Effect of T-2 toxin-injected shrimp muscle extracts on mouse macrophage cells (RAW264.7)

Following intramuscular injections of 0.1?mL, 3?mg?kg^?1?BW^?1(1/10 LD₅₀) T-2 toxin (T-2), the tissue concentration of T-2 in shrimp was quantitatively detected using LC-MS/MS. The biological half-time (t_1/2) of T-2 in blood was 40.47?±?0.24?min. The highest number of intramuscular T-2 shrimp could tolerate when given at blood t_1/2 intervals was 4. The shrimps which were injected 5 T-2 died. The T-2 toxin highest accumulation was 0.471?±?0.012?ng?g^?1?BW^?1. The effect of toxic shrimp muscle subjected to different processing conditions (high pressure, trifluoroacetic acid, acid and alkali digestions, artificial digestive juice to simulate exposure to gastric and intestinal juices]) on mouse macrophage cells (RAW267.4) were evaluated by the MTT assay. The inhibition ratio of 2% muscle extract on RAW267.4 was 85.70?±?2.63%. The immunocytotoxicity of muscle extracts to RAW264.7 was highest in muscle extracts subjected to physical and chemical digestion (high pressure >?NaOH?> trifluoroacetic acid >?0.02 M HCl?>?0.2 M HCl?>?controls), and also artificial digestion (artificial intestinal juice >?artificial gastric juice >?N type intestinal juice >?N type gastric liquid >?controls). Results showed that high-pressure and artificial intestinal juice were most effective in the release of modified T-2 to free T-2 thus enhancing toxicity. These results can be interpreted as measurement of T-2 in food being of little value because of enhanced toxicity of T-2-contaminated food as they pass through the gastrointestinal tract.