Immunohistochemical Expression of P16 Protein and TGF β1 in Mice Liver Exposed to Fumonisin B1

Sinai Mohammed Et Al

doi:10.21123/bsj.2020.17.2.0401

Abstract

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a mycotoxin produced in some grains (mainly corn) by Fusarium species. Due to a structural similarity between FB1 and sphinganine, sphingolipids metabolism is inhibited. Such inhibition plays a critical role in cell to cell singling and structure of lipoprotein; therefore FB1 has been suggested to have a relationship with human and animal cancer. This research is planned to study the effect of FB1 on male mice at two doses (20 and 30 µg/ ml) on the expression of TGF-β1 and p16 in liver cells. Three groups of Swiss albino male mice; each group was orally administrated with FB1 toxin as the following: normal saline (control group); 20 and 30 µg/ ml. All groups were sacrificed after two weeks of oral management. Liver samples were collected and prepared for immunohistochemistry technique (IHC) using anti-TGF-β1 and anti-p16 antibodies. The results showed that exposure to FB1 caused significant elevation of TGF-β1 in both doses (76.74 ± 2.387% and 80.62 ± 7.277%, respectively) in comparison with the control group (46.79 ± 2.404%). The level of p16 protein was decreased at 20 µg/ml (76.63 ± 2.349%) and then increased at 30 µg/ml (81.25 ± 6.263%) but the expression was lower than that of control (90.00 ± 0.805%). In conclusion, FB1 has a significant effect on TGF-β1 and p16 protein expression at both doses (20 and 30 µg/ml), and therefore, its role in cancer development is suggested.

Highlights

Fungal toxins are toxic compounds with low molecular weight, produced by a few species of fungi in the field during the period of harvest [1]
A recent study has found that Fumonisin B1 (FB1) can cause changes in the tissues of liver, lung, and kidney such as apoptosis and necrosis, leading to infiltration of inflammatory cells which were observed in these organs [8]
Recent studies recorded that TGF-β1 and p16 protein serves as biomarkers for malignant progression [12, 13], and since the contamination of human diet with mycotoxin is still a serious problem, so this study was planned to determine the effect of single exposure to FB1 on male mice at two doses; 20 and 30 μg/ml, on immunohistochemical (IHC) expression of TGF-β1 and p16 in liver cells

Summary

Introduction

Fungal toxins are toxic compounds with low molecular weight, produced by a few species of fungi in the field during the period of harvest [1]. Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is one of these toxins, and its carcinogenic effects in human and laboratory animals have been suggested. A recent study has found that FB1 can cause changes in the tissues of liver, lung, and kidney such as apoptosis and necrosis, leading to infiltration of inflammatory cells which were observed in these organs [8].

Results

Conclusion