Dietary conjugated linoleic acid links reduced intestinal inflammation to amelioration of CNS autoimmunity.

A close interaction between gut immune responses and distant organ-specific autoimmunity including the CNS in multiple sclerosis has been established in recent years. This so-called gut-CNS axis can be shaped by dietary factors, either directly or via indirect modulation of the gut microbiome and its metabolites. Here, we report that dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid, a mixture of linoleic acid isomers, ameliorates CNS autoimmunity in a spontaneous mouse model of multiple sclerosis, accompanied by an attenuation of intestinal barrier dysfunction and inflammation as well as an increase in intestinal myeloid-derived suppressor-like cells. Protective effects of dietary supplementation with conjugated linoleic acid were not abrogated upon microbiota eradication, indicating that the microbiome is dispensable for these conjugated linoleic acid-mediated effects. Instead, we observed a range of direct anti-inflammatory effects of conjugated linoleic acid on murine myeloid cells including an enhanced IL10 production and the capacity to suppress T-cell proliferation. Finally, in a human pilot study in patients with multiple sclerosis (n = 15, under first-line disease-modifying treatment), dietary conjugated linoleic acid-supplementation for 6 months significantly enhanced the anti-inflammatory profiles as well as functional signatures of circulating myeloid cells. Together, our results identify conjugated linoleic acid as a potent modulator of the gut-CNS axis by targeting myeloid cells in the intestine, which in turn control encephalitogenic T-cell responses.

Integrative Transcriptomic and Small RNA Sequencing Reveals Immune-Related miRNA-mRNA Regulation Network for Soybean Meal-Induced Enteritis in Hybrid Grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus♂.

A 10-week feeding experiment was conducted to reveal the immune mechanism for soybean meal-induced enteritis (SBMIE) in hybrid grouper, Epinephelus fuscoguttatus ♀ × Epinephelus lanceolatus ♂. Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated by replacing 0, 10, 30, and 50% fish meal protein with soybean meal (namely FM, SBM10, SBM30, and SBM50, respectively). The weight gain rate of the SBM50 group was significantly lower than those of the other groups. Plica height, muscular layer thickness, and goblet cells of the distal intestine in the SBM50 group were much lower than those in the FM group. The intestinal transcriptomic data, including the transcriptome and miRNAome, showed that a total of 6,390 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 92 DEmiRNAs were identified in the SBM50 and FM groups. DEmiRNAs (10 known and 1 novel miRNAs) and their DE target genes were involved in immune-related phagosome, natural killer cell-mediated cytotoxicity, Fc gamma R-mediated phagocytosis, and the intestinal immune network for IgA production pathways. Our study is the first to offer transcriptomic and small RNA profiling for SBMIE in hybrid grouper. Our findings offer important insights for the understanding of the RNA profile and further elucidation of the underlying molecular immune mechanism for SBMIE in carnivorous fish.

Effect of the complete replacement of dietary fish meal by soybean meal on histopathology and immune response of the hindgut in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus).

A 14-day experiment was conducted to explore the pathological process and immune response of soybean meal (SBM) induced enteritis (SBMIE) in grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idellus). The complete replacement of dietary fish meal (FM) with SBM resulted in a remarkable reduction in final body weight, weight gain ratio, and feed conversion efficiency (p < 0.05). The typical histopathological changes of SBMIE appeared starting at day 4, and progressively increased in severity until day 8, then gradually subsided after day 11. The course of SBMIE could be divided into incubation period (days 1-2), prodromal period (days 3-6), symptomatic period (days 7-10), and convalescent period (days 11-14). Transcription levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1ß, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17A/F1 and IFN-γ2, were up-regulated during the prodromal period, and then down-regulated during the convalescent period. Transcript levels of anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and TGFß1) and their receptors (IL-10R1 and TßRII), were up-regulated during the prodromal and convalescent periods. Transcript levels of MHCIIß, Igµ, Igτ, TCRδ, TCRß, CD4, and CD8α were altered in SBMIE. Furthermore, expression levels of T-bet, IFN-γ2, RORγ2 and IL-17A/F1 were significantly increased in the initiation of enteritis, whereas the transcript levels of Foxp3 and IL-2/15Ra were significantly up-regulated in the repair of enteritis. In conclusion, grass carp SBMIE is regulated by the adjustment of SBM-based diet intake, and the changes of the above-mentioned genes expression suggest that these genes may be involved in SBMIE.

