Effects of Aflatoxin B1, Ochratoxin A, Patulin, Citrinin, and Zearalenone on the in Vitro Proliferation of Pig Blood Lymphocytes

The effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), ochratoxin A (OTA), patulin (PAT), citrinin (CIT), and zearalenone (ZEA) on in vitro response of pig peripheral blood mononuclear cells to mitogen concanavalin A was assayed after three days of incubation using Hthymidine uptake. Dose response curves for each mycotoxin were generated and the concentrations producing 50% inhibition of cell proliferation (IC50) were estimated. AFB1, OTA, and PAT were the most potent toxins with the IC50 of 0.06, 0.17, and 0.19 μmol/L, respectively (0.2, 0.7, and 0.3 μg/mL, respectively). Based on the molar concentration, the inhibition potencies relative to that of AFB1 were determined. OTA had 35% and PAT 31% potency to that of AFB1, but CIT and ZEA had only 1.6 and 1.9 of AFB1 inhibition potencies.