FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT OF RAT KUPFFER CELLS INDUCED BY AFLATOXIN B-1 AND ITS METABOLITES

Contamination of food with mycotoxins is a major health problem. Impai rment of several immune functions has been repeatedly reported in anim als fed with contaminated fodder. Since the liver is a major target of toxicity by aflatoxins, the effects of aflatoxins B1, and its hepatic metabolites Q(1) and M(1) on Kupffer cell function was investigated i n vitro. Aflatoxin B-1 induced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of ph agocytosis, intracellular killing of Candida albicans, and intrinsic a nti-Herpes virus activity at concentrations as low as 0.01 pg ml(-1). Aflatoxin Q(1) and M(1) had similar effects on phagocytosis and microb icidal activity, but were two- to ten-fold less potent than aflatoxin B-1.