Melatonin alleviates oxidative stress in sleep deprived mice: Involvement of small intestinal mucosa injury.

BACKGROUND: Previous research demonstrated that sleep deprivation (SD) resulted in intestinal homeostasis disorder in colon. The present study was further performed to clarify the role of melatonin in SD-induced small intestinal (SI) mucosal injury. METHODS: We successfully established a multiplatform 72 h SD mouse model with or without melatonin supplementation to explore the improvement of melatonin in the destruction of SI induced by SD. RESULTS: Melatonin supplementation suppressed an increase of corticosterone level and a decrease of melatonin level caused by SD. Meanwhile, we observed that melatonin supplementation in sleep deprived mice markedly reversed a decrease of the villi length/crypt depth (V/C) ratio and the number of goblet cells, PCNA positive cells, the expressions of MUC2 and tight junction proteins, as well as an upregulation of the expressions of autophagic proteins in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. Furthermore, melatonin supplementation inverted the SD-induced the decline of antioxidant enzyme activities (T-AOC and CAT etc) and anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-10 and IFN-γ) and the increase of oxidative product MDA, pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), p-P65 and p-IκB proteins in the SI. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggested that melatonin may be used as a probiotic agent to reverse SD-induced SI mucosa injury by suppressing oxidative stress and NF-κB pathway activation.

Anti-foodborne enteritis effect of galantamine potentially via acetylcholine anti-inflammatory pathway in fish.

Foodborne enteritis has become a limiting factor in aquaculture. Plant protein sources have already caused enteritic inflammation and inhibition in growth performance. Attempts have been made to find an effective solution to foodborne enteritis. Based on the previously suggested fish cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway, galantamine, a typical cholinesterase inhibitor, was tested for the repression of pro-inflammatory cytokines for soybean meal induced enteritis by injection into grass carp. Both the phylogenetic analysis of cholinesterase, AchR and bioinformatic prediction, indicated galantamine's potential use as an enteritis drug. The result highlighted galantamine's potential effect for anti-enteritis in fish, especially in carps. Subsequently, a 4-week feeding trail using galantamine as an additive, in a zebrafish soybean meal induced enteritis model, demonstrated the prevention of enteritis. The results demonstrated that galantamine could prevent intestinal pathology, both histologically and molecularly, and also maintain growth performance. Reflected by gene expressional analysis, all mechanical, chemical and immune functions of the intestinal barrier could be protected by galantamine supplementation, which aided molecularly in the control of fish foodborne enteritis, through down-regulating Th17 type proinflammatory factors, meanwhile resuming the level of Treg type anti-inflammatory factors. Therefore, the current results shed light on fish intestinal acetylcholine anti-inflammation, by the dietary addition of galantamine, which could give rise to protection from foodborne enteritis.

Corn gluten meal induces enteritis and decreases intestinal immunity and antioxidant capacity in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) at high supplementation levels.

Corn gluten meal (CGM) is an important alternative protein source in aquafeed production. However, in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus), CGM could not be effectively utilized because of its low digestibility, the reason for which is still unclear. The purpose of the present study was to investigate and elucidate the cause for the poor utilization of CGM by turbot from the view of gut health. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted with turbot individuals (initial body weight 11.4 ± 0.2 g), which were fed with one of four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets formulated to include 0%, 21.2%, 31.8%, and 42.6% CGM to progressively replace 0%, 33%, 50%, and 67% fish meal (FM) protein in a FM-based diet, respectively. The results showed that CGM caused dose-dependent decreases in (1) growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and feed utilization; (2) activities of brush-border membrane enzymes; (3) intestinal antioxidant indices of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase activities, and reduced glutathione level; (4) intestinal immune parameters of acid phosphatase activity, complement 3, complement 4, and IgM concentrations. Dose-dependent increases in the severity of the inflammation, with concomitant alterations on microvilli structure and increasing expression of inflammatory cytokine genes of Il-1ß, Il-8, and Tnf-α were observed but without a change in the intracellular junctions and the epithelial permeability established by the plasma diamine oxidase activity and D-lactate level examinations. In conclusion, the present work proved that CGM negatively affected the gut health of turbot by inducing enteritis and by decreasing intestinal immunity and antioxidant capacity, which could be one of the reasons for the reduced utilization of CGM by turbot.

