Flavonoids, gut microbiota, and host lipid metabolism

Flavonoids are widely distributed in nature and have a variety of beneficial biological effects, including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and anti-obesity effects. All of these are related to gut microbiota, and flavonoids also serve as a bridge between the host and gut microbiota. Flavonoids are commonly used to modify the composition of the gut microbiota by promoting or inhibiting specific microbial species within the gut, as well as modifying their metabolites. In turn, the gut microbiota extensively metabolizes flavonoids. Hence, this reciprocal relationship between flavonoids and the gut microbiota may play a crucial role in maintaining the balance and functionality of the metabolism system. In this review, we mainly highlighted the biological effects of antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antiobesity, and discussed the interaction between flavonoids, gut microbiota and lipid metabolism, and elaborated the potential mechanisms on host lipid metabolism.

Effects of coated sodium butyrate on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and intestinal microbiota of broiler chickens

Introduction

This study examined the impact of adding coated sodium butyrate (CSB) to the diet on the growth performance, serum biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, intestinal morphology, and cecal microbiota of yellow-feathered broiler chickens.

Methods

In this study, 240 yellow-feathered broiler chickens at 26 days old were divided into two groups: the control group (CON group) received a standard diet, and the experimental group (CSB group) received a diet with 0.5 g/kg of a supplement called CSB. Each group had 6 replicates, with 20 chickens in each replicate, and the experiment lasted for 36 days.

Results

Compared to the CON group, the CSB group showed a slight but insignificant increase in average daily weight gain during the 26-62 day period, while feed intake significantly decreased. The CSB group exhibited significant increases in serum superoxide dismutase, catalase, and total antioxidant capacity. Additionally, the CSB group had significant increases in total protein and albumin content, as well as a significant decrease in blood ammonia levels. Compared to the CON group, the CSB group had significantly increased small intestine villus height and significantly decreased jejunal crypt depth. The abundance of Bacteroidetes and Bacteroides in the cecal microbiota of the CSB group was significantly higher than that of the CON group, while the abundance of Proteobacteria, Deferribacteres, and Epsilonbacteraeota was significantly lower than that of the CON group.

Conclusion

These results suggest that adding CSB to the diet can improve the growth performance and antioxidant capacity of yellow-feathered broiler chickens while maintaining intestinal health.

Modulating Gastrointestinal Microbiota in Preweaning Dairy Calves: Dose-Dependent Effects of Milk-Based Sodium Butyrate Supplementation

Sodium butyrate (SB), an essential nutritional additive for livestock, has drawn notable interest for its potential for enhancing microbiota development in ruminant animals. This study aimed to assess SB's effects on ruminal and intestinal microbiota when added to milk for preweaning dairy calves nearing 45 days old. We administered SB in the calves' milk at four levels: 0 g/d (control), 4.4 g/d (low), 8.8 g/d (medium), and 17.6 g/d (high). After a six-week trial with ten replicates per group, ruminal fluid and fecal samples were collected for 16S rRNA sequencing, specifically targeting the V3-V4 regions to analyze microbiota. The results indicated an enhancement in ruminal microbiota, particularly in community richness, with low-level SB supplementation but minimal benefits from medium and high levels of supplementation. Increasing the level of SB supplementation had a negative impact on intestinal microbiota, affecting community richness and some potentially beneficial bacterial genera. However, low SB supplementation could positively adjust the communication between ruminal and intestinal microbiota. Overall, this study suggests feeding milk supplemented with a low level of SB to suckling calves close to an older age to promote ruminal microbiota development.

Isoquercitrin alleviates lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice by regulating TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and intestinal flora

Intestinal mucosal barrier damage is closely associated with the development of several intestinal inflammatory diseases. Isoquercitrin (IQ) is a natural flavonoid compound derived from plants, which exhibits high antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity with minimal side effects in humans. Therefore, it shows great potential for preventing and treating intestinal mucosal barrier damage. This study aims to investigate the ameliorative effect and mechanism of IQ on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice. The mice were treated with IQ for 7 days and then injected with LPS to induce intestinal mucosal barrier damage. The results revealed that IQ treatment alleviated LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice, which can be evidenced by the improvements in intestinal morphology and the promotion of expression in intestinal tight junctions (ZO-1, Claudin-1, and Occludin), as well as MUC2 mucin. IQ also attenuated intestinal inflammatory responses by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and reducing the expression and plasma levels of IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α. Furthermore, IQ significantly increased the relative abundance of beneficial bacteria, including Dubosiella, Akkermansia muciniphila and Faecalibaculum rodentium, while suppressing the growth of harmful bacteria such as Mucispirillum schaedleri in the intestinal flora of mice. Consequently, IQ can alleviate the LPS-induced intestinal mucosal barrier damage in mice by inhibiting the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway and modulating the intestinal flora.

