The Fusarium toxin zearalenone and deoxynivalenol affect murine splenic antioxidant functions, interferon levels, and T-cell subsets

•The Fusarium toxin zearalenone and deoxynivalenol dysreglated murine splenic antioxidant functions.•The Fusarium toxin zearalenone and deoxynivalenol dysreglated murine splenic IFN levels.•The Fusarium toxin zearalenone and deoxynivalenol dysreglated murine splenic T-cell subset frequencies.•DON and ZEA exerted synergistic effects.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of the Fusarium toxin zearalenone (ZEA) and deoxynivalenol (DON) on splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subsets in mice. Herein, 360 mice were assigned to nine groups for a 12-day study. Mice were administered an intraperitoneal injection for 4 consecutive days with different concentrations of ZEA alone, DON alone, or ZEA + DON. Spleen and blood samples were collected on days 0, 3, 5, 8, and 12. Mice in each of the experimental groups showed dysreglated splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subset frequencies, suggesting that the immune system had been affected. The ZEA + DON-treated groups, especially the group that received a higher concentration of ZEA + DON (Group D2Z2), showed more obvious effects on the dysregulation of splenic antioxidant functions, IFN levels, and T-cell subsets. This finding suggested that DON and ZEA exerted synergistic effects.