Effect of feeding T-2 toxin contaminated feed on the utilisation of vitamin E in chickens

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of experimental T-2 toxin load (2.35 mg/kg of feed) and vitamin E supply in the drinking water (10.5 mg/bird/day) on vitamin E levels of the blood plasma and liver in broiler chickens in a 14-day experiment. It was found that T-2 toxin load did not influence vitamin E content of the blood plasma except at day 3 after the toxin load when a moderate increase was detected in plasma vitamin E. No significant changes were found in vitamin E content of the liver. The simultaneous use of high-dose vitamin E supplementation and T-2 toxin load caused a significantly higher plasma vitamin E content but the changes were less expressed in the group subjected to T-2 toxin load. Vitamin E supply also resulted in a marked and significant increase in vitamin E concentrations of the liver on days 3 and 7 even in the T-2 loaded group, but this concentration significantly decreased thereafter. The results show that T-2 contamination of the diet has an adverse effect on the utilisation of vitamin E in broiler chickens.     

Effect of subclinical levels of T-2 toxin on the bovine cellular immune system.

The effect of subclinical levels of mycotoxin T-2 on the cells of the bovine immune system was investigated in two in vivo experiments. In experiment 1, five calves were orally dosed with 0.3 mg/kg/day of T-2 toxin for 56 days and five calves were pair fed controls. The neutrophil function as measured by nitroblue tetrazolium reduction was reduced in the mycotoxin treated calves. The cutaneous reaction to intradermally injected phytohemagglutinin was reduced in the T-2 toxin treated calves. B-cell (SIg+) numbers increased slightly, but T-cell (PNA+) numbers were not affected during the experimental period. In the second experiment, six calves were given 0.5 mg/kg/day T-2 toxin orally for 28 days and six calves were pair fed controls. B-cell numbers and the response of a B-cell enriched fraction to phytohemagglutinin increased after toxin administration. T-cell numbers and the response of a T-cell enriched fraction and the whole mononuclear cell population to phytohemagglutinin was reduced only on day 19 posttoxin administration. The in vitro (T-2 toxin) exposure of the mononuclear cell population, B-cell enriched, or T-cell enriched fraction reduced their lymphoblastic response to mitogens. A 50% reduction was induced by as little as 1.4 ng/mL of T-2 toxin.     

Interaction of T-2 fusariotoxin and monensin in broiler chickens infected with Coccidia

Field observations suggest that coccidiosis is a common cause of death in broiler chicken flocks fed diets containing sufficient amounts of ionophore antibiotics (monensin, narasin, etc.) and contaminated with mycotoxins, particularly with T-2 fusariotoxin. To study this phenomenon, broiler chickens fed diets containing different amounts of T-2 toxin and free from monensin, or containing a preventive dose (100 mg/kg of feed) of monensin, were infected experimentally with coccidian oocysts. In all groups fed a diet containing monensin plus T-2 toxin severe clinical symptoms of coccidiosis (blood-stained faeces etc). occurred. Deaths and retarded growth depended on the toxin dose and were considerable. The body mass gain of chicks fed a diet containing monensin and T-2 toxin but not infected with coccidia was inferior to that of groups fed diets which contained either monensin or T-2 toxin (experiment 2). On the basis of these findings a negative interaction of the two compounds is assumed. This seems to be supported by the results of experiment 3, i. e. the finding that the lethal dose of narasin, a compound closely related to monensin both in chemical structure and mechanism of action, proved to be much lower (LD50 = 102 mg/kg body mass) for chickens fed a diet supplemented with T-2 toxin than for the control chickens (LD50 = 176 mg/kg body mass). The present results suggest that the feeding of diets severely contaminated with T-2 toxin may alter the anticoccidial efficacy of monensin.     

Immunotoxic effects of T-2 mycotoxin on cell-mediated resistance to Listeria monocytogenes infection

The effect of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance to bacterial infection was evaluated in mice exposed to Listeria monocytogenes. Mice were inoculated with 4.0 X 10(5) (LD50) or 4.0 X 10(4) (nonlethal) L. monocytogenes on day 0 and treated orally on days 0, 1, 2, and 3 with 2.0, 1.0, or 0 mg/kg T-2 toxin. Toxin induced suppression of resistance was indicated by the rapid growth of Listeria in the spleen and by significant (P less than 0.005) increases in mortality due to listeriosis. Necrosis and depletion of lymphoid tissue, lymphopenia, and a marked decrease in the influx of lymphocytes and macrophages into Listeria elicited peritoneal exudates and at sites of infection in the liver and spleen occurred in the toxin treated mice. The immunotoxic effect of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance to listeriosis was dosage dependent and attributed to toxin induced lymphoid depletion and the failure of surviving lymphocytes and mononuclear cells to clear the host of infection.     

