title: Phytosterols improve immunity and exert anti-inflammatory activity in weaned piglets.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Phytosterols (PS), plant-derived natural steroid compounds, are novel feed additives to regulate immune function and promote pig growth. This study was conducted to determine the effects of PS on the immune response of weaned piglets.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred and twenty crossbred (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) piglets with an average initial weight of 9.58 ± 0.26 kg were randomly allotted to three treatments. Treatments consisted of a control, PS (0.2 g kg-1) and polymyxin E (0.04 g kg-1, antibiotic control) treatment. The results showed that PS or polymyxin E supplementation remarkably decreased diarrhea rate and elevated CD3+CD4+/CD3+CD8+ratio in piglets compared with the control (P < 0.05). PS increased basophil and serum interleukin-4, and caused a shift towards Th2 profile by decreasing Th1/Th2 ratios in piglets compared with control (P < 0.05). Polymyxin E contributed to an increase in interleukin-10 compared with the control (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in the amount of Lactobacillus, Bifidobacterium or Escherichia coli of jejunum among the three treatments (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that PS supplementation has no significant effect on growth but could remarkably decrease diarrhea rate, and improve immunity and anti-inflammatory activity in weaned piglets. In addition, PS supplementation had similar effects on growth, anti-inflammation and intestinal microorganisms as supplementation with polymyxin E in piglets. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Qiaoling
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhao
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhuo
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Shenglin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Yiwei
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Animal Nutrition and Feed Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, PR China.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Feng
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D019587:Dietary Supplements / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D007109:Immunity; D016753:Interleukin-10 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D007422:Intestines / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D010840:Phytosterols / Q000032:analysis / Q000276:immunology*; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development / Q000276:immunology*; D014886:Weaning
chemical_list: D010840:Phytosterols; D016753:Interleukin-10; D015847:Interleukin-4
keywords: anti-inflammatory activity; growth; immunity; phytosterols; weaned piglets