N-acetylcysteine modulates lipopolysaccharide-induced intestinal dysfunction.

The gastrointestinal epithelium functions in nutrient absorption and pathogens barrier and its dysfunction directly affects livestock performance. N-Acetylcysteine (NAC) improves mucosal function, but its effects on intestinal functions at the molecular level remain unclear. Here, we performed gene expression profiling of the pig small intestine after dietary NAC treatment under LPS challenge and investigated the effects of NAC on intestinal epithelial cells in vitro. Dietary NAC supplementation under LPS challenge altered the small intestine expression of 959 genes related to immune response, inflammatory response, oxidation-reduction process, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and the cytokine-mediated signalling, Toll-like receptor signalling pathway, Jak-STAT signalling pathway, and TNF signalling pathway. We then analysed the expression patterns of the top 10 altered genes, and found that NAC markedly stimulated HMGCS3 and LDHC expression in IPEC-J2 cells. In vitro, NAC pre-treatment significantly reduced TNF-α and NF-κB, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-6 expression in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells. NAC treatment also significantly reduced oxidative stress in LPS-induced IPEC-J2 cells and alleviated intestinal barrier function and wound healing. Thus, NAC as a feed additive can enhance livestock intestinal health by modulating intestinal inflammation, permeability, and wound healing under LPS-induced dysfunction, improving our molecular understanding of the effects of NAC on the intestine.

Characterization of intestinal immune response to Clostridium perfringens infection in broiler chickens.

Necrotic enteritis toxin B (NetB)-producing Clostridium perfringens (CP) type A is the etiological agent of necrotic enteritis (NE) - an economically significant disease in broiler chickens. Understanding the immune response to CP infection in broiler chickens is becoming important to develop effective vaccines against NE. An experiment was conducted to determine the expression levels of selected cytokine genes in the intestine and cecal tonsil of CP-challenged broiler chickens. In a floor-pen housing, broiler chickens were randomly assigned to the following treatment groups: 1) bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD)-free control diet with no CP challenge (CX), 2) BMD-supplemented diet with no CP challenge (CM), 3) BMD-free control diet with CP challenge (PCX), or 4) BMD-supplemented diet with CP challenge (PCM). The establishment of CP infection was confirmed, with the treatment groups exposed to CP having a 1.5 to 2-fold higher CP levels (P < 0.05) compared to the non-exposed groups. On day 1 and 7 post-challenge, jejunal segments and cecal tonsils were collected from experimental chickens for quantitative real-time RT-PCR analysis to determine the expression levels of interleukin (IL)-1ß, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), IL-2, IL-13, IL-17, IL-10, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-ß genes. Levels of antibodies to CP recombinant proteins were also determined in the plasma of experimental chickens. Results indicated that on day 7 post-challenge, IL-1ß (proinflammatory cytokine), IL-13 (Th2 cytokine), and IL-17 (Th17 cytokine) were upregulated (P < 0.05) in CP-challenged PCX and PCM treatments, compared to the unchallenged (control) CX and CM treatments. A reverse trend was observed for TGF-ß (anti-inflammatory cytokine), while no change was observed in IFN-γ (Th1 cytokine). Levels of plasma antibodies (IgY) to CP recombinant proteins were higher in CP-challenged treatments (PCX and PCM; P < 0.05), compared to their corresponding controls (CX and CM). It was concluded that CP infection induced inflammatory response in the intestine of broiler chickens, and the mechanisms of inflammation are probably mediated via Th2 and Th17 cells.

Valeric acid glyceride esters in feed promote broiler performance and reduce the incidence of necrotic enteritis.

