T-2 toxin is the most toxic trichothecene mycotoxin, and it exerts potent toxic effects, including immunotoxicity, neurotoxicity, and reproductive toxicity. Recently, several novel metabolites, including 3',4'-dihydroxy-T-2 toxin and 4',4'-dihydroxy-T-2 toxin, have been uncovered. The enzymes CYP3A4 and carboxylesterase contribute to T-2 toxin metabolism, with 3'-hydroxy-T-2 toxin and HT-2 toxin as the corresponding primary products. Modified forms of T-2 toxin, including T-2-3-glucoside, exert their immunotoxic effects by signaling through JAK/STAT but not MAPK. T-2-3-glucoside results from hydrolyzation of the corresponding parent mycotoxin and other metabolites by the intestinal microbiota, which leads to enhanced toxicity. Increasing evidence has shown that autophagy, hypoxia-inducible factors, and exosomes are involved in T-2 toxin-induced immunotoxicity. Autophagy promotes the immunosuppression induced by T-2 toxin, and a complex crosstalk between apoptosis and autophagy exists. Very recently, "immune evasion" activity was reported to be associated with this toxin; this activity is initiated inside cells and allows pathogens to escape the host immune response. Moreover, T-2 toxin has the potential to trigger hypoxia in cells, which is related to activation of hypoxia-inducible factor and the release of exosomes, leading to immunotoxicity. Based on the data from a series of human exposure studies, free T-2 toxin, HT-2 toxin, and HT-2-4-glucuronide should be considered human T-2 toxin biomarkers in the urine. The present review focuses on novel findings related to the metabolism, immunotoxicity, and human exposure assessment of T-2 toxin and its modified forms. In particular, the immunotoxicity mechanisms of T-2 toxin and the toxicity mechanism of its modified form, as well as human T-2 toxin biomarkers, are discussed. This work will contribute to an improved understanding of the immunotoxicity mechanism of T-2 toxin and its modified forms.

• Klíčová slova
• Biomarkers, Human exposure assessments, Immunotoxicity, Metabolism, Modified T-2 toxin, T-2 toxin,
• MeSH
• apoptóza MeSH
• autofagie MeSH
• biologické markery MeSH
• hypoxie buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• signální transdukce MeSH
• T-2 toxin analogy a deriváty   metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• vystavení vlivu životního prostředí analýza   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 3'-hydroxy-T-2 toxin MeSH Prohlížeč
• biologické markery MeSH
• HT-2 toxin MeSH Prohlížeč
• T-2 toxin MeSH

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is an unavoidable contaminant in human food, animal feeds, and agricultural products. Growth retardation in children caused by extensive DON pollution has become a global problem that cannot be ignored. Previous studies have shown that DON causes stunting in children through intestinal dysfunction, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) axis disorder and peptide YY (PYY). Galanin-like peptide (GALP) is an important growth regulator, but its role in DON-induced growth retardation is unclear. In this study, we report the important role of GALP during DON-induced growth inhibition in the rat pituitary tumour cell line GH3. DON was found to increase the expression of GALP through hypomethylationin the promoter region of the GALP gene and upregulate the expression of proinflammatory factors, while downregulate the expression of growth hormone (GH). Furthermore, GALP overexpression promoted proinflammatory cytokines, including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-11 and IL-6, and further reduced cell viability and cell proliferation, while the inhibitory effect of GALP was the opposite. The expression of GALP and insulin like growth factor binding protein acid labile subunit (IGFALS) showed the opposite trend, which was the potential reason for the regulation of cell proliferation by GALP. In addition, GALP has anti-apoptotic effects, which could not eliminate the inflammatory damage of cells, thus aggravating cell growth inhibition. The present findings provide new mechanistic insights into the toxicity of DON-induced growth retardation and suggest a therapeutic potential of GALP in DON-related diseases.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA methylation, Deoxynivalenol, GALP, Growth inhibition, IGFALS, Proinflammatory cytokines,
• MeSH
• apoptóza MeSH
• epigeneze genetická účinky léků   MeSH
• galanin genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• glykoproteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• hypofýza cytologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• transportní proteiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• trichotheceny farmakologie   MeSH
• umlčování genů MeSH
• upregulace účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• deoxynivalenol MeSH Prohlížeč
• galanin MeSH
• glykoproteiny MeSH
• insulin-like growth factor binding protein, acid labile subunit MeSH Prohlížeč
• transportní proteiny MeSH
• trichotheceny MeSH

