Effects of the mycotoxin patulin at the level of nuclear receptor transcriptional activity and steroidogenesis in vitro

At the receptor level, 0.5-5000 ng/ml (0.0032-32 μM) PAT did not appear to induce any specific (ant) agonistic responses in reporter gene assays (RGAs); however, nuclear transcriptional activity was affected. A >6 fold increase in the glucocorticoid receptor transcriptional activity was observed following treatment with 5000 ng/ml PAT in the presence of cortisol. At the hormone production level, despite cytotoxicity being observed after treatment with 5000 ng/ml PAT, estradiol levels had increased >2 fold. At 500 ng/ml PAT treatment, an increase in progesterone and a decrease in testosterone production were observed. The findings of this study could be considered in assessing the health risks following exposure to PAT.