Aflatoxin B(1) affects apoptosis and expression of death receptor and endoplasmic reticulum molecules in chicken spleen

Aflatoxin B(1) (AFB(1)) is a natural product of the Aspergillus genus of molds, which grow on several foodstuffs stored in hot moist conditions, and is among the most potent hepatocarcinogens and immunosuppression presently known. The latter was related to the up-regulated apoptosis of immune organs. However, the effect of expression of death receptor and endoplasmic reticulum molecules in AFB(1)-induced apoptosis of chicken splenocytes was largely unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate this unknown field. One hundred and forty four one-day-old chickens were randomly divided into control group (0 mg/kg AFB(1)) and AFB(1) group (0.6 mg/kg AFB(1)), respectively and fed with AFB(1) for 21 days. Histological observation demonstrated that AFB(1) caused slight congestion and lymphocytic depletion in the spleen. TUNEL and flow cytometry assays showed the excessive apoptosis of splenocytes provoked by AFB(1). Moreover, quantitative real-time PCR analysis revealed that AFB(1) induced the elevated mRNA expression of Fas, FasL, TNF-α, TNF-R(1), Caspase-3, Caspase-8, Caspase-10, Grp78 and Grp94 in the spleen. These findings suggested that AFB(1) could lead the excessive apoptosis and alter the expression of death receptor and endoplasmic reticulum molecules in chicken spleen.