1 research outputs found
Rhubarb Supplementation Promotes Intestinal Mucosal Innate Immune Homeostasis through Modulating Intestinal Epithelial Microbiota in Goat Kids
The
abuse and misuse of antibiotics in livestock production pose
a potential health risk globally. Rhubarb can serve as a potential
alternative to antibiotics, and several studies have looked into its
anticancer, antitumor, and anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of
this study was to test the effects of rhubarb supplementation to the
diet of young ruminants on innate immune function and epithelial microbiota
in the small intestine. Goat kids were fed with a control diet supplemented
with or without rhubarb (1.25% DM) and were slaughtered at days 50
and 60 of age. Results showed that the supplementation of rhubarb
increased ileal villus height (<i>P</i> = 0.036), increased
jejujal and ileal anti-inflammatory <i>IL-10</i> production
(<i>P</i> < 0.05), increased jejunal and ileal <i>Claudin-1</i> expression at both mRNA and protein levels (<i>P</i> < 0.05), and decreased ileal pro-inflammatory <i>IL-1β</i> production (<i>P</i> < 0.05). These
changes in innate immune function were accompanied by shifts in ileal
epithelial bacterial ecosystem in favor of <i>Blautia</i>, <i>Clostridium</i>, <i>Lactobacillus</i>, and <i>Pseudomonas</i>, and with a decline in the relative abundance
of <i>Staphylococcus</i> (<i>P</i> < 0.001)
when rhubarb was supplemented. Additionally, age also affected (<i>P</i> < 0.05) crypt depth, cytokine production, <i>Claudin-1</i> expression and relative abundances of specific genera in epithelial
bacteria. Collectively, the supplementation of rhubarb could enhance
host mucosal innate immune homeostasis by modulating intestinal epithelial
microbiota during the early stages of animal development