Valeric acid is a C5 fatty acid, naturally produced in low concentrations by specific members of the microbiota of the lower intestinal tract. Effects of valeric acid on intestinal health have been poorly investigated. Valeric acid derivatives can be produced as glyceride esters and added to broiler feed. In the current study, experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of valeric acid glycerides (GVA) on growth performance, on the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa and on protection against necrotic enteritis. In a first feeding trial, Ross-308 chicks were randomly divided into 2 dietary treatment groups and fed either a non-supplemented diet or a diet supplemented with GVA (1.5 g/kg). In the GVA supplemented group, the feed conversion ratio was significantly decreased during the entire trial period (D1-37). In a second trial, gut wall morphology was evaluated. In broilers fed a GVA-containing diet at 5 g/kg, the villus height/crypt depth ratio in the jejunum was significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05), and the crypt depth was significantly decreased at 28 d. In a third trial, immunohistochemistry showed that the density of glucagon-like peptide-2 immunoreactive cells in jejunal and ileal villi from broilers supplemented with GVA (5 g/kg) was significantly increased (P ≤ 0.05) on d 10. In a necrotic enteritis challenge model, a significant reduction of the number of birds with necrotic lesions was found at d 21, using in-feed supplementation of low and high regimen of GVA. These data show that GVA supplementation to broiler feed can decrease the feed conversion, positively affect the morphology of the small intestinal mucosa, increase the density of glucagon-like peptide-2 producing enteroendocrine cells, and reduce the incidence of necrotic enteritis, making GVA a valuable candidate feed additive for broilers.

Allium hookeri supplementation improves intestinal immune response against necrotic enteritis in young broiler chickens.

Three hundred birds (1 day old) were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 50 birds/treatment) and fed a basal diet (control) or basal diet supplemented with Allium hookeri (AH) root (1 or 3%). At day 14, half of the birds in each group were orally challenged with E. maxima 41A (1 × 104 cells/chicken), followed by C. perfringens infection (1 × 109 cfu/chicken) on day 18. Necrotic enteritis (NE)-associated infections and intestinal immune response were assessed by average body weight gain, lesion score, and oocyst shedding. The effect of dietary supplementation, AH, on transcript levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and tight junction proteins and mucin protein in the jejunum, were quantified by quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR. At day 20, birds fed with diet supplementation (3% of AH) significantly weighted more than the control group. Although the NE-challenged had significantly reduced average body weight gain, there was no significance in the effect between diet × NE-challenge interactions on the average body weight gain. Among the NE-challenged groups, gut lesion score and oocyst shedding were significantly decreased in birds given AH (1 or 3%) compared to the control group. There was a correlation between diet and NE infection with regards to interleukin (IL)-17A, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The up-regulated transcript levels of cytokines IL-8, IL-17A, iNOS, and LITAF by NE challenged groups were significantly reduced by AH (1 or 3%) supplementation. Down-regulated expression levels of tight junction (TJ) proteins: junctional adhesion molecule 2 (JAM2), occluding, and intestinal mucin 2 (MUC2) by NE challenge, was up-regulated by the addition of AH (1 or 3%) supplementation. All TJ proteins (JAM2, ZO1, Ocluddin and MUC2) in the jejunum had a significant diet × NE-challenge interaction. These findings demonstrate that dietary supplementation of AH in chicken feed could be beneficially used to improve chicken health against NE.

Dietary L-glutamine supplementation improves growth performance, gut morphology, and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens during necrotic enteritis challenge.

Necrotic enteritis (NE) causes significant economic losses in the broiler chicken industry, especially in birds raised without in-feed antibiotics. L-glutamine (Gln) is an amino acid that may compensate for metabolic losses from infection and improve the intestinal development. This study investigated the effects of dietary Gln (10 g/kg) supplementation on growth performance, intestinal lesions, jejunum morphology, and serum biochemical indices of broiler chickens during NE challenge. The study employed a factorial arrangement of treatments with factors: NE challenge, no or yes; dietary Gln inclusion, 0 g/kg in starter (S), d 0 to 10, grower (G) d 10 to 24, and finisher (F) d 24 to 35; 10 g/kg in S, G, F, or 10 g/kg in S, G only. Each treatment was replicated in 6 floor pens with 17 birds per pen as the experimental unit for performance and 2 birds for other measurements. Challenge significantly reduced bird performance, increased incidence of intestinal lesions, and affected intestinal development and serum biochemical indices. Regardless of challenge, Gln supplementation increased gain (P < 0.05), feed intake (P < 0.05), and decreased FCR (P < 0.05) on d 24. On d 35, Gln improved gain (P < 0.05) and FCR (P < 0.001) whereas withdrawing Gln from finisher tended to diminish the beneficial effect on weight gain but not FCR. Dietary Gln reduced lesion scores in the jejunum (P < 0.01) and ileum (P < 0.01) in challenged birds. On d 16, Gln increased villus height to crypt depth ratio in unchallenged birds (P < 0.05) and reduced crypt depth of challenged birds on d 24 (P < 0.05). Regardless of challenge, supplementation with Gln reduced crypt depth on d 16 (P < 0.05), and increased villus height (P < 0.01) and the villus height to crypt depth ratio (P < 0.001) on d 24. Dietary Gln lowered serum uric acid level regardless of challenge (P < 0.05). The current study indicates that dietary Gln alleviates adverse effects of NE and may be useful in antibiotic-free diets.

