Cytotoxicity induced by ochratoxin A, zearalenone, and α-zearalenol: Effects of individual and combined treatment

• Published in: Food and chemical toxicology 2014-09, Vol.71, p.217-224
• Main Authors: Wang, H.W., Wang, J.Q., Zheng, B.Q., Li, S.L., Zhang, Y.D., Li, F.D., Zheng, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Cytotoxicity; Food toxicology; Hep G2; Hep G2 Cells; Humans; Isobologram; Medical sciences; Ochratoxin A; Ochratoxins - administration & dosage; Ochratoxins - toxicity; Plant poisons toxicology; Toxicology; Zearalenone; Zearalenone - administration & dosage; Zearalenone - toxicity; Zeranol - administration & dosage; Zeranol - analogs & derivatives; Zeranol - toxicity; α-Zearalenol
• ISSN: 0278-6915; 1873-6351
• DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2014.05.032

•The interaction of OTA, ZEA and α-ZOL on human Hep G2 cells was evaluated.•The MTT assay was used to be as endpoint.•The isobologram analysis was applied to analysis interaction types of mycotoxins.•OTA+ZEA or α-ZOL and OTA+ZEA+α-ZOL produced antagonism.•ZEA+α-ZOL showed antagonism, additive and synergism at different concentration. This study investigated the cytotoxicity of combined mycotoxins of ochratoxin A (OTA), zearalenone (ZEA), and/or α-zearalenol (α-ZOL). The cytotoxicity of two mycotoxin combinations (two two-toxin combinations and one three-toxin combination) on human Hep G2 cells was evaluated using a tetrazolium salt (MTT) assay and isobologram analysis. Our results demonstrated significant cytotoxic effects of the two-toxin combination and the three-toxin combination on Hep G2 cells in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. The combination indexes (CI) were 2.73–7.67 for the OTA+ZEA combination and 1.23–17.82 for the OTA+α-ZOL combination after 24h, 48h, and 72h of exposure at all inhibit concentration (IC) levels (IC10–IC90), indicating an antagonism. The CIs of the ZEA+α-ZOL combination were 1.29–2.55 after 24h and 72h of exposure (IC10–IC90), indicating an antagonism. The CIs of the ZEA+α-ZOL combination were 0.74–1.68 after 48h of exposure, indicating synergism (IC80–IC90), additive effects (IC50–IC70), or antagonism (IC10–IC40). For the OTA+ZEA+α-ZOL combination, the CIs were 1.41–14.65 after 24h, 48h, and 72h of exposure (IC10–IC90), indicating an antagonism.