Toxins (Basel). 2019 Apr; 11(4): 217.

Published online 2019 Apr 10. doi: 10.3390/toxins11040217

PMCID: PMC6521021

Assessment of Toxic Effects of Ochratoxin A in Human Embryonic Stem Cells

Slaven Erceg,^1,* Eva María Mateo,² Iván Zipancic,³ Francisco Javier Rodríguez Jiménez,¹ María Amparo Pérez Aragó,¹ Misericordia Jiménez,² José Miguel Soria,⁴ and Mª Ángeles Garcia-Esparza^5,*

Abstract

Ochratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by different Aspergillus and Penicillium species, and it is considered a common contaminant in food and animal feed worldwide. On the other hand, human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) have been suggested as a valuable model for evaluating drug embryotoxicity. In this study, we have evaluated potentially toxic effects of OTA in hESCs. By using in vitro culture techniques, specific cellular markers, and molecular biology procedures, we found that OTA produces mild cytotoxic effects in hESCs by inhibiting cell attachment, survival, and proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, we suggest that hESCs provide a valuable human and cellular model for toxicological studies regarding preimplantation stage of human fetal development.