Red Rice Seed Coat Targeting SPHK2 Ameliorated Alcoholic Liver Disease via Restored Intestinal Barrier and Improved Gut Microbiota in Mice

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD), leading to the most common chronic liver diseases, is increasingly emerging as a global health problem, which is intensifying the need to develop novel treatments. Herein, our work aimed to estimate the therapeutic efficacy of red rice (Oryza sativa L.) seed coat on ALD and further uncover the underlying mechanisms. Red rice seed coat extract (RRA) was obtained with citric acid-ethanol and analyzed via a widely targeted components approach. The potential targets of RRA to ALD were predicted by bioinformatics analysis. Drunken behavior, histopathological examination, liver function, gut microbiota composition and intestinal barrier integrity were used to assess the effects of RRA (RRAH, 600 mg/kg·body weight; RRAL, 200 mg/kg·body weight) on ALD. Oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis associated factors and signaling pathways were measured by corresponding kits, Western blot and immunofluorescence staining. In ALD model mice, RRA treatment increased sphingosine kinase 2 (SPHK2) and sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) levels, improved gut microbiota composition, restored intestinal barrier, decreased lipopolysaccharide (LPS) levels in plasma and the liver, cut down Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)/Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathways, alleviated liver pathological injury and oxidative stress, attenuated inflammation and apoptosis and enhanced liver function. To sum up, RRA targeting SPHK2 can ameliorate ALD by repairing intestinal barrier damage and reducing liver LPS level via the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and intestinal microbiota, revealing that red rice seed coat holds potential as a functional food for the prevention and treatment of ALD.

Ultrasound Alleviates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Colonic Damage

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is characterized by chronic inflammation in the intestinal tract. There is currently no effective cure for IBD. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protective effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal damage in a C57BL/6 mouse model. Colonic inflammation was induced by LPS injection (0.75 mg/kg, i.p.) for 7 days. A 1.0 MHz ultrasound transducer was used with a duty cycle of 5% and a repetition frequency of 1 Hz. LIPUS was applied to the abdominal region for 15 min/day from days 1 to 6 at both intensity of 0.5 W/cm2 or 1.0 W/cm2. Colonic samples were collected for macroscopic and westerm blotting analysis. First, the optimal dose of LPS for experiments was investigated. Our results demonstrated that LIPUS alleviates colonic damage by reducing colon shortening and increasing the levels of tight junction proteins such as Occludin and ZO-1. These findings show that abdominal LIPUS stimulation may be a novel therapeutic strategy for IBD through enhancement of tight junction protein levels and attenuation of colonic length.

Alteration of gut microbiome and metabolome by Clostridium butyricum can repair the intestinal dysbiosis caused by antibiotics in mice

This study evaluated the repair effects of Clostridium butyricum (CBX 2021) on the antibiotic (ABX)-induced intestinal dysbiosis in mice by the multi-omics method. Results showed that ABX eliminated more than 90% of cecal bacteria and also exerted adverse effects on the intestinal structure and overall health in mice after 10 days of the treatment. Of interest, supplementing CBX 2021 in the mice for the next 10 days colonized more butyrate-producing bacteria and accelerated butyrate production compared with the mice by natural recovery. The reconstruction of intestinal microbiota efficiently promoted the improvement of the damaged gut morphology and physical barrier in the mice. In addition, CBX 2021 significantly reduced the content of disease-related metabolites and meanwhile promoted carbohydrate digestion and absorption in mice followed the microbiome alternation. In conclusion, CBX 2021 can repair the intestinal ecology of mice damaged by the antibiotics through reconstructing gut microbiota and optimizing metabolic functions.

