Maternal Supplementation of Food Ingredient (Prebiotic) or Food Contaminant (Mycotoxin) Influences Mucosal Immune System in Piglets

Abstract

The early life period is crucial for the maturation of the intestinal barrier, its immune system, and a life-long beneficial host–microbiota interaction. The study aims to assess the impact of a beneficial dietary (short-chain fructooligosaccharides, scFOS) supplementation vs. a detrimental dietary environment (such as mycotoxin deoxynivalenol, DON) on offspring intestinal immune system developmental profiles. Sows were given scFOS-supplemented or DON-contaminated diets during the last 4 weeks of gestation, whereas force-feeding piglets with DON was performed during the first week of offspring life. Intestinal antigen-presenting cell (APC) subset frequency was analyzed by flow cytometry in the Peyer’s patches and in lamina propria and the responsiveness of intestinal explants to toll-like receptor (TLR) ligands was performed using ELISA and qRT-PCR from post-natal day (PND) 10 until PND90. Perinatal exposure with scFOS did not affect the ontogenesis of APC. While it early induced inflammatory responses in piglets, scFOS further promoted the T regulatory response after TLR activation. Sow and piglet DON contamination decreased CD16+ MHCII+ APC at PND10 in lamina propria associated with IFNγ inflammation and impairment of Treg response. Our study demonstrated that maternal prebiotic supplementation and mycotoxin contamination can modulate the mucosal immune system responsiveness of offspring through different pathways.

Prebiotics and sepsis in infants: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis

“…In addition, prebiotics could enhance immune responses and modulate the responses to pathogens or toxins. [35][36][37][38] Oligosaccharides are prebiotics reported to significantly enhance the growth of probiotic bacteria, such as Bifidobacteria and Lactobacilli. In addition, oligosaccharides may reduce pathogen adhesion.…”

Effects of lactic acid bacteria-fermented formula milk supplementation on ileal microbiota, transcriptomic profile, and mucosal immunity in weaned piglets

“…The concerns about weaning stress and its concurrent symptoms have always aroused great caution in the animal industry. Previous work demonstrated that the gut microbiota of mammals has a large number of roles benefiting the host–such as digestion and fermentation of carbohydrates [ 3 ], production of vitamins [ 4 ], maintenance of normal functions of the intestinal villi [ 5 ], regulation of the immune responses [ 6 ], and protection from pathogenic bacteria [ 7 ]. However, the gut microbiota of piglets is a complex ecosystem showing dynamic composition and diversity, which could change with age and diet [ 8 ].…”