EFFECTS OF AFLATOXIN B-1 AND T-2 TOXIN ON THE GRANULOCYTE-MACROPHAGE PROGENITOR CELLS IN MOUSE BONE-MARROW CULTURES

Myelotoxic effects of aflatoxin B-1 (AFB(1)) and T-2 toxin on the proliferation of the granulocyte-macrophage progenitor cells to granulocyte, macrophage and granulocyte-macrophage (GM) colonies were investigated in male CD-1 mice by a semisolid in vitro culture technique. Mice received 0, 0.03, 0.145 and 0.7 mg/kg or 0, 0.1, 0.5, and 2.5 mg/kg body weight of AFB(1) and T-2 toxin, respectively, for 2 weeks on alternate days. Granulocyte, macrophage, and GM-colonies were suppressed in the group that received the highest dose of AFB, (0.7 mg/kg body weight). Treatment with T-2 toxin activated granulocyte colonies at 0.5 mg/kg and macrophage colonies at 0.1 and 2.5 mg/kg but suppressed GM-colonies at 0.5 and 2.5 mg/kg body weight. Bone marrow cells from normal CD-1 mice were cultured with different concentrations of AFB(1) (1-50 mu M) or T-2 toxin (1-10 nM) in vitro. Significant activation of granulocyte colonies with 1 mu M AFB(1) and suppression of all three types of colonies with the highest concentration of AFB(1) (50 mu M) were observed. The suppression of granulocyte and GM-colonies associated with T-2 toxin was concentration-dependent. The greatest suppression occurred in macrophage colonies with three highest concentrations of T-2 toxin (3, 6, and 10 nM). Results suggest that AFB(1) is myelotoxic both in vivo and in vitro, whereas T-2 toxin is more toxic in vitro.