Food-Origin Mycotoxin-Induced Neurotoxicity: Intend to Break the Rules of Neuroglia Cells

Figure 2

Main pathways of mycotoxin-induced neurotoxicity in astrocytes and microglia. Mycotoxins could cross the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and activated astrocytes and microglia. Mycotoxins stimulate the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS), lead to mitochondrial dysfunction (decrease of mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), increase the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, ATP depletion, and Ca²⁺ overload), DNA damage, cell cycle arrest, and apoptosis. The activation of the p53 pathway, MAPK pathway, JAK/STAT pathway, and AKT pathway is involved in mycotoxin-induced apoptosis. In addition, mycotoxin can directly induce necrocytosis.