title: T-2 toxin immunotoxicity on human B and T lymphoid cell lines.
abstract: T-2 toxin belongs to a group of mycotoxins synthesized by Fusarium fungi that are widely encountered as natural contaminants in cereals. Human lymphoid cell lines of T (MOLT-4) or B (IM-9) lineage were used to characterize the cytotoxic effects mediated by T-2 at different concentrations (0.1 pg/ml to 1 microg/ml). After 24 h, membrane damage was observed by Trypan blue dye exclusion in IM-9 cells with a 50% cytotoxic concentration (CC50) of 0.2 ng/ml, whereas CC50 for MOLT-4 cells was 0.6 microg/ml (gmicro). At a T-2 concentration of 0.01 microg/ml, apoptosis was seen in MOLT-4 cells by Annexin V binding as early as after 4 h. T-2 toxin determined sustained (48 h) immunosuppression on both cell lines, as evaluated by BrdU and MTT assays. Cytotoxicity appeared to be due to early apoptosis in MOLT-4 cells, as indicated by increased Annexin V binding and activation of caspase-3, and to direct cell membrane damage in IM-9 cells.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Scienze delle Produzioni Alimentari (ISPA), CNR, Via Amendola 122/O, 70124 Bari, Italy. fiorenza.minervini@ispa.cnr.it
authors.forename: Fiorenza
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Minervini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fornelli
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lucivero
authors.forename: Ciro
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Romano
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Visconti
mesh_terms: D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism; D002453:Cell Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D004396:Coloring Agents; D002523:Edible Grain; D005506:Food Contamination; D006801:Humans; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000633:toxicity*; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D004396:Coloring Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; D013844:Thiazoles; C505407:CASP3 protein, human; D053148:Caspase 3; D020169:Caspases; C022616:thiazolyl blue; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D013605:T-2 Toxin