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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1999

Urinary excretion of immunoreactive sporidesmin metabolites in sheep in relation to factors influencing susceptibility to sporidesmin intoxication.

AIM: To study the urinary disposition of orally administered sporidesmins A and D in sheep and identify factors influencing their kinetics, particularly the influence of breeding for resistance and susceptibility to sporidesmin, the mycotoxin responsible for the hepatogenous photosensitisation, facial eczema. METHODS: A competitive ELISA was used to monitor urinary output of immunoreactive metabolites after the intraruminal administration, to female Romney sheep, of either sporidesmin A or sporidesmin D, the nontoxic analogue. Preliminary characterisation of metabolites was carried out using HPLC with fractions monitored by ELISA. RESULTS: Maximum urinary excretion rates of immunoreactive metabolites occurred 2-8 h after dosing with sporidesmin D and 15-30 h after dosing with sporidesmin A. Sporidesmin D caused no liver injury, as detected by changes in serum enzyme activity, while the liver injury caused by sporidesmin A was greatest for the sheep with the highest cumulative output of metabolite. When sporidesmin D was administered in two separate doses to sheep bred for either resistance or susceptibility to facial eczema, the variability of metabolic output between sheep within groups was much less after the second dose. The mean urinary metabolite excretion was greater for the susceptible than the resistant sheep but the difference was not significant. Potentiation (caused by pre-administration of small doses of sporidesmin A) resulted in a more severe reaction to the dosed sporidesmin A. Urinary output of metabolite was less in the potentiated than in the unpotentiated sheep. When resistant and susceptible sheep were dosed with sporidesmin A after potentiation there was no difference between them in their cumulative totals or excretion rates of immunoreactive metabolites. However, the volume of urine produced by the susceptible sheep was lower and less variable than the resistant sheep and consequently the concentration of their urinary metabolites was higher. Preliminary ELISA examination of HPLC-fractionated urine from a sheep dosed with sporidesmin A indicated the presence of several metabolites of sporidesmin. CONCLUSION: Sporidesmin A and metabolites are rapidly excreted in urine but not as rapidly as sporidesmin D and its metabolites. Only minor differences between sheep bred for resistance and susceptibility were seen. Potentiation caused a more severe reaction to sporidesmin A and less urinary excretion of the sporidesmin and its metabolites. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This work is part of a programme with the aim of identifying FE-resistant animals without the need for sporidesmin dosing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1984

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin sporidesmin. 3--Inhibition by metals of the generation of superoxide radical by sporidesmin.

The mycotoxin sporidesmin has previously been shown to generate superoxide radical. This reaction involves autoxidation of the reduced form of the mycotoxin, a dithiol. In the present study, a number of mercaptide-forming metals have been shown to inhibit superoxide formation from sporidesmin in vitro. Furthermore, these metals decreased the rate of sporidesmin-induced hydrogen peroxide formation in erythrocytes and ameliorated the subsequent oxidative damage to these cells. These effects were found to be specific to sporidesmin; mercaptide-forming metals did not inhibit the changes induced by compounds which are not dependent upon thiol groups for active oxygen generation. Zinc was one of the most potent inhibitors of superoxide generation from sporidesmin in these test systems; only mercury and cadmium were significantly more active. Salts of zinc are known to provide effective protection against the harmful effects of sporidesmin in vivo. The results of these studies provide a possible explanation for this effect.

Animals↗
PubMed1985

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin sporidesmin. IV. Inhibition by copper-chelating agents of the generation of superoxide radical by sporidesmin.

Sporidesmin, the mycotoxin responsible for "facial eczema" in ruminants, has previously been shown to generate superoxide free radical, the latter being formed during autoxidation of the reduced form of the mycotoxin, a dithiol. The autoxidation of reduced sporidesmin is catalysed by iron and by copper, although cobalt, nickel, manganese, cerium, vanadium and molybdenum were found to be without effect. The catalytic activity of copper was some 900-fold that of iron. Cyanide and certain organic complexing agents inhibit superoxide production from reduced sporidesmin by virtue of their ability to chelate copper. Some proteins behave likewise, again through binding of the metal catalyst, although amino acid-bound copper was found to be as effective as ionic copper in catalysing the autoxidation reaction. From the results of the present experiments, it is suggested that any superoxide production from sporidesmin in vivo would be mediated by the intracellular transport pool of copper. Furthermore, the ability of zinc to inhibit intestinal absorption of copper may be involved in the mechanism whereby salts of this metal afford protection against the harmful effects of sporidesmin in the living animal.