Experimental T-2 toxicosis in sheep.

Lambs received T-2 toxin at a rate of 0.6 or 0.3 mg/kg body weight per day in a protein reduced diet for 21 days to study the immunological and pathological effects of T-2 toxin in sheep. Blood was collected before T-2 treatment and on days 7, 14 and 21 of the trial for hematological and biochemical examination and for the separation of peripheral blood lymphocytes for the mitogen assay. Myeloid:erythroid ratios were determined from sternal bone marrow samples taken a day before T-2 treatment began, on day 12 and at death (day 22). Lambs treated with 0.6 mg/kg body weight of T-2 toxin daily were leukopenic on day 7 and lymphopenic on days 7 and 14. Also, on day 7, the mitogenic responses of these lambs to the B-cell mitogen, lipopolysaccharide, were significantly depressed and prothrombin times were prolonged. At necropsy, lymphoid atrophy of mesenteric lymph nodes and spleens was most marked in lambs treated with 0.6 mg/kg body weight of T-2 toxin per day. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of leukopenia, lymphopenia and lymphoid depletion in ruminants fed T-2 toxin.     

Comparison of the effect of T-2 toxin with that of dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide on resistance to Babesia microti infection in mice

The effect of T-2 toxin on host resistance to acute and latent Babesia microti infections was evaluated in mice and was compared with the effects of the immunosuppressive drugs dexamethasone and cyclophosphamide. Mice with acute or latent B microti infection were treated with 2 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight, 0.2 mg of dexamethasone/kg, or 30 mg of cyclophosphamide/kg daily for 5 days. Treatment with dexamethasone or cyclophosphamide caused significant (P less than 0.05) increases in Babesia parasitemia during acute infection and significantly (P less than 0.05) prolonged the duration of parasitemia during acute babesiosis. Treatment with T-2 toxin caused a transient significant (P less than 0.05) increase in Babesia parasitemia on day 10 after acute infection and numerical, though statistically nonsignificant, increases in the maximal level and duration of parasitemia during acute babesiosis. Significant (P less than 0.005) recrudescence of parasitemia was observed in the dexamethasone- and cyclophosphamide-treated mice with latent Babesia infection. Treatment with T-2 toxin did not cause recrudescence of parasitemia in mice with latent Babesia infection.     

Enhanced resistance to listeriosis induced in mice by preinoculation treatment with T-2 mycotoxin

The effect of T-2 toxin on cell-mediated resistance to bacterial infection was evaluated in mice challenge exposed with Listeria monocytogenes. Mice were treated orally on days -5, -4, -3, -2, -1, +1, and +3 with 2.0, 1.0, 0.5, or 0 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight and were exposed to 10(6) (LD100) or 10(5) (LD50) L monocytogenes by intraperitoneal injection on day 0. Necrosis and depletion of lymphocytes in the thymus and spleen, decrease in thymus weight, reductions in the number of circulating total leukocytes and lymphocytes, and necrotizing gastroenteritis occurred in the toxin-treated mice. Although the cytotoxic effect of T-2 toxin on lymphoid tissue was marked, enhanced resistance to Listeria infection was revealed by significant (P less than 0.01) decreases in mortality caused by listeriosis in the toxin-treated mice. Mortality decreased from 100% to 64% in the mice exposed to 10(6) Listeria and from 50% to 20% in the mice exposed to 10(5) Listeria. Percentage of mortality after Listeria challenge exposure was dependent on the T-2 toxin dose and was progressively decreased in the mice given 0.5, 1.0, or 2.0 mg of toxin/kg.     

