DNA damage in astrocytes exposed to fumonisin B1

Fumonisins are a group of toxic metabolites mainly produced by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum, fungi that commonly occur on corn throughout the world. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), structurally resembling sphingoid bases, is an inhibitor of ceramide synthase, a key enzyme involved in de novo s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neurochemical research 2002-04, Vol.27 (4), p.345-351
Main Authors: GALVANO, F, CAMPISI, A, RUSSO, A, GALVANO, G, PALUMBO, M, RENIS, M, BARCELLONA, M. L, PEREZ-POLO, J. R, VANELLA, A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animals
Animals, Newborn
Astrocytes - drug effects
Astrocytes - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Carboxylic Acids - toxicity
Carcinogens, Environmental - toxicity
Cell Survival - drug effects
Cells, Cultured
Comet Assay
DNA Damage - drug effects
Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
Fumonisins
Fusarium
Medical sciences
Mycotoxins - toxicity
Plant poisons toxicology
Rats
Rats, Wistar
Time Factors
Toxicology
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Summary:Fumonisins are a group of toxic metabolites mainly produced by Fusarium moniliforme and Fusarium proliferatum, fungi that commonly occur on corn throughout the world. Fumonisin B1 (FB1), structurally resembling sphingoid bases, is an inhibitor of ceramide synthase, a key enzyme involved in de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis and in the reacylation of free sphingoid bases derived from sphingolipid turnover. This inhibitory effect leads to accumulation of free sphinganine (SA) and sphingosine (SO), inducing cell death. However, little is known on the down stream effectors activated by these sphingolipids in the cell death signaling pathway. We exposed rat astrocytes to FB1 with the aim of evaluating the involvement of oxygen free radicals and of some other biochemical pathways such as caspase-3 activity and DNA damage. Our results indicate that FB1 treatment (48, 72 h and 6 days in vitro, DIV, and 10, 50, 100 microM) does not affect cell viability. Conversely, after 72 h of treatment, FB1 (50 and 100 microM) induced DNA damage and an enhancement of caspase-3 activity compared to controls. In addition, FB1 increased the expression of HSP70 at 10 and 50 microM at 48, 72 h, and 6 DIV of treatment. We conclude that DNA damage of apoptotic type in rat astrocytes is caused by FB1 and that the genotoxic potential of FB1 has probably been underestimated and should be reconsidered.
ISSN:0364-3190
1573-6903
DOI:10.1023/A:1014971515377