Alginate oligosaccharide-induced intestinal morphology, barrier function and epithelium apoptosis modifications have beneficial effects on the growth performance of weaned pigs

Abstract

BackgroundAlginate oligosaccharide (AOS), produced from alginate by alginate lyase-mediated depolymerisation, is a potential substitute for antibiotics and possesses growth-enhancing effects. Nevertheless, the mechanisms by which AOS regulates porcine growth remain to be elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the AOS-mediated changes in the growth performance of weaned pigs by determining the intestinal morphology, barrier function, as well as epithelium apoptosis.MethodsTwenty-four weaned pigs were distributed into two groups (n = 12) and received either a basal diet (control group) or the same diet supplemented with 100 mg/kg AOS. On d 15, D-xylose (0.1 g/kg body weight) was orally administrated to eight randomly selected pigs per treatment, and their serum and intestinal mucosa samples were collected 1 h later.ResultsOur results showed that inclusion of AOS in the diet for 2 wk increased (P < 0.05) the average daily body weight gain in weaned pigs. Notably, AOS supplementation ameliorated the intestinal morphology and barrier function, as suggested by the enhanced (P < 0.05) intestinal villus height, secretory immunoglobulin A content and goblet cell counts. Compared to the control group, AOS ingestion both decreased (P < 0.05) the total apoptotic percentage and increased (P < 0.05) the proportion of S phase in the intestinal epithelial cells. Furthermore, AOS not only up-regulated (P < 0.05) the B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL2) transcriptional level but also down-regulated (P < 0.05) the B-cell lymphoma-2-associated X protein (BAX), cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase-3 (caspase-3) and caspase-9 transcriptional levels in the small intestine.ConclusionsIn summary, this study provides evidence that supplemental AOS beneficially affects the growth performance of weaned pigs, which may result from the improved intestinal morphology and barrier function, as well as the inhibited enterocyte death, through reducing apoptosis via mitochondria-dependent apoptosis.

Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis reveals alginate oligosaccharides preventing chemotherapy-induced mucositis

“…Mice were maintained under a light: dark cycle of 12:12 h and at a temperature of 23 o C and humidity of 50-70%; they had free access to food (chow diet) and water. 36 In our preliminary study (based on early report: Wan et al 22 ), AOS 10 mg/kg body weight dosing for two weeks was the best treatment condition for improving busulfan disrupted small intestine (1, 5, 10, 20 mg/kg body weight of AOS dosing for 1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks). Three-week-old ICR male mice were given a single injection of 40 mg/kg body weight (BW) of busulfan.…”

“…21 AOS benefits intestinal morphology and barrier function by increasing the length of intestinal villi, the content of secretory immunoglobulin A, and the number of Goblet cells. 22 However, the underlying mechanisms of how AOS improve small intestine morphology and function from the single intestinal cell level is unknown.…”

Dietary Supplementation With Chinese Herbal Residues or Their Fermented Products Modifies the Colonic Microbiota, Bacterial Metabolites, and Expression of Genes Related to Colon Barrier Function in Weaned Piglets

“…Reverse transcription was performed using a Prime Script RT Reagent Kit with gDNA Eraser (Takara, Dalian, China). The mRNA levels of the selected genes in the colon were determined by real-time quantitative (RT-qPCR) as described previously (Li et al, 2015; Wan et al, 2017, Wan et al, 2018b). Selected genes were corresponding to the following proteins: epithelial cell proteins, including E -cadherin, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1); anti-inflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-4 (IL-4), IL-10 and transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-β1); proinflammatory cytokines, including granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-12, and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α); toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling pathway proteins, including cluster of differentiation 14 (CD14) and TLR4.…”

Effects of Dietary Taurine Supplementation to Gilts during Late Gestation and Lactation on Offspring Growth and Oxidative Stress

“…In the present study, higher ZO-1 protein expression in the jejunum at weaning was noticed after maternal Tau supplementation, suggesting that maternal dietary supplementation with Tau could enhance the intestinal physical barrier function of offspring. Tau supplementation increased jejunum sIgA content at weaning, suggesting that maternal dietary supplementation with Tau could enhance the intestinal immune barrier function of offspring [40,41]. These results revealed that Tau contributes to repair the oxidative stress-associated intestinal barrier dysfunction in piglets and possibly to improve their growth performance.…”