Gliotoxin

Aspergillus fumigatus produces the immunosuppressive agent Gliotoxin. Gliotoxin is a well studied mold toxin and has long been fingered as the main chemical player contributing to the virulence of A. fumigatus. 

Gliotoxin is hypothesized to be an important virulence factor in Aspergillus fumigatus. Experiments have demonstrated that gliotoxin is isolated in the highest concentrations from Aspergillus fumigatus in comparison to other Aspergillus species. This species of fungi is the most common cause of aspergillosis in humans. Gliotoxin is also the only toxin that has been isolated from the sera of patients suffering from invasive aspergillosis. These results suggest a link between gliotoxin secretion and fungal pathogenicity.

Exposure to fungal species that secrete gliotoxin is common because airborne Aspergillus fungal spores are ubiquitous in many environments. Regular environmental exposure does not typically cause illness, but can cause serious infections in immunosuppressed individuals or those suffering from chronic respiratory illnesses. Infections caused by Aspergillus fungus are called aspergillosis. There are many types of aspergillosis, but infections typically affect the lungs or the sinuses.

While not enough data exists to definitively tie chronic gliotoxin exposure to the development of cancer, chronic exposure to other immunosuppressive agents has been linked to the development of lymphomas and mammary tumors. Individuals taking immunosuppressive medications or with previous or current exposure to chemotherapy radiation are at higher risk for the development of these tumors.

The treatment approach should include:

- Educational counseling regarding environmental control and incitant avoidance.

- Neutralization antigen therapy for molds and mycotoxins for increased tolerance and effective mycotoxin detoxification.

- Intravenous and oral supplement nutrition therapy.

- Immunotherapy

- Deep heat depuration therapy (sauna detoxification).

How to inspect one's environment?

Molds and mycotoxins have been increasingly associated with illnesses due to faulty construction, water leaks, floods, and other forms of moisture accumulation that allow them to grow indoors. Visual and odor inspections, as well as spore counts and culture plates, can be used to determine the level of contamination in a building.

Gliotoxin (GTX) is produced by the mold genus Aspergillus. Aspergillus spreads in the environment by releasing conidia which are capable of infiltrating the small alveolar airways of individuals.