Journal of Liver

Risk assessment of the fungal metabolite, Fumonisin B1 in humans: A hepatotoxic and –carcinogenic contaminant in corn

World Congress on Hepatitis

July 20-22, 2015 Orlando, Florida, USA

WCA Gelderblom

Posters-Accepted Abstracts: J Liver

Abstract:

When considering the carcinogenic properties of the fumonisins, a fungal metabolite produced by Fusarium verticillioides in corn different hepatotoxic and -carciogenic scenarios need to be considered. Although the fumonisins lack direct DNA reactivity in various in vitro genotoxicity assays, cancer development in the liver closely mimics genotoxic carcinogens and occur via a chronic toxic hepatitis. In vitro genotoxicity assays indicated that FB1 induced clastogenic effects, presumably via the disruption of cellular oxidative pathways. Major emphasis on fumonisin-induced hepato-carcinogenesis is placed on the cancer promoting properties which, with respect to risk assessment, is considered to follow a typical threshold approach. However, the fumonisins cause a wide spectrum of cellular effects and disrupt a several signal transduction pathways associated with cell proliferation and apoptosisin the liver which may act separately, additively and/or synergistically with different dietary factors and/or carcinogenic principles. As these so-called epigenetic and synergistic events complicate a strict threshold type of approach aspects regarding specific risk models to be utilized for the fumonisins in humans will be critically assessed.