Copper/zinc-loaded montmorillonite influences intestinal integrity, the expression of genes associated with inflammation, TLR4–MyD88 and TGF-β1 signaling pathways in weaned pigs after LPS challenge

Abstract

This study was aimed at investigating whether dietary copper/zinc-loaded montmorillonite (Cu/Zn-Mt) could alleviate Escherichia coli LPS-induced intestinal injury through pro-and anti-inflammatory signaling pathways (TLRs, NLRs and TGF-b1) in weaned piglets. Eighteen 21-d-old pigs were randomly divided into three groups (control, LPS and LPS + Cu/Zn-Mt). After 21 d of feeding, pigs in the LPS group and LPS + Cu/Zn-Mt group received i.p. administration of LPS, whereas pigs in the control group received saline. At 4 h post-injection, jejunum samples were collected for analysis. The results indicated that, compared with the LPS group, supplemental Cu/Zn-Mt increased transepithelial electrical resistance, the expressions of anti-inflammatory cytokines (TGF-b1) in mRNA and protein levels, and decreased FD4 and the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-a, IL-6, IL-8 and IL-1b). The pro-inflammatory signaling pathways results demonstrated that Cu/Zn-Mt supplementation decreased the mRNA levels of TLR4 and its downstream signals (MyD88, IRAK1, TRAF6) but had no effect on NOD1 and NOD2 signals. Cu/Zn-Mt supplementation did not affect NF-kB p65 mRNA abundance, but down-regulated its protein expression. The anti-inflammatory signaling pathways results showed supplemental Cu/Zn-Mt also increased TbRII, Smad4 and Smad7 mRNA expressions. These findings suggested dietary Cu/Zn-Mt attenuated LPS-induced intestinal injury by alleviating intestinal inflammation, influencing TLR4-MyD88 and TGF-b1 signaling pathways in weaned pig.

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“…Iron Iron is crucial for main cellular functions. It is essential for proper functioning of the immune system (Jiao et al 2017). It is required to build effective immune responses against invading pathogens such as the differentiation and proliferation of T lymphocytes and production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to kill pathogens (Beard et al 2007).…”