Carcinogenesis, Teratogenesis & Mutagenesis ›› 2026, Vol. 38 ›› Issue (1): 48-53,74.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1004-616x.2026.01.008

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Aflatoxin B1 on liver metabolic disturbances in mice based on non-targeted metabolomics

LUO Xiu, SUN Zhenxiao   

  1. School of Life Sciences, Beijing University of Chinese Medicine, Beijing 102488, China
  • Received:2025-07-17 Revised:2025-12-02 Published:2026-01-30

Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To investigate effects of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) exposure on livers of mice from a metabolic perspective, thereby providing data support for elucidating mechanisms of AFB1-induced hepatotoxicity. METHODS: BALB/c mice were randomly divided into two groups. After a 7-day acclimatization period,the AFB1 group received 0.75 mg/kg AFB1 daily via oral gavage,while the control group was administered an equivalent volume of physiological saline. These mice were sacrificed after 30 days, and liver tissues were rapidly frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen. Metabolomic analysis of liver tissues was performed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Differential metabolites between the two groups were identified,and enrichment analysis of the involved metabolic pathways was conducted. RESULTS: After 30 days of AFB1 exposure,metabolite expression profiles in livers of mice were significantly altered. A total of 1 608 metabolites were detected,among which 32 were unique to the AFB1 group. Compared with the control group,201 differential metabolites were identified,of which 107 were significantly upregulated and 94 were significantly downregulated. Changes in metabolic profiles were associated with the regulation of 12 metabolic pathways: 11 related to metabolism and 1 related to genetic information processing. The upregulated metabolites were enriched in five pathways. The downregulated metabolites were enriched in seven pathways. Additionally, this study identified the GSSG/GSH ratio, oxododecanedioic acid, and 18-hydroxy eicosapentaenoic acid as potential biomarkers of AFB1-induced liver injury. CONCLUSION: AFB1 exposure significantly altered metabolic profiles of livers,with alterations attributed to pathways including metabolism and information processing. These findings corroborate traditional mechanisms of AFB1-induced liver injury and provide metabolomic-level data for understanding potential mechanisms underlying long-term,low-dose AFB1 exposure-induced hepatotoxicity in mice.

Key words: non-targeted metabolomics, aflatoxin B1, BALB/c mice, liver metabolism, metabolic pathways

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