Efecto Apoptótico y/o Necrótico de Zearalenona en células humanas y su cuantificación en el arroz cultivado en Norte de Santander.

Abstract

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites, synthesized by different species of filamentous fungi, the genera Fusarium, Aspergillus and Penicillium, are the most relevant mycotoxigenic contaminants. They are frequently found as natural contaminants in a wide variety of foods (milk, nuts, grains, cereals and derivatives) and feed, representing a risk to human and animal health. Therefore, in the present study, the presence of ZEA was quantified and established in 3 cultivated rice samples (M009: 98 µg/Kg, M010: 167 µg/Kg and M011: 490 µg/Kg) from 4 municipalities of Norte de Santander by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC); in turn, the presence of Fusarium sp. could be established, presumptively, taking into account the phenotypic characterization according to macroscopic and microscopic morphology and mycelial growth, in three culture media (PDA, Oatmeal Agar, DG18). Additionally, the cytotoxic effect of a ZEA pattern (10 µg/ml) was evaluated by means of the viability assay (MTT), and the induction of morphological changes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) in the HepG2 cell line. The results obtained indicated that ZEA caused a decrease in metabolic activity, a significant reduction in the percentages of cell proliferation (p<0.0001), depending on the concentration and exposure time; and the induction of morphological changes characteristic of cell death by apoptosis. Biochemical changes such as externalization of phosphatidylserine, DNA fragmentation and loss of mitochondrial membrane potential in polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) were evaluated by flow cytometry. The results indicated that ZEA triggers a series of cell death events, characteristic of the apoptotic process.