Possible involvement of glucocorticoids in mycotoxin-induced neuroinflammation

Abstract

The mycotoxins are commonly encountered in human cereal foods and animal feed throughout the world as a result of infestation of grains in the field and in storage by the fungi including genus Aspergillus, Penicillum and Fusarium. Modulation of the inflammatory responses in the central nervous system (CNS) appears particularly critical role of some relevance mycotoxins such as T-2 toxin, fumonisin B1 and ochratoxin A. Specifically, mentioned mycotoxins disturbed mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as well as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) which mediate robust induction of proinflammatory gene expression in both in vitro and in vivo. In CNS, glucocorticoids are powerful endogenous and therapeutic modulators of inflammation though both MAPKs and NF-κB signaling. In addition, toxicity of mycotoxins also was altered with glucocorticoid. Taken together, glucocorticoids may possibly involve in the action of mycotoxins on neuroinflammatory responses. Therefore, factors disturbing glucocorticoid regulation in CNS such as stress, infection, and xenobiotics may enhance response to mycotoxin toxicity. It is anticipated that these investigations will be applicable to identify the therapeutic intervention or prevention.