Abstract
Background: The effect of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) administration on expression of genes coding for acute-phase proteins, and nuclear protooncogenes c-fos and c-jun, and alpha-fetoprotein gene has been studied in rats. Methods: AFB1 was administered to male Albino Oxford (AO) rats as a single intraperitoneal dose (1 mg/kg body weight). The expression of genes for albumin, cystein protease inhibitor, fibrinogen, haptoglobin, a1-acid glycoprotein and for c-Fos, c-Jun and alpha-fetoprotein in rat liver was measured by Northern hybridization. Results: The mild increase in the levels of mRNA for acute-phase proteins after AFB1 administration was observed during the first 24 hours. The exceptions were the mRNA levels in liver for cystein protease inhibitor, which were 50%, decreased as compared to the control values. In addition, mild increase of the expression of c-fos protooncogene with two peaks were noted at three (1.3 fold) and 72 hours (1.5 fold) after injection AFB1 to rats. The expression of nuclear protooncogene c-jun at 1 hour and 72 hour after acute poisoning was 2.6 fold and 3.7 fold increased as compared to control values, respectively. The mRNA levels in liver for the alpha-fetoprotein reached a maximum at 1 hour after AFB1 injection and it was 1.8 times higher than the levels in the livers of nontreated animals. Conclusion: Single administration of AFB1 induced increased transcription of c-jun and c-fos genes while typical acute-phase response was not found.
Highlights
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, both members of the Aspergillus group, are aflatoxin-producing strains
2Institute of Medical Chemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Niš, Niš, Results: The mild increase in the levels of mRNA for acute-phase proteins after aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) administration was observed during the first Serbia, 3Institute for Nuclear Sciences 24 hours
The changes of AGP mRNA concentrations varied in the range of control values, with the mild increase 24 hour after AFB1 treatment (Figure 1B)
Summary
Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus, both members of the Aspergillus group, are aflatoxin-producing strains These fungi are widespread and have been isolated from a host of different materials. Infection, poisoning by different compounds including AFB1, mechanical or thermal tissue injures can induce a complex early general reaction of an organism, which is known as the acute-phase response (APR) [6]. Prominent among all changes after the exposure of an organism to different traumas [7,8] is the increased synthesis of a group of plasma proteins that are synthesized in the liver, the so-called acute-phase proteins (APPs). During the acute-phase response, increased synthesis of APPs in the liver is preceded by an increased transcription of APP genes, and followed by increase of their serum concentrations [9].
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