Research project CP/57 (Research action CP)
Context
Food safety can be adversely affected by the presence of various kinds of chemical contaminants such as pesticides, heavy metals, POPs, hormones, antibiotics and mycotoxins. The fact that the Maximal Residue Limits set by the authorities are not exceeded in the controlled foodstuffs may not be considered as a sufficient guarantee for food safety because there are still a lot of uncertainties linked to the toxicological assessment of the contaminants. Among these, it is frequently argued that the possible additive and, worst, the possible synergetic effects of different contaminants are not taken into consideration. Therefore, there is a need to improve our knowledge on the possible interactions between all kinds of contaminants that can be present simultaneously in our diet. More specifically, we propose to study the possible interactions of different contaminants or nutrients in a complex biological system, namely the intestinal barrier, the absorption site of most oral pollutants.
Project description
Objectives
The combined use of a cell culture system, the Caco-2 cells, already validated as an in vitro model for the intestinal absorption and appropiate analytical tools allow us to focus on two mycotoxins of major concern : deoxynivalenol (DON) and ochratoxin A (OTA). The effect of a whole set of contaminants on the bioavailability of these mycotoxins will be tested in the Caco-2 model. On the basis of existing data bases, the major co-contaminants likely to be present in our diet will be selected and the most realistic concentration ranges of chemicals wil be defined. Experiments will be carried out on Caco-2 cells, cultivated in bicameral inserts, which allow a separate access to both the apical (corresponding to the intestinal lumen) and basolateral (or systemic) poles of the cells. The bioavailability of the mycotoxins, alone or in combination with the selected co-contaminants, will be evaluated, after their incubation with the Caco-2 cells, with the analytical methodologies already existing within the consortium or planed to be developed.
Methodology
There is an urgent need for additional information about the bioavailability and toxicity of pollutants in humans, in general, but also, even more importantly, as a function of the food composition. Such an approach should rely on :
- a precise analysis, on the basis of existing data bases, of the potential food co-contamination by major contaminants with a particular attention to the mode of production. This analysis will help to select the most relevant mixtures of chemicals likely to be present in our diet and for which there could be a real need to perform experimental studies;
- an experimental approach based on biological tests reliable and rather easy to perform. For both practical and ethical reasons, the use of in vitro methods is probably the most relevant approach, so far as validated procedures will be used. In the case of intestinal absorption and biotransformation, the use of a cell culture system based on Caco-2 cells is probably the most appropriate;
- analytical methods allowing an easy detection of the contaminants and possible metabolites.
Interaction between the different partners
A project based on the study of interactions between different kinds of contaminants and food constituents needs a team of partners working in efficient network. This network fully meet this requirement with tree partners who had already participated to related projects in close collaboration. On a practical viewpoint, the data bases analysis will be performed by partner 2 with feedback of other partners. The biological assays based on cellular system will be performed by partner 1 and analysis of food contaminants or food constituents will be shared by all the partners depending on component analysis.
Expected results
Data base
Due to the considerable diversity of contaminants that are known to be present in minute quantities in our diet, a data base will be generated to identify the most relevant mixtures of chemicals likely to be present simultaneously in our diet, with their relation to the mode of production of the foodstuffs and the nutritional habits. This analysis will also permit to select pollutants and their combinations for which there could be a real need to perform experimental studies.
Bioassay
The bioavailability of the selected contaminants, alone or in relevant combinations, will be determined in the Caco-2 cells culture system representing an in vitro model of the human intestinal mucosa. For each of the selected food contaminants, but with a particular attention for deoxynivalenol and ochratoxin A, several key parameters will be determined :
* absorption across the intestinal barrier to evaluate individual bioavailability;
* appearance in systemic circulation as such or as identified metabolites;
* accumulation within the intestinal cells and possible effects on physiology;
* effect of co-contamination on the bioavailability and biotransformation of each individual substance;
* effect of key food constituents on these parameters.
The results will characterize the interactions, synergisms or antagonisms, between food contaminants and components.
Food safety recommandations
A better knowledge of the bioavailability of dietary mycotoxins and other contaminants in co-contaminantion situations will allow to properly evaluate their impact on human health and should lead to more appropriate dietary recommendations. The study of the nutrients impact on the bioavailability of the contaminants under investigation could lead to the development of new products that are more safe in terms of human health.
Partners
Activities
UCL
The « Institut des Sciences de la Vie » of the comprises two research units working together on the mycotoxin topic :
* The Unit of Nutritional Biochemistry has a major objective to educate bio-engineers and perform researches in the field of nutritional food quality and food safety.
* The Cellular Biochemistry Laboratory is focused on the use of cell culture systems to investigate problems related to biochemistry, physiology and pharmacology of mammalian cells or for their utilization in cell bioengineering.
VAR
The research unit of the department « Quality & Safety », one of the six VAR departments, develops a strategy leading to build up expertise in the risk assessment of chemical contaminants of organic nature entering the food chain.
UGent
The Laboratory of Food Analysis of Gent University has educational and research tasks, and provides (remunerated) scientific services to official authorities and private companies, for which it has been accreditated by BELTEST.
Contact Information
Co-ordinator
Yvan Larondelle
Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL)
Unité de biochimie de la nutrition (BNUT)
2, place Croix du Sud, bte. 8
B-1348 Louvain-la-Neuve
Tel: +32 (0)10 47 37 35
Fax: +32 (0)10 47 37 28
larondelle@bnut.ucl.ac.be
http://www.bnut.ucl.ac.be
Partners
Luc Pussemier
Centre d'Etude et de Recherches Vétérinaires et Agrochimiques (CERVA-CODA-VAR)
17, chaussée de Louvain
B-3080 Tervuren
Tel: +32 (0)2 769 22 47
Fax: +32 (0)2 769 23 05
lupus@var.fgov.be
http://www.var.fgov.be
Carlos Van Peteghem
Universiteit Gent (UGent)
Vakgroep Bioanalyse
Harelbekestraat 72
B-9000 Gent
Tel: +32 (0)9 264 81 15
Fax: +32 (0)9 264 81 99
carlos.vanpeteghem@ugent.be
http://www.ugent.be
Users committee
Chris Moris, FEVIA
Pascal Leglise, FEDIS, Carrefour Belgium
Yvan Dejaegher, APFACA-BEMEFA
Marc Van der Cammen, CRIOC-OIVO
Piet Vanthemsche, AFSCA
Christine Vinkx, Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment
Interaction between mycotoxins and other food contaminants: a new safety concern : final report
Larondelle, Yvan - Schneider, Yves-Jacques - Pussemier, Luc ... et al Brussels : Belgian Science Policy, 2006 (SP1679)
[To download]
[Exhausted]
