Traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions (XJZ, JSS) ameliorate spleen inflammatory response and antioxidant capacity by synergistically regulating NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways in piglets.

Weaning transition generally impairs the immune system, inducing immune disturbance, which may be associated with post-weaning diarrhea and high mortality in piglets. The spleen is a pivotal lymphatic organ that plays a key role in the establishment of the immune system. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions, XiaoJianZhong (XJZ) and Jiansananli-sepsis (JSS), are widely used prescriptions for treating spleen damage and diarrhea. Here, we hypothesized that XJZ and JSS maintain the spleen physiological function by ameliorating antioxidant capacity and inflammatory response in weaned piglets. In this study, 18 weaned piglets were assigned to the Control, XJZ and JSS groups. By hematoxylin and eosin staining, hematological analysis, flow cytometric analysis, qRT-PCR and western blot, the effects of both TCM prescriptions on the spleen antioxidant defense system and inflammatory pathway were explored. Results showed that both TCM treatment significantly ameliorated the weaning-induced morphological damage in piglets, as evidenced by clearer and more perfect spleen histology, as well as higher relative area of white pulp. Meanwhile, both XJZ and JSS exerted better blood parameters, as supported by the changes of monocyte level and lymphocyte subpopulations CD4+/CD8+ ratio. Furthermore, the levels of inflammatory markers, IL1ß, IL6, IL8, and TNF-α in the spleen were markedly decreased after supplemented with both TCM prescriptions. Importantly, the inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) and its downstream effector genes (IL6, IL8, and TNF-α) in both XJZ and JSS treatment groups further confirmed alleviation of inflammatory responses in the spleen. In addition, both XJZ and JSS enhanced the antioxidant capacity of the spleen by activating the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2)-activated antioxidant defense system. Notably, the results of PCA and network correlation analysis indicated that XJZ and JSS treatment altered the expression profiles of inflammatory and antioxidant-related factors in the spleen of weaned-piglets, which may involve the synergy of NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways. In summary, our study showed that TCM prescriptions, XJZ and JSS could ameliorate inflammatory response and antioxidant capacity in the spleen by synergistically regulating NF-κB and Nrf2 signaling pathways in piglets.

The protection of selenium against cadmium-induced mitophagy via modulating nuclear xenobiotic receptors response and oxidative stress in the liver of rabbits.

Cadmium (Cd) is a harmful heavy metal that can cause many health problems, while selenium (Se) is an essential nutrient for organisms that can protect them from heavy metal-induced damage. To explore the effects of Se on Cd-induced mitophagy in the liver, forty 3-month-old New Zealand white rabbits (2-2.5 kg), half male and half female, were randomly divided into four groups: the Control group, the Se (0.5 mg/kg body weight (BW)) group, the Cd (1 mg/kg BW) group and the Se+Cd group. After 30 days, the toxicity from Cd in the liver was assessed in terms of the nuclear xenobiotic receptor (NXR) response, oxidative stress and mitophagy. It was found that Cd decreased the activities of CYP450 enzymes and antioxidant enzymes and increased the contents of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and also increased the consumption of reduced glutathione (GSH). Moreover, the mRNA levels of NXRs (CAR, PXR, AHR and Nrf2), some mitochondrial function factors (PGC-1α, Sirt1, Sirt3, Nrf1 and TFAM) and mitochondrial fusion factors (Mfn1, Mfn2 and OPA1) were downregulated, but the mRNA levels of other mitochondrial function factors (VDAC1, Cyt C and PRDX3), mitochondrial fission factors (Fis1 and MFF) and those in the PINK1/Parkin-mediated mitophagy pathway (p62, Bnip3 and LC3) were upregulated under Cd exposure. The protein expression levels of Nrf2, SOD2, PGC-1α, PINK1 and Parkin were consistent with the mRNA expression levels in the Cd group. Se alleviated the changes in the abovementioned factors induced by Cd. In conclusion, the results indicate that Cd can cause oxidative stress in rabbit livers by inhibiting NXRs and the antioxidation response leading to mitophagy, and these harmful changes caused by Cd can be alleviated by Se.

