TDK conference 2024

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi, of which deoxynivalenol (DON) produced by several Fusarium species is of particular importance. Depending on the concentration and time of consumption, they can cause cytotoxicity, immunotoxicity, and reproductive impairment. To prevent these harmful effects, it is important to investigate compounds that can reduce the symptoms after ingestion of feed contaminated with this toxin. One such compound is baicalin (BAI), a compound found in the roots of Scutellaria baicalensis.

This study investigated the effects of DON and the protective activity of BAI on oxidative processes in 3D liver cell cultures of chicken origin. Cells were treated with two concentrations of DON (2 and 20 µg/ml= DON2 and DON20),three concentrations of BAI (5, 15 and 45 µg/ml=BAI5, BAI15 és BAI45), and the combinations of these concentrations (DON+BAI) for 24 and 48 hours. The metabolic activity of the cells was determined by CCK-8 method, and the cell damage was evaluated by measuring the extracellular activity of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), which results indicate the viability of cells The status of oxidative homeostasis was assessed by measuring the amount of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF-2) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG).

After 24 h, cell viability was increased by all applied BAI concentrations and by the combination treatments, whereas the two types of DON treatment resulted in a decrease. After 48 hours, an increase was observed in the case of the BAI5 and BAI45, and all three BAI when used in combination with DON. During the 24 h incubation, BAI treatments reduced the LDH activity, while the DON20 increased it, which was moderated by theBAI45. In contrast, after 48 h both DON concentrations lowered the LDH activity, and a further decrease was observed in cells treated with the DON2 combined with BAI45. After 24 h, NRF-2 levels were reduced by the BAI45 and increased in response to DON20. Furthermore, in cultures treated with DON2, BAI15 reduced NRF-2 levels, whereas in cells treated with DON20, BAI15 and BAI45 treatments decreased its amount. The levels of 8-OHdG was decreased after 48 h by both DON concentrations, while they were increased by BAI45. In addition, in the cultures treated with DON20 combined BAI5 and BAI45, also an increase was observed.

These results suggest that DON reduced cellular viability, but this effect was not cytotoxic and could be mitigated by BAI. DON exerted its negative effects by affecting the oxidative state of the cells, against which the antioxidant property of BAI was dominated. However, after 48 h of incubation, a prooxidant effect of the BAI was also observed. Moreover, it is likely that after prolonged exposure, protective pathways in cells were activated to maintain the cellular homeostasis.