T-2 toxin is a secondary fungal metabolite that belongs to the trichothecene mycotoxin family,it is the most toxic in class A trichothecene mycotoxin.T-2 toxin can induce apoptosis in cells bearing high proliferating activity.The mycotoxin readily passes the placenta and is distributed to embryo tissues,which results in fetal brain damage,bone malformation,thymic atrophy and even death.This article reviewed the effects of T-2 toxin on immune system,blood system and cell toxicities in pregnant mice and generation mice.

T-2 toxin is a secondary fungal metabolite that belongs to the trichothecene mycotoxin family.T-2 toxin can lead to the structural and functional changes of cartilage cells and cartilage cell degeneration and necrosis.With strong cytotoxicity,T-2 toxin can cause definite damage to cartilage cells.In this paper,we reviewed recent studies on the effects of T-2 toxin on chondrocyte apoptosis,ultra structural changes and extracellular matrix in vitro.

Objective:To investigate the effects of T-2 toxin on expression of inflammatory cytokines, human leukocyte differentiation antigen (CD) 44 and integrin in chondrocytes cultured in vitro. Methods:Primary chondrocytes from SPF Wistar rats aged 1 to 2 days were isolated and cultured in vitro, and the chondrocytes were identified by toluidine blue staining. The effects of different dose of T-2 toxin (0, 2, 4, 6, 10, 12, 20 ng/ml) on proliferation of chondrocytes for 24, 48 and 72 h were detected via the cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) method. According to the cell survival rate, T-2 toxin concentrations of 0 (control), 2, 4, 6 and 8 ng/ml were selected for subsequent experiments, and the exposure time was 48 h. The contents of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α and CD44 in cell supernatant were detected via the enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The protein expression levels of integrin α5 and integrin β1 in chondrocytes were detected by Western blotting. Results:At the same exposure time, there were significant differences of the survival rate of chondrocytes between different dose groups ( F = 130.759, 258.250, 123.337, P < 0.01). At 48 h after exposure, there were statistically significant differences in IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α and CD44 contents in the culture supernatant of chondrocytes between different dose of T-2 toxin groups ( F = 10.613, 4.805, 2.943, 12.395, P < 0.01 or < 0.05); among them, the IL-6 levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8 ng/ml groups were higher than that of control group ( P < 0.05); the IL-1β levels of 6, 8 ng/ml groups were higher than that of control and 2 ng/ml groups, and the 6 ng/ml group was higher than that of 4 ng/ml group ( P < 0.05); the TNF-α levels of 6, 8 ng/ml groups were lower than that of control group ( P < 0.05); the CD44 levels of 2, 4, 6 and 8 ng/ml groups were lower than that of control group ( P < 0.05). At 48 h after exposure, there were statistically significant differences in integrin α5 and integrin β1 protein expression levels between different dose of T-2 toxin groups ( F = 4.635, 4.376, P < 0.05). Among them, the protein expression levels of integrin α5 in 6, 8 ng/ml groups were significantly lower than that of control group ( P < 0.05); the protein expression levels of integrin β1 in 6, 8 ng/ml groups were significantly higher than that of control group ( P < 0.05). Conclusion:T-2 toxin may up-regulate the expressions of IL-6, IL-1β and integrin β1, while down-regulate the expressions of TNF-α, CD44 and integrin α5, then disrupt the balance between chondrocytes and extracellular matrix, and cause chondrocytes damage.

Objective:To observe the effects of deoxynivalenol (DON) on the expression of chondrocyte inflammatory cytokines, cluster of differentiation (CD) 44, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-13 and integrin in vitro. Methods:Primary chondrocytes from Wistar rats aged 1 to 2 days were isolated, and the chondrocytes were identified by toluidine blue staining. The effects of DON (dose groups of 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 μg/ml) on proliferation of chondrocytes were detected by CCK-8 method for 24, 48 and 72 h. According to the cell survival rate, the DON concentrations [0.00 (control), 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20 μg/ml] were selected for subsequent experiments, and the exposure time was 48 h. The contents of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factors (TNF)-α, CD44 and MMP-13 in the cell culture supernatant were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. The expression levels of CD44 and integrin subunits α2, α5, and β1 protein in chondrocytes were detected by Western blotting.Results:The survival rate of chondrocytes decreased with the increase of DON concentrations and time ( P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in IL-6 content between different groups ( H = 13.425, P < 0.01), and 0.10 μg/ml group [256.89 (191.02, 477.58) pg/ml] was significantly higher than that of the control group [10.37 (0.00, 119.13) pg/ml, P < 0.05]. There were no statistically significant differences in IL-1β and TNF-α contents between the groups ( F = 0.881, 1.317, P > 0.05). The CD44 contents in 0.10, 0.15, and 0.20 μg/ml groups [(0.87 ± 0.21), (0.85 ± 0.24), (0.77 ± 0.17) pg/ml] were lower than that in the control group [(1.06 ± 0.19) pg/ml, P < 0.05]. There were statistically significant differences in MMP-13 expression between the groups ( F = 7.947, P < 0.01). There were statistically significant differences in protein expression of CD44, integrin subunits α2, α5 and β1 between the groups ( F = 5.737, 6.562, 6.074, 4.476, P < 0.05 or < 0.01). Conclusion:DON may disrupt the balance between cells and extracellular matrix by increasing the expression of IL-6, MMP-13, integrin subunits α2 and β1, and inhibiting the expression of CD44 and integrin subunit α5, thus causing cartilage injury.

