The in vitro effects of aflatoxin B 1 on physiological functions of swine alveolar macrophages.

The toxic effects of aflatoxin B ₁ (AFB ₁ ) on the physiological functions of swine alveolar macrophages (SAM) were investigated. Freshly isolated SAM were incubated with various AFB ₁ concentrations (1.6 × 10 ^-1  - 1.6 × 10 ⁵  nmol/L) and time periods, and their phagocytic ability, synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein, and cell activation by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), were analysed. Results demonstrated that a significant (p < .05) reduction (60%) in Staphylococcus aureus uptaken by SAM appeared 3 hr after AFB ₁ (>16 nmol/L) treatment. The synthesis of DNA, RNA and protein were markedly reduced, among which DNA and protein synthesis were affected more noticeably. The activation of SAM by LPS was significantly (p < .05) suppressed when the concentration of AFB ₁ reached 1.6 × 10 ³  nmol/L. In general, most of the analysed effects were more prominent as AFB ₁ concentration or incubation period increased. Taken together, AFB ₁ could elicit significant adverse effects on the physiological functions of SAM. Exposure of pigs to aflatoxin-contaminated feed may increase their susceptibility to various secondary infections.
(© 2020 The Authors. Veterinary Medicine and Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)