The American cockroach peptide periplanetasin-4 inhibits Clostridium difficile toxin A-induced cell toxicities and inflammatory responses in the mouse gut.

Many reports have shown that crude extracts of the American cockroach have therapeutic effects on inflammation. In a previous study, our research group showed that an antimicrobial peptide (Periplanetasin-2) derived from the American cockroach via de novo transcriptome analysis inhibited apoptosis of human colonocytes and inflammatory responses of the mouse gut caused by Clostridium difficile toxin A. Here, we examined whether Periplanetasin-4 (Peri-4), another antimicrobial peptide identified via de novo transcriptome analysis of the American cockroach, could also inhibit the various toxicities induced by C. difficile toxin A. We found that Peri-4 significantly reduced the cell viability loss and cell apoptosis caused by toxin A in vitro. Peri-4 also ameliorated the severe inflammatory responses seen in the toxin A-induced mouse enteritis model, rescuing the villus disruption and interleukin-6 production induced by luminal injection of toxin A into the mouse gut. Mechanistically, we found that Peri-4 could reduce toxin A-induced reactive oxygen species production to inhibit the activations of p38MAPK and p21Cip1/Waf1 , which are critical for the cell damages induced by toxin A. These results collectively suggest that the Peri-4 may be a potential therapeutic agent for treating toxin A-induced pseudomembranous colitis. Copyright © 2017 European Peptide Society and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Intestinal immune responses of Jian carp against Aeromonas hydrophila depressed by choline deficiency: Varied change patterns of mRNA levels of cytokines, tight junction proteins and related signaling molecules among three intestinal segments.

This study aimed to investigate the effects of choline deficiency on intestinal inflammation of fish after Aeromonas hydrophila infection and the potential molecular mechanisms. Juvenile Jian carp (Cyprinus carpio var. Jian) were fed two diets containing choline at 165 (deficient group) and 607 mg/kg diet respectively for 65 days. Choline deficiency decreased intestinal lysozyme activity, C3 and IgM contents, increased acid phosphatase activity, downregulated mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides [liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide (LEAP) 2A, LEAP-2B, hepcidin and defensin], cytokines [interleukin (IL) 6a, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interferon γ2b (IFN-γ2b), IL-6b and transforming growth factor ß2 (TGF-ß2) only in proximal intestine, IL-10 in mid and distal intestine], immune-related signaling molecules [Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4), myeloid differentiation primary response 88 (MyD88), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor of NF-κB (IκB), Janus kinase 3 (JAK3), and signal transducers and activators of transcription 5 (STAT5)], tight junction proteins (claudin 3b, claudin 3c, claudin 11 and occludin), and mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 (p38MAPK) in proximal and distal intestine of juvenile Jian carp after A. hydrophila challenge. In contrast, choline deficiency upregulated mRNA levels of antimicrobial peptides (LEAP-2A, LEAP-2B, hepcidin and defensin), cytokines (IL-6b, IFN-γ2b and TGF-ß2), immune-related signaling molecules (TLR4, MyD88, NF-κB, IκB, JAK3, STAT4 in three intestinal segments, and STAT6), claudin 11, and p38MAPK in mid intestine of fish. This study provides new finding that choline deficiency-induced immune responses against A. hydrophila infection were varied among three intestinal segments in fish.

Methionine hydroxy analogue improves intestinal immunological and physical barrier function in young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella).