Differential effect of T-2 toxin on murine host resistance to three facultative intracellular bacterial pathogens: Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium, and Mycobacterium bovis

The effect of T-2 toxin, a radiomimetic immunosuppressive agent, on resistance to the facultative intracellular bacterial pathogens Listeria monocytogenes (strain EGD), Mycobacterium bovis (BCG Copenhagen 1331), and Salmonella typhimurium was determined. Female Swiss ICR mice were given a single dose of T-2 toxin (4 mg/kg of body weight) by gastric gavage. On the seventh day after toxin administration, the mice were infected by intraperitoneal inoculation with L monocytogenes, S typhimurium, or M bovis. Mice given the toxin also were exposed to respirable droplet nuclei containing L monocytogenes or M bovis. The effect of the toxin on the course of infection was monitored by observing mortality or by enumeration of bacteria in the spleen or lungs of infected mice. The toxin increased resistance to infection with L monocytogenes initiated by intraperitoneal inoculation, but reduced resistance to M bovis infection initiated by intraperitoneal inoculation. The toxin had no appreciable effect on the course of salmonellosis or on resistance to infection initiated by inhalation of L monocytogenes or M bovis aerosols. Therefore, it was concluded that T-2 toxin does not necessarily reduce resistance to infection in mice. The toxin's effect on the course of in vivo bacterial infections depends on the nature of the infective agent and the route of inoculation.     

Pathologic, hematologic, and serologic changes in rabbits given T-2 mycotoxin orally and exposed to aerosols of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia

The influence of immunosuppression by T-2 mycotoxin on the fungal disease aspergillosis was investigated in rabbits. Four groups of rabbits (groups 1A, 1B, 3A, and 3B) were given 0.5 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight/day, PO; in addition, rabbits of groups 3A and 3B were exposed to aerosols of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia from days 7 through 16. Rabbits of groups 2A and 2B were exposed to A fumigatus aerosols, but were not given T-2 toxin, and rabbits of group 0 served as controls. Two rabbits of group 1A, 1 rabbit of group 1B, and 1 rabbit of group 3A died before scheduled necropsy. Rabbits of groups 1A, 2A, and 3A were killed and necropsied on day 17, and the remaining rabbits (groups 0, 1B, 2B, and 3B) were killed and necropsied on day 28. Changes caused by T-2 toxin included leukopenia, marginal anemia, and increased number of and morphologic changes in nucleated erythrocytes by day 21, followed by a regenerative hematologic response. Serum alkaline phosphatase and sorbitol dehydrogenase activities and antibody response to A fumigatus (as measured by an indirect hemagglutination test) were decreased by T-2 toxin ingestion. Rabbits with aspergillosis had leukocytosis, increased PCV, and increased antibody response to A fumigatus. Histologic lesions consisting of centrilobular hepatocellular swelling, portal and periportal fibrosis, and lymphocyte necrosis and/or depletion within secondary lymphoid tissue were observed in most rabbits treated with T-2 toxin. Normal defense mechanisms against A fumigatus infection were compromised by T-2 treatment, as evidenced by the severity and extent of lung lesions, greater number of hyphal elements observed, and greater number of colonies of A fumigatus isolated from rabbits of groups 3A and 3B. There were no significant changes in group-0 rabbits.     

Effects of T-2 mycotoxin ingestion on phagocytosis of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia by rabbit alveolar macrophages and on hematologic, serum biochemical, and pathologic changes in rabbits

Rabbits were given T-2 mycotoxin orally at 0, 0.25, 0.5, and 0.75 mg/kg of body weight/day for 21 days. Only rabbits in the 0.75 mg/kg/day group (4 of 5 rabbits) died. Alveolar macrophages were harvested on day 22 and used for in vitro phagocytosis of killed Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. Cultures included sera from untreated rabbits or rabbits treated with T-2. Phagocytosis was significantly (P less than 0.01) reduced in cultures that used serum from rabbits treated with 0.5 mg of T-2/kg/day and alveolar macrophages from untreated rabbits or rabbits treated with T-2. There was little reduction in phagocytosis when alveolar macrophages from rabbits treated with T-2 and normal serum were used. Ingestion of 0.5 mg of T-2 toxin/kg/day significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced weight gain, serum alkaline phosphatase activity, serum sorbitol dehydrogenase activity, and serum bacteriostasis. Similar changes were found in the 0.75 mg/kg/day group, as well as a significant (P less than 0.05) reduction in PCV, total WBC, and differential leukocyte counts. Neutrophil counts decreased, but not significantly (0.05 less than P less than 0.10). Significant changes were not detected in alanine transaminase activity, aspartate transaminase activity, blood urea nitrogen concentration, or complement hemolytic activity. Histopathologic changes consisting of centrilobular hepatocellular swelling, mild portal and periportal fibrosis and lymphocyte necrosis within secondary lymphoid tissues developed in most rabbits treated with T-2. Thymic atrophy, bile duct reduplication, and lymphocyte depletion of secondary lymphoid tissues developed in the group given 0.75 mg/kg/day.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of T-2 toxin on brain biogenic monoamines in rats and chickens.

