Toxicity of T-2 toxin, a Fusarium mycotoxin, to alveolar macrophages in vitro.

The exposure of agricultural workers to dust particulates, which may be contaminated with common fungi and/or their toxic metabolites, is an occupational health concern. To assess the cytotoxic properties of T-2 toxin, rat alveolar macrophages (AM) were exposed to T-2 in tissue culture. Determinations of cell viability, cell number, and viability index indicate that T-2, a trichothecene mycotoxin, is highly toxic to AM. The concentrations of T-2 toxin required to decrease these parameters by 50% at 20 hr were 8.93, 0.33, and 0.89 microM, respectively. The effect of T-2 toxin on AM cell volume was dose dependent, with cultures containing 0.1 microM T-2 being significantly different than controls. The data show that T-2 toxin causes significant AM shrinkage. The amount of chromium released from preloaded AM after 18 hr of incubation was significantly different in culture containing 0.01 microM or greater T-2 toxin. The percentage of chromium released was dose dependent and parallel to the amount of cell death occurring in each culture. Scanning electron microscope examination of AM treated 20 hr with 0.1 microM T-2 toxin demonstrated detachment of pseudopodia, cellular blebing, smoothing of membrane processes, and finally cell lysis. Thus, the data clearly demonstrate that T-2 toxin is cytotoxic for rat alveolar macrophages in vitro and suggest the possibility of a respiratory hazard to agricultural workers.