Effect of Immunization against Aflatoxin B1 on the Expression of COX-2 in Liver, Kidney and spleen of Rabbits treated with aflatoxin B1

Abstract

Aflatoxin B1 is a mycotoxin produced mainly by the fungus Aspergillus flavus and A. parasiticus in food and feed. It is considered as a carcinogenic toxin for human and animals. The current study was designed to investigate the expression of COX-2 in liver, kidney and spleen of immunized and non-immunized rabbits against aflatoxin B1 which treated with aflatoxin B1. Immunohistochemical results indicated that COX-2 highly expressed in the liver, kidney and spleen (4.00±0.00*, 3.66±0.33*, 2.00±0.00* respectively) (P≤ 0.05) of aflatoxin B1-treated rabbits (0.7 mg/kg) and their expression was significantly reduced by immunization of rabbits against aflatoxin B1 using prepared immunogen consisted of (aflatoxin B1- bovine serum Albumin Conjugate using concentration 100 µg and 200 µg), and the expression was reduced using concentration 100 µg more than 200 µg.

Keywords: Aflatoxin B1, Antibody, Immunization, COX-2