Characterization of simplified nonapeptides with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activities as potential food preservatives, and their antibacterial mechanism

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have attracted attention in the field of food preservatives due to their favorable biosafety and potential antimicrobial activity. However, high synthetic cost, systemic toxicity, a narrow antimicrobial spectrum, and poor antimicrobial activity become the main bottlenecks for their practical applications. To address these questions, a set of derived nonapeptides were designed based on a previously discovered ultra-short peptide sequence template (RXRXRXRXL-NH₂) and screened to identify an optimal peptide-based food preservative with excellent antimicrobial properties. Among these nonapeptides, the designed peptides 3IW (RIRIRIRWL-NH₂) and W2IW (RWRIRIRWL-NH₂) presented a membrane-disruptive and reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation mechanism to execute potent and rapid broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity without observed cytotoxicity. Moreover, they exhibited favorable antimicrobial stability regardless of high ionic strength, heat, and excessive acid-base conditions, retaining potent antimicrobial effects for chicken meat preservation. Collectively, their ultra-short sequence length and potent broad-spectrum antimicrobial capacity may be beneficial for the further development of green and safe peptide-based food preservatives.

The early faecal microbiota transfer alters bile acid circulation and amino acid transport of the small intestine in piglets

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of faecal microbiota transfer (FMT) with lactation Min sows as faecal donor on blood immunity, small intestine amino acid transport capacity, bile acid circulation, and colon microbiota of recipient piglets. From Days 1 to 10, the recipient group (R group) was orally inoculated with a faecal suspension. The control group (Con group) was orally inoculated with sterile physiological saline. On Day 21, the results showed that the immunoglobulin A (IgA) concentration in plasma of the R group was increased (p < 0.05). The expression of 4F2hc in the jejunal mucosa and ileum mucosa of the R group was ameliorated (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Synergistetes in the colon of the R group was increased, Proteobacteria was diminished by FMT (p < 0.05). On Day 40, the concentrations of IgA, IgG, and interleukin-2 detected in the plasma of the R group were increased (p < 0.05). FXR and fibroblast growth factor 19 gene expression was upregulated in ileum mucosa, CYP7A1 and Na⁺ taurocholate cotransporter polypeptide gene expression were downregulated in the liver and organic solute transporters α/β was downregulated in colonic mucosa (p < 0.05). The relative abundance of Proteobacteria and Spirochaetes in the colon of the R group was decreased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, an early FMT with lactation Min sows as faecal donors can alter the small intestine amino acid transport capacity, bile acid circulation, and colonic microbiota of recipient piglets during lactation and after weaning.

Host Defense Peptides in Nutrition and Diseases: A Contributor of Immunology Modulation

Host defense peptides (HDPs) are primary components of the innate immune system with diverse biological functions, such as antibacterial ability and immunomodulatory function. HDPs are produced and released by immune and epithelial cells against microbial invasion, which are widely distributed in humans, animals, plants, and microbes. Notably, there are great differences in endogenous HDP distribution and expression in humans and animals. Moreover, HDP expression could be regulated by exogenous substances, such as nutrients, and different physiological statuses in health and disease. In this review, we systematically assessed the regulation of expression and mechanism of endogenous HDPs from nutrition and disease perspectives, providing a basis to identify the specificity and regularity of HDP expression. Furthermore, the regulation mechanism of HDP expression was summarized systematically, and the differences in the regulation between nutrients and diseases were explored. From this review, we provide novel ideas targeted the immune regulation of HDPs for protecting host health in nutrition and practical and effective new ideas using the immune regulation theory for further research on protecting host health from pathogenic infection and excessive immunity diseases under the global challenge of the antibiotic-abuse-induced series of problems, including food security and microbial resistance.

Curcumin: a potential exogenous additive for the prevention of LPS-induced duck ileitis by the alleviation of inflammation and oxidative stress

BACKGROUND

Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) are the main pathogenic substances in Gram-negative bacteria. The aim of this study was to investigate the preventive effects of dietary curcumin (CUR) on LPS toxicity in the duck ileum. The duck diet was supplemented with CUR (0.5 g kg^-1 ) for 28 days, while the birds were injected with LPS (0.5 mg kg^-1 body weight per injection, administered as seven injections in the last week of the experimental period).

