Abstract
The presence of cyanobacterial toxins in drinking and recreational waters represent a potential health hazard to the public. Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is the most commonly encountered toxin and is a potent cyclic heptapeptide hepatotoxin produced by cyanobacteria. In this study, the immunomodulation by MC-LR of BALB/c mice peritoneal macrophages was investigated in vitro on mRNA levels of induced nitric oxide synthase and multiple cytokines by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Lavaged peritoneal macrophages were incubated for 6 h with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at a concentration of 100 microg/L and MC-LR at doses of 1, 10, 100, and 1000 nmol/L. Total RNA was extracted from the incubated macrophages, and then the levels of mRNA for induced nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma were detected. The results showed that expression of mRNA for iNOS, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, GM-CSF, and IFN-gamma decreased significantly compared to the positive control (LPS only). These results have led us to propose the need for the establishment of a survey of the immunotoxicity of microcystins.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.