The cancer mortality rate of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the second highest in the world and the therapeutic options are limited. The incidence of this deadly cancer is rising at an alarming rate because of the high degree of resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy, lack of proper, and adequate vaccination to hepatitis B, and lack of consciousness and knowledge about the disease itself and the lifestyle of the people. DNA methylation and DNA methylation-induced epigenetic alterations, due to their potential reversibility, open the access to develop novel biomarkers and therapeutics for HCC. The contribution to these epigenetic changes in HCC development still has not been thoroughly summarized. Thus, it is necessary to better understand the new molecular targets of HCC epigenetics in HCC diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. This review elaborates on recent key findings regarding molecular biomarkers for HCC early diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Currently emerging epigenetic drugs for the treatment of HCC are summarized. In addition, combining epigenetic drugs with nonepigenetic drugs for HCC treatment is also mentioned. The molecular mechanisms of DNA methylation-mediated HCC resistance are reviewed, providing some insights into the difficulty of treating liver cancer and anticancer drug development.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA methylation, HCC treatment, biomarkers, diagnosis, resistance,
• MeSH
• chemorezistence MeSH
• hepatocelulární karcinom * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• metylace DNA MeSH
• nádory jater * diagnóza   farmakoterapie   genetika   MeSH
• prognóza MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH

Currently, T-2 toxin has been reported to cause liver toxicity with the effects of oxidative stress and inflammation; however, the underlying mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced liver injury is not fully understood. Increasing lines of evidence show that DNA methylation affects the expression of inflammatory cytokine, and plays a crucial role in autoimmune diseases. Nevertheless, the potential role of DNA methylation in the hepatotoxicity of T-2 toxin has not been explored. In this study, female Wistar rats were given a single dose of T-2 toxin at 2 mg/kg b.w. and were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 7 days post-exposure. In vitro, a normal rat liver cell line (BRL) was exposed to different concentrations of T-2 toxin. Histopathological analysis was used to investigate damage to the liver, which was detected at the molecular level by RT-PCR, Western blot and immunohistochemical assays, methylation-specific PCR (MSP), bisulfite sequencing (BSP), and flow cytometry. The results showed that T-2 toxin significantly increased the levels of DNA methyltransferases (DNMT1, DNMT3A), which were mainly concentrated at the site of liver injury. The 5-methylcytosine (5-mC) level of genomic DNA was also raised in T-2 toxin-treated rat livers. The expression of inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β, IL-11, IL-1α, and TNF-α) increased both in vivo and in vitro under T-2 toxin treatment. Notably, DNA demethylation directly increased the expression of cytokines IL-11, IL-6, IL-α, and TNF-α under T-2 toxin exposure. DNA methylation inhibitors combined with T-2 toxin directly or indirectly induced the production of inflammatory cytokines and aggravate cell apoptosis. Our study uncovered for the first time that DNA methylation is related to the expression of inflammatory cytokines in T-2 toxin-induced liver injury. These findings suggested that DNA methylation is a potential mechanism of T-2 toxin-induced hepatotoxicity.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA methylation, Hepatotoxicity, Pro-inflammatory cytokine, T-2 toxin,
• MeSH
• CpG ostrůvky MeSH
• cytokiny genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• játra účinky léků   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mediátory zánětu metabolismus   MeSH
• metylace DNA * MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• promotorové oblasti (genetika) MeSH
• T-2 toxin toxicita   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• cytokiny MeSH
• mediátory zánětu MeSH
• T-2 toxin MeSH

T-2 toxin is a secondary metabolite produced by Fusarium species and commonly contaminates food and animal feed. T-2 toxin can induce hepatotoxicity through apoptosis and oxidative stress; however, the underlying mechanism is not clear. Recent studies indicated that RASSF4, a member of the RASSF family, participates in cell apoptosis and some cancers due to its inactivation via DNA hypermethylation. However, its role in T-2 toxin-induced liver toxicity is poorly understood. Therefore, in this study, female Wistar rats were given a single dose of T-2 toxin at 2 mg/kg b.w. and were sacrificed at 1, 3 and 7 days post-exposure. A normal rat liver cell line (BRL) was exposed to different concentrations of T-2 toxin (10, 20, 40 nM) for 4, 8, 12 h, respectively. Histopathological analysis revealed with apoptosis in some liver cells and clear proliferation under T-2 toxin exposure. Expression analysis by immunohistochemical assays, quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) and western blot demonstrated that T-2 toxin activated PI3K-Akt/Caspase/NF-κB signaling pathways. Additionally, DNA methylation assays revealed that the expression of RASSF4 was silenced by promoter hypermethylation after exposure to T-2 toxin for 1 and 3 days as compared to the control group. Moreover, joint treatment of 5-Aza-2'-deoxycytidine (DAC) (5 μM) and T-2 toxin (40 nM) increased expression of RASSF4 and PI3K-Akt/caspase/NF-κB signaling pathways-related genes, inducing cell apoptosis. These findings for the first time demonstrated that DNA methylation regulated the RASSF4 expression under T-2 toxin, along with the activation of its downstream pathways, resulting in apoptosis.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA methylation, Hepatotoxicity, RASSF4, T-2 toxin,
• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• játra účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• metylace DNA * účinky léků   MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• průtoková cytometrie MeSH
• T-2 toxin toxicita   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• western blotting MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• intracelulární signální peptidy a proteiny MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• Rassf4 protein, rat MeSH Prohlížeč
• T-2 toxin MeSH

