The Significance of Regulatory MicroRNAs: Their Roles in Toxicodynamics of Mycotoxins and in the Protection Offered by Dietary Therapeutics Against Mycotoxin-Induced Toxicity

Abstract

Mycotoxins are contaminants commonly found in foods and represent a worldwide threat to human health and welfare. Efforts have been undertaken to reduce mycotoxins and their toxicity, including the introduction of good agricultural practices, appropriate food processing, specific biotransformation approaches, and pursue therapeutic agents to counteract mycotoxins. Efficient and predictive tools are required for investigations on mycotoxins and their toxicodynamics, and strategies for mycotoxin reduction. Gene expression and transcriptome analysis can unravel the mode of action, transformation and combined toxicity of mycotoxins, or mycotoxin's interactions with food components including dietary therapeutics, at the cellular level and from a molecular perspective. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) regulate endogenously and posttranscriptionally the expression of target genes and enzymes involved in physiological, disease and toxicological responses, and the metabolism of therapeutic agents. Accordingly, this review aimed to collect up-to-date information on (1) the regulatory role of miRNAs in mycotoxin-initiated toxicological processes and (2) the protective role of active ingredients from plants on mycotoxin-induced toxicity. Through such a review of published evidence, we found some common signal pathways involving miRNAs shared by these two types of biological events. This finding indicates the possibility of using miRNAs as biomarkers in assessing and controlling mycotoxins in food via cellular mechanisms.