title: The mitochondrial and death receptor pathways involved in the thymocytes apoptosis induced by aflatoxin B1.
abstract: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a potent immunosuppressive agent in endotherms, which can be related to the up-regulated apoptosis of immune organs. In this study, we investigated the roles of the mitochondrial, death receptor, and endoplasmic reticulum pathways in Aflatoxin B1 induced thymocytes apoptosis. Chickens were fed an aflatoxin B1 containing diet (0.6 mg/kg AFB1) for 3 weeks. Our results showed that (1) AFB1 diet induced the decrease of T-cell subsets, morphological changes, and excessive apoptosis of thymus. (2) The excessive apoptosis involved the mitochondrial pathway (up-regulation of Bax, Bak, cytC and down-regulation of Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL) and death receptor pathway (up-regulation of FasL, Fas and FADD). (3) Oxidative stress, an apoptosis inducer, was confirmed in the thymus. In conclusion, this is the first study to demonstrate that mitochondrial and death receptor pathways involved in AFB1 induced thymocytes apoptosis in broilers.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhengqiang
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaofeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chi
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Xiaochong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Min
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Hengmin
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cui
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Weimin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lai
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Diseases and Environmental Hazards of Sichuan Province, College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, Sichuan, PR China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D016604:Aflatoxin B1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D002645:Chickens; D004721:Endoplasmic Reticulum / Q000187:drug effects; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D011897:Random Allocation; D053218:Receptors, Death Domain / Q000378:metabolism*; D060168:Thymocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D053218:Receptors, Death Domain; D016604:Aflatoxin B1
keywords: Immune response; Immunity; Immunology and Microbiology Section; aflatoxin B1; apoptosis; broilers; signaling pathways; thymocytes