Statins, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors, are currently the most effective lipid-lowering drugs, effectively reducing the plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein, while also decreasing three triacylglycerols and increasing plasma high-density lipoprotein to a certain extent. However, the excessive or long-term use of statins can cause in vitro cytotoxicity, in vivo liver injury, liver necrosis, kidney damage, and myopathy in both human beings and animals. Many studies indicate that oxidative stress is involved in the various toxicities associated with statins, and various antioxidants have been evaluated to investigate their protective roles against statin-induced liver, kidney, and muscle toxicities. Widespread attention has been given to statin-induced oxidative stress, with and without the use of other drugs. Much of the information about the mechanism for this reduction comes from cell culture and in experimental animal studies. The primary focus of this article is to summarize the research progress associated with oxidative stress as a plausible mechanism for statin-induced toxicity, as well as its metabolic interactions. This review summarizes the research conducted over the past five years into the production of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress as a result of statin treatments, and their correlation with statin-induced toxicity and metabolism. Statin-induced metabolism involves various CYP450 enzymes, which provide potential sites for statin-induced oxidative stress, and these metabolic factors are also reviewed. The therapeutics of a variety of compounds against statin-induced organ damage based on their anti-oxidative effects is also discussed to further understand the role of oxidative stress in statin-induced toxicity. This review sheds new light on the critical roles of oxidative stress in statin-induced toxicity and prevention of this oxidative damage, as well as on the contradictions and unknowns that still exist regarding statin toxicity and the cellular effects in terms of organ injury and cell signaling pathways.

• Klíčová slova
• Metabolic interaction, Oxidative stress, Statins, Toxicology,
• MeSH
• lékové interakce MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• předávkování léky MeSH
• statiny škodlivé účinky   farmakokinetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• statiny MeSH

Mequindox (MEQ), belonging to quinoxaline-di-N-oxides (QdNOs), is a synthetic antimicrobial agent widely used in China. Previous studies found that the kidney was one of the main toxic target organs of the QdNOs. However, the mechanisms underlying the kidney toxicity caused by QdNOs in vivo still remains unclear. The present study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism of kidney toxicity in mice after chronic exposure to MEQ. MEQ led to the oxidative stress, apoptosis, and mitochondrial damage in the kidney of mice. Meanwhile, MEQ upregulated Bax/Bcl-2 ratio, disrupted mitochondrial permeability transition pores, caused cytochrome c release, and a cascade activation of caspase, eventually induced apoptosis. The oxidative stress mediated by MEQ might led to mitochondria damage and apoptosis in a mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway. Furthermore, upregulation of the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway was also observed. Our findings revealed that the oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and the Nrf2-Keap1 signaling pathway were associated with the kidney apoptosis induced by MEQ in vivo.

• Klíčová slova
• Nrf2-Keap1, apoptosis, mequindox, oxidative stress, quinoxaline-di-N-oxides,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

T-2 toxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin, is a common contaminant in food and animal feed, and is also present in processed cereal products. The most common route of T-2 toxin exposure in humans is through dietary ingestion. The cytotoxic effects of T-2 toxin include modifications to feeding behavior, nervous disorders, cardiovascular alterations, immunosuppression, and hemostatic derangements. However, to date, effects on the central nervous system (CNS) have rarely been reported. In the present study, female Wistar rat were given a single dose of T-2 toxin at 2 mg/kg b.w. and were sacrificed at one, three, and seven days post-exposure. Histopathological analysis and transmission electron microscope (TEM) observations were used to investigate injury to the brain and pituitary gland. Damage to the brain and pituitary at the molecular level was detected by real time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blot, and immunohistochemical assays. Liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer/mass spectrometer (LC-MS/MS) was used to investigate T-2 concentration in the brain. The results showed that pathological lesions were obvious in the brain at three days post-exposure; lesions in the pituitary were not observed until seven days post-exposure. Autophagy in the brain and apoptosis in the pituitary suggest that T-2 toxin may induce different acute reactions in different tissues. Importantly, low concentrations of T-2 toxin in the brain were observed in only one rat. Responsible for the above mentioned, we hypothesize that brain damage caused by this toxin may be due to the ability of the toxin to directly cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Therefore, given its widespread pollution in food, we should pay more attention to the neurotoxic effects of the T-2 toxin, which may have widespread implications for human health.

