The immunotoxicity of deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium mycotoxin, on bovine and porcine neutrophils was evaluated in vitro by using selected function parameters such as luminol-dependent chemiluminescence, chemotaxis and random migration under agarose. A 2-hr DON treatment suppressed the chemiluminescence, a bactericidal parameter, in bovine and porcine cells by 42% and 35% (on average) at 10-5 M, and by 19% and 26% at 10-6 M. We also observed a slight suppression at concentrations lower than 10-6 M. However, after an 18-hr DON treatment, random migration of neutrophils of both species remained unaffected, even at the highest concentration (10-5 M). In addition to this cell movement parameter, chemotaxis of bovine neutrophils was not affected by DON. Although it remains unanswered why DON exerted such a relatively selective neutrophil suppression in vitro, the present finding may be important in elucidating the possible involvement of DON in disturbing homeostasis in susceptible animals.
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Reference:
Takayama et al. (2005) J. Vet. Med. Sci. 67: 531-533.
