Serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α in rats fed with Kashin‐Beck disease‐affected diet

Abstract Aim: To investigator the serum level of interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α in rats which have been fed with Kashin–Beck disease (KBD) epidemic district food. Method: Two hundred and twenty Wistar rats were divided into five groups. Group A was fed with a normal diet as control; group B was fed with a normal diet and T‐2 toxin; group C was fed with a low‐nutrition diet and T‐2 toxin; group D was fed with a low‐nutrition diet; and group E was fed with a KBD‐affected diet. The serum bioactivity of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α were tested by enzyme‐linked immeunosorbent assay. Results: After 4 weeks, the epiphyseal plate showed more obvious necrosis of chondrocytes in groups B, C and E. Among the KBD‐affected feed, normal feed combined with T‐2 toxin and low protein combined with T‐2 toxin, KBD‐affected feed rats had the highest serum levels, and normal feed combined with T‐2 toxin group was the lowest. Although the IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α levels were no different in the KBD‐affected feed compared to low protein combined with T‐2 toxin, there were significant differences compared to normal feed combined with the T‐2 toxin ( P < 0.05). Conclusions: Serum levels of IL‐1β, IL‐6 and TNF‐α metabolism are altered in the KBD model rats. This effect is relatively similar to the low‐nutrition diet combined with the T‐2 toxin, which means low‐nutrition diet may be involved in the aetiology of KBD.