N. Dubech et al., IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF PATULIN ON T HE FUNCTIONS OF DOG NEUTROPHILIC GRANULOCYTES, Revue de Medecine Veterinaire, 144(6), 1993, pp. 553-557
Patulin is a mycotoxin present in human and animal food which exert mo
dulatory effects on the functions of dog neutrophilic granulocytes. At
concentrations of 0.25-1 mug/ml, it decreases the chemotactic index o
f cells stimulated by opsonized zymosan. However, when used as chemoat
tractant at the same concentrations, it favours the migration of the c
ells. At 1 mug/ml, it inhibits the liberation of superoxyde ions by ne
utrophils, but it does not modify their ability to phagocyte Saccharom
yces cerivisiae, even at concentrations up to 10 mug/ml. These immunos
uppressive actions may be explained by a fixation of patulin on sulfhy
dric groups present on the neutrophil membrane.