Salwa Abid-Essefi

DNA fragmentation, apoptosis and cell cycle arrest induced by zearalenone in cultured DOK, Vero and Caco-2 cells: prevention by Vitamin E.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal oestrogenic mycotoxin produced by several Fusarium species growing on cereals. ZEN and its metabolites bind to human oestrogen receptors and hence display oestrogenic and anabolic properties. Several lines of investigation suggest that ZEN may be genotoxic in vivo. ZEN damages DNA in Bacillus subtilis recombination tests, and it induces sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberration in CHO cells. ZEN also induces DNA-adduct formation in mouse tissues and SOS repair process in lysogenic bacteria. In the present study, ZEN genotoxicity has been confirmed in three cell-lines, Vero, Caco-2 and DOK at concentrations of 10, 20 and 40 microM. Under these conditions, ZEN induces concentration-dependent DNA fragmentation resulting in DNA laddering patterns on agarose gel electrophoresis. This observation is consistent with apoptosis, which was confirmed by observations of formation of apoptotic bodies. Moreover, ZEN induces cell cycle arrest in the three cell-lines characterised by an increase of the number of cells in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle. Vitamin E (25 microM) added simultaneously with ZEN partially reduces DNA fragmentation and apoptotic body formation after 24h incubation. Vitamin E may act by maintaining prolonged cell cycle arrest during which time DNA repair takes place.

Different apoptotic pathways induced by zearalenone, T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A in human hepatoma cells.

Mycotoxins, secondary metabolites produced by moulds, have been shown to cause diverse toxic effects in animals and are also suspected of disease causation in humans. The present study compares the molecular mechanisms of the toxicity of zearalenone (ZEN), T-2 toxin and ochratoxin A (OTA) in human hepatoma cells HepG2. The three mycotoxins-induced a caspase-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. The mitochondrial alterations include: bax relocalisation into the mitochondrial outer membrane, loss of the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, PTPC opening, and cytochrome c (but not AIF) release. In the presence of ZEN and T-2 toxin, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level was highly increased at an early stage even before mitochondrial alterations were observed, whereas OTA-induced only O(2)(-) generation among total ROS. This ROS production appears as a consequence of mitochondrial alterations. HepG2 cell treatment with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha (PFT) and western blot analysis suggested that both ZEN and OTA, but not T-2 toxin, trigger a p53-dependent apoptotic pathway. These results clearly point to a central role of mitochondria in the apoptotic process induced by ZEN, T-2 toxin and OTA and provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms by which these mycotoxins might promote hepatotoxicty.

Cytotoxicity and genotoxicity induced by aflatoxin B1, ochratoxin A, and their combination in cultured Vero cells.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) are important food‐borne mycotoxins that have been implicated in human health. In this study, independent and combinative toxicities of AFB1 and OTA were tested in cultured monkey kidney Vero cells. The experiments reported here were conducted to evaluate the effect of these toxins on cell viability followed by the determination of cell death pathways, using the quantification of DNA fragmentation and the expression of p53 and bcl‐2 protein levels. Our results showed that AFB1 and OTA caused a marked decrease of cell viability in a dose‐dependent manner. Under the same conditions, these mycotoxins increased fragmented DNA levels. In addition, p53 was activated in response to DNA damage and the expression of the antiapoptotic factor bcl‐2 decreased significantly. According to these data, AFB1 and OTA seemed to be involved in an apoptotic process. Moreover, combined AFB1 and OTA induced all the toxicities observed with the mycotoxins separately. Therefore, this combination was classified as an additive response of the two mycotoxins.

Pathway of deoxynivalenol-induced apoptosis in human colon carcinoma cells.

The mycotoxin, deoxynivalenol (DON), is generally detected in cereal grains and grain-based food products worldwide. Therefore, DON has numerous toxicological effects on animals and humans. The present investigation was conducted to determine the molecular aspects of DON toxicity on human colon carcinoma cells (HT 29). To this aim, we have monitored the effects of DON on (i) cell viability, (ii) Heat shock protein expressions as a parameter of protective and adaptive response, (iii) oxidative damage and (iv) cell death signalling pathway. Our results clearly showed that DON treatment inhibits cell proliferation, did not induce Hsp 70 protein expression and reactive oxygen species generation. We have also demonstrated that this toxin induced a DNA fragmentation followed by p53 and caspase-3 activations. Finally, our findings suggested that oxidative damage is not the major contributor to DON toxicity. This mycotoxin induces direct DNA lesions and could be considered by this fact as a genotoxic agent inducing cell death via an apoptotic process.

