methenitou
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Maravelias
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Athanaselis
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dona
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koutselinis
mesh_terms: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes / Q000378:metabolism; D003601:Cytotoxicity Tests, Immunologic; D003602:Cytotoxicity, Immunologic / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004338:Drug Combinations; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000276:immunology; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000276:Adjuvants, Immunologic; D000348:Aflatoxins; D002860:Chromium Radioisotopes; D004338:Drug Combinations; D012643:Selenium