Comparative Description of Selenium and Vitamin E Effects on T-2 toxin ‎Disturbed Lymphocyte sub-populations

Interoduction. T-2 toxin, an important member of trichothecene mycotoxins family, disturbs ‎structures and functions of many parts of human and animal immune system. Our previous ‎studies showed that peritoneal inoculation of T-2 toxin changes normal proportion of mouse ‎peripheral blood lymphocytes and antioxidants may affect the phenomenon. In the present study, ‎the effects of two well-known antioxidants, Selenium and Vitamin E, on these T-2 toxin induced ‎abnormalities are compared.‎‏ Material and Methods. A single sub lethal dose of T-2 toxin (2 μg/Kg) inoculated to a group ‎of mice and at different times after intoxication the peripheral blood lymphocytes counted by ‎flow cytometry method. Then, 4 separate groups of mice received T-2 toxin and selenium ‎sulphide or vitamin E, and proportion of the lymphocyte subpopulations were determined in their ‎peripheral blood samples. Results. The results showed that T-2 toxin affects normal proportion of all studied lymphocytes. ‎CD19+ and CD8+ lymphocytes decreased and CD4+ cells increased after receiving a single sub ‎lethal dose of the toxin. Peritoneal injection of selenium in both condition, concomitant or before ‎T-2 toxin, prevented CD19+ cells reduction but, vitamin E had no effect on reduction process of ‎this subpopulation. When, selenium inoculated at intoxication time, the increasing of CD4+ ‎population prevented completely but, vitamin E had no efficacy in this condition. In contrast, ‎injection of vitamin E, 24 h before the toxin, significantly affected the CD4+ proportion and ‎prevented the increasing of the subpopulation while, selenium was ineffective in this manner. ‎Receiving of vitamin E in both condition, before and at intoxication, prevented reduction of ‎CD8+ cells while selenium repair the problem only when received concomitant with the toxin.‎ Discussion. It is concluded that to cure T-2 toxin induced abnormalities in lymphocyte ‎subpopulations, efficacy of selenium and vitamin E varies depending on inoculation time of ‎these antioxidants as well as type of disturbed lymphocyte, and it seems that selenium received ‎immediately after intoxication provides more efficacious results while usefulness of vitamin E is ‎more when received prior to intoxication.‎