Small intestinal transcriptome analysis revealed changes of genes involved in nutrition metabolism and immune responses in growth retardation piglets1

Abstract

Postnatal growth retardation (PGR) is common in piglets. Abnormal development in small intestine was casually implicated in impaired growth, but the exact mechanism is still implausible. The present study unveiled transcriptome profile of jejunal mucosa, the major site of nutrient absorption, in PGR and healthy piglets using RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq). The middle segments of jejunum and ileum, and jejunal mucosa were obtained from healthy and PGR piglets at 42 d of age. Total RNA samples extracted from jejunal mucosa of healthy and PGR piglets were submitted for RNA-seq. Lower villus height was observed in both jejunum and ileum from PGR piglets suggesting structural impairment in small intestine (P < 0.05). RNA-seq libraries were constructed and sequenced, and produced average 4.8 × 107 clean reads. Analysis revealed a total of 499 differently expressed genes (DEGs), of which 320 DEGs were downregulated in PGR piglets as compared to healthy piglets. The functional annotation based on Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) highlighted that most DEGs were involved in nutrient metabolism and immune responses. Our results further indicated decreased gene expression associated with glucose, lipid, protein, mineral, and vitamin metabolic process, detoxication ability, oxidoreductase activity, and mucosal barrier function; as well as the increased insulin resistance and inflammatory response in the jejunal mucosa of PGR piglets. These results characterized the transcriptomic profile of the jejunal mucosa in PGR piglets, and could provide valuable information with respect to better understanding the nutrition metabolism and immune responses in the small intestine of piglets.

Functional bioactive substance improves the growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immune function of growth retardation pigs

“…Postnatal growth retardation is associated with lifelong consequences beyond reduced weight, including metabolic disturbance and impaired immune and anti-oxidant functions in pigs has been confirmed in the previous studies (Qi et al, 2019a(Qi et al, , 2019b. Composited functional bioactive substance packages including complex-probiotic-preparation, herb complex extract and multi-enzyme complex were used to alleviate the growth retardation s induced by complicated factors in the postnatal days of pigs in the present study.…”

“…Immature immune system and oxidative imbalance in pigs may be responsible for their growth retardation (Qi et al, 2019a(Qi et al, , 2019b. The PGR pigs exhibited higher plasma concentrations of IgG and some inflammatory cytokines indicating toxic or oxidative damage in organisms (Qi et al, 2019b).…”

“…About 10% of piglets are retardative in growth, resulting in significant economic losses to pig farmers (Harada, Shizuyama, Ihara, & Takeuchi, 2003). In the previous study, small intestinal transcriptome analysis has revealed changes of genes involved in nutrition metabolism and immune responses in growth retardation (GR) of piglets (Qi et al, 2019a). GR was associated with the impaired intestinal mucosal barrier function, gut hormone profiles, immune and antioxidant function (Qi et al, 2019b).…”

Vitamin A prevents lipopolysaccharide‐induced injury on tight junctions in mice

“…Holloway, Kim, and Quadro () disclosed that the homeostasis RA, the active form of VA, may be involved in modulating the cardiac hypertrophy of pregnancy and VA can enhance cardiac function. Applying VA deficiency model, Qi et al () explored novel changes of genes involved in nutrition metabolism and immune responses in growth retardation piglets. Cui et al () explored that VA deficiency enhances development of Lewis lung carcinoma through induction of type 2 innate lymphoid cells and activates macrophages.…”

Postnatal growth retardation is associated with intestinal mucosa mitochondrial dysfunction and aberrant energy status in piglets

“…7 The deteriorated intestinal mucosal barrier function has been observed in PGR piglets as compared with healthy piglets. 8,9 Of note, abnormal digestion and nutrition absorption is one of the critical factors causing growth retardation. 10 Previously, our transcriptome analysis of intestinal samples from healthy and PGR piglets revealed differential expression of genes that were involved in metabolic pathway.…”