This study was conducted to test the hypothesis that methionine hydroxy analogue (MHA) enhances the defense against enteritis occurrence via improving intestinal barrier function in fish. After 630 young grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) (259.70 ± 0.47 g) fed six graded levels of MHA (0, 2.4, 4.4, 6.4, 8.5 and 10.5 g/kg diet) and one dl-methionine group (6.4 g/kg diet) for 8 weeks. At the end of feeding trial, 15 fish from each treatment were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila for 14 days. The results indicated that optimal MHA enhanced the capacity of fish against enteritis emergence, which might be related to the positive effects of MHA on intestinal immunological and physical barrier function in fish. Dietary MHA supplementation enhanced intestinal immunological barrier function via (1) lysozyme (LZM) and acid phosphatase (ACP) activities, complement 3 (C3), C4 and immunoglobulin M (IgM) contents and up-regulated mRNA levels of liver-expressed antimicrobial peptide 2, hepcidin (head kidney), ß-defensin-1; (2) repressing p38MAPK/IKKß/IκBα/NF-κB signaling pathway to down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokines mRNA levels except IL-8 mRNA level only in mid and distal intestine; (3) potentiating TOR-signal cascades to up-regulate anti-inflammatory cytokines. Meanwhile, dietary MHA supplementation improved intestinal physical barrier via (1) down-regulating c-Jun N-terminal kinase mRNA levels to inhibit death receptor and mitochondria pathways induced apoptosis; (2) modulating Keap1a/Nrf2 system to elevate antioxidant enzymes genes isoforms mRNA levels and corresponding enzymes activities, subsequently alleviate oxidative damage; (3) down-regulating MCLK gene expression to up-regulating occludin, zonula occluden 1 and claudins mRNA levels except claudin-7a and claudin-7b only in the proximal intestine. In conclusion, bases on the capacity defense against enteritis, proximal intestinal malondialdehyde content and lysozyme activity, the optimal MHA supplementation levels were 5.83, 5.59 and 6.07 g/kg diet (4.01 g/kg methionine basal), respectively. This study indicates that MHA exerts a positive effect on fish intestinal health status and a superior efficacy to dl-methionine based on the positive effects.

Emu Oil Combined with Lyprinol™ Reduces Small Intestinal Damage in a Rat Model of Chemotherapy-Induced Mucositis.

Chemotherapy-induced mucositis is characterized by inflammation and ulcerating lesions lining the alimentary tract. Emu Oil and Lyprinol™ have independently demonstrated their therapeutic potential in intestinal inflammatory disorders, including mucositis. We investigated Emu Oil and Lyprinol™ in combination for their further potential to alleviate chemotherapy-induced mucositis in rats. Rats were gavaged with (1 ml) water, Olive Oil, Emu Oil + Olive Oil, Lyprinol™ + Olive Oil or Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ from Days 0 to 7, injected with saline (control) or 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) on Day 5 and euthanized on Day 8. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity (indicative of acute inflammation), histological severity scores, and intestinal architecture were quantified. Myeloperoxidase activity was significantly increased in the jejunum and ileum following 5-FU, compared to saline controls. Both Olive Oil and Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ significantly reduced jejunal MPO levels (1.8-fold and 1.7-fold, respectively), whereas only Emu Oil + Lyprinol™ significantly decreased ileal MPO levels, relative to 5-FU controls. All oil treatments decreased histological severity scores in the jejunum and ileum, and normalized crypt depth in the mid small intestine, relative to 5-FU controls. Emu Oil combined with Lyprinol™ partially reduced acute small intestinal inflammation. Isolating bioactive constituents of these naturally sourced oils could provide a more targeted strategy to protect against intestinal mucositis.

Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein A1 Improves the Intestinal Injury by Regulating Apoptosis Through Trefoil Factor 2 in Mice with Anti-CD3-induced Enteritis.