RESULTS

LPS significantly decreased the ileal villus-to-crypt ratio in the non-supplemented CUR group. Dietary CUR alleviated LPS-induced morphological damage to the ileum. Moreover, dietary CUR alleviated oxidative stress by increasing the levels of total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) (P < 0.05) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) (P < 0.05) and decreasing the production of malonic dialdehyde (MDA) (P < 0.05) in control ducks and LPS-challenged ducks. Dietary CUR significantly inhibited the LPS-induced massive production of inflammatory factors (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) (P < 0.05). CUR induced the inhibition of TLR4 and activation of Nrf2 to reduce the expression of inflammation-related genes (TLR4, NF-κB, IKK, TXNIP, NLRP3, caspase-1, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α). Moreover, dietary CUR ameliorated the decrease in claudin-1 and occludin expression (P < 0.05) and improved ZO-1 expression in the duck ileum (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, dietary CUR has beneficial effects on LPS-induced ileal damage, oxidative damage, and inflammatory response by inhibiting the TLR/NF-κB and activating the Nrf2 signaling pathways in ducks. This study provides valuable information regarding the therapeutic uses of CUR in duck ileitis. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Manipulating the Gut Microbiome as a Therapeutic Strategy to Mitigate Late Effects in Childhood Cancer Survivors

Recent studies have identified causal links between altered gut microbiome, chronic inflammation, and inflammation-driven conditions such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) show late effects of therapy in the form of inflammaging-related disorders as well as microbial dysbiosis, supporting a hypothesis that the conditions are interconnected. Given the susceptibility of the gut microbiome to alteration, a number of therapeutic interventions have been investigated for the treatment of inflammatory conditions, though not within the context of cancer survivorship in children and adolescents. Here, we evaluate the potential for these interventions, which include probiotic supplementation, prebiotics/fiber-rich diet, exercise, and fecal microbiota transplantation for prevention and treatment of cancer treatment-related microbial dysbiosis in survivors. We also make recommendations to improve adherence and encourage long-term lifestyle changes for maintenance of healthy gut microbiome in CCS as a potential strategy to mitigate treatment-related late effects.

Protective effects of sinomenine hydrochloride on lead-induced oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis in mouse liver

Lead, one of the most common heavy metal toxins, seriously affects the health of humans and animals. Sinomenine hydrochloride (SH) shows antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, antiviral, and anticancer properties. Hence, this study investigated the protective effects of SH against Pb-induced liver injury and explored the underlying mechanisms. First, a mouse model of lead acetate (0.5 g/L lead acetate in water, 8 weeks) was established, and SH (100 mg/kg bw in water, 8 weeks) intervention was administered by gavage. Then, the protective effect of SH against lead-induced liver injury was evaluated through serum biochemical analysis, histopathological analysis, and determination of malondialdehyde (MDA) and total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels. The messenger RNA (mRNA) expression levels of the cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α and the apoptosis factors Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase3 in the liver were detected by quantitative real-time PCR. Then, the expression levels of IL-1β and TNF-α in the liver were detected by ELISA. Immunohistochemical determination of the expression of the apoptosis factors Bax, Bcl-2, and Caspase3 was performed. SH treatment reduced the levels of liver alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), and MDA in Pb-treated mice, indicating that SH protected the liver from injury and oxidative stress in Pb-treated mice. SH also increased the liver T-AOC of Pb-treated mice. Quantitative real-time PCR, ELISA, and immunohistochemical analysis showed that SH inhibited apoptosis, as indicated by the regulation of the mRNA expression of Bax and Bcl-2 and the reduced expression of Caspase3 and pro-inflammatory factors (IL-1β and TNF-α) in the livers of Pb-treated mice. These results suggest that SH protects the mouse liver from Pb-induced injury. The underlying mechanism involves antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and anti-apoptotic processes.

Enhancing intestinal barrier efficiency: A novel metabolic diseases therapy

Physiologically, the intestinal barrier plays a crucial role in homeostasis and nutrient absorption and prevents pathogenic entry, harmful metabolites, and endotoxin absorption. Recent advances have highlighted the association between severely damaged intestinal barriers and diabetes, obesity, fatty liver, and cardiovascular diseases. Evidence indicates that an abated intestinal barrier leads to endotoxemia associated with systemic inflammation, insulin resistance, diabetes, and lipid accumulation, accelerating obesity and fatty liver diseases. Nonetheless, the specific mechanism of intestinal barrier damage and the effective improvement of the intestinal barrier remain to be explored. Here, we discuss the crosstalk between changes in the intestinal barrier and metabolic disease. This paper also highlights how to improve the gut barrier from the perspective of natural medicine, gut microbiota remodeling, lifestyle interventions, and bariatric surgery. Finally, potential challenges and prospects for the regulation of the gut barrier-metabolic disease axis are discussed, which may provide theoretical guidance for the treatment of metabolic diseases.

