In vitro effects of 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol on the immune response of human peripheral blood lymphocytes.

The effects of 3-acetyl-deoxynivalenol (3-AcDON) on the in vitro mitogen responses and the antibody producing ability of human peripheral blood lymphocytes were evaluated. 3-AcDON inhibited the proliferative response to pokeweed mitogen and concanavalin A at a lower concentration (100 ng/ml) as compared to phytohemagglutinin (200 ng/ml). The antibody producing ability was inhibited by 3-AcDON concentrations of greater than or equal to 200 ng/ml. Higher concentrations of 3-AcDON (greater than or equal to 300 ng/ml) produced severe suppression of plaque forming cell response in vitro and reduced the total yield of lymphocytes without altering cell viability. The results of this study indicate that 3-AcDON produces immunosuppressive effects in a dose dependent manner in vitro.