BACKGROUND: The role of hnRNP A1 in the onset of intestinal inflammation remains unclear. This study investigated the function of hnRNP A1 in mice enteritis models. METHODS: C57Bl6/J mice were intraperitoneally injected with anti-CD3 antibodies to develop enteritis. In the DSS-induced colitis group, the mice were allowed free access to 3% DSS solution in their drinking water for 5 days. 3H-mannitol flux and complementary DNA array tests were used to assess the intestinal barrier function and messenger RNA (mRNA) expression, respectively. Real-time PCR was performed after immunoprecipitation with anti-hnRNP antibodies to determine the specific mRNA binding of hnRNP A1. RESULTS: The hnRNP A1 expression was increased in the intestine of the mouse at 24 hours after treatment with anti-CD3 antibodies and 5 days after starting DSS administration. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) against hnRNP A1 exacerbated the intestinal injuries in both models. According to the microarray analysis, trefoil factor 2 (TFF2) was identified as a candidate molecule targeted by hnRNP A1 in the anti-CD3 antibody-induced enteritis group. Moreover, the binding between hnRNP A1 and TFF2 mRNA significantly increased in the enteritis mice, and the administration of siRNA against either hnRNP A1 or TFF2 exacerbated the degree of intestinal injury. In the DSS-induced colitis group, treatment with the siRNA of hnRNP A1 worsened the intestinal injury, while the expression of TFF3 did not change. CONCLUSIONS: hnRNP A1 improves intestinal injury in anti-CD3 antibody-induced enteritis mice through the upregulation of TFF2, which regulates apoptosis and enhances epithelial restoration, whereas this molecule ameliorates DSS-induced colitis through a different pathway.

Dietary sodium selenite affects host intestinal and systemic immune response and disease susceptibility to necrotic enteritis in commercial broilers.

1. This study was to evaluate the effects of supplementary dietary selenium (Se) given as sodium selenite on host immune response against necrotic enteritis (NE) in commercial broiler chickens. 2. Chicks were fed from hatching on a non-supplemented diet or diets supplemented with different levels of Se (0.25, 0.50, and 1.00 Se mg/kg). To induce NE, broiler chickens were orally infected with Eimeria maxima at 14 d of age and then with Clostridium perfringens 4 d later using our previously established NE disease model. 3. NE-associated clinical signs and host protective immunity were determined by body weight changes, intestinal lesion scores, and serum antibodies against α-toxin and necrotic enteritis B (NetB) toxin. The effects of dietary Se on the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines e.g., interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, IL-8LITAF (lipopolysaccharide-induced TNFα-factor), tumour necrosis factor (TNF) SF15, and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), glutathione peroxidase 7 (GPx7), and avian ß-defensins (AvBD) 6, 8, and 13 (following NE infection) were analysed in the intestine and spleen. 4. The results showed that dietary supplementation of newly hatched broiler chicks with 0.25 Se mg/kg from hatch significantly reduced NE-induced gut lesions compared with infected birds given a non-supplemented diet. The levels of serum antibody against the NetB toxin in the chicks fed with 0.25 and 0.50 mg/kg Se were significantly higher than the non-supplemented control group. The transcripts for IL-1ß, IL-6, IL-8, iNOS, LITAF, and GPx7, as well as AvBD6, 8, and 13 were increased in the intestine and spleen of Se-supplemented groups, whereas transcript for TNFSF15 was decreased in the intestine. 5. It was concluded that dietary supplementation with optimum levels of Se exerted beneficial effects on host immune response to NE and reduced negative consequence of NE-induced immunopathology.

TU-100 (Daikenchuto) and ginger ameliorate anti-CD3 antibody induced T cell-mediated murine enteritis: microbe-independent effects involving Akt and NF-κB suppression.

The Japanese traditional medicine daikenchuto (TU-100) has anti-inflammatory activities, but the mechanisms remain incompletely understood. TU-100 includes ginger, ginseng, and Japanese pepper, each component possessing bioactive properties. The effects of TU-100 and individual components were investigated in a model of intestinal T lymphocyte activation using anti-CD3 antibody. To determine contribution of intestinal bacteria, specific pathogen free (SPF) and germ free (GF) mice were used. TU-100 or its components were delivered by diet or by gavage. Anti-CD3 antibody increased jejunal accumulation of fluid, increased TNFα, and induced intestinal epithelial apoptosis in both SPF and GF mice, which was blocked by either TU-100 or ginger, but not by ginseng or Japanese pepper. TU-100 and ginger also blocked anti-CD3-stimulated Akt and NF-κB activation. A co-culture system of colonic Caco2BBE and Jurkat-1 cells was used to examine T-lymphocyte/epithelial cells interactions. Jurkat-1 cells were stimulated with anti-CD3 to produce TNFα that activates epithelial cell NF-κB. TU-100 and ginger blocked anti-CD3 antibody activation of Akt in Jurkat cells, decreasing their TNFα production. Additionally, TU-100 and ginger alone blocked direct TNFα stimulation of Caco2BBE cells and decreased activation of caspase-3 and polyADP ribose. The present studies demonstrate a new anti-inflammatory action of TU-100 that is microbe-independent and due to its ginger component.

