Micronucleus induction and cell cycle alterations produced by deoxynivalenol and its acetylated derivatives in individual and combined exposure on HepG2 cells

Mycotoxins are produced by a number of fungal genera spp as e.g. Aspergillus, Penicillium, Alternaria, Fusarium and Claviceps. 3-Acetyl-Deoxynivalenol (3-A-DON) and 15-Acetyl-Deoxynivalenol (15-ADON) which are produced by Fusarium, chemically belong to trichothecenes and occur in significant amounts as modified forms of deoxynivalenol (DON) in various cereal crops and processed grains. This study aims to determine the cytotoxicity, cell cycle and genotoxicity of the mycotoxins DON, 3-A-DON and 15-A-DON on HepG2 cells. Cytotoxic concentration range studied was from 100 to 3.1 μM for DON and 12.5 to 0.04 μM for 3-A-DON and 15-A-DON by the Neutral Red (NR) assay, over 24, 48 and 72 h. Potential of toxicity of 3-ADON in HepG2 cells was the highest at all times assayed. Cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 and G2/M phase was detected for all mycotoxins either in individually or in combined treatment in HepG2 cells. Genotoxicity was performed through micronuclei (MN) induction (TG 487) revealing significant effects for 3-ADON mycotoxin and in several combinations. It was evidenced that cell cycle alterations detected were associated to MN induction at all doses assayed, reaching the highest induction in tertiary combinations and in the binary combination 3-ADON + 15-ADON.