Trichothecene toxicity on human megakaryocyte progenitors (CFU-MK)

Trichothecenes are mycotoxins produced by various species of Fungi, which c an occur on various agricultural products. Among these compounds, T-2 toxin , HT-2 toxin, diacetoxyscirpenol (DAS) and deoxynivalenol (DON) are the mos t naturally encountered and the most potent trichothecenes. Consumption of trichothecene contaminated foods by farm animals and humans leads to mycoto xicosis. Trichothecenes are known to induce haematological disorders such a s neutropenia, aplastic anemia and thrombocytopenia in humans and animals, Four trichothecenes, T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, DAS and DON have been tested on human platelet progenitors (CFU-MK) using a culture model of CFU-MK optimi zed for toxicological studies. Trichothecenes cause, at low concentrations, cytotoxic effects in megakaryocyte progenitors, which could induce thrombo cytopenia. Sensitivity of human CFU-MK is compared to respective sensitivit ies of human red blood cell progenitors (BFU-E) and white blood cell progen itors (CF-U-GM) that were described in previous works.