title: Immunotoxicological evaluation of wheat genetically modified with TaDREB4 gene on BALB/c mice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the immunotoxicological effects of genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene in female BALB/c mice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female mice weighing 18-22 g were divided into five groups (10 mice/group), which were set as negative control group, common wheat group, parental wheat group, genetically modified wheat group and cyclophosphamide positive control group, respectively. Mice in negative control group and positive control group were fed with AIN93G diet, mice in common wheat group, non-genetically modified parental wheat group and genetically modified wheat group were fed with feedstuffs added corresponding wheat (the proportion is 76%) for 30 days, then body weight, absolute and relative weight of spleen and thymus, white blood cell count, histological examination of immune organ, peripheral blood lymphocytes phenotyping, serum cytokine, serum immunoglobulin, antibody plaque-forming cell, serum half hemolysis value, mitogen-induced splenocyte proliferation, delayed-type hypersensitivity reaction and phagocytic activities of phagocytes were detected.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No immunotoxicological effects related to the consumption of the genetically modified wheat were observed in BALB/c mice when compared with parental wheat group, common wheat group and negative control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  From the immunotoxicological point of view, results from this study demonstrate that genetically modified wheat with TaDREB4 gene is as safe as the parental wheat.
authors: Key Laboratory of Food Safety Risk Assessment, Ministry of Health (China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment) Beijing 100021, China.
authors: Chun Lai
authors: CL
authors: Liang
authors: Xiao Peng
authors: XP
authors: Zhang
authors: Yan
authors: Y
authors: Song
authors: Xu Dong
authors: XD
authors: Jia
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000921:Antibody-Producing Cells / Q000276:immunology; D001835:Body Weight; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D017343:Genes, Plant; D006461:Hemolysis; D006968:Hypersensitivity, Delayed; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects*; D007136:Immunoglobulins / Q000097:blood; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009929:Organ Size; D010587:Phagocytosis; D030821:Plants, Genetically Modified / Q000633:toxicity*; D013154:Spleen / Q000276:immunology; D013950:Thymus Gland / Q000276:immunology; D014908:Triticum / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D007136:Immunoglobulins
keywords: BALB/c mice; Genetically modified wheat; Immunotoxicological effects