The dose-dependent effect of zearalenone on mitochondrial metabolism, plasma membrane permeabilization and cell cycle in human prostate cancer cell lines

- Zearalenone has a concentration-dependent effect on prostate cancer cells.
- The effect of zearalenone on prostate cancer cells is similar to beta-estradiol caused.
- Zearalenone is a potential modulator of prostate cancer cells proliferation.

Zearalenone (ZEA) is a nonsteroidal mycotoxin produced by several fungi of the genus Fusarium spp. It is known to play various roles in the regulation of the prostate cancer cell cycle, including carcinogenesis. The present study evaluates the influence of ZEA on the mitochondrial metabolism, plasma membrane permeabilization and cell cycle of prostate cancer cells. At concentrations of 100 nM and 0.3 nM, ZEA caused a decrease in the oxidative activity of mitochondria, as well as increases in LDH release, apoptosis induction and the number of cells in the G0/G1 phase. The opposite effect was observed for lower concentrations (0.1 nM and 0.001 nM). These in vitro studies indicate that ZEA might have pro- and antiproliferative properties in prostate cancer cells, at concentrations 0.1 nM, 0.001 nM and 0.3 nM, 100 nM, respectively.