The Protective Effect of Pumpkin and Fermented Whey Mixture against AFB1 and OTA Immune Toxicity In Vitro. A Transcriptomic Approach

Scope The aim of the study is to investigate in Jurkat cells the possible beneficial effect of pumpkin (P) and fermented milk whey (FW) mixture against aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and ochratoxin A (OTA) induced alterations in gene expression profile. Methods and results Human T cells are exposed for 7 days to digested bread extracts containing P‐FW mixture along with AFB1 and OTA, individually and in combination. The results of RNA sequencing show that AFB1 P‐FW exposure resulted in 34 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) while 3450 DEGs are found in OTA P‐FW exposure and 3264 DEGs in AFB1‐OTA P‐FW treatment. Gene ontology analysis reveals biological processes and molecular functions related to immune system and inflammatory response. Moreover, PathVisio analysis points to eicosanoid signaling via lipoxygenase as the main pathway altered by AFB1 P‐FW exposure whereas interferon signaling is the most affected pathway after OTA P‐FW and AFB1‐OTA P‐FW treatments. Conclusions The mitigation of genes and inherent pathways typically associated with the inflammatory response suggest not only the anti‐inflammatory and protective role of P‐FW mixture but also their possible application in food industry to counteract AFB1 and OTA toxic effects on human and animal health.