“…The intestinal epithelial cells have a critical role in the innate immune response against pathogenic bacteria. In addition to acting as a physical barrier, these cells generate signals by producing several cytokines, chemokines, and other signaling molecules [11][12][13]. In addition, our previous experiment found that the ERS is normally triggered in the rapidly growing intestine, and Escherichia coli infection aggravates CHOP-mediated apoptosis mainly in the jejunal epithelial tissue of weaning stressed piglets [14].…”