Combinative toxicity assessment of mycotoxins DON and ZEN in vitro

BEL-7402 cells were chosen as the cell model in this study to evaluate the indiviual and combined toxicity of Deoxynivalenol (DON) and Zearalenone (ZEN) .With the logarithmic phase of BEL7402 cells exposed to different concentrations of DON, ZEN and their mixture for 24 h, the rate of cell proliferation, reactive oxygen species (ROS) and calcium levels, cell apoptosis rate and apoptosis related genes expression were analyzed and the combined effect of the two toxins was evaluated.The results showed that the mycotoxin DON, ZEN could inhibit cell activity with an IC₅₀of 9.3μg/m L and 27.2μg/m L, lead to cell damage induced by oxidative stress and increase the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and calcium ion concentration.Proapoptotic gene p53 was signifigantly up-regulation and Bal-2 gene was down-regulated, induce cell apoptosis or necrosis, a variety of toxic index verified that the combined toxicity of these two toxins on cells have an additive effect.