Effects of mycotoxins on renal function: Mycotoxic nephropathy

Abstract

During the recent past, the scientific community has been concerned with the effects of environmental pollutants on man and other animals. For the most part, the pollutants of interest have been man-made chemicals added inadvertently to the environment through waste disposal, over energetic use, and so on, or deliberately for some presumed worthwhile reason. There is little doubt that these contaminants represent potentially severe health hazards. There also exist in our ecosphere, however, other potential health hazards not provided by man's ingenuity or carelessness. The mycotoxins are a diverse group of chemicals produced by an equally diverse group of fungi. The beneficial effects of the penicillins , produced by several species of Penicillia, are well known. Equally important, however, is a broad range of chemical substances produced by fungi that are hazardous to man and other animals. A number of such substances have been demonstrated [1,2], but probably the aflatoxins are the most notorious of the fungal toxins in modern times. These compounds produce not only acute toxic syndromes, but also are carcinogenic [3]. The cancer-producing capability of the aflatoxins has been demonstrated in laboratory animals and is suggested from epidemiologic data to occur in man. Other mycotoxins may be potentially just as dangerous, however. For example, the rubratoxins can alter hepatic function and are teratogenic; penicillic acid may have toxic effects on the cardiovascular system in laboratory animals; and several fungal metabolites are nephrotoxic (see below).