Description
Nivalenol is a Fusarium type B trichothecene mycotoxin. Nivalenol is cytotoxic to leukocytes, inhibiting cell proliferation, increasing IL-8 secretion, and decreasing MCP-1 secretion in an NF-κB-dependent manner. In macrophages and Jurkat T cells, nivalenol increases cytochrome c release and degradation of Bcl-2, stimulating caspase 3-mediated apoptosis. Additionally, nivalenol induces the breakdown of polyribosomes and inhibits polypeptide chain initiation in eukaryotes.