Suppressive effect of deoxynivalenol, a Fusarium mycotoxin, on bovine and porcine neutrophil chemiluminescence: An in vitro study

Abstract

We evaluated the immunotoxicity of deoxynivalenol (DON), a Fusarium mycotoxin, on bovine and porcine neutrophils in vitro by using two function parameters, luminol-dependent chemiluminescence and random migration under agarose. A 2-hr DON treatment suppressed the chemiluminescence of bovine and porcine cells by 42% and 35% (on average) at 10-5M, and by 19% and 26% at 10-6M. Slight suppression was observed at concentrations lower than 10-6M. However, after an 18-hr DON treatment, random migration of neutrophils of both species remained unaffected, even at the highest concentration (10-5M). Although further extensive studies are needed, to our knowledge this is the first study to have revealed in vitro that DON can affect neutrophil function.