Acupuncture treatment for post-stroke depression: Intestinal microbiota and its role

Stroke-induced depression is a common complication and an important risk factor for disability. Besides psychiatric symptoms, depressed patients may also exhibit a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms, and even take gastrointestinal symptoms as the primary reason for medical treatment. It is well documented that stress may disrupt the balance of the gut microbiome in patients suffering from post-stroke depression (PSD), and that disruption of the gut microbiome is closely related to the severity of the condition in depressed patients. Therefore, maintaining the balance of intestinal microbiota can be the focus of research on the mechanism of acupuncture in the treatment of PSD. Furthermore, stroke can be effectively treated with acupuncture at all stages and it may act as a special microecological regulator by regulating intestinal microbiota as well. In this article, we reviewed the studies on changing intestinal microbiota after acupuncture treatment and examined the existing problems and development prospects of acupuncture, microbiome, and poststroke depression, in order to provide new ideas for future acupuncture research.

Dietary Supplement of Amomum villosum Lour. Polysaccharide Attenuates Ulcerative Colitis in BALB/c Mice

Amomum villosum Lour. (A. villosum), a comestible medicinal plant, has been traditionally used in China to treat diarrhea, stomach fullness, and abdominal distension. Polysaccharide, the main chemical component of A. villosum, has been shown to possess potential antioxidant and glycosidase inhibitory activities; however, whether it has anticolitis activity is unknown. The aim of this research was to evaluate the anticolitis effects of A. villosum polysaccharide (AVLP) in BALB/c mice. The results showed that AVLP administration significantly reversed body weight loss, colon shortening and colon weight gain and decreased the levels of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in colitis mice (p < 0.05). AVLP administration also maintained intestinal barrier function by the upregulation of ZO-1 protein expression (p < 0.05). In addition, high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that AVLP possessed a great regulatory effect on the growth of Adlercreutzia, Clostridium, Streptococcus, Parabacteroides, Helicobacter, Odoribacter, and Alistipes (p < 0.05, LDA score > 2). The correlation analysis revealed that the protective effects against colitis of AVLP were highly correlated with intestinal bacterium regulation. These results suggest that AVLP intake could serve as a prospective nutritional strategy for inflammatory bowel diseases.

Curcumin alleviated lipopolysaccharide-induced lung injury via regulating the Nrf2-ARE and NF-κB signaling pathways in ducks

BACKGROUND

Under the intensive modern poultry farming system, the lung of duck is one of the main target organs for various bacterial and viral infections. Curcumin is a kind of natural polyphenol compound for which various beneficial biological functions exist, including being an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antiviral. The aim of this work was to investigate the mechanism of curcumin-alleviated lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung damage by the nuclear erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-antioxidant reaction element (ARE) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway in ducks.

RESULTS

In total, 450 one-day-old male specific pathogen-free ducks were randomly assigned into three dietary treatments: CON, basal diet; LPS, basal diet + LPS treatment; LPS + CUR, basal diet + LPS + 500 mg kg^-1 of curcumin. At the end of the experiment (21 days), ducks in LPS treatment were challenged with 5 mg LPS per kilogram of body weight and the other two treatments were injected with the same dose of phosphate-buffered saline solution. The results showed that LPS caused acute inflammation, oxidation stress, and lung injury. Dietary addition of curcumin significantly relieved the oxidation stress and inflammation parameters. Moreover, the results showed that remission may be through the signaling pathways of both Nrf2-ARE and NF-κB.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, dietary supplementation of 500 mg kg^-1 of curcumin exhibited a lung-protective effect in ducks. This experiment broadens the mode of metabolism actions of curcumin in the target organs and provides an insight for the application of curcumin in waterfowl feed. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry.

