title: Developmental expression of STATs, nuclear factor-κB and inflammatory genes in the jejunum of piglets during weaning.
abstract: The signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) proteins play essential roles in apoptosis, proliferation and survival. However, the role of STATs in intestinal inflammation during weaning is unclear. This study aimed to investigate developmental expression of STATs, 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 STAT-3 was increased. However, the phosphorylation of STAT-1 (at 7 and 14d) and STAT-6 (at 1 and 7d) was suppressed in the jejunum after weaning. Treatment of porcine jejunal epithelial (IPEC-J2) cells with the STAT inhibitors fludarabine, niclosamide and teriflunomide, which inhibit the phosphorylation of STAT-1, STAT-3 and STAT-6, 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 STAT-3 pathways and suppression of STAT-1 and STAT-6 in the jejunum of piglets.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
authors.forename: Hongbo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yi
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
authors.forename: Denghu
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
authors.forename: Haitao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Xiong
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China.
authors.forename: Feifei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Han
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, Department of Animal Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province 310058, China. Electronic address: yzwang321@zju.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yizhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001119:Arginase / Q000378:metabolism; D002460:Cell Line; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D007249:Inflammation / Q000235:genetics*; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000276:immunology*; D007583:Jejunum / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt / Q000378:metabolism; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D015398:Signal Transduction; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D013552:Swine; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D050794:STAT1 Transcription Factor; D050796:STAT3 Transcription Factor; D050800:STAT6 Transcription Factor; D000071223:Suppressor of Cytokine Signaling 3 Protein; D051057:Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt; D001119:Arginase
keywords: Inflammation; Jejunum; Nuclear factor-κB; Piglet; STATs; Weaning