Rubratoxin B caused hypoglycemia and elevated serum interleukin-6 levels in mice

Abstract

In order to find serological marker(s) of rubratoxin B′s toxicity, the effects of rubratoxin B on serum transaminases, glucose, triglyceride, cholesterol, interleukin (IL) -1β, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) -α levels in mice were investigated. Serum transaminase levels of 24-hr rubratoxin B-treated C3H/HeN mice were much higher than controls, indicating that rubratoxin B brought about hepatic injury. However, rubratoxin B-caused elevation was not remarkable in BALB/cAnN mice. Rubratoxin B decreased serum glucose level in mice of both strains. Again, rubratoxin B was less effective in BALB/cAnN mice. Serum triglyceride and cholesterol levels were not affected by rubratoxin B. We observed drastic elevation of serum IL-6 level in 24-hr rubratoxin B-treated C3H/HeN mice. On the other hand, we detected virtually no serum IL-6 in BALB/cAnN mice. In addition, serum IL -1β and TNF -α were not detected in mice of both strains. Taken together the above results, rubratoxin B exerted more toxicity and induced much more serum IL-6 in C3H/HeN mice than in BALB/AnN mice. It is likely that IL-6 is an excellent serological marker of the toxicity of rubratoxin B. Our results suggest that rubratoxin B can serve as a good model of drug-induced hepatic injury.