Sodium butyrate ameliorates thiram-induced tibial dyschondroplasia and gut microbial dysbiosis in broiler chickens

Thiram is a dithiocarbamate pesticide widely used in agriculture as a fungicide for storing grains to prevent fungal diseases. However, its residues have threatened the safety of human beings and the stability of the ecosystem by causing different disease conditions, e.g., tibial dyschondroplasia (TD), which results in a substantial economic loss for the poultry industry. So, the research on TD has a great concern for the industry and the overall GDP of a country. In current study, we investigated whether different concentrations (300, 500, and 700 mg/kg) of sodium butyrate alleviated TD induced under acute thiram exposure by regulating osteogenic gene expression, promoting chondrocyte differentiation, and altering the gut microbial community. According to the findings, sodium butyrate restored clinical symptoms in broilers, improved growth performance, bone density, angiogenesis, and chondrocyte morphology and arrangement. It could activate the signal transduction of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, regulate the expression of GSK-3β and β-catenin, and further promote the production of osteogenic transcription factors Runx2 and OPN for restoration of lameness. In addition, the 16S rRNA sequencing revealed a significantly different community composition among the groups. The TD group increased the abundance of the harmful bacteria Proteobacteria, Subdoligranulum, and Erysipelatoclostridium. The sodium butyrate enriched many beneficial bacteria, such as Bacteroidetes, Verrucomicrobia, Faecalibacterium, Barnesiella, Rikenella, and Butyricicoccus, etc., especially at the concentration of 500 mg/kg. The mentioned concentration significantly limited the intestinal disorders under thiram exposure, and restored bone metabolism.

Sodium Butyrate Attenuated Diabetes-Induced Intestinal Inflammation by Modulating Gut Microbiota

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) continues to be one of the world's most costly and complex metabolic disorders. Accumulating evidence has shown that intestinal dysbiosis and associated inflammation can facilitate the onset and progression of DM. In this work, our goal was to investigate how sodium butyrate (SB) controls the gut microbiota to reduce the intestinal inflammation brought on by diabetes.

Methods

Male KK-Ay mice were randomized into two groups: the DM model group (intragastric administration of 0.9% normal saline) and the SB treatment group (intragastric administration of 1,000 mg/kg/d SB). The C57BL/6J mice were used as the control group (intragastric administration of 0.9% normal saline). These mice were administered via gavage for 8 weeks.

Results

The results revealed that SB-treated mice significantly reduced fasting blood glucose (FBG), body weight, 24 h food and water intake, and improved islet histopathology in DM model mice. SB reduced TNF-α, IL-1β, and iNOS, whereas it enhanced the expression of the anti-inflammatory Arg-1 marker on intestinal macrophages and the secretion of anti-inflammatory IL-10. Specifically, SB was linked to a marked drop in the expression of the Th17 marker RORγt and a substantial increase in the expression of the Treg marker Foxp3. SB treatment was associated with significant reductions in the levels of Th17-derived cytokines such as IL-17 and IL-6, whereas anti-inflammatory Treg-derived cytokines such as TGF-β were increased. Additionally, the analysis results from 16S rDNA sequencing suggested that SB significantly reversed the variations in intestinal flora distribution and decreased the relative abundance of Weissella confusa and Anaerotruncus colihominis DSM 17241 at the species level as well as Leuconostocaceae, Streptococcaceae, and Christensenellaceae at the family, genus, and species levels. These distinct florae may serve as a diagnostic biomarker for DM-induced intestinal inflammation. In addition, the heat map of phylum and OTU level revealed a close relationship between DM-induced intestinal inflammation and intestinal microbiota.

Conclusions

The present study suggested that SB may reduce DM-induced intestinal inflammation by regulating the gut microbiota.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus epidemic and classical strains in IPEC-J2 cells

