Since ochratoxin A (OTA) was discovered, it has been ubiquitous as a natural contaminant of moldy food and feed. The multiple toxic effects of OTA are a real threat for human beings and animal health. For example, OTA can cause porcine nephropathy but can also damage poultries. Humans exposed to OTA can develop (notably by inhalation in the development of acute renal failure within 24 h) a range of chronic disorders such as upper urothelial carcinoma. OTA plays the main role in the pathogenesis of some renal diseases including Balkan endemic nephropathy, kidney tumors occurring in certain endemic regions of the Balkan Peninsula, and chronic interstitial nephropathy occurring in Northern African countries and likely in other parts of the world. OTA leads to DNA adduct formation, which is known for its genotoxicity and carcinogenicity. The present article discusses how renal carcinogenicity and nephrotoxicity cause both oxidative stress and direct genotoxicity. Careful analyses of the data show that OTA carcinogenic effects are due to combined direct and indirect mechanisms (e.g., genotoxicity, oxidative stress, epigenetic factors). Altogether this provides strong evidence that OTA carcinogenicity can also occur in humans.

• Keywords
• Balkan endemic nephropathy, biomarkers, carcinogenicity, feed, food, microfungi, ochratoxin A, toxicity, urothelial cancer,
• MeSH
• Balkan Nephropathy chemically induced   genetics   history   metabolism   MeSH
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, 21st Century MeSH
• Epigenesis, Genetic drug effects   MeSH
• Risk Assessment MeSH
• Kidney drug effects   metabolism   pathology   MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Cell Transformation, Neoplastic chemically induced   genetics   metabolism   MeSH
• Kidney Neoplasms chemically induced   genetics   history   metabolism   MeSH
• Ochratoxins history   metabolism   toxicity   MeSH
• Oxidative Stress drug effects   MeSH
• DNA Damage MeSH
• Food Microbiology * history   trends   MeSH
• Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic drug effects   MeSH
• Risk Factors MeSH
• Toxicology * history   trends   MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Check Tag
• History, 20th Century MeSH
• History, 21st Century MeSH
• Humans MeSH
• Animals MeSH
• Publication type
• Journal Article MeSH
• Historical Article MeSH
• Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't MeSH
• Review MeSH
• Names of Substances
• ochratoxin A MeSH Browser
• Ochratoxins MeSH