• Klíčová slova
• T-2 toxin, brain, human health, hypophysis, neurotoxicity,
• MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• autofagie účinky léků   MeSH
• časové faktory MeSH
• chování zvířat účinky léků   MeSH
• chromatografie kapalinová MeSH
• hematoencefalická bariéra metabolismus   MeSH
• hodnocení rizik MeSH
• hypofýza účinky léků   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• imunohistochemie MeSH
• kapilární permeabilita MeSH
• kvantitativní polymerázová řetězová reakce MeSH
• mozek účinky léků   metabolismus   ultrastruktura   MeSH
• neurotoxické syndromy etiologie   metabolismus   patologie   psychologie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• regulace genové exprese MeSH
• T-2 toxin metabolismus   toxicita   MeSH
• tandemová hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• transmisní elektronová mikroskopie MeSH
• western blotting MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• T-2 toxin MeSH

Paracetamol (APAP) is one of the most widely used and popular over-the-counter analgesic and antipyretic drugs in the world when used at therapeutic doses. APAP overdose can cause severe liver injury, liver necrosis and kidney damage in human beings and animals. Many studies indicate that oxidative stress is involved in the various toxicities associated with APAP, and various antioxidants were evaluated to investigate their protective roles against APAP-induced liver and kidney toxicities. To date, almost no review has addressed the APAP toxicity in relation to oxidative stress. This review updates the research conducted over the past decades into the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), reactive nitrogen species (RNS), and oxidative stress as a result of APAP treatments, and ultimately their correlation with the toxicity and metabolism of APAP. The metabolism of APAP involves various CYP450 enzymes, through which oxidative stress might occur, and such metabolic factors are reviewed within. The therapeutics of a variety of compounds against APAP-induced organ damage based on their anti-oxidative effects is also discussed, in order to further understand the role of oxidative stress in APAP-induced toxicity. This review will throw new light on the critical roles of oxidative stress in APAP-induced toxicity, as well as on the contradictions and blind spots that still exist in the understanding of APAP toxicity, the cellular effects in terms of organ injury and cell signaling pathways, and finally strategies to help remedy such against oxidative damage.

• Klíčová slova
• Paracetamol, RNS, ROS, mechanism, oxidative stress, toxicology,
• MeSH
• antioxidancia farmakologie   MeSH
• antipyretika toxicita   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• neopioidní analgetika toxicita   MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• paracetamol toxicita   MeSH
• předávkování léky MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku metabolismus   MeSH
• vztah mezi dávkou a účinkem léčiva MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antioxidancia MeSH
• antipyretika MeSH
• neopioidní analgetika MeSH
• paracetamol MeSH
• reaktivní formy kyslíku MeSH

T-2 toxin, a major compound of trichothecenes, induces cell apoptosis and growth hormone (GH) deficiency and causes considerable growth retardation in animals and human cells. However, the mechanism underlying its growth suppression still remains unclear. Recent studies have suggested that ROS induced cell apoptosis and animal feed intake reduction, but there are limited reports on the role of RNS in T-2 toxin-mediated mitochondrial damage, cell apoptosis and growth retardation. Herein, T-2 toxin-induced GH3 cell damage and apoptosis were tested by MTT assay, LDH leakage and flow cytometry, respectively. Intracellular NO and antioxidant enzyme activity, ΔΨm, morphometric changes of mitochondria, the caspase pathway, and inflammatory factors were investigated. Free radical scavengers NAC, SOD and NO scavenger haemoglobin were used to explore the role of oxidative stress and the relationship between NO production and caspase pathway. The results clearly revealed that T-2 toxin caused significant increases in NO generation, cell apoptosis, GH deficiency, increased iNOS activity, upregulation of inflammatory factors and caspase pathway, decreases in ΔΨm and morphosis damage. These data suggest that mitochondria are a primary target of T-2 toxin-induced NO, and NO is a key mediator of T-2 toxin-induced cell apoptosis and GH deficiency via the mitochondria-dependent pathway in cells.

• Klíčová slova
• Caspase pathway, Cell apoptosis, Growth hormone deficiency, Mitochondrial damage, NO, T-2 toxin,
• MeSH
• adenohypofýza cytologie   MeSH
• apoptóza účinky léků   MeSH
• kaspasy metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• membránový potenciál mitochondrií účinky léků   MeSH
• mitochondrie účinky léků   metabolismus   MeSH
• oxid dusnatý metabolismus   MeSH
• oxidační stres účinky léků   MeSH
• růstový hormon nedostatek   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• somatotropní buňky účinky léků   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• synthasa oxidu dusnatého, typ II metabolismus   MeSH
• T-2 toxin toxicita   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kaspasy MeSH
• Nos2 protein, rat MeSH Prohlížeč
• oxid dusnatý MeSH
• růstový hormon MeSH
• synthasa oxidu dusnatého, typ II MeSH
• T-2 toxin MeSH