In recent years, porcine epidemic diarrhea (PED) has become widespread and caused huge economic losses for the global pig industry. There is growing evidence that frequent outbreaks of diarrhea are caused by the variants of porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) with high pathogenicity. Herein, an epidemic strain of PEDV HLJ strain was isolated and characterized from Heilongjiang Province of China, and the whole genomic expression profile of intestinal porcine epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) infected with HLJ strain was investigated in comparison with classical CV777 strain. A total of 26,851 genes were identified, of these, 25,880 were known genes and 971 were novel genes. There were 258 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified between PEDV HLJ-infected and uninfected cells at 24 h post infection (hpi), and 201 DEGs between PEDV HLJ and CV777 infection. A comparative analysis revealed that 258 DEGs were enriched in 468 gene ontology (GO) terms and mapped to 179 KEGG pathways, and 201 DEGs in 1120 GO terms and mapped to 115 KEGG pathways for HLJ-infected cells in contrast to the uninfected and CV777-infected cells, respectively. Specifically, PEDV HLJ strain could activate anti-viral innate immune response and inflammation more intensively than CV777, in which mRNA levels of interferon (IFN-β), chemokines (CCL5 and CXCL10) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-8 and TNF-α) were induced earlier and more strongly. Subsequently, 20 DEGs and 5 proteins were selected and validated by real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blot, and the results were consistent with the transcriptomic analysis. Overall, this study may be helpful for understanding the pathogenesis mechanism of PEDV variants, and contribute to the effective prevention and control of PEDV infection.

Dietary Glucose Ameliorates Impaired Intestinal Development and Immune Homeostasis Disorders Induced by Chronic Cold Stress in Pig Model

Endotherms are easily challenged by chronic cold stress. In this study, the development and injury of the small intestine in the Min pig model and Yorkshire pig model under chronic cold stress, and the molecular mechanisms by which glucose supplementation reduces small intestinal mucosal damage were investigated. The results showed that morphological structure lesions of the jejunal mucosa and ileal mucosa were visible in Yorkshire pigs under chronic cold stress. Meanwhile, the Occludin mRNA and protein expression in jejunal mucosa of Yorkshire pigs was decreased. Chronic cold stress enhanced the expression of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), the myeloid differentiation main response 88 (MyD88), nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat protein 3 (NLRP3), cleaved caspase-1, mature-IL-1β, and high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB 1) mRNA and protein expression in jejunal mucosa of Yorkshire pigs, whereas the mRNA and protein of Bax was triggered in ileal mucosa. In Min pigs, no such deleterious consequences were observed. Dietary glucose supplementation ameliorates small intestinal mucosal injury, declined TLR4 and MyD88 expression in jejunal mucosa. In conclusion, chronic cold stress induced the small intestinal mucosa damage in Yorkshire pigs, whereas glucose supplementation mitigated the deleterious effects of chronic cold stress on the small intestine.

Thymol Alleviates LPS-Induced Liver Inflammation and Apoptosis by Inhibiting NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation and the AMPK-mTOR-Autophagy Pathway

Thymol is a natural antibacterial agent found in the essential oil extracted from thyme, which has been proven to be beneficial in food and medicine. Meanwhile, the NOD-like receptor family pyrin domain-containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome and autophagy have been reported to play key roles in the progression of liver injury. However, the effects of thymol on the NLRP3 inflammasome and autophagy in protecting the liver remain unclear. The present study used a mouse model with liver injury induced by lipopolysaccharides (LPS) to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of thymol. We found that thymol alleviated LPS-induced liver structural damage, as judged by reduced inflammatory cell infiltration and improved structure. In addition, elevated levels of the liver damage indicators (alanine transaminase (ALT), aspartate transaminase (AST), and total bilirubin (TBIL)) dropped after thymol administration. The mRNA and protein expression of inflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-22), apoptosis-related genes (caspase3 and caspase9), and the activity of apoptosis-related genes (caspase3 and caspase9) were increased in LPS-treated livers, whereas the changes were alleviated after thymol administration. Thymol inhibited LPS-induced increment in lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity in primary hepatocytes of the mouse. In addition, thymol protected mice from liver injury by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation induced by LPS. Mechanistically, the present study indicates that thymol has liver protective activity resulting from the modulation of the AMP-activated protein kinase—mammalian target of rapamycin (AMPK–mTOR) to regulate the autophagy pathway, hence curbing inflammation.

