Toxins 2013, 5(2), 396-430; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins5020396
Modulation of Intestinal Functions Following Mycotoxin Ingestion: Meta-Analysis of Published Experiments in Animals
1
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA
2
Biomin Research Center, Tulln 3430, Austria
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Received: 19 November 2012 / Revised: 12 December 2012 / Accepted: 4 February 2013 / Published: 21 February 2013
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mycotoxins in Food and Feed)
Abstract
Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that can cause serious health problems in animals, and may result in severe economic losses. Deleterious effects of these feed contaminants in animals are well documented, ranging from growth impairment, decreased resistance to pathogens, hepato- and nephrotoxicity to death. By contrast, data with regard to their impact on intestinal functions are more limited. However, intestinal cells are the first cells to be exposed to mycotoxins, and often at higher concentrations than other tissues. In addition, mycotoxins specifically target high protein turnover- and activated-cells, which are predominant in gut epithelium. Therefore, intestinal investigations have gained significant interest over the last decade, and some publications have demonstrated that mycotoxins are able to compromise several key functions of the gastrointestinal tract, including decreased surface area available for nutrient absorption, modulation of nutrient transporters, or loss of barrier function. In addition some mycotoxins facilitate persistence of intestinal pathogens and potentiate intestinal inflammation. By contrast, the effect of these fungal metabolites on the intestinal microbiota is largely unknown. This review focuses on mycotoxins which are of concern in terms of occurrence and toxicity, namely: aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and Fusarium toxins. Results from nearly 100 published experiments (in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo) were analyzed with a special attention to the doses used. View Full-TextKeywords:
mycotoxin; gastrointestinal tract; nutrients; gut permeability; mucosal immunity; gut microbiota
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Grenier, B.; Applegate, T.J. Modulation of Intestinal Functions Following Mycotoxin Ingestion: Meta-Analysis of Published Experiments in Animals . Toxins 2013, 5, 396-430.