Dietary aflatoxin-induced stunting in a novel rat model: Evidence for toxin-induced liver injury and hepatic growth hormone resistance

Brittany Knipstein, Jiansheng Huang, Emily Barr, Philip Sossenheimer, Dennis Dietzen, Patricia A. Egner, John D. Groopman, David A. Rudnick

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background:Despite a strong statistical correlation between dietary aflatoxin B1 (AFB1)-exposure and childhood stunting, the causal mechanism remains speculative. This issue is important because of emerging interest in reduction of human aflatoxin exposure to diminish the prevalence and complications of stunting. Pediatric liver diseases cause growth impairment, and AFB1 is hepatotoxic. Thus, liver injury might mediate AFB1-associated growth impairment. We have developed a rat model of dietary AFB1-induced stunting to investigate these questions.Methods:Newly-weaned rats were given AFB1-supplemented- or control-diets from age 3-9 wk, and then euthanized for serum- and tissue-collection. Food intake and weight were serially assessed, with tibial-length determined at the experimental endpoint. Serum AFB1-adducts, hepatic gene and protein expression, and liver injury markers were quantified using established methodologies.Results:AFB1-albumin adducts correlated with dietary toxin contamination, but such contamination did not affect food consumption. AFB1-exposed animals exhibited dose-dependent wasting and stunting, liver pathology, and suppression of hepatic targets of growth hormone (GH) signaling, but did not display increased mortality.Conclusion:These data establish toxin-dependent liver injury and hepatic GH-resistance as candidate mechanisms by which AFB1-exposure causes growth impairment in this mammalian model. Interrogation of modifiers of stunting using this model could guide interventions in at-risk and affected children.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)120-127
Number of pages8
JournalPediatric research
Volume78
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 21 2015

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Dietary aflatoxin-induced stunting in a novel rat model: Evidence for toxin-induced liver injury and hepatic growth hormone resistance'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this