Abstract
The purpose of this review is to present information about the role of activation of aflatoxins and other mycotoxins, of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. Aflatoxins and other mycotoxins are a diverse group of secondary metabolites that can be contaminants in a broad range of agricultural products and feeds. Some species of Aspergillus, Alternaria, Penicilium, and Fusarium are major producers of mycotoxins, some of which are toxic and carcinogenic. Several aflatoxins are planar molecules that can activate the AhR. AhR participates in the detoxification of several xenobiotic substances and activates phase I and phase II detoxification pathways. But it is important to recognize that AhR activation also affects differentiation, cell adhesion, proliferation, and immune response among others. Any examination of the effects of aflatoxins and other toxins that act as activators to AhR must consider the potential of the disruption of several cellular functions in order to extend the perception thus far about the toxic and carcinogenic effects of these toxins. There have been no Reviews of existing data between the relation of AhR and aflatoxins and this one attempts to give information precisely about this dichotomy.
Highlights
Aflatoxins and other mycotoxin are activators of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), are a structurally diverse group of fungal secondary metabolites and a toxigenically and chemically heterogeneous assemblage
Arnt is only localized in the nucleus and this protein is organized in domains similar to those that contain AhR, i.e., toward the amino terminal end we find the basic Helix-Loop-Helix (bHLH) domain and the nuclear localization signal, followed by the PAS A and PAS B domains (Figure 2)
The CYP1A1 promoter has 8 xenobiotic response element (XRE)-elements which are used by the AhR activation
Summary
Aflatoxins and other mycotoxin are activators of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), are a structurally diverse group of fungal secondary metabolites and a toxigenically and chemically heterogeneous assemblage. The aflatoxins and other toxins that can act as activators to AhR can be acutely or chronically toxic, depending on the kind of toxin, the dose, health, age and nutritional status of the exposed individual or animal, and the possible synergistic effects between mycotoxins (Bennett and Klich, 2003). Their ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption can cause diseases in humans and animals and their greater impact on human health in industrial countries is due to the chronic exposure (Gil-Serna et al, 2014). Aflatoxins are associated with different biological effects like carcinogenic, mutagenic, Aflatoxins and Mycotoxins AhR Pathway
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