In order to reveal the intestinal absorption mechanism of saikosaponin d (SSd) in vitro and in vivo, the current research investigated the effects of different experimental conditions (time, concentration, temperature, pH, intestinal segments), transporter inhibitors, paracellular pathway enhancer, metabolic enzyme inhibitors on the intestinal absorption of SSd, in Caco-2 monolayers and a single pass perfusion model in rats.The results showed that the apparent permeability coefficient (Papp) and effective permeability coefficient (Peff) of SSd were 4.75 × 10-7 - 6.38 × 10-7 cm/s and 0.19 × 10-4- 0.27 × 10-4 cm/s, respectively, indicating that it was a low permeability compound, and that the transmembrane transport of SSd was concentration-dependent (0.5-5 μmol/L) and time-dependent (0-180 min).Ileum was the main absorption site for SSd. Experimental results based on Caco-2 monolayers showed that the P-gp inhibitor and paracellular permeability enhancer significantly increased the absorption of SSd (P < 0.05), which was consistent with the results obtained in rats. Inhibitors of OATPs and OCTs showed different results in vitro and in vivo, which may be related to the lower expression of them in jejunum.In summary, the intestinal absorption of SSd occurs through a carrier-mediated and energy-dependent transport, as well as passive diffusion, and P-glycoprotein plays an important role in the active transport of SSd.

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is one of mycotoxins produced by fungal pathogen of fusarium,which has strong cytotoxicity.The study of articular cartilage injury is focused on the study of Kaschin-Beck disease (KBD)pathogenesis.DON can inhibit the proliferation of chondrocytes,induce apoptosis,affect the cell-related metabolic enzymes and other ways to break the balance of chondrocytes and extracellular matrix,eventually leading to irreversible damage of articular cartilage.This article reviews the role of DON toxin in the cartilage injury.

Objective To study the effects of different doses of T-2 toxin on organs and bones of BALB/c pregnant mice and their offspring mice.Methods Sixty female SPF BALB/c mice at the age of 6-weeks were mated with 30 6-week-old male SPF BALB/c mice.Female mice were divided into control,low dose,medium dose and high dose groups according to body weight via the random digital table method,with 15 mice in each group.After mating with male mice,the pregnant mice in each group were 14,10,9 and 15,respectively.Nutritional interventions (feed:the doses of T-2 toxin were 0,600,1 200 and 2 400 ng/g,respectively) were initiated from the gestation day 0 until the first generation mice were grown up (6-weeks-old).The growth status and organ coefficient (heart,liver,kidney,thymus,spleen and brain) of the two generations in each period were recorded.Skeletal X-ray photographs of the two generations were taken by digital radiography.The histopathological changes in the organs (liver,thymus,spleen and epiphyseal cartilage) of the two generations were observed under light microscope.Results Among the pregnant mice,there were no significant differences in organ coefficients (P ＞ 0.05).No abnormalities were observed in each group of skeletal X-ray photographs.In the female generation mice,there were no significant differences in the coefficients of heart,liver and kidney (F =0.233,2.196,0.430,P ＞ 0.05),while there were significant differences in the coefficients of thymus,spleen and brain (F=3.683,3.148,4.498,P ＜ 0.05),and the thymus coefficient of medium dose group was higher than that of control group;the thymus coefficient of high dose group was lower than that of other three groups;the spleen coefficients of the three dose groups were higher than that of control group;the brain coefficients of the three dose groups were lower than that of control group (P ＜ 0.05).In the male generation mice,there were no significant differences in the coefficients of thymus and brain (F =2.447,1.620,P ＞ 0.05),while there were significant differences in the coefficients of heart,liver,kidney and spleen (F =5.339,2.738,11.435,2.872,P ＜ 0.05),and the heart coefficient of high dose group was lower than that of control group and low dose group;the coefficients of liver and kidney in medium dose and high dose groups were lower than those in control and low dose groups;the spleen coefficients of the three dose groups were higher than that of control group (P ＜ 0.05).The pathological changes of liver,thymus,spleen and epiphyseal cartilage were found in dose exposure groups;epiphyseal hyperplasia was found in the skeletal X-ray photographs of medium and high dose groups.Conclusion T-2 toxin has no significant effects on pregnant mice,but it could cause damage to the organs and epiphyseal plate cartilage of the first generation,and the location of the injury is related to gender.