Alleviation of Oral Exposure to Aflatoxin B1-Induced Renal Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Cell Apoptosis in Mice Kidney by Curcumin

Aflatoxin B1 is a contaminant widely found in food and livestock feed, posing a major threat to human and animal health. Recently, much attention from the pharmaceutical and food industries has been focused on curcumin due to its strong antioxidant capacity. However, the therapeutic impacts and potential mechanisms of curcumin on kidney damage caused by AFB1 are still incomplete. In this study, AFB1 triggered renal injury in mice, as reflected by pathological changes and renal dysfunction. AFB1 induced renal oxidative stress and interfered with the Keap1–Nrf2 pathway and its downstream genes (CAT, SOD1, NQO1, GSS, GCLC, and GCLM), as manifested by elevated oxidative stress metabolites and reduced antioxidant enzymes activities. Additionally, AFB1 was found to increase apoptotic cells percentage in the kidney via the TUNEL assay, along with increased expression of Cyt-c, Bax, cleaved-Caspase-3, Caspase-9, and decreased expression of Bcl-2 at the transcriptional and protein levels; in contrast, for mice given curcumin, there was a significant reversal in kidney coefficient, biochemical parameters, pathological changes, and the expression of genes and proteins involved in oxidative stress and apoptosis. These results indicate that curcumin could antagonize oxidative stress and apoptosis to attenuate AFB1-induced kidney damage.

Associations of Protein Molecular Structures with Their Nutrient Supply and Biodegradation Characteristics in Different Byproducts of Seed-Used Pumpkin

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the relationship of protein functional groups (including amide I, amide II, α-helix, and β-sheet) in byproducts of seed-used pumpkin (pumpkin seed cake, pumpkin seed coat, and seed-used pumpkin flesh) with their nutrient profiles and biodegradation characteristics. The experiment was designed to use conventional chemical analysis, combining the Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) and nylon bag technology to assess the nutritional value and biodegradation characteristics of seed-used pumpkin byproducts. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to analyze the protein molecular structure properties of byproducts of seed-used pumpkin. In this study, we also applied correlation and regression analysis. The results showed that different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin had different in situ biodegradation, nutrient supplies, and spectral structures in the protein region. Among the byproducts of seed-used pumpkin, acid detergent-insoluble crude protein (ADICP) and neutral detergent-insoluble crude protein (NDICP) contents of the pumpkin seed coat were the highest, resulting in the lowest effective degradabilities (EDs) of dry matter and crude protein. The crude protein (CP) ED values were ranked as follows: pumpkin seed cake > seed-used pumpkin flesh > pumpkin seed coat. Significant differences were observed in the peak areas of amide I and amide II and the corresponding peak heights in the two peak areas in the molecular structure of the protein. The peak areas of amide I and amide II and the corresponding peak heights were at the highest levels for pumpkin seed cake, whereas there was no significant difference between the pumpkin seed coat and seed-used pumpkin flesh. Similarly, the peak heights of α-helices and β-sheets were highest for pumpkin seed cake. Correlation and regression results indicated that amide I and amide II area and height, α-helix and β-sheet heights, and area ratios of amide I: amide II, as well as the height ratios of amide I: amide II, and α-helices: β-sheets effectively estimated nutrient supply and that the height ratio of α-helices: β-sheets was mostly sensitive to biodegradation characteristics in different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin. There were significant differences in CP chemical composition and digestibility of different byproducts of seed-used pumpkin that were strongly related to the changes in protein molecular structures.

Sodium butyrate alleviates LPS-induced kidney injury via inhibiting TLR2/4 to regulate rBD2 expression

Defensins represent an integral part of the innate immune system to ward off potential pathogens. The study used a rat model to investigate mechanisms by which sodium butyrate (NaB) regulates β-defensin to inhibit lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nephrotoxicity. We found that NaB alleviated LPS-induced renal structural damage, as judged by reduced renal lesions and improved glomerular vascular structure. In addition, elevated levels of indicators of kidney damage creatinine and blood urine nitrogen, inflammatory mediators TNF-α, and IL-6 dropped after NaB administration. Rat β-defensin 2 (rBD2), as estimated by mRNA level, was significantly higher in LPS-treated kidneys, whereas the changes of rBD2 reduced in NaB-treated kidneys. In addition, NaB alleviated LPS-induced increase in TLRs mRNA expression. Mechanistically, the present study indicates that NaB has nephroprotective activity resulting from modulation of TLR2/4 to regulate rBD2 expression hence curbing inflammation. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: In practice, adding NaB to diet can improve animal performance. Our results suggest that dietary supplementation of NaB increases animal feed intake and improves the body's defense ability to relieve inflammation caused by bacteria. Especially in the age of resistance prohibition, sodium butyrate can partially replace antibiotics to induce the expression of body defensin. It may become a health care product to enhance the body's immunity.