Functional impairment of rat Kupffer cells induced by aflatoxin B1 and its metabolites.

Contamination of food with mycotoxins is a major health problem. Impairment of several immune functions has been repeatedly reported in animals fed with contaminated fodder. Since the liver is a major target of toxicity by aflatoxins, the effects of aflatoxins B1, and its hepatic metabolites Q1 and M1 on Kupffer cell function was investigated in vitro. Aflatoxin B1 induced significant (P < 0.05) inhibition of phagocytosis, intracellular killing of Candida albicans, and intrinsic anti-Herpes virus activity at concentrations as low as 0.01 pg ml-1. Aflatoxin Q1 and M1 had similar effects on phagocytosis and microbicidal activity, but were two- to ten-fold less potent than aflatoxin B1.