Data on the influence of Penicillium sp. in vivo and in vitro are presented in this paper. The body weight and haematological data on experimental mice as well as toxic activity of Penicillium metabolites patulin and ochratoxin A in blood-derived cell culture were estimated. It was detected that Penicillium variabile influenced the body weight of experimental mice, while the main haematological data of the tested animals were within the physiological range. Nevertheless, the experimental group demonstrated an increase in hematocrit value as compared to the control group. For the understanding of the mycotoxin mode of action in the organism, we analyzed toxic activity of Penicillium metabolites patulin and ochratoxin A in cell culture in vitro. Human promyelocytic leukemia HL60, chronic myelogenous leukemia K562 and B cell precursor leukemia REH cell lines were used as a model system of blood cells. Quantitative analyses of the proliferation and mode of cell death of haemopoetic cell lines after mycotoxins treatment revealed that all studied cells were more sensitive to patulin than ochratoxin A. The most resistant to the mycotoxins’ treatment were K562 cells. Apoptotic process was more intensive after ochratoxin A effect.
Keywords: Penicillium, toxicity, ochratoxin A, patulin, cell culture.