Developmental expression of STATs, nuclear factor-κB and inflammatory genes in the jejunum of piglets during weaning.

The signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins play essential roles in apoptosis, proliferation and survival. However, the role of in intestinal inflammation during weaning is unclear. This study aimed to investigate developmental expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and inflammatory genes in the jejunum of piglets during weaning. Thirty-two piglets were weaned at 21d and sacrificed at 0, 1, 7, or 14d (n=8) after weaning. Villus height and the villus height/crypt depth ratio were decreased, whereas crypt depth was increased in the jejunum at 7 and 14d after weaning. In addition, the mRNA levels of interferon-γ (IFN-γ), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and IL-22 were increased in the jejunum at 7 and 14d after weaning, whereas transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SCOS3) and arginase-1 was decreased. Neutrophil infiltration was increased in the mucosa of the jejunum after weaning. Moreover, phosphorylation of IκB-α, NF-κB, AKT and was increased. However, the phosphorylation of (at 7 and 14d) and (at 1 and 7d) was suppressed in the jejunum after weaning. Treatment of porcine jejunal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells with the inhibitors fludarabine, niclosamide and teriflunomide, which inhibit the phosphorylation of duanyu1813-3 and respectively, weakened the defense capacity of these cells against bacterial infection. In conclusion, weaning caused severe inflammation associated with activation of the NF-κB and duanyu1813-3 pathways and suppression of duanyu1813-1 and duanyu1813-6 in the jejunum of piglets.

KEYWORDS: {{ getKeywords(articleDetailText.words) }}