No specific humoral and cellular immune response in rats after feeding genetically modified maize [03.06.18]
The genetically modified maize event MON810 expresses a Bacillus thuringiensis-derived gene, which encodes the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab to control some lepidopteran insect pests such as the European corn borer. It has been claimed that the immune system may be affected following the oral/intragastric administration of the MON810 maize in various different animal species. A current study involving PhD student Paul Schmidt indicates no health risks in model rat experiments.
Source: Pixnio
Original Study
Tulinská J1, Adel-Patient K2, Bernard H2, Líšková A1, Kuricová M1, Ilavská S1, Horváthová M1, Kebis A3, Rollerová E3, Babincová J3, Aláčová R3, Wal JM2, Schmidt K4, Schmidtke J4, Schmidt P4,5, Kohl C6, Wilhelm R6, Schiemann J6, Steinberg P7,8. (2018) Humoral and cellular immune response in Wistar Han RCC rats fed two genetically modified maize MON810 varieties for 90 days (EU 7th Framework Programme project GRACE).Arch Toxicol. 2018 May 31. doi: 10.1007/s00204-018-2230-z. [Epub ahead of print]
- Faculty of Medicine, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 83303, Bratislava, Slovakia.
- Service de Pharmacologie et d'Immunoanalyse, Laboratoire d'Immuno-Allergie Alimentaire (LIAA), INRA, CEA, Université Paris Saclay, DRF/Institut Joliot/SPI-Bat 136, CEA de Saclay, 91191, Gif sur Yvette Cedex, France.
- Faculty of Public Health, Slovak Medical University, Limbová 12, 83303, Bratislava, Slovakia.
- BioMath GmbH, Friedrich-Barnewitz-Str. 8, 18119, Rostock-Warnemünde, Germany.
- Biostatistics (340c), University of Hohenheim, Fruwirthstr. 23, 70599, Stuttgart, Germany.
- Institute for Biosafety in Plant Biotechnology, Julius Kühn-Institut, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484, Quedlinburg, Germany.
- Institute for Food Toxicology and Analytical Chemistry, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Bischofsholer Damm 15, 30173, Hannover, Germany. pablo.steinberg@mri.bund.de.
- Max Rubner-Institut, Federal Research Institute of Nutrition and Food, Haid-und-Neu-Str. 9, 76131, Karlsruhe, Germany. pablo.steinberg@mri.bund.de.
Abstract
The genetically modified maize event MON810 expresses a Bacillus thuringiensis-derived gene, which encodes the insecticidal protein Cry1Ab to control some lepidopteran insect pests such as the European corn borer. It has been claimed that the immune system may be affected following the oral/intragastric administration of the MON810 maize in various different animal species. In the frame of the EU-funded project GRACE, two 90-day feeding trials, the so-called studies D and E, were performed to analyze the humoral and cellular immune responses of male and female Wistar Han RCC rats fed the MON810 maize. A MON810 maize variety of Monsanto was used in the study D and a MON810 maize variety of Pioneer Hi-Bred was used in the study E. The total as well as the maize protein- and Cry1Ab-serum-specific IgG, IgM, IgA and IgE levels, the proliferative activity of the lymphocytes, the phagocytic activity of the granulocytes and monocytes, the respiratory burst of the phagocytes, a phenotypic analysis of spleen, thymus and lymph node cells as well as the in vitro production of cytokines by spleen cells were analyzed. No specific Cry1Ab immune response was observed in MON810 rats, and anti-maize protein antibody responses were similar in MON810 and control rats. Single parameters were sporadically altered in rats fed the MON810 maize when compared to control rats, but these alterations are considered to be of no immunotoxicological significance.
