Effect of trichothecenes on host resistance to bacterial infection

The effects of trichothecenes on specific and non-specific host resistance were examined. A relative low dose of deoxynivalenol (DON) reduced host resistance to salmonellosis but not the non-specific host resistance. DON disturbed the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as TNF-α after infection in vivo. Experiments using human macrophage cell line U-937 revealed that DON and other 8-ketotrichothecens disturbed the synthesis of pro-inflammatory cytokines. When cells were cultured with these trichothecens in combination with lipopolissacharide (LPS), the production of TNF-α, IL-8 and IL-6 was superinduced. These results suggested that DON and other 8-ketotrichothecens have the potential to superinduce pro-inflammatory cytokines production after infection in the presence of lipopolysaccharide.