EFFECT OF FUSARIUM TOXINS, T2-TOXIN AND DIACETOXYSCIRPENOL ON MURINE T-INDEPENDENT IMMUNE-RESPONSES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 44  (3) , 555-560
Abstract
Trichothecenes mycotoxins, T2-toxin and diacetoxyscirpenol were investigated for their effect on T-independent murine immune responses. Anti-polyvinylpyrrolidone and anti-dinitrophenylficoll responses were enhanced by chronic administration of toxins. Spleen cells from T2-toxin-treated animals revealed significantly less Thy 1.2+ cells than controls. Spleen cells from Fusarium crude extract-treated animals had a depressed response to phytohemagglutinin (PHA) compared with controls. Normal recipients given spleen cells from T2-toxin-treated mice generated .apprx. 50% less plaque-forming cells against sheep red blood cells than controls. These effects occurred as a result of altered T suppressor-cell function.