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Building-Associated Neurological Damage Modeled in Human Cells: A Mechanism of Neurotoxic Effects by Exposure to Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment

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Abstract

Damage to human neurological system cells resulting from exposure to mycotoxins confirms a previously controversial public health threat for occupants of water-damaged buildings. Leading scientific organizations disagree about the ability of inhaled mycotoxins in the indoor environment to cause adverse human health effects. Damage to the neurological system can result from exposure to trichothecene mycotoxins in the indoor environment. This study demonstrates that neurological system cell damage can occur from satratoxin H exposure to neurological cells at exposure levels that can be found in water-damaged buildings contaminated with fungal growth. The constant activation of inflammatory and apoptotic pathways at low levels of exposure in human brain capillary endothelial cells, astrocytes, and neural progenitor cells may amplify devastation to neurological tissues and lead to neurological system cell damage from indirect events triggered by the presence of trichothecenes.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center for their Centers of Excellence award support. We would also like to thank Grace Simoni (Department of Surgery) for her excellent technical assistance and guidance in this study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Animal & Food Sciences, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, 79409, USA

    Enusha Karunasena

  2. School of Fire Protection & Safety Engineering Technology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA

    Michael D. Larrañaga

  3. Department of Surgery, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA

    Jan S. Simoni

  4. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, 79430, USA

    David R. Douglas & David C. Straus

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  1. Enusha Karunasena
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Correspondence to Enusha Karunasena.

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Karunasena, E., Larrañaga, M.D., Simoni, J.S. et al. Building-Associated Neurological Damage Modeled in Human Cells: A Mechanism of Neurotoxic Effects by Exposure to Mycotoxins in the Indoor Environment. Mycopathologia 170, 377–390 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11046-010-9330-5

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