Objective To investigate the effects of different doses of T-2 toxin on the expression of cytokines cytokines and pathological changes in parental mice and their offspring. Methods One hundred female mice and 25 male mice (CD-1, SPF) were adapted for one week. After regular random mating, observation of vaginal suppository within the first 24 hours was as the 0th day of pregnancy. The pregnant rats were divided into high dose, medium dose, low dose and control groups according to body weight by a random number table(Feed: the doses of T-2 toxin were 1 200, 600, 300, and 0 μg/kg, respectively), with 16 - 18 rats in each group. The high, middle and low dose groups began to consume the poisoned feed on the 0th day of pregnancy, while the control group consumed the standard feed. After natural delivery, their offspring were continually treated the same way as their mother until the offspring reached adulthood. Serum levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), organ coefficient and pathological changes of articular cartilage were determined. Results The levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α in the control, low, middle and high T-2 toxin groups during the pro-pregnancy of the middle-aged mice were [(219.56 ± 19.32), (136.89 ± 20.41), (210.49 ± 21.23), (207.41 ± 21.23); (192.73 ± 22.43), (136.25 ± 29.55), (187.43 ± 39.32), (232.48 ± 39.32); (1 303.02 ± 142.10), (1 072.60 ± 78.30), (1 065.03 ± 37.44), and (1 169.72 ± 104.18) ng/L], respectively. The differences between control and T-2 toxin treated groups were statistically significant (F = 17.124, 6.237, 7.670, P < 0.05). For further pairwise comparison,IL-1β and IL-6 in low dose group were significantly lower than those in control, middle and high dose groups (P < 0.05); TNF-α content in control group was significantly higher than those in low,middle and high dose groups(P<0.05).There were significant differences in the levels of IL-1β,IL-6 and TNF-α between the control group and the low,middle and high dose groups of offspring weanling mice[(142.36 ± 13.36),(113.01 ± 8.65), (102.13 ± 8.31), (123.42 ± 10.41); (109.92 ± 9.76), (100.26 ± 15.60), (85.25 ± 9.97), (100.21 ± 16.46);(1 308.45 ± 204.90), (1 248.60 ± 96.85), (1 081.09 ± 105.51), (1 204.87 ± 153.96) ng/L, F = 49.823, 10.530, 7.490, P < 0.05]. The levels of IL-1β and IL-6 in the control group were significantly higher than those in the low, middle and high dose groups(P < 0.05).The levels of TNF-α in the control group were significantly higher than those in the medium and high dose groups(P < 0.05).The levels of the three cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in adult filial mice were significantly different [(69.71 ± 9.61), (61.31 ± 10.07), (63.07 ± 10.39), (58.56 ± 9.69); (172.55 ± 24.55),(146.91 ± 13.47),(151.02 ± 24.93), (157.21 ± 17.86); (1 136.87 ± 137.39), (1 002.22 ± 86.52), (987.12 ± 130.80),(1 047.21 ± 171.64)ng/L, F=4.670,5.636, 4.775, P < 0.05], the contents of the three cytokines in the poisoning groups were significantly lower than that of the control group (P < 0.05). The organ coefficients of thymus, spleen and liver in the second trimester were significantly different [(0.14 ± 0.03), (0.20 ± 0.06), (0.15 ± 0.02), (0.12 ± 0.03); (0.71 ± 0.16), (0.78 ± 0.14), (0.77 ± 0.15), (0.38 ± 0.10); (6.19 ± 0.43), (5.57 ± 0.57), (6.04 ± 0.32), (5.11 ± 0.29), F = 4.056, 11.064, 8.312, P < 0.05], and the thymus index was significantly increased in low dose group (P<0.05),spleen coefficient decreased significantly in high dose group (P < 0.05), and liver coefficients in low and high dose group were significantly decreased (P < 0.05). In the offspring, the midbrain coefficient of viscera showed significant changes [(3.45 ± 0.73), (3.11 ± 0.31), (2.98 ± 0.45), (3.04 ± 0.22), F = 7.529, P < 0.05], which was significantly decreased in the exposed rats(P<0.05).Both the mid-pregnant mice and filial mice showed varying degrees of changes in epiphyseal cartilage injury. The degree of epiphyseal cartilage injury became higher with increasing dosages of T-2 toxin in mid-pregnancy and post-weaning parental mice, and the injury was more serious in post-weaning mice. Conclusions Exposure to T-2 toxin can cause decrease of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α in the blood of CD-1 pregnant and filial mice, and also cause the cartilage damage in mice, which are aggravated following increased doses of T-2 toxin and extension of exposure time.

Kaschin-Beck disease is an endemic and deformed chronic osteochondropathy. Though the etiology is not well clear, the etiologic hypotheses have been mainly focused on bio-geochemical hypotheses, the hypotheses of mycotoxin poisoning under low selenium condition and the hypotheses of toxic organic compounds in drinking water. Prevention and control measures based on these hypotheses have shown remarkable achievements. Depending on the related research at home and abroad, this paper reviews the new developments of pathogen, pathogenesis and prevention on Kaschin-Beck disease in recent years.In terms of scientific research,new progresses have been made in the aspects of environmental factors associated with the pathogenesis of Kaschin-Beck disease, molecular biology, genomics, proteomics and environmental response genes. As for prevention and treatment, new progress has been made in such fields as supplement of selenium and treatment of traditional Chinese medicine.