Use of cell cultures for predicting the biological effects of mycotoxins.

The risk presented by mycotoxins is a toxicological problem. As the data given by physico-chemical analysis may be difficult to translate in terms of toxicity, however, especially when considering multiple contamination, we have developed a system for toxicological analysis of mycotoxins using cell cultures of different origins. The response of several cell types to a number of well defined mycotoxins was obtained in three days. This approach allowed us to: demonstrate and quantify a toxic effect, define some organ specificity related to the preferential action on a particular cell type, and detect an immunosuppressive effect. The results indicate that the system can be used for toxicological screening and that it has a predictive value for the pathological effects of tested products.