Effects of in ovo injection with selenium on immune and antioxidant responses during experimental necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of in ovo injection of Se on modulating the immune system and antioxidant responses in broiler chickens with experimental necrotic enteritis. Broiler eggs were injected at 18 d of embryo age with either 100 µL of PBS alone or sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) in PBS, providing 0 (SS0), 10 (SS10), or 20 (SS20) µg of Se/egg. At 14 d posthatch, PBS-treated and uninfected chickens were kept as the control group, whereas the remaining chickens were orally infected with 1.0 × 10(4) sporulated oocysts of Eimeria maxima (SS0, SS10, SS20). At 18 d posthatch, E. maxima-infected chickens were orally infected with 1.0 × 10(9) cfu of Clostridium perfringens. Infected control SS0 group showed significantly decreased BW compared with the uninfected control. However, SS20 group showed significantly increased BW compared with the infected control SS0 group, whereas the BW were similar among uninfected control and infected SS10 and SS20 groups. The SS10 group showed significantly lower intestinal lesions compared with the SS0 group, and oocyst production was decreased in both SS10 and SS20 groups. Serum malondialdehyde level and catalase activity were also decreased in both SS10 and SS20 groups, whereas the superoxide dismutase level was significantly lower in the SS10 group compared with the SS0 group. The SS20 group showed significantly higher levels of transcripts for IL-1ß and IL-6 in intestine, and SS10 and SS20 groups had higher levels of transcripts for IL-8 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression and decreased glutathione peroxidase 7 mRNA levels compared with the SS0 group. The SS10 and SS20 groups also showed increased serum antibody levels to C. perfringens α-toxin and NetB toxin compared with the SS0 group. These collective results suggest that the injection of Se into the amniotic cavity of developing eggs may be beneficial for enhancing immune and antioxidant responses in the hatched chickens exposed to the necrotic enteritis-causing pathogens.

Long-term cysteine fortification impacts cysteine/glutathione homeostasis and food intake in ageing rats.

PURPOSE: Healthy ageing is associated with higher levels of glutathione. The study aimed to determine whether long-term dietary fortification with cysteine increases cysteine and glutathione pools, thus alleviating age-associated low-grade inflammation and resulting in global physiological benefits. METHODS: The effect of a 14-week dietary fortification with cysteine was studied in non-inflamed (NI, healthy at baseline) and in spontaneously age-related low-grade inflamed (LGI, prefrail at baseline) 21-month-old rats. Fifty-seven NI rats and 14 LGI rats received cysteine-supplemented diet (4.0 g/kg of free cysteine added to the standard diet containing 2.8 g/kg cysteine). Fifty-six NI rats and 16 LGI rats received a control alanine-supplemented diet. RESULTS: Cysteine fortification in NI rats increased free cysteine (P < 0.0001) and glutathione (P < 0.03) in the liver and the small intestine. In LGI rats, cysteine fortification increased total non-protein cysteine (P < 0.0007) and free cysteine (P < 0.03) in plasma, and free cysteine (P < 0.02) and glutathione (P < 0.01) in liver. Food intake decreased over time in alanine-fed rats (r² = 0.73, P = 0.0002), whereas it was constant in cysteine-fed rats (r² = 0.02, P = 0.68). Cysteine fortification did not affect inflammatory markers, mortality, body weight loss, or tissue masses. CONCLUSION: Doubling the dietary intake of cysteine in old rats increased cysteine and glutathione pools in selected tissues. Additionally, it alleviated the age-related decline in food intake. Further validation of these effects in the elderly population suffering from age-related anorexia would suggest a useful therapeutic approach to the problem.