Toxicity effects of mycotoxins and autophagy: a mechanistic view

Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites of fungi that contaminate a wide range of foods and feeds. Autophagy is a highly conservative cell behavior to keep the intracellular homeostasis and is frequently active in disgusting conditions, such as starvation, hypoxia, and the presence of cytotoxic agents. However, the precise role of autophagy under various conditions may be opposite, from promoting cells survival to cells death, and the mechanism of this conditional-dependent role is still unclear. The greatest important question – whether autophagy has a defensive role or a damaging one – is not obviously recognized. In this review, we give an overview of the roles of autophagy in mycotoxin toxicity and cell death. Also, we explain how autophagy is the implication of this regulation to mycotoxin toxicity.