这项研究的目的是研究日粮中添加双氢青蒿素(DHA)是否可以改善宫内生长受限(IUGR)断奶仔猪的肠道屏障功能和微生物组成。12头正常出生体重(NBW)仔猪和24头21日龄IUGR仔猪分为3组,饲喂基础饮食(NBW-CON和IUCR-CON组)和80mg/kgDHA饮食(IUGR-DHA组)。在49天大的时候,每组屠宰8只体重相似的仔猪,收集血清和小肠样本。结果表明,IUGR降低了仔猪的生长性能,损害了肠道通透性的标志物,诱导肠道炎症,降低肠道免疫力,扰乱肠道菌群。膳食补充DHA增加了平均日增重,IUGR断奶仔猪在49日龄时的平均日采食量和体重(P<0.05)。DHA处理降低血清二胺氧化酶活性,增加肠杯状细胞和上皮内淋巴细胞的数量,IUGR仔猪空肠黏蛋白-2、回肠三叶因子3、肠道分泌型免疫球蛋白A和免疫球蛋白G(IgG)浓度(P<0.05)。补充DHA的饮食也上调空肠IgG的mRNA丰度,分化簇8(CD8),主要组织相容性复合物-I(MHC-I)和白介素6(IL-6)和回肠IgG,IgG的Fc受体(FcRn),分化簇8(CD4),CD8,MHC-I,IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子α(TNF-α),IUGR仔猪肠occludin和回肠claudin-1的mRNA丰度和蛋白表达增强(P<0.05)。此外,日粮中添加DHA提高了IUGR仔猪小肠的微生物多样性,并显着增加了放线菌的相对丰度,链球菌,空肠中的布劳特氏菌和链球菌,回肠和严格的梭菌(P<0.05)。肠道菌群与紧密连接蛋白和炎症反应相关基因的mRNA丰度相关。这些数据表明,DHA可以通过调节肠道菌群来改善IUGR断奶仔猪肠道屏障功能的标志物。DHA可能是预防IUGR猪肠道功能障碍的新型营养候选物。
The aim of this study was to investigate whether dietary dihydroartemisinin (DHA) supplementation could improve intestinal barrier function and microbiota composition in intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) weaned piglets. Twelve normal birth weight (NBW) piglets and 24 IUGR piglets at 21 d of age were divided into three groups, which were fed a basal diet (NBW-CON and IUCR-CON groups) and an 80 mg/kg DHA diet (IUGR-DHA group). At 49 d of age, eight piglets of each group with similar body weights within groups were slaughtered, and serum and small intestine samples were collected. The results showed that IUGR piglets reduced growth performance, impaired the markers of intestinal permeability, induced intestinal inflammation, decreased intestinal immunity, and disturbed the intestinal microflora. Dietary DHA supplementation increased average daily gain, average daily feed intake, and body weight at 49 d of age in IUGR-weaned piglets (P < 0.05). DHA treatment decreased serum diamine oxidase activity and increased the numbers of intestinal goblet cells and intraepithelial lymphocytes, concentrations of jejunal mucin-2 and ileal trefoil factor 3, and intestinal secretory immunoglobin A and immunoglobin G (IgG) concentrations of IUGR piglets (P < 0.05). Diet supplemented with DHA also upregulated mRNA abundances of jejunal IgG, the cluster of differentiation 8 (CD8), major histocompatibility complex-I (MHC-I), and interleukin 6 (IL-6) and ileal IgG, Fc receptor for IgG (FcRn), cluster of differentiation 8 (CD4), CD8, MHC-I, IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), and enhanced mRNA abundance and protein expression of intestinal occludin and ileal claudin-1 in IUGR piglets (P < 0.05). In addition, DHA supplementation in the diet improved the microbial diversity of the small intestine of IUGR piglets and significantly increased the relative abundance of Actinobacteriota, Streptococcus, Blautia and Streptococcus in the jejunum, and Clostridium sensu_ stricto_in the ileum (P < 0.05). The intestinal microbiota was correlated with the mRNA abundance of tight junction proteins and inflammatory response-related genes. These data suggested that DHA could improve the markers of intestinal barrier function in IUGR-weaned piglets by modulating gut microbiota. DHA may be a novel nutritional candidate for preventing intestinal dysfunction in IUGR pigs.
Intrauterine growth retardation (IUGR) is defined as the restricted development of the mammalian fetus or its organs during pregnancy, which has high morbidity and mortality during the perinatal period and improves the risk of metabolic diseases in the long term. Dihydroartemisinin (DHA) is a derivative of artemisinin that possesses anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory effects. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to investigate whether dietary DHA supplementation could improve the intestinal barrier function and microbiota composition in IUGR-weaned piglets. The result showed that IUGR could lead to intestinal barrier dysfunction. Dietary supplementation with DHA improved growth performance and attenuated intestinal barrier dysfunction by decreasing the markers of intestinal permeability, increasing the mucus layer barrier, enhancing immunity, and reducing the inflammatory response in IUGR piglets, which may be attributed to the improvement of the intestinal microbiota. Moreover, the study indicated that the gut microflora was correlated with the gene expression of tight junction proteins and immune function. This study may provide a new nutritional strategy for the maintenance of intestinal health in IUGR pigs.