title: Evaluation of the protective effects of alpha-tocopherol and retinol against ochratoxin A cytotoxicity.
abstract: Ochratoxin A (OTA), a mycotoxin frequently present in food and feedstuffs, produces a wide range of toxic effects, including cell death via lipid peroxidation. In one human and four animal cell lines we determined the half lethal concentration (LC50) of OTA, its effect on reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, and its ability to induce cytochrome p450 activity. We also examined the protective effect of alpha-tocopherol and all-trans-retinol in the most sensitive cell lines (i.e. bovine mammary epithelia, for which LC50 was 0.8 microg/ml (24 h), and Madin Darby canine kidney, for which LC50 was 4.3 microg/ml (48 h)). Pre-incubation for 3 h with either antioxidant significantly (P<0.05) ameliorated the OTA-induced reduction in cell viability and significantly decreased (P<0.05) ROS production. These findings indicate that oxidative stress is an important factor in OTA cytotoxicity. Supplementation with antioxidant molecules may counteract the short-term toxicity of this mycotoxin.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Technology for Food Safety, Veterinary Medicine Faculty, 20133 Milan, Italy. antonelle.baldi@unimi.it
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baldi
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Losio
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Cheli
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Rebucci
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sangalli
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fusi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bertasi
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pavoni
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Carli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Politis
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000633:toxicity; D009793:Ochratoxins / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000633:toxicity; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009183:Mycotoxins; D009793:Ochratoxins; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014801:Vitamin A; C025589:ochratoxin A; D003577:Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System; D024502:alpha-Tocopherol