IMMUNOMODULATORY ACTIVITY OF PATULIN ON T HE FUNCTIONS OF DOG NEUTROPHILIC GRANULOCYTES

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.