title: Supplementation of xanthophylls decreased proinflammatory and increased anti-inflammatory cytokines in hens and chicks.
abstract: The present study investigated the effects of xanthophylls (containing 40 % of lutein and 60 % of zeaxanthin) on proinflammatory cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, interferon (IFN)-γ and lipopolysaccharide-induced TNF-α factor (LITAF)) and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-4 and IL-10) expression of breeding hens and chicks. In Expt 1, a total of 432 hens were fed diets supplemented with 0 (as the control group), 20 or 40 mg/kg xanthophylls (six replicates per treatment). The liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were sampled at 35 d of the trial. The results showed that both levels of xanthophyll addition decreased IL-1β mRNA in the liver and jejunum, IL-6 mRNA in the liver, IFN-γ mRNA in the jejunum and LITAF mRNA in the liver compared to the control group. Expt 2 was a 2 × 2 factorial design. Male chicks hatched from 0 or 40 mg/kg xanthophyll diet of hens were fed a diet containing either 0 or 40 mg/kg xanthophylls. The liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum were collected at 0, 7, 14 and 21 d after hatching. The results showed that in ovo xanthophylls decreased proinflammatory cytokine expression (IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ and LITAF) in the liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum and increased anti-inflammatory cytokine expression (IL-4 and IL-10) in the liver, jejunum and ileum mainly at 0-7 d after hatching. In ovo effects gradually vanished and dietary effects began to work during 1-2 weeks after hatching. Dietary xanthophylls modulated proinflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ) in the liver, duodenum, jejunum and ileum and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) in the liver and jejunum mainly from 2 weeks onwards. In conclusion, xanthophylls could regulate proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in different tissues of hens and chicks.
authors.affiliation: College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural University, Guangzhou              510642, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yu-Yun
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Qing-Mei
authors.initials: QM
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Bao-Li
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.forename: Feng
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jing-Yun
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Ma
authors.forename: Ying-Zuo
authors.initials: YZ
authors.lastname: Bi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002645:Chickens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016207:Cytokines / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D005260:Female; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D060888:Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction; D024341:Xanthophylls / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D024341:Xanthophylls