[Effect of deoxynivalenol and aflatoxin G1 on apoptosis of human blood lymphocytes in vitro].

Effect of deoxynivalenol (DON) and aflatoxin G1 (AFG1) on human blood lymphocytes in culture were studied with flow cytometric DNA content analyses and DNA agarose gel electrophoresis. DON and AFG1 are two of the predominant mycotoxins contaminating foodstuffs or residents in a high incidence of esophageal cancer in Cixian County, Hebei province. A typical sub-diploid apoptosis peak was demonstrated in lymphocytes treated with DON and AFG1. A significant dose-effect response and time-effect correlation could be found between apoptosis rates and mycotoxin concentrations (DON: 50-2000 micrograms/L and AFG1: 3.12-2000 micrograms/L) and the treated time (DON: 2-72 hours and AFG1: 2-24 hours). The lymphocytes treated with DON and AFG1 showed characteristic 'ladder' pattern in agarose gel electrophoresis. All results confirmed that DON and AFG1 could induce and accelerate apoptosis in human peripheral blood lymphocytes.