Paneth cells in farm animals: current status and future direction

Abstract

A healthy intestine plays an important role in the growth and development of farm animals. In small intestine, Paneth cells are well known for their regulation of intestinal microbiota and intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Although there has been a lot of studies and reviews on human and murine Paneth cells under intestinal homeostasis or disorders, little is known about Paneth cells in farm animals. Most farm animals possess Paneth cells in their small intestine, as identified by various staining methods, and Paneth cells of various livestock species exhibit noticeable differences in cell shape, granule number, and intestinal distribution. Paneth cells in farm animals and their antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are susceptible to multiple factors such as dietary nutrients and intestinal infection. Thus, the comprehensive understanding of Paneth cells in different livestock species will contribute to the improvement of intestinal health. This review first summarizes the current status of Paneth cells in pig, cattle, sheep, horse, chicken and rabbit, and points out future directions for the investigation of Paneth cells in the reviewed animals.

Fibroblasts enhance the growth and survival of adult feline small intestinal organoids

“…However, further investigation is necessary to determine whether Paneth cells are truly absent from cats. A previous study noted the absence of Paneth cells in cats, dogs, raccoons, and pigs (Gelberg 2014), but Paneth cells were later identified in pigs at low levels (Cui et al 2023) Feline enteroids are an important tool for studying viral and parasitic infections, but their unusually early growth arrest limits their usefulness. We showed that fibroblast feeder cells extend the lifetime of feline enteroids, especially in jejunum samples.…”