Effects of aflatoxin B1, fumonisin B1 and their mixture on the aryl hydrocarbon receptor and cytochrome P450 1A induction

•AFB1 induced Cyp1A and Ahr, but FB1 only raised slightly Cyp1A, in H4IIE cells.•AFB1 and FB1, induced overexpression of the cyp1A and ahr genes, in spleen cells.•Response potency was higher for the AFB1–FB1 mixture, than for individual toxins.•Results suggest Ahr pathway activation as a toxicity mechanism for AFB1 and FB1.•This study highlights that FB1 may increase bioactivation and toxicity of AFB1.