Effect of Aspergillus terreus mycotoxins on nitric oxide synthase activity in human erythroid K-562 cells
✍ Scribed by A. Pugliese; A. Savarino; V. Vidotto; C. Cantamessa; G. P. Pescarmona
- Publisher
- John Wiley and Sons
- Year
- 1999
- Tongue
- English
- Weight
- 157 KB
- Volume
- 17
- Category
- Article
- ISSN
- 0263-6484
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✦ Synopsis
Because several stimuli of microbial origin enhance the activity of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) in human cells of the myeloid lineage, we decided to investigate whether cellular damage induced by Aspergillus terreus mycotoxins could be associated with an increase in NOS activity. A pool of mycotoxins rather than individual toxins was tested so that the natural conditions could be mimicked. In the present study, we report that a crude extract of A. terreus induces cellular damage and increases NOS activity in K-562 cells, an erythroleukaemic cell line in which NOS is particularly active. The speci®city of this association was further investigated by using NOS inhibitors and by comparing, in the same cellular model, the eects of the extract with the activity of other microbial toxins of a de®ned mechanism of action. Canavanine, an inhibitor of NOS, signi®cantly reduced cell death in the presence of the extract, suggesting that cellular damage, induced by the mycotoxins of A. terreus is at least in part mediated by NOS activity. Moreover, Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS), known to be a potent NOS inducer, increased NOS activity in our experimental model as well. In contrast, Bordetella pertussis toxin did not show any eect on NOS activity. The results of this study suggest that NOS may be involved in mycotoxicoses.