From hypoxia and hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) to oxidative stress: A new understanding of the toxic mechanism of mycotoxins

This October, the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2019 was jointly awarded to William G. Kaelin Jr., Sir Peter J. Ratcliffe, and Gregg L Semenza for their discoveries of "how cells sense and adapt to oxygen availability." Importantly, the protein named hypoxia-inducible factors (HIF) were revealed in the molecular machinery that how cells regulate the activity of genes in response to hypoxia. Hypoxia has a close relationship with oxidative stress and its related diseases including cancer. Actually, accumulating evidence and recent advances show that mycotoxins, including ochratoxin A, trichothecene mycotoxins T-2 toxin, deoxynivalenol, and diacetoxyscirpenol have the potential of triggering hypoxia in cells. Moreover, HIF-1 alpha activation is involved in the mycotoxin-induced oxidative stress response. As is known, oxidative stress is considered to be a common mechanism of various toxicities of mycotoxins; however, an in-depth molecular mechanism, especially the molecular target in this context is not fully understood. Therefore, in this work, we have discussed the underlying mechanism(s) of hypoxia and HIF-1 alpha in the mycotoxin-induced oxidative stress effect. We believe that the explanation of hypoxia and HIF-1 alpha would open up new avenues for early diagnosis and treatment of mycotoxicosis. More importantly, under these circumstances, we compile a special issue, "Mycotoxins in Food: New Determination Methods, Toxic Mechanisms, and Control Strategies" for Food and Chemical Toxicology. Researchers are encouraged to submit their newest research articles and excellent work within this topic for the readers of Food and Chemical Toxicology.c