Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) causes hepatotoxic, genotoxic, and immunotoxic effects in a variety of species. Although various neutralizing agents of AFB1 toxicity have been studied, the egg yolk immunoglobulin (IgY) detoxification of small molecular toxins and the mechanisms underlying such effects have not yet been reported. In this investigation, anti-AFB1 IgY against AFB1 was successfully raised, and a competitive indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was established with a sensitive half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50, 2.4 ng/mL) and dynamic working range (0.13-43.0 ng/mL). The anti-AFB1 IgY obtained reduced AFB1-induced cytotoxicity, cellular dysfunction, and genotoxicity by protecting cells against apoptotic body formation and DNA strand breaks, preventing G2/M phase cell cycle arrest, reducing AFB1-DNA adduct and reactive oxygen species production and maintaining cell migration and invasion and the mitochondrial membrane potential. Anti-AFB1 IgY significantly inhibited the AFB1-induced expression of proteins related to antioxidative, pro-apoptotic, and antiapoptotic processes in a strong dose-dependent manner. These experiments demonstrated that the anti-AFB1 IgY-bound AFB1 could not enter cells. This is the first time that IgY has been found to reduce the effects of small molecular toxins, which will be beneficial for the development of antibodies as detoxication agents.
Keywords: IgY; aflatoxin B1; cellular dysfunction; cytotoxicity; detoxification; genotoxicity.