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effect of T-2 toxin on brain biogenic monoamines and their metabolites. Male rats (180 g) and cockerels (28 day, 300 g) were orally dosed with T-2 toxin at 2.5 mg kg-1 body weight. In the first experiment, whole brains were collected 2, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h postdosing and analyzed for monoamines by high performance liquid chromatography with electro-chemical detection. T-2 toxin did not influence whole brain concentrations of monoamines in either species. In the second experiment, brains were collected 24 h postdosing, dissected into five brain regions, and analyzed for monoamines. T-2 toxin treatment resulted in increased serotonin and 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid in all brain regions of the rat. However, this was not seen in poultry where T-2 toxin treatment resulted in an increase in 5-hydroxy-3-indoleacetic acid, no alteration in serotonin concentration and a decrease in regional norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations. These results suggest that T-2 toxin influences brain biogenic amine metabolism and that there is an intraspecies difference in the central effects of this mycotoxin.     

Regulation of murine macrophage phagocytosis of sheep erythrocytes by T-2 toxin

The effect of a single oral dose of 4 mg of T-2 toxin/kg of body weight on in vivo phagocytosis of sheep RBC by peritoneal macrophages was evaluated in nonsensitized mice and in mice sensitized with sheep RBC. T-2 toxin treatment had no effect on the viability or phagocytic activity of resident peritoneal macrophages in nonsensitized mice. However, a significant (P less than 0.005) increase in phagocytic activity occurred in cells from mice treated with toxin and subsequently sensitized with sheep RBC. In contrast, phagocytosis of sheep RBC was significantly (P less than 0.05) suppressed in cells from mice treated with toxin after sensitization. Toxin treatment induced necrosis of lymphocytes and significant decreases in thymus and spleen weights. Seemingly, T-2 toxin, administered at a dose that caused marked lymphoid depletion, suppressed or enhanced in vivo macrophage phagocytic activity in antigenically sensitized mice, and enhancement or suppression of phagocytosis was a function of the time of toxin treatment in relation to antigenic stimulation.     

Influence of esterified-glucomannan on performance and organ morphology, serum biochemistry and haematology in broilers exposed to individual and combined mycotoxicosis (aflatoxin, ochratoxin and T-2 toxin)

1. A study was conducted to evaluate the individual and combined effects of aflatoxin B1 (AF), ochratoxin A (OA) and T-2 toxin (T-2) on performance, organ morphology serum biochemistry and haematology of broiler chickens and the efficacy of esterified-glucomannan (E-GM), a cell wall derivative of Saccharomyces cerevisiae1026 in their counteraction. 2. Two dietary inclusion rates of AF (0 and 0.3 mg/kg), OA (0 and 2 mg/kg), T-2 (0 and 3 mg/kg) and E-GM (0 and 1 g/kg) were tested in a 2 x 2 x 2 x 2 factorial manner on a total of 960 broiler chickens from 1 to 35 d of age in an open sided deep litter pen house. 3. Body weight and food intake were depressed by all the mycotoxins, OA being the most toxic during early life. 4. Weights of kidney and adrenals were increased by AF and OA. Liver weight was increased by AF (17.8%), while OA increased gizzard weight (14.6%) and reduced bone ash content (8.1%). T-2 toxin showed no effect on these variables. 5. Serum cholesterol content was decreased and activity of serum gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) was increased by AF and OA while serum protein content was decreased by AF. These effects were more pronounced at 21 d than at 35 d of age. Inconsistent responses were seen in the other variables: blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content, activities of serum alanine amino transferase and aspertate amino transferase. Blood haemoglobin content was depressed by AF and T-2, whereas blood coagulation time was prolonged by OA. 6. Significant interactions were observed between any 2 toxins for their additive effects on body weight, food intake, bone ash content and serum GGT activity at 21 d. Conversely, antagonistic interactions were observed among any 2 of the toxins for their effects on variables such as serum protein and serum cholesterol content. Simultaneous feeding of all 3 mycotoxins did not show increased toxicity above that seen with any 2. 7. Esterified-glucomannan increased body weight (2.26%) and food intake (1.6%), decreased weights of liver (32.5%) and adrenals (18.9%) and activity of serum GGT (8.7%), and increased serum protein (14.7%), cholesterol (21.9%), BUN (20.8%) and blood haemoglobin (3.1%) content, indicating its possible beneficial effect on mycotoxicosis in broiler chickens.     

Comparison of effects of dietary T-2 toxin on growth, immunogenic organs, antibody formation, and pathologic changes in turkeys and chickens.

