Celia Fernández-Blanco

Effects of soyasaponin I and soyasaponins-rich extract on the Alternariol-induced cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells

Alternariol (AOH) is a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria spp. Soyasaponin I (Ss-I) is present naturally in legumes, and it has antioxidant properties. Cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of AOH have been demonstrated previously in vitro. In the present study, the cytotoxicity of AOH, Ss-I, and soyasaponins-rich extract from lentils was investigated; as well as, the cytoprotective effects of Ss-I and lentil extracts against AOH induced-cytotoxicity on Caco-2 cells. Cytotoxicity was carried out using MTT and PC assays (AOH: 3.125-100 µM, Ss-I: 3.125-50 µM, and lentil extracts: 1:0-1:32) during 24 h of exposure. Only AOH showed cytotoxic effect. The reduction in cell proliferation ranged from 25% to 47%. Simultaneous combination of Ss-I with AOH (1:1) increased cell proliferation (35%) compared to AOH tested alone. The Ss-I and extracts showed synergistic cytoprotective effects against cytotoxicity induced by AOH on Caco-2 cells. Food commodities containing Ss-I could contribute to diminish the toxicological risk that natural contaminant as AOH in diet can produce to humans.

Oxidative DNA damage and disturbance of antioxidant capacity by alternariol in Caco-2 cells

Oxidative stress occurs as a consequence of an imbalance between the prooxidant/antioxidant systems, causing an increase of intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species. Alternariol (AOH), a mycotoxin produced by Alternaria sp. can alter the action of glutathione (GSH) and the enzymes involved in the redox system, causing damage to cellular macromolecules such as DNA. The aims of this work were to determine the induction of oxidative stress by the antioxidant defenses imbalance in relation to glutathione (GSH), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels and DNA damage in Caco-2 cells derived from adenocarcinoma human colon. Oxidative stress by AOH was confirmed by alteration of GSH levels and the antioxidant defense system after 15, 30 and 60 μM AOH exposure during 24h. GSH levels significantly decreased by 43% after treatment with 60 μM AOH compared to the control. The activity of GPx and GR was reduced by 30% and 23%, respectively after 60 μM AOH. The GST activity was significantly increased (approximately 22%) with 30 μM AOH, while 60 μM AOH decreased it by 30% in comparison to the control. Analysis of DNA damage was performed using the Comet assay after 24h, where the % of DNA in tail increased from 70% to 85% compared the control.

An in vitro investigation on the cytotoxic and nuclear receptor transcriptional activity of the mycotoxins fumonisin B1 and beauvericin

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) and beauvericin (BEA) are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi, which under appropriate temperature and humidity conditions may develop on various foods and feeds. To date few studies have been performed to evaluate the toxicological and endocrine disrupting effects of FB1 and BEA. The present study makes use of various in vitro bioassays including; oestrogen, androgen, progestagen and glucocorticoid reporter gene assays (RGAs) for the study of nuclear receptor transcriptional activity, the thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to monitor cytotoxicity and high content analysis (HCA) for the detection of pre-lethal toxicity in the RGA and Caco-2 human colon adenocarcinoma cells. At the receptor level, 0.001-10μM BEA or FB1 did not induce any agonist responses in the RGAs. However at non-cytotoxic concentrations, an antagonistic effect was exhibited by FB1 on the androgen nuclear receptor transcriptional activity at 10μM and BEA on the progestagen and glucocorticoid receptors at 1μM. MTT analysis showed no decrease in cell viability at any concentration of FB1, whereas BEA showed a significant decrease in viability at 10μM. HCA analysis confirmed that the reduction in the progestagen receptor transcriptional activity at 1μM BEA was not due to pre-lethal toxicity. In addition, BEA (10μM) induced significant toxicity in both the TM-Luc (progestagen responsive) and Caco-2 cells.

Role of quercetin on Caco-2 cells against cytotoxic effects of alternariol and alternariol monomethyl ether

Molds of the genus Alternaria have been reported as contaminants of a variety of food and feed. Alternaria toxins such as alternariol (AOH) and its naturally occurring monomethyl ether (AME) produce cytotoxicity and oxidative stress in cell cultures. On the other hand, it has been proved that natural polyphenols have antioxidant effect. Quercetin (Quer) is a polyphenol present in berries and other commodities which exhibits these effects. The aims were to evaluate the cytotoxicity of AOH, AME and the binary combination of them, and the cytoprotective effect of Quer exposed simultaneously with AOH, AME and the mycotoxin mixture in human adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells. The cytotoxicity and the cytoprotective effect were determined by the MTT test after 24 and 48 h of exposure and interactions were evaluated with the isobologram analysis method. Cell viability decreased after 48 h of AOH and AME exposures, being the binary combination more cytotoxic, causing a synergism effect. No cytoprotective effect of Quer against AOH and AME was observed when they were exposed simultaneously in Caco-2 cells. The cytoprotective effect of Quer against mycotoxins (AOH, AME or other different which could present higher cytotoxic effect) depends on the concentration, the presence and the interaction between the compounds in food.

Interaction effects of enniatin B, deoxinivalenol and alternariol in Caco-2 cells

Enniatin B (ENN B), deoxinivalenol (DON) and alternariol (AOH) are secondary metabolites of filamentous fungi. These mycotoxins are contaminants of vegetables and cereals. They are cytotoxic and their effects are enhanced by their mixtures. The objectives of this study were to compare the cytotoxicity of ENN B, DON and AOH alone or in combination in human adenocarcinoma (Caco-2) cells and to evaluate the type of interactions of mycotoxin mixtures by the isobologram analysis. Cells were treated with concentrations ranging from 1.85 to 90μM (AOH) and from 0.312 to 10μM (for ENN B and DON), individually and in combination of two and three mycotoxins (from 1.85 to 30μM for AOH and from 0.312 to 5μM for ENN B and DON). The relation ratios between the mixtures DON+ENN B was 1:1; AOH+DON and ENN B+AOH was 1:6, and for the tertiary combination DON, ENN B and AOH 1:1:6. The IC50 value of ENN B and DON were 3.87 and 5.54μM, respectively. No IC50 values were obtained for the AOH at any time tested in Caco-2 cells. With the isobologram the type of interaction between mycotoxin was evaluated. Synergistic, antagonistic and addictive effect was observed for the combination studied depending on the concentration affected. Mycotoxins combinations reduce cellular viability in the following increasing order: (DON+ENN B)>(ENN B+AOH)>(DON+AOH)>(DON+AOH+ENN B).