Acute cardiotoxicity evaluation of the marine biotoxins OA, DTX-1 and YTX.

Sara Ferreiro,Natalia Vilariño,Luis Botana,M Louzao,Germán Santamarina,Cristina Carrera,Antonio Cantalapiedra

doi:10.3390/toxins7041030

Sara Ferreiro, Natalia Vilariño + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/toxins7041030

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Abstract

Phycotoxins are marine toxins produced by phytoplankton that can get accumulated in filter feeding shellfish. Human intoxication episodes occur due to contaminated seafood consumption. Okadaic acid (OA) and dynophysistoxins (DTXs) are phycotoxins responsible for a severe gastrointestinal syndrome called diarrheic shellfish poisoning (DSP). Yessotoxins (YTXs) are marine toxins initially included in the DSP class but currently classified as a separated group. Food safety authorities from several countries have regulated the content of DSPs and YTXs in shellfish to protect human health. In mice, OA and YTX have been associated with ultrastructural heart damage in vivo. Therefore, this study explored the potential of OA, DTX-1 and YTX to cause acute heart toxicity. Cardiotoxicity was evaluated in vitro by measuring hERG (human èter-a-go-go gene) channel activity and in vivo using electrocardiogram (ECG) recordings and cardiac damage biomarkers. The results demonstrated that these toxins do not exert acute effects on hERG channel activity. Additionally, in vivo experiments showed that these compounds do not alter cardiac biomarkers and ECG in rats acutely. Despite the ultrastructural damage to the heart reported for these toxins, no acute alterations of heart function have been detected in vivo, suggesting a functional compensation in the short term.

Highlights

Marine algal blooms are natural phenomena caused by the overgrowth of marine phytoplankton.Presently, their appearance seems to have increased in frequency and severity, suggesting a public health problem of worldwide distribution
The aim of this work was to evaluate Okadaic acid (OA), DTX-1 and YTX acute cardiotoxicity using in vivo and in vitro methods
After stabilization of hERG currents, the cells were exposed to 10 μM OA or YTX, or an equivalent concentration of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) for 5 min

Summary

Introduction

Marine algal blooms are natural phenomena caused by the overgrowth of marine phytoplankton. Their appearance seems to have increased in frequency and severity, suggesting a public health problem of worldwide distribution. Some phytoplankton species present in these blooms produce phycotoxins that get accumulated in edible tissues of filter feeding shellfish through the marine food webs. Human intoxication episodes occur when contaminated seafood is consumed. Diarrhetic shellfish poisoning (DSP) is the toxic syndrome caused by the ingestion of shellfish contaminated with okadaic acid (OA) or its analogues, the dynophysistoxins (DTXs). OA and DTXs are marine lipophilic phycotoxins produced by dinoflagellates of the genera Prorocentrum and Dinophysis

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