Catalysis↗
PubMed1984

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin sporidesmin. 2--Evidence for intracellular generation of superoxide radical from sporidesmin.

Formation of hydrogen peroxide, the dismutation product of superoxide radical, has been demonstrated in erythrocytes incubated with the mycotoxin sporidesmin. Erythrocytic thiols, both non-protein and protein-bound, were depleted in the presence of sporidesmin, whilst haemoglobin was oxidized to methaemoglobin. Irreversible haemoglobin oxidation also occurred in these cells, shown by the formation of Heinz bodies; purified haemoglobin likewise suffered oxidative damage when incubated with sporidesmin in the presence of glutathione. Sporidesmin has previously been shown to generate superoxide radical in vitro; the erythrocytic changes induced by the mycotoxin, which are characteristically produced by compounds which generate 'active oxygen' species, suggest that it is also capable of generating this radical intracellularly.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin, sporidesmin. V. Generation of hydroxyl radical by sporidesmin.

Sporidesmin, the mycotoxin responsible for "facial eczema' in ruminants, has previously been shown to generate superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide. In the present study, the formation of the third "active oxygen' species, hydroxyl radical, has been demonstrated. This species is produced both during the autoxidation of the reduced (dithiol) form of the mycotoxin and in the cyclic reduction/autoxidation reaction between sporidesmin and glutathione. In view of the exceptional reactivity of the hydroxyl radical, this substance may be the proximate agent responsible for the toxic effects of sporidesmin.

Catalase↗
PubMed1982

Studies on the mechanism of toxicity of the mycotoxin, sporidesmin. I. Generation of superoxide radical by sporidesmin.

Sporidesmin (SDMS2), the mycotoxin responsible for 'facial eczema' in ruminants, contains a disulphide group which appears to be intimately involved in its toxic action. The reduced (dithiol) form of sporidesmin has been shown readily to undergo autoxidation in vitro in a reaction which generates superoxide radical (O2-). The autoxidation reaction, which takes place over a wide pH range, is strongly catalysed by trace amounts of copper, although the reaction was inhibited at high concentrations of this metal. Inhibition of the autooxidation of reduced sporidesmin (SDM(SH)2) was also observed in the presence of nickel, cobalt and manganese. Superoxide radical is also generated from SDMS2 itself in a cyclic reduction/autoxidation reaction with glutathione and other thiols; in view of the known toxicity of superoxide and its derivatives, it is suggested that oxygen-free-radicals may be involved in the initiation of the deleterious effects of the mycotoxin.

Chemical Phenomena↗
PubMed1999

Effect of prior sporidesmin intoxication on the pancreopathy associated with zinc oxide toxicity.

AIM: To demonstrate the effect of prior sporidesmin-induced liver injury on the pancreopathy of zinc-induced toxicity. METHODS: Four groups, each of 15 sheep, were given 2 x 2 treatments of sporidesmin (0.3 mg/kg bodyweight spread over 3 consecutive days prior to zinc) and zinc (200 mg Zn/kg bodyweight as ZnO spread over 24 days) starting 4 days after the end of sporidesmin dosing. Liver and pancreatic changes were assessed by serum enzyme changes (serum amylase and gamma glutamyltransferase) or scoring for injury at post-mortem examination (hepatopathy) or by histopathological examination (pancreopathy). RESULTS: Minor pancreatic injury was caused by the administration of zinc. The pancreopathy associated with zinc oxide toxicity was significantly greater in those sheep receiving zinc after the sporidesmin-induced injury. Pathological and body weight changes associated with sporidesmin toxicity also occurred in both groups dosed with sporidesmin. These were slightly less in the group of sheep receiving zinc after the sporidesmin challenge than in those receiving sporidesmin alone. CONCLUSIONS: Zinc-induced pancreatic injury is greater if the zinc is administered after liver injury has been caused by sporidesmin. Only minor protection is given by zinc if it is administered after the challenge with sporidesmin. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: The safety margin for the use of zinc is reduced if zinc is administered after significant liver injury has been caused by prior exposure to high Pithomyces chartarum spore counts.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Effects of low dose rates of sporidesmin given orally to sheep.