The synergistic effect of traditional Chinese medicine prescription and rumen-protected γ-aminobutyric acid on beef cattle under heat stress.

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescription or rumen-protected GABA (RP-GABA) can effectively relieve the heat stress (HS) in cattle, but the joint effects of TCM and RP-GABA on HS in beef cattle are not fully clarified. To investigate the effects of TCM or/and RP-GABA on growth performance, antioxidant capacity, serum parameters and heat shock proteins (HSPs) expression in beef cattle under HS ambient. A total of 40 Jinjiang yellow cattle were randomly divided into four groups: (a) control group (basal diet, BD), (b) TCM group (BD+TCM), (c) GABA group (BD+RP-GABA) and (d) TCM+GABA group (BD+TCM plus RP-GABA). Results indicated that the average daily feed intake (ADFI) was significantly elevated in the TCM+GABA group (p < 0.05), whereas, average daily gain (ADG) was elevated (p < 0.05) in the group of TCM (38.5%), GABA (35.4%) and TCM+GABA (41.5%) compared with the control group. Meanwhile, TCM+GABA exhibited prominently more positive effects in terms of SOD, BUN, T-CHO, TG, HDL-C and HSP70 (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) than the control and other treatment groups. Therefore, TCM or GABA can effectively moderate the HS response in beef cattle by ameliorating antioxidant capacity, serum parameters and HSPs expression, meanwhile, the combination of them exerts a synergistic effect on HS alleviation.

Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions Decrease Diarrhea Rate by Relieving Colonic Inflammation and Ameliorating Caecum Microbiota in Piglets.

Diarrhea is a leading cause of death in piglets. XiaoJianZhong (XJZ) and Jingsananli-sepsis (JSS) were two traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) prescriptions to prevent and treat intestinal diseases, including diarrhea and inflammatory disease. Here, we investigated the effects of XJZ and JSS on diarrhea rate, growth performance, colonic inflammation, and caecum microbiota in piglets. A total of 18 piglets were selected and randomly divided into three groups. Control group was supplied with basal diets, while TCM1 and TCM2 groups were, respectively, supplied with XJZ and JSS in basal diets. Decreased diarrhea rate, colonic or caecal pH, and elevated apparent nutrient digestibility were observed in both TCM groups. Meanwhile, both prescriptions alleviated colonic inflammation by decreasing mRNA expression of proinflammatory cytokines and suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Additionally, TCM1 and TCM2 prescriptions ameliorated caecum microbiota composition and increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria, together with regulations on several genes that are responsible for signaling pathways involved in cancers and metabolic diseases. Importantly, both TCM1 and TCM2 significantly promoted the average daily gain (ADG) and reduced the feed : gain (F : G) ratio. In conclusion, both TCM prescriptions effectively decreased diarrhea rate and increased growth performance by elevating apparent nutrient digestibility and gut health, via relieving colonic inflammation and ameliorating gut microbiota composition of piglets.

Molybdenum Induces Mitochondrial Oxidative Damage in Kidney of Goats.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of excessive molybdenum (Mo) on renal function and oxidative stress in goats. Twenty-seven healthy goats were randomly allotted in three groups and were fed deionized water to which sodium molybdate [(NH4)6Mo7O24·4H2O] was added at different doses of 0, 15, and 45 mg Mo/(kg·BW) for 50 days, respectively. The results indicated that white blood cell (WBC) counts were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while red blood cell (RBC) counts, hemoglobin (HGB), and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCH) were tended to decrease with the increasing of the experimental period in high-Mo group compared with the control group. Besides, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine (CREA) contents in serum were increased (P < 0.05) in both groups supplemented with molybdenum. Meanwhile, contents of copper (Cu) from the both experimental groups were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), while contents of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) were increased (P < 0.05) in serum. The contents of Cu were significantly increased (P < 0.05), while the contents of zinc (Zn) and iron (Fe) did not obviously change (P > 0.05) in the kidney. In addition, the activities of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) significantly decreased (P < 0.05) in the mitochondria, whereas malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) expression significantly increased (P < 0.05). Collectively, these results indicated that excess Mo exposure could induce secondary Cu deficiency and oxidative stress in the kidney, which finally undermine the renal function of goats.