Fusarial Toxin―Induced Toxicity in Cultured Cells and in Isolated Mitochondria Involves PTPC-Dependent Activation of the Mitochondrial Pathway of Apoptosis

Mycotoxins produced by the Fusarium molds can cause a variety of human diseases and economic losses in livestock. Fusaria produce predominantly two types of mycotoxins: the nonestrogenic trichothecenes including T-2 toxin and the mycoestrogens such as zearalenone (ZEN). In a previous report, we demonstrated that the hepatotoxicity of these mycotoxins involves the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. Here, we observed that both fusarotoxins induced cell death by a mitochondria-dependent apoptotic process which includes opening of the mitochondrial permeability transition pore complex (PTPC), loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential, increase in O(2)(.-) production, mitochondrial relocalization of Bax, cytochrome c release, and caspase activation. Studies performed on isolated mouse liver mitochondria showed that both ZEN and T-2 toxin might act directly on mitochondria to induce a PTPC-dependent permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes. Moreover, they may target different members of PTPC. Indeed, although the inner membrane protein adenine nucleotide translocase could be the target of T-2 toxin, ZEN seems to target the outer membrane protein voltage-dependent anion channel. Cells pretreatment with the p53 inhibitor pifithrin-alpha suggested that ZEN but not T-2 toxin triggered a p53-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Finally, mitochondrial alterations induced by ZEN and T-2 toxin are mediated by Bcl-2 family proteins, such as Bax, and prevented by Bcl-x(L) and to a lesser extent by Bcl-2. Taken together, these data indicate that mitochondria play a pivotal role in both ZEN- and T-2 toxin-induced apoptosis and that PTPC members and proteins of Bcl-2 family should be interesting targets to overcome fusarotoxin toxicity.

Patulin Induces Apoptosis through ROS-Mediated Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Pathway

Patulin (PAT) is a toxic metabolite produced by several filamentous fungi of the genera of Penicillium, Aspergillus, and Byssochlamys. PAT is the most common mycotoxin found in apples and apple-based products including juice, compotes, cider, and baby food. Exposure to this mycotoxin has been reported to induce intestinal and kidney injuries. This study investigated the mechanism of PAT-induced toxicity in human colon carcinoma (HCT116) and embryonic kidney cells (HEK293). We demonstrated that PAT activated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and unfolded protein response as evidenced by up-regulation of GRP78 and GADD34, splicing of XBP1 mRNA, and expression of the proapoptotic factor CHOP. This ER stress response was accompanied by the induction of the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Apoptosis occurred with ROS production, drop in mitochondrial membrane potential and caspase activation. Further, we showed that deficiency of the proapoptotic protein Bax or Bak protected cells against PAT-induced apoptosis. The treatment of cells with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl cysteine inhibits the ER stress response and prevents mitochondrial apoptosis. Collectively, our data provide new mechanistic insights in the signaling pathways of the cell death induced by PAT and demonstrate that PAT induces cytotoxicity through a ROS-dependent mechanism involving ER stress and activation of mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in human intestinal and kidney cells.

Cytotoxicity effects induced by Zearalenone metabolites, α Zearalenol and β Zearalenol, on cultured Vero cells

Zearalenone (Zen) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium. It has been implicated in several mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. The major metabolites of this mycotoxin in various species are alpha and beta Zearalenol. In vivo, Zen is mainly reduced to these alcoholic metabolites which cause reproductive tract disorders and impaired fertility due to their estrogenic activities. In this study, we examined the cytotoxicity of alpha and beta Zearalenol in cultured cells. For this purpose, the MTT assay was carried out and the influence of alpha and beta Zearalenol on protein and DNA syntheses was assessed. To evaluate the cell stress caused by these two metabolites, oxidative stress measured by MDA induction and stress protein induction (Hsp 70, Hsp 27) were tested. Results showed that alpha and beta Zearalenol were metabolites that caused cytotoxicity by inhibiting cell viability, protein and DNA syntheses and inducing oxidative damage and over-expression of stress proteins. However, the Zen metabolites exhibited lower toxicity than Zen, with beta zearalenol being the more active of the two metabolites.

