Priming of intestinal cytoprotective genes and antioxidant capacity by dietary phytogenic inclusion in broilers

Abstract

The potential of a phytogenic premix (PP) based on ginger, lemon balm, oregano and thyme to stimulate the expression of cytoprotective genes at the broiler gut level was evaluated in this study. In particular, the effects of PP inclusion levels on a selection of genes related to host protection against oxidation (catalase [ CAT ], superoxide dismutase 1 [ SOD1 ], glutathione peroxidase 2 [ GPX2 ], heme oxygenase 1 [ HMOX1 ], NAD(P)H quinone dehydrogenase 1 [ NQO1 ], nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 [ Nrf2 ] and kelch like ECH associated protein 1 [ Keap1 ]), stress (heat shock 70 kDa protein 2 [ HSP70 ] and heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 [ HSP90 ]) and inflammation (nuclear factor kappa B subunit 1 [ NF-κB1 ], Toll-like receptor 2 family member B ( TLR2B ) and Toll-like receptor 4 [ TLR4 ]) were profiled along the broiler intestine. In addition, broiler intestinal segments were assayed for their total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Depending on PP inclusion level (i.e. 0, 750, 1,000 and 2,000 mg/kg diet) in the basal diets, 1-d-old Cobb broiler chickens ( n = 500) were assigned into the following 4 treatments: CON, PP-750, PP-1000 and PP-2000. Each treatment had 5 replicates of 25 chickens with ad libitum access to feed and water. Data were analyzed by ANOVA and means compared using Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test. Polynomial contrasts tested the linear and quadratic effect of PP inclusion levels. Inclusion of PP increased ( P ≤ 0.05) the expression of cytoprotective genes against oxidation, except CAT . In particular, the cytoprotective against oxidation genes were up-regulated primarily in the duodenum and the ceca and secondarily in the jejunum. Most of the genes were up-regulated in a quadratic manner with increasing PP inclusion level with the highest expression levels noted in treatments PP-750 and PP-1000 compared to CON. Similarly, intestinal TAC was higher in PP-1000 in the duodenum ( P = 0.011) and the ceca ( P = 0.050) compared to CON. Finally, increasing PP inclusion level resulted in linearly reduced ( P ≤ 0.05) expression of NF-κB1 , TLR4 and HSP70, the former in the duodenum and the latter 2 in the ceca. Overall, PP inclusion consistently up-regulated cytoprotective genes and down-regulated stress and inflammation related ones. The effect is dependent on PP inclusion level and the intestinal site. The potential of PP to beneficially prime bird cytoprotective responses merit further investigation under stress-challenge conditions.

Research Note: Phytobiotics modulate the expression profile of circulating inflammasome and cyto(chemo)kine in whole blood of broilers exposed to cyclic heat stress

“…However, chronic HS exposure increased SOD activity in the liver, while lipid peroxides were decreased ( Lin et al., 2000 ). In the intestine, components of the antioxidant system are upregulated by various dietary PFA in broilers, although the magnitude of these changes, as well as impact on overall growth seem to vary based on the PFA studied, dose, and other stress challenges ( Botsoglou et al., 2002 ; Luna et al., 2010 ; Paraskeuas et al., 2016 ; Paraskeuas et al., 2017 ; Mountzouris et al., 2020 ).

Figure 1 Effect of PFA supplementation on circulating antioxidant markers in HS broilers.

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Modulation of Heat-Shock Proteins Mediates Chicken Cell Survival against Thermal Stress

“…Hsp70 expression leads to a significant increase in antioxidant enzymes and inhibits the production of lipid peroxidation. It has been shown that upregulated HSP70/90 prevents heat-stress-induced intestinal mucosa damage by enhancing antioxidant status [ 43 , 167 ]. Hosseindoust et al [ 168 ] reported that the level of HSP70 was significantly upregulated in different sections of the small intestine of chicken under acute heat stress.…”

Comparison of overfeeding effects on gut physiology and microbiota in two goose breeds

“…The antioxidant substances in the intestinal tract can eliminate the peroxide in the intestinal tract and protect the intestinal mucosa ( Lin et al., 2016 ; Qiu et al., 2020 ). Similarly, the gut antioxidant performance will influence the activity of digestive enzymes ( Long et al., 2020b ; Mountzouris et al., 2020 ). The antioxidant enzymes such as SOD and CAT are indispensable key factors against oxidative stress that have the capacity to decompose superoxide and eliminate free radicals by using a chain reaction mechanism ( Shirani et al., 2019 ).…”