The effect of T-2 toxin (trichothecene mycotoxin) consumption on Broad-Breasted White turkey poults and White Leghorn chicks was studied. Groups of ten 8-day-old poults were fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm, 2ppm, or 0 ppm (controls) for a period of 4 weeks; a 4th group (inanition control) was fed control rations equal to the amount consumed by the group fed rations containing T-2 at 10 ppm during the previous 24 hours. A similar experimental design was used to study the effect of the toxin on 1-day-old chicks. The thymus glands of the poults given the feed containing 10 ppm were markedly decreased in size compared with thymus glands from poults in the control group, 0.182 vs 0.331 (percentage of body weight). There was no significant (P less than or equal to 0.05) decrease in thymus gland size in poults given 2 ppm or in the inanition controls. Dietary treatment did not appear to affect the size of the bursa or spleen of the poults. Histopathologic examination of thymus glands from poults given 10 ppm of T-2 revealed a depletion of cortical lymphocytes. Chicks appeared less sensitive to T-2 toxin than did the poults. There was no effect by any dietary treatment on the size of the thymus gland, bursa, or spleen of chicks. Reductions were noticed in feed efficiency and weight gain. There was no effect of T-2 toxin on agglutinating antibody formation to Pasteurella multocida bacterin.     

Inhibitory effect of trichothecene mycotoxins on bovine platelets stimulated by platelet activating factor.

Several species of fungi, which infect cereals and grains, can produce a class of compounds, known as trichothecene mycotoxins, which is characterized by a substituted epoxy-trichothecene ring structure. Cattle are susceptible to intoxication from feeds contaminated with T-2 toxin, one of the more potent trichothecene mycotoxins, while swine refuse to ingest feed contaminated with T-2 toxin. The bovine platelet has been used as a model cell system to evaluate the effects of T-2 toxin and its natural metabolites, HT-2 toxin and T-2 tetraol, on cell function in vitro. Due to the lipophilic nature of these mycotoxins, a biologically active phospholipid was used to stimulate the platelets in the presence and absence of the toxins. The mycotoxin T-2 toxin and its major metabolite HT-2 toxin inhibited platelet activating factor-stimulated bovine platelets, suspended in homologous plasma, in a concentration but not time dependent manner. Significant inhibition of platelet function (p less than 0.01) occurred with 135 ng T-2 toxin per 10(6) platelets and with 77 ng HT-2 toxin per 10(6) platelets. These mycotoxins exerted an additive inhibitory effect on the platelet aggregation response. In contrast, the minor metabolite T-2 tetraol had no inhibitory effect on platelet function and had no influence on the responses of T-2 toxin or HT-2 toxin when the mycotoxins were present together in the platelet suspensions.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The fungal T-2 toxin alters the activation of primary macrophages induced by TLR-agonists resulting in a decrease of the inflammatory response in the pig

T-2 toxin is known to be one of the most toxic trichothecene mycotoxins. Exposure to T-2 toxin induces many hematologic and immunotoxic disorders and is involved in immuno-modulation of the innate immune response. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of T-2 toxin on the activation of macrophages by different agonists of Toll-like receptors (TLR) using an in vitro model of primary porcine alveolar macrophages (PAM). Cytotoxic effects of T-2 toxin on PAM were first evaluated. An IC₅₀ of 19.47 ± 0.9753 nM was determined for the cytotoxicity of T-2 toxin. A working concentration of 3 nM of T-2 toxin was chosen to test the effect of T-2 toxin on TLR activation; this dose was not cytotoxic and did not induce apoptosis as demonstrated by Annexin/PI staining. A pre-exposure of macrophages to 3 nM of T-2 toxin decreased the production of inflammatory mediators (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, nitric oxide) in response to LPS and FSL1, TLR4 and TLR2/6 agonists respectively. The decrease of the pro-inflammatory response is associated with a decrease of TLR mRNA expression. By contrast, the activation of TLR7 by ssRNA was not modulated by T-2 toxin pre-treatment. In conclusion, our results suggest that ingestion of low concentrations of T-2 toxin affects the TLR activation by decreasing pattern recognition of pathogens and thus interferes with initiation of inflammatory immune response against bacteria and viruses. Consequently, mycotoxins could increase the susceptibility of humans and animals to infectious diseases.     

Embryotoxic effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure in mice.

