The catalytic activity of cytochrome P450 3A22 is critical for the metabolism of T-2 toxin in porcine reservoirs

Abstract Contamination of food by T-2 toxin, a trichothecene mycotoxin, poses a serious threat to human health. We report the identification of cytochrome P450 3A22 (CYP3A22) responsible for 3′-hydroxylation of T-2 and HT-2 in pigs. The present study shows that T-2 toxin significantly induces CYP3A22 expression in primary piglet hepatocytes. Moreover, recombinant pig CYP3A22 converted T-2 toxin into TC-1 (3′-OH-T-2 toxin) and HT-2 toxin into TC-3 (3′-OH-HT-2 toxin) in vitro. These results suggest that pig CYP3A22 primarily eliminates T-2 and HT-2 toxins by 3′-hydroxylation of isovaleryl groups. Therefore, CYP3A22 is critical for xenobiotic metabolism and endogenous biochemical biotransformation of trichothecene mycotoxin in porcine reservoirs.