Biochemical and pathological studies of Aflatoxin B1

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is the most prevalent aflatoxins, which is reported as hepato-carcinogen. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the pathogenesis in human liver has not been well documented. The aim of my study was to assess the effect of AFB1 on the expression profile of human liver cells. Chang Liver Cells (CCL-13) was exposed to 10 microM or 15 microM of AFB1 for 12, 24 and 48 hrs, respectively and the expression pattern was analyzed by Affymetrix Human GeneChip U133 A and Ciphergen ProteinChip. Analyses of the gene expression data demonstrated that 205 and 194 genes were up- and down-regulated, respectively with significant fold changes >=2. Most of these genes were found to be involved in signal transduction, cell-cycle regulation, gene transcription and apoptosis, which are closely related to hepato-carcinogenesis. Ciphergen data showed little expression changes at protein level. In vivo histochemical studies showed mainly adaptive changes and lipid accumulation of the liver cells and also apoptosis and lymphocytes infiltration were observed. Our results suggest that AFB1 may have a broad role in affecting cellular physiology through modulating gene expression.