Comparative study of toxic effects of zearalenone and its two major metabolites α‐zearalenol and β‐zearalenol on cultured human Caco‐2 cells

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a fusarotoxin converted predominantly into α‐zearalenol (α‐Zol) and β‐zearalenol (β‐Zol) by hepatic hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases. The feeding of naturally contaminated grains with ZEN was associated with hyperestrogenic and adverse effects on humans and animals. There is a lack of information on the attribution of the toxic effects of these toxins. One wonders if these effects are due to the parent molecule (ZEN) or to its major metabolites (α‐Zol and β‐Zol). Using human Caco‐2 cells, we looked for the molecular mechanisms of toxicity of ZEN, α‐Zol, and β‐Zol. Toxicity effects were studied by MTT viability assay and oxidative stress induction by measuring malondialdehyde (MDA) generation. To check whether the oxidative stress induction was associated to DNA lesions, we looked for DNA fragmentation by means of the Comet and the diphenylamine assays. To specify cell death pathway, we investigated caspase‐3 activation, confirmed by poly(ADP‐ribose) polymerase cleavage and by Bcl‐2 depletion. Our results clearly demonstrated that ZEN as well as its two metabolites presented variable toxic effects. They induced cell death and an increase in MDA generation. These effects were associated to DNA fragmentation as well as caspase‐3 activation. The observed toxic effects seem to be relieved by the metabolism of ZEN into α‐Zol and β‐Zol.

Protective effect of aqueous extract of Allium sativum against zearalenone toxicity mediated by oxidative stress.

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium in cereals and agricultural products. It has been implicated in several mycotoxicosis in farm animals and in humans. Several reports suggest that oxidative damage seems to be a key determinant of ZEN induced toxicity in vitro and in vivo. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the protective effects of aqueous extract of Allium sativum (AEA), against ZEN-induced cytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and DNA fragmentation in cultured Vero cells. Indeed, cytotoxicity effects were studied using MTT viability assay, ROS generation measurement and catalase activity induction. To check whether the oxidative stress induction was associated to DNA lesions, we looked for DNA fragmentation using Comet test. Our results indicated that ZEN induced several toxic effects and significant alterations mediated by oxidative stress mechanism. Treatment by ZEN combined to the lowest dose of AEA (250 μg/ml) showed a significant reduction of ZEN induced damages for all tested markers and a noticeable reduction of DNA fragmentation. It could be concluded that A. sativum aqueous extracts is effective in the protection against ZEN hazards. This could be relevant, particularly with the emergent demand for natural products which may counteract the detrimental toxic effects mediated by oxidative stress process and therefore prevents multiple human diseases.

Crocin and Quercetin protect HCT116 and HEK293 cells from Zearalenone-induced apoptosis by reducing endoplasmic reticulum stress

Mycotoxins are considered to be significant contaminants of food and animal feed. Zearalenone (ZEN) is a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin produced by several species of Fusarium in cereals and agricultural products. ZEN has been shown to be cytotoxic, genotoxic, and mutagenic in different cell types. In the present study, we investigated the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in ZEN-mediated toxicity in human intestine (HCT116) and kidney (HEK293) cells and evaluated the effects of the two common dietary compounds Quercetin (QUER) and Crocin (CRO). We show that ZEN treatment induces ER stress and activates the unfolded protein response (UPR) as evidenced by XBP1 mRNA splicing and upregulation of GRP78, ATF4, GADD34, PDIA6, and CHOP. Activation of the ER stress response is associated with activation of the mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis. This apoptotic process is characterized by an increase in ROS generation and lipid peroxidation, a loss of mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm), and an activation of caspases and DNA damages. We also demonstrate that the antioxidant properties of QUER and CRO help to prevent ER stress and reduce ZEN-induced apoptosis in HCT116 and HEK293 cells. Our results suggest that antioxidant molecule might be helpful to prevent ZEN-induced ER stress and toxicity.