AIM: To examine clinical and subclinical effects of sporidesmin administered orally to sheep at very low daily dose rates for periods of 3 to 48 days. METHODS: Two experiments were conducted. In Experiment A, sporidesmin-A was administered orally to groups of 16 sheep at daily dose rates of approximately 0.0042, 0.0083 and 0.0167 mg/kg bodyweight for 48 days. In Experiment B, the highest of these doses was administered orally for 3, 6, 12, 24 or 48 consecutive days. Parameters of production, clinical findings, organ weights and pathological findings were recorded. RESULTS: In Experiment A, severe liver lesions and photosensitisation were evident as early as 18 days after commencement of daily low-dose administration of sporidesmin, and were associated with significant bodyweight loss. Significant bodyweight loss also occurred in non-photosensitised sporidesmin-treated sheep. Bodyweight reductions were associated with reduced carcass weights and skin weights in treated animals. Sporidesmin administration was also associated with reduced bodyweight gains and pathological changes of the liver, kidney, hepatic lymph nodes, thymus, adrenal gland, heart and spleen. In Experiment B, only moderate changes occurred in a few sheep in the groups dosed with sporidesmin at 0.0167 mg/kg for 3 or 6 days, but major changes were frequently recorded in animals dosed at this rate for 12 days or longer. These comprised changes in the liver and other organs, and photosensitisation typical of the disease, facial eczema. Results are discussed in relation to animal welfare and economic issues associated with this disease. CONCLUSIONS: Sporidesmin caused significant clinical and sub-clinical disease and reduced animal production at relatively low daily dose rates. The effects of repeated daily low-dose administration of sporidesmin appear to be cumulative. There was considerable variation in susceptibility between individual animals. These results emphasise the considerable production losses and animal welfare effects associated with sporidesmin toxicity in sheep.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Interaction of sporidesmin, a mycotoxin from Pithomyces chartarum, with lipid bilayers.

Sporidesmin, a mycotoxin from Pithomyces chartarum is a hydrophobic molecule. It can therefore be easily incorporated in the cell membrane, where it is likely to cause changes in the bilayer organization and the properties of membrane proteins. In order to understand the redox behaviour of sporidesmin in a hydrophobic environment, we have investigated the effects of oxidized and reduced sporidesmin on the phase transition properties of bilayers and on the susceptibility of bilayers to pancreatic phospholipase A2 (PLA2). The changes induced by sporidesmin in the thermotropic phase transition profiles of dimyristoyl-sn-3-phosphatidyl choline (DMPC) bilayers were similar to those caused by solutes known to localize in the glycerol-backbone region of the lipid bilayer, suggesting a similar localization for oxidized and reduced sporidesmin. Neither form of toxin disrupt the bilayer or membrane organization even at relatively high mole fractions. At concentrations < 10 mole% both forms partitioned equally well in the gel and liquid-crystalline phases, whereas at higher concentrations (approximately 30 mole%) reduced sporidesmin is preferentially localized in the liquid-crystalline phase. These effects of sporidesmin on the phase properties of DMPC vesicles were also reported by the fluorescence behavior of 10-pyrenedecanoic acid (PDA). The effects of oxidized and reduced sporidesmins on PLA2 kinetics are consistent with their ability to perturb bilayer organisation.

Calorimetry, Differential Scanning↗
PubMed1992

In vitro and in vivo mutagenicity studies on sporidesmin, the toxin associated with facial eczema in ruminants.

