Weaning diet induces sustained metabolic phenotype shift in the pig and influences host response to Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818.
BACKGROUND
The process of weaning causes a major shift in intestinal microbiota and is a critical period for developing appropriate immune responses in young mammals.


OBJECTIVE
To use a new systems approach to provide an overview of host metabolism and the developing immune system in response to nutritional intervention around the weaning period.


METHODS
Piglets (n=14) were weaned onto either an egg-based or soya-based diet at 3 weeks until 7 weeks, when all piglets were switched onto a fish-based diet. Half the animals on each weaning diet received Bifidobacterium lactis NCC2818 supplementation from weaning onwards. Immunoglobulin production from immunologically relevant intestinal sites was quantified and the urinary (1)H NMR metabolic profile was obtained from each animal at post mortem (11 weeks).


RESULTS
Different weaning diets induced divergent and sustained shifts in the metabolic phenotype, which resulted in the alteration of urinary gut microbial co-metabolites, even after 4 weeks of dietary standardisation. B lactis NCC2818 supplementation affected the systemic metabolism of the different weaning diet groups over and above the effects of diet. Additionally, production of gut mucosa-associated IgA and IgM was found to depend upon the weaning diet and on B lactis NCC2818 supplementation.


CONCLUSIONS
The correlation of urinary (1)H NMR metabolic profile with mucosal immunoglobulin production was demonstrated, thus confirming the value of this multi-platform approach in uncovering non-invasive biomarkers of immunity. This has clear potential for translation into human healthcare with the development of urine testing as a means of assessing mucosal immune status. This might lead to early diagnosis of intestinal dysbiosis and with subsequent intervention, arrest disease development. This system enhances our overall understanding of pathologies under supra-organismal control.
Biomolecular Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, Sir Alexander Fleming Building, Imperial College Road, London SW7 2AZ, UK.
Claire Alexandra
CA
Merrifield
Marie Claire
MC
Lewis
Sandrine Paule
SP
Claus
Jake Thomas Midwinter
JT
Pearce
Olivier
O
Cloarec
Swantje
S
Duncker
Silke Sophie
SS
Heinzmann
Marc-Emmanuel
ME
Dumas
Sunil
S
Kochhar
Serge
S
Rezzi
Annick
A
Mercenier
Jeremy Kirk
JK
Nicholson
Mick
M
Bailey
Elaine
E
Holmes
D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D001644:Bifidobacterium; D004032:Diet; D004531:Eggs; D007070:Immunoglobulin A / Q000097:blood; D007075:Immunoglobulin M / Q000097:blood; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology*; D007422:Intestines / Q000382:microbiology; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D055442:Metabolome; D010641:Phenotype; D019936:Probiotics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D013025:Glycine max; D013552:Swine; D014886:Weaning
D007070:Immunoglobulin A; D007075:Immunoglobulin M