The food contaminant, deoxynivalenol, modulates the Thelper-Treg balance and increases inflammatory bowel diseases

International audienceThe incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) is increasing inboth Western and developing countries. IBD are multifactorial disorders involving complex interactions between genetic, immune, and environmental factors such as exposure to food contaminants. Deoxynivalenol (DON) is the most prevalent mycotoxin that contaminates staple food and induces intestinal breakdown and inflammatory response. To delineate the role of DON oral exposure in IBD, we used a Dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) colitis model in rats fed with a DONcontaminated diet or a control diet for four weeks. Colitis was induced in the third week by increasing concentrations of DSS in the drinking water (0, 2, 3 or 5%). DON exacerbated body weight loss and accelerated the appearance of symptoms in animals treated with DSS. DON increased morphological damage, pro-inflammatory markers (myeloperoxidase, CXCL1 and IL1β) and immune cell responses. In lamina propria of rat with colitis, DON increased adaptive and innate immune responses after anti-CD3/28 or LPS stimulation, respectively. In spleen, DON increased IFNγ secretion and reduced Treg populations. Interestingly, De-epoxy-DON (DOM-1) a detoxified form of DON did not have any consequences on colitis. These results suggest that DON is a risk factor in the onset of IBD