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Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 12, No. 4, 255-258 (2003)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X03035094

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The Effect of Gliotoxin and Patulin on Human T Cell Function

Gunnar Wichmann

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Germany, guwich{at}expo.ufz.de

Beate Krumm

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Germany, Institute of Zoology, University of Leipzig, Germany

Karl Drößler

Institute of Zoology, University of Leipzig, Germany

Olf Herbarth

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Germany

Irina Lehmann

Department of Human Exposure Research and Epidemiology, UFZ-Centre of Environmental Research Leipzig-Halle, Germany

To test the hypothesis that mycotoxins may be the agents responsible for the allergy mediating effect of moulds, the effect of gliotoxin and patulin on T cell functions, especially the Th1/Th2 balance and subsequent IgE production, was investigated using cell models. In the presence of gliotoxin or patulin, anti-CD3/CD28/CD40-stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) showed a suppressed IFN-{gamma} secretion, whereas IL-4 was not affected or even stimulated (strongest between 1 and 10 ng mL1 mycotoxin). The observed T cell polarisation toward the Th2 phenotype was accompanied by upregulated IgE synthesis. In addition, both mycotoxins reduced the allergen-specific (birch pollen) expression of IFN-{gamma} mRNA, while IL-4 mRNA expression was unaltered or enhanced (significant for 10 ng mL1 patulin). These data suggest that the mycotoxins gliotoxin and patulin may enhance allergic responsiveness.

Key Words: Mycotoxin • Gliotoxin • Patulin • Th1 • Th2 • IL-4 • IFN-{gamma} • Immunotoxicity • T cell function


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