Effect of Fusarium toxins, T2-toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol on murine T-independent immune responses.

Trichothecenes mycotoxins, T2-toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol were investigated for their effect upon T-independent murine immune responses. Both anti-polyvinylpyrrolidone and anti-dinitrophenylficoll responses were enhanced by chronic administration of these toxins. Spleen cells from T2-toxin-treated animals revealed significantly less Thy 1.2+ cells than controls. Spleen cells from Fusarium crude extract-treated animals had a depressed response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) as compared with controls. Normal recipients given spleen cells from T2-toxin-treated mice were shown to generate approximately 50% less plaque-forming cells against sheep red blood cells than controls. It is suggested that these effects occur as a result of altered T suppressor-cell function.