Sporidesmin, a fungal toxin with widespread distribution within New Zealand, is thought to exert toxic effects through oxidative damage. The purified chemical was tested for its ability to cause point mutations in four strains of Salmonella typhimurium (TA98, TA100, TA102 and TA1537), in the presence and absence of exogenous metabolic activation. Although toxic effects were seen at concentrations exceeding 400 mu gl/plate, there were no significant increases in revertant colonies. In strain TA102, these results were not modified by the presence of glutathione. In AA8 Chinese hamster cells, sporidesmin acted as a potent clastogen, causing chromosomal breaks at concentrations as low as 3 ng/ml, where there was very little reduction in cell viability. Effects were primarily at the chromatid level, but some chromosomal events were also seen. Following low doses, the most common events were chromatid deletions and induction of double minute chromosomes. Interchange events occurred at concentrations of 10 ng/ml and above. The most common of these events was an incomplete chromatid interchange, although some examples of complete chromatid and chromosomal interchange were seen. These in vitro experiments were subsequently extended to an in vivo study of sporidesmin-induced lymphocytic micronuclei (MN) in sheep. In a double blind experiment, 5 sheep were treated with a single high dose of sporidesmin. Blood samples were taken from these, and from 5 untreated sheep, at various intervals before and after treatment. Peripheral blood lymphocytes cultures were harvested and scored for MN in cytokinesis-blocked cells, as a measure of clastogenic activity of sporidesmin in vivo. Following decoding, statistical analysis of the data revealed no significant differences between the MN levels in peripheral blood lymphocytes of sporidesmin-treated and untreated sheep. Although the possibility still exists that clastogenic effects could occur in other species, the data indicate that sporidesmin is not a clastogen in sheep, even though this species is highly susceptible to the toxic effects of sporidesmin.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Zinc protection of HepG2 cells from sporidesmin toxicity does not require de novo gene transcription.

Sporidesmin is an epidithiodioxopiperazine mycotoxin secreted by the saprophytic fungus Pithomyces chartarum. Ingestion of sporidesmin by ruminants grazing on the saprophyte infested pasture causes severe liver and bile duct damage leading to secondary photosensitisation. Zinc supplementation is used as an effective prophylaxis against sporidesmin toxicity in ruminants, however, the mechanism by which zinc protects is unknown. This study used the human hepatoma cell line, HepG2, as a model to examine the mechanism of zinc protection against sporidesmin toxicity. Treatment of cells with various concentrations of sporidesmin (0-10 microg/ml) resulted in a sigmoidal dose response curve with an LC50 of 5 microg/ml. Cells were protected from sporidesmin toxicity by pre-treatment for 2h or 16 h with zinc sulphate in a concentration dependent manner, with significant protection at 50 microM zinc and maximal protection at 200 microM zinc. To determine whether zinc protection required de novo gene transcription, cells were treated with the transcriptional inhibitor actinomycin D for one hour prior to and throughout the zinc pre-treatment. The presence of actinomycin D did not significantly reduce the zinc protection against sporidesmin cytotoxicity (80% protection without actinomycin D versus 71% protection with actinomycin D). Therefore, de novo gene transcription does not play a major role in the mechanism of zinc protection against sporidesmin toxicity in HepG2 cells.

Cell Line, Tumor↗
PubMed1996

Lack of toxicity of a non-sporidesmin-producing strain of Pithomyces chartarum in cell culture and when dosed to lambs.

In New Zealand the fungus Pithomyces charturum normally produces sporidesmin, a mycotoxin, which is responsible for the hepatogenous photosensitisation disease known as facial eczema. Cultures from an isolate of P. charturum, which does not produce sporidesmin, were examined by cell culture and by dosing to lambs to determine whether other toxic metabolites were produced. Acute and long term toxicity studies were conducted with the toxic response being assessed by weight changes, postmortem and histological examination of tissues, blood biochemistry and haematology tests. An extract from a sporidesmin-producing isolate was highly toxic in cell culture, while extracts of the nonsporidesmin-producing isolate did not cause a cytotoxic response to HEp 2 cells. After dosing with a sporidesmin-producing isolate, lambs developed liver lesions and clinical signs of facial eczema. Serum biochemistry changes occurred which were consistent with sporidesmin poisoning. Lambs dosed with the nonsporidesmin-producing isolate, at the rate of thirty times the number of spores of the sporidesmin-producing isolate, showed no observable toxic effects. All organs were of normal appearance, and histological examination of tissues, blood biochemistry and haematology results showed no abnormal changes. Similarly, long term dosing of extracts of the nonsporidesmin-producing isolate, at a rate equivalent to 100,000 spores/g of grass, produced no indication of a toxic response. It was concluded that the nonsporidesmin-producing isolate of P. churtarum contained no toxic metabolites in significant concentration.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1980

Photosensitivity in South Africa. II. The experimental production of the ovine hepatogenous photosensitivity disease geeldikkop (Tribulosis ovis) by the simultaneous ingestion of Tribulus terrestris plants and cultures of Pithomyces chartarum containing the mycotoxin sporidesmin.

