Work

Analysis of the Combined Toxic Effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA Complex Contamination in Caco-2, HK-2, SK-N-SH and HepG2 Cells

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxin A (OTA) are common mycotoxins that frequently co-occur in cereals and pose potential risks to animal and human health. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA, individually and in binary and ternary combinations, in four human-derived cell lines representing major target organs (Caco-2, HepG2, HK-2, and SK-N-SH). Individual toxin exposure revealed cell type-dependent sensitivity, with DON generally exhibiting the strongest cytostatic effect. Combined exposure analysis showed distinct interaction patterns across cell models, including antagonistic effects of AFB1 + OTA in most cell lines, dose-dependent interactions of DON + OTA, and low-dose synergistic effects in specific combinations. Overall, the results demonstrate that mycotoxin interactions are highly dependent on dose and target cell type, and that low-dose co-contamination may enhance toxicological risks, underscoring the importance of considering combined mycotoxin exposure in health risk assessment.

Source: Toxins

DOI: 10.3390/toxins18010041

Authors: Hanke Zhao, Xiaohu Zhai, Weihua He, Zheng Jing, Dengyan Wang, Junhua Yang

Institutions: Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jiangsu Agri-animal Husbandry Vocational College

Language: English

Topic: Mycotoxins in Agriculture and Food

Subfield: Plant Science

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences

Domain: Life Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,258