Pregnant CD-1 mice were administered T-2 toxin by gastric intubation on day 11 of gestation at dosages of 0, 0.75 and 1.5 mg/kg. The T-lymphocyte dependent antibody response against sheep red blood cells which was evaluated in the offspring at six weeks of age was not affected by T-2 toxin exposure. Individual birth and weaning weights were not influenced by T-2 toxin, but the litter size was reduced in the high dose group, without affecting the number of implantation sites per dam. The number of female offspring produced by dams exposed to 1.5 mg/kg T-2 toxin was less compared to other treatment groups, suggesting that the female fetus was more susceptible to embryolethal effects of prenatal T-2 toxin exposure. These results suggest that prenatal T-2 toxin exposure is unlikely to be a significant health problem with respect to primary humoral immunity. At the dosages given, T-2 toxin produced substantial embryotoxicity without alteration in antibody production. The embryolethal effects are a primary limiting factor which may preclude the expression of any immunoteratological manifestations associated with humoral immunity under natural field conditions.     

T-2毒素致猪肾细胞损伤及氧化应激相关机理的研究

试验旨在研究T-2毒素对猪肾细胞(PK15)的毒性作用及其氧化应激反应。用不同浓度的T-2毒素处理细胞,通过MTT法检测细胞活性、测定细胞内乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)释放率及苏木素伊红(HE)染色观察细胞形态变化评估T-2毒素对细胞的毒性作用;通过检测细胞内的活性氧(ROS)水平、丙二醛(MDA)含量及谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GPx)活性,评估不同剂量T-2毒素对细胞氧化应激水平的影响;检测Nrf2-ARE信号通路相关基因Nrf2、Keap1、GPx-1、Nqo1及Hmox1 mRNA的表达水平,分析T-2毒素对该信号通路的影响。结果表明,PK15细胞活性呈毒素剂量依赖性下降(P<0.05),LDH释放率呈毒素剂量依赖性上调(P<0.05);随T-2毒素剂量升高,细胞间隙逐渐增加,细胞固缩,细胞数量也随之减少。细胞内ROS阳性细胞率呈剂量依赖性升高,且T-2毒素为100 nmol/L时,ROS阳性细胞率显著高于其他剂量组(P<0.05);细胞内MDA含量与GPx活性呈毒素剂量依赖性升高(P<0.05),而GSH含量呈毒素剂量依赖性下降(P<0.05)。20、50及100 nmol/L的T-2毒素可显著上调Keap1、Gpx-1及Nqo1基因mRNA的相对表达量(P<0.05),且50 nmol/L的相对表达量最高。T-2毒素对K15细胞有毒性作用,可诱导其氧化损伤,且该氧化应激过程受Nrf2-AER信号通路调控。     

The effect of T-2 toxin on the bovine immune system: Cellular factors

The effect of T-2 toxin, a Fusarium metabolite, on the bovine cellular defense (immune) system was evaluated during high level, chronic administration. The administration of T-2 toxin to calves at the rate of 0.6 mg/kg/day was associated with significant depression of lymphocyte responses to mitogens and significant decreases in chemotaxic migration of neutrophils.     

Characterization of the toxicity of the mycotoxins aflatoxin, ochratoxin, and T-2 toxin in game birds. III. Bobwhite and Japanese quail.

Bobwhite and Japanese quail were fed diets containing 1.25, 2.50, or 5.00 ppm aflatoxin; 1, 2, or 4 ppm ochratoxin A (OA); or 4, 8, or 16 ppm T-2 toxin. Aflatoxin induced mortality in bobwhites during the second and third week with 1.25 ppm (10%), 2.50 ppm (30%), and 5.00 ppm (40%), and during the same period with T-2 toxin at 8 ppm (20%) and 16 ppm (22.5%). Body weights of bobwhite quail were significantly decreased by the two higher levels of aflatoxin by 2 weeks of age, and by the two higher levels of T-2 toxin by 1 week of age. In Japanese quail, only the highest level of aflatoxin and T-2 toxin reduced body weight (by 3 weeks and by 1 week of age, respectively), and even then to a much lesser extent than in bobwhites (less than 10%). Aflatoxin did not affect feed-conversion ratio (FCR) in bobwhite quail, but the two higher levels of T-2 toxin increased FCR. None of the toxins induced mortality or increased the FCR in Japanese quail. Aflatoxin increased liver weight in both bobwhite and Japanese quail. OA increased kidney weight in 3-week-old Japanese quail but had no effect on the kidney weight of bobwhite quail. Mouth lesions were progressively more severe in bobwhite quail fed increasing levels of T-2 toxin, but lesions were far less severe in Japanese quail.