Phytic acid modulates the morphology, immunological response of cytokines and β-defensins in porcine intestine exposed to deoxynivalenol and fumonisin B1

Abstract

Occurrence of mycotoxins in agricultural products represents a risk for human and animal health. Therefore, there is a requirement of strategies to mitigate their harmful impacts. This study investigated the effects of phytic acid (IP6) on the immunological response of pro-(interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α) and anti-inflammatory (IL-10) cytokines and β-defensins 1 (pBD-1) and 2 (pBD-2) in porcine jejunal explants exposed to deoxynivalenol (DON) and fumonisin B₁ (FB₁). The explants were exposed to the following treatments: control, DON (10 μM), DON plus IP6 2.5 mM or 5 mM, FB₁ (70 μM), FB₁ IP6 plus 2.5 or 5 mM. The expression levels of the cytokines were measured by RT-qPCR. The exposure to FB₁ and DON induced intestinal lesions. The presence of 2.5 and 5 mM IP6 inhibited the morphological changes induced by the mycotoxins. The explants exposed to DON showed an increase in the expression of IL-1β and IL-8 and a decrease in the levels of IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-10 and pBD-2. IP6 (5 mM) decreased the expression of IL-8 and increased the expression in pBD-1 and 2 compared to DON alone. FB₁ induced a significant decrease in the levels of most of the pro-inflammatory cytokines, IL-10 and pBD-1, and an increase in IL-1β expression. The addition of IP6 5 mM induced significant increase in TNF-α expression compared to FB₁. Taken together, the results suggest IP6 modulates immunological changes induced by DON and FB₁ on intestinal mucosa resulting in beneficial effects that contribute to intestinal homeostasis and health.