Mechanism of hypercholesterolemia Induced by Fumonisin B1

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a member of mycotoxins, produced by Fusarium verticillioides (formerly F. moniliforme), a common fungal contaminant of corn. FB1 causes hypercholesterolemia in many animal species. The mechanism of FB1-induced hypercholesterolemia is unknown. We aimed to investigate the cellular mechanism of FB1-induced hypercholesterolemia by exploring agonistic hypocholesterolemic agents in HepG2 cells, and to search for a field evidence on the link between dietary FB1 and hypercholesterolemia endemic in swine population. The results indicated that FB1 induced increases in cellular concentration of cholesterol. At the moment, FB1 inhibited expression of LDL-receptor and ACAT mRNATo control the hypercholesterolemia induced by FB1, probucol might be effective. In Taiwan, FB1 contamination was noted in pig feed. Serum cholesterol was higher than the normal range of pigs. Ruling out other factors of hypercholesterolemia might be helpful to conclude a direct link between dietary FB1 and hypercholesterolemia.