Effects of zearalenone on IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ mRNA levels in the splenic lymphocytes of chickens.
Zearalenone (ZEN) is an estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species, which can contaminate food and feed. These compounds elicit a wide spectrum of toxic effects, including the capacity to alter normal immune function. In this study, the in vitro effects of the treatment of ConA-stimulated splenic lymphocytes with ZEN (0-25 μg/mL) were examined. ZEN modulates the expression of IL-2, IL-6, and IFN-γ. The IL-2 levels were up to fourfold higher (P < 0.05) compared with the levels in the control at toxin concentrations of 25 μg/mL after 48 h of treatment. The IL-6 levels were critically suppressed at this concentration; these changes were very statistically significant (P < 0.05). At lower ZEN concentrations (0.1, 0.4 and 1.6 μg/mL), the IFN-γ levels changed slightly; however at 6.25 and 25 μg/mL, the IFN-γ results reached statistical significance compared with the control levels (P < 0.05). These data suggest that ZEN has potent effects on the expression of chicken splenic lymphocytes cytokines at the mRNA level.
College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Yaan, Sichuan 625014, China.
Y C
YC
Wang
J L
JL
Deng
S W
SW
Xu
X
X
Peng
Z C
ZC
Zuo
H M
HM
Cui
Y
Y
Wang
Z H
ZH
Ren
D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens; D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal / Q000494:pharmacology; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D007107:Immune System; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D008954:Models, Biological; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D015025:Zearalenone / Q000494:pharmacology*
D004968:Estrogens, Non-Steroidal; D007376:Interleukin-2; D015850:Interleukin-6; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D015025:Zearalenone; D007371:Interferon-gamma