# Analysis of the Combined Toxic Effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA Complex Contamination in Caco-2, HK-2, SK-N-SH and HepG2 Cells

## TL;DR

This study examines how three common mycotoxins interact in different human cells, showing that their combined effects depend on cell type and dose, potentially increasing health risks.

## Contribution

The study reveals novel interaction patterns of AFB1, DON, and OTA in multiple cell lines, highlighting low-dose synergistic effects and cell-specific responses.

## Key findings

- DON showed the strongest cytostatic effect among individual toxins.
- Combined exposure revealed antagonistic effects of AFB1 + OTA in most cell lines.
- Low-dose synergistic effects were observed in specific toxin combinations.

## Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), deoxynivalenol (DON), and ochratoxin A (OTA) are common mycotoxins that frequently co-occur in cereals and pose potential risks to animal and human health. This study investigated the cytotoxic effects of AFB1, DON, and OTA, individually and in binary and ternary combinations, in four human-derived cell lines representing major target organs (Caco-2, HepG2, HK-2, and SK-N-SH). Individual toxin exposure revealed cell type–dependent sensitivity, with DON generally exhibiting the strongest cytostatic effect. Combined exposure analysis showed distinct interaction patterns across cell models, including antagonistic effects of AFB1 + OTA in most cell lines, dose-dependent interactions of DON + OTA, and low-dose synergistic effects in specific combinations. Overall, the results demonstrate that mycotoxin interactions are highly dependent on dose and target cell type, and that low-dose co-contamination may enhance toxicological risks, underscoring the importance of considering combined mycotoxin exposure in health risk assessment.