The mycoflora of toxic pastures were surveyed during a number of outbreaks of ovine hepatogenous photosensitivity in South Africa. Pure cultures of several isolates were dosed to sheep, but only those of Pithomyces chartarum and Myrothecium verrucaria proved to be toxic. Photosensitization was induced in sheep by dosing them with cultures of a P. chartarum isolate (GA10) obtained from Tribulus terrestris plants collected during an outbreak of geeldikkop in the Karoo. Thus for the first time a mechanism whereby T. terrestris plants can contribute to the causation of ovine hepatogenous photosensitivity was demonstrated. When cultures of GA10 equivalent to approximately 0,75--4,0 mg/kg sporidesmin were dosed at Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute to Highveld and Karoo sheep on a diet of lucerne, facial eczema was produced. Dosing the same cultures at levels equivalent to c. 1,0 mg/kg of sporidesmin in the Karoo resulted in lesions characteristic of both facial eczema and geeldikkop. Typical hepatic lesions of geeldikkop could be elicited by dosing GA10 at levels equivalent to c. 0,25--0,7 mg/kg of sporidesmin to Karoo sheep grazing on predominantly T. terrestris pastures in the Karoo. In the latter experiment geeldikkop was induced in the sheep on T. terrestris pastures, while those receiving identical doses on veld with little T. terrestris developed facial eczema. Geeldikkop, therefore, can be brought about by the ingestion of T. terrestris plants together with toxic cultures of P. chartarum. The plant appears not only to act as a vehicle for ingestion of spores, but also to interact with sporidesmin to induce lesions typical of geeldikkop, whereas sporidesmin alone results in facial eczema. Indications are that it can enhance the ability of sporidesmin to cause photosensitivity or, possibly, vice versa. The histopathological findings of these experiments are described in detail.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Selective inactivation of glutaredoxin by sporidesmin and other epidithiopiperazinediones.

Glutaredoxin (thioltransferase) is a thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase that displays efficient and specific catalysis of protein-SSG deglutathionylation and is thereby implicated in homeostatic regulation of the thiol-disulfide status of cellular proteins. Sporidesmin is an epidithiopiperazine-2,5-dione (ETP) fungal toxin that disrupts cellular functions likely via oxidative alteration of cysteine residues on key proteins. In the current study sporidesmin inactivated human glutaredoxin in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Under comparable conditions other thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase enzymes, glutathione reductase, thioredoxin, and thioredoxin reductase, were unaffected by sporidesmin. Inactivation of glutaredoxin required the reduced (dithiol) form of the enzyme, the oxidized (intramolecular disulfide) form of sporidesmin, and molecular oxygen. The inactivated glutaredoxin could be reactivated by dithiothreitol only in the presence of urea, followed by removal of the denaturant, indicating that inactivation of the enzyme involves a conformationally inaccessible disulfide bond(s). Various cysteine-to-serine mutants of glutaredoxin were resistant to inactivation by sporidesmin, suggesting that the inactivation reaction specifically involves at least two of the five cysteine residues in human glutaredoxin. The relative ability of various epidithiopiperazine-2,5-diones to inactivate glutaredoxin indicated that at least one phenyl substituent was required in addition to the epidithiodioxopiperazine moiety for inhibitory activity. Mass spectrometry of the modified protein is consistent with formation of intermolecular disulfides, containing one adducted toxin per glutaredoxin but with elimination of two sulfur atoms from the detected product. We suggest that the initial reaction is between the toxin sulfurs and cysteine 22 in the glutaredoxin active site. This study implicates selective modification of sulfhydryls of target proteins in some of the cytotoxic effects of the ETP fungal toxins and their synthetic analogues.

Amino Acid Substitution↗