title: Cytotoxicity and apoptosis induced by mixed mycotoxins (T-2 and HT-2 toxin) on primary hepatocytes of broilers in vitro.
abstract: T-2 and HT-2 (T-2/HT-2) induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in hepatocytes from broilers. In this study, hepatocytes treated with T-2/HT-2 were analyzed for cytotoxic effects and apoptosis and for the associated mechanisms. To assay cytotoxicity, we used the 3-(4, 5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2, 5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) viability assay, hematoxylin-eosin staining and aspartase transaminase and alanine transaminase (ALT/AST) activities. We evaluated apoptosis by fluorescence microscopy using the Terminal transferase nick-end labeling (TUNEL) assay. The apoptotic ratio and the apoptotic stage of the hepatocytes were next assessed with fluorescently labeled (FITC) Annexin V and propidium iodide (PI) staining. Finally, expression levels of apoptosis-related mRNAs were assessed by real-time PCR and those of apoptosis-related proteins by western blotting. We found that cells treated with T-2/HT-2 showed, in a dose dependent manner, significantly lower cell viabilities (P < 0.05) and markedly increased intercellular spaces, dead cells and ALT/AST activities. T-2/HT-2 treatment also significantly increased the number of apoptotic cells and the apoptotic ratio (P < 0.05). T-2/HT-2 induced early stage apoptosis of the hepatocytes and levels of apoptosis-related mRNAs and proteins changed in a manner implicating them in the apoptotic process. These changes occurred from 0 to 24 h of T-2/HT-2 exposure. Expression of bax and caspase-7 mRNAs was significantly upregulated, in a time-dependent manner, during this period (P < 0.05). Levels of mRNAs for caspase-3 and caspase-9 were increased from 0 to 12 h (P < 0.05) and then decreased after 12 h (P < 0.05). There were no significant effects on expression of bcl-2 mRNA (P > 0.05). Expression of all apoptosis-related proteins examined, except for bcl-2, was significantly increased from 0 to 24 h in a time-dependent manner (P < 0.05). Overall, T-2/HT-2 induced cytotoxicity and apoptosis in hepatocytes. The resulting changes in mRNA and protein expression were shown that several apoptosis-related proteins were involved in the liver toxicity of these agents.
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, No.1 Nongda Road, Furong District, Changsha, 410128, People's Republic of China. Electronic address: lcyang@hunau.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lingchen
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Hunan Agricultural University, No.1 Nongda Road, Furong District, Changsha, 410128, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Di
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tu
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Wei-Gang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Nanjing Agricultural University, No.1 Wei-Gang, Xuanwu District, Nanjing, 210095, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D017304:Annexin A5 / Q000378:metabolism; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000378:metabolism; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053179:Caspase 7 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D002470:Cell Survival / Q000187:drug effects; D002645:Chickens; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D022781:Hepatocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D020287:In Situ Nick-End Labeling; D009183:Mycotoxins / Q000633:toxicity*; D013605:T-2 Toxin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000633:toxicity; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D017304:Annexin A5; D009183:Mycotoxins; D051028:bcl-2-Associated X Protein; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase; D053148:Caspase 3; D053179:Caspase 7; D053453:Caspase 9; D013605:T-2 Toxin; C012351:HT-2 toxin
keywords: Apoptosis; Cytotoxicity; Hepatocytes; Liver toxicity; T-2/HT-2 toxin