Ochratoxin A induced TNFα release from the isolated and blood- free perfused rat liver

Ochratoxin A (OTA) a naturally occuring mycotoxin is nephrotoxic, hepatotoxic, teratogenic, embryotoxic, genotoxic, cancerogenic and immunosuppressive. Focussing on the immunemodulating effects, we found that OTA induces cytokine release from the isolated and bloodfree perfused rat liver. In the present study, we have characterized the liberation of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) by OTA and we described interactions with various mycotoxins andE.coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS).