Publikationsdatenbank

Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 supplementation affects intestinal immune-associated gene expression in post-weaning piglets (2014)

Art

Zeitschriftenartikel / wissenschaftlicher Beitrag

Autoren

Siepert, Bianca (WE 7)

Reinhardt, Nicole

Kreuzer, Susanne

Bondzio, Angelika (WE 3)

Twardziok, Sven

Brockmann, Gudrun

Nöckler, Karsten

Szabó, Istvan

Janczyk, Pawel

Pieper, Robert (WE 4)

Tedin, Karsten (WE 7)

Quelle

Veterinary immunology and immunopathology; 157(1/2) — S. 65–77

ISSN: 0165-2427

Sprache

Englisch

Verweise

DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2013.10.013

Pubmed: 24246154

Kontakt

Institut für Veterinär-Biochemie

Oertzenweg 19 b
14163 Berlin
+49 30 838 62225
biochemie@vetmed.fu-berlin.de

Abstract / Zusammenfassung

In a Salmonella challenge study of weaned piglets supplemented with the probiotic Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 (SF68), we observed a delayed, post-infection proliferative response of purified blood mononuclear cell fractions towards Salmonella antigens. In order to clarify this observation, we examined the patterns of immune-associated gene expression in long-term feeding trials of both pre- and post-weaning piglets. Piglets supplemented with E. faecium NCIMB 10415 showed a post-weaning dysregulation in the expression patterns of both pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in intestinal tissues and spleen. Piglets of the supplemented group showed significantly reduced levels of IL-8, IL-10 and the co-stimulatory molecule CD86 mRNA expression in ileal Peyer's patches. The expression of CTLA4, an inhibitor of T-cell activation/proliferation, showed similar levels of expression in all tissues examined, particularly in ileal Peyer's patches post-weaning where IL-8, IL-10 and CD86 transcript levels were significantly reduced relative to control animals. Blood serum cytokine protein levels showed elevated TGFβ in pre-weaning piglets which, together with IL-6, may have suppressed IFNγ production in the probiotic-fed animals. In a second Salmonella challenge study, post-weaning, E. faecium-fed animals showed significantly elevated levels of IL-8 gene expression in mesenteric lymph nodes, but reduced levels in the spleen. At early times post-infection, the probiotic-fed group showed similar levels of IL-10, CD86 and CTLA4 mRNA expression as the control animals in intestinal Peyer's Patches, despite high relative levels of IL-8 expression in mesenteric lymph nodes. The sum of the observations suggests that supplementation of pre-weaning piglets with E. faecium affects intestinal immune-associated gene expression, which is aggravated post-weaning when the animals receive increased levels of the probiotic in feed. We suggest the post-weaning reductions in gene expression may delay the host response to infections, and provide pathogenic bacteria such as Salmonella with a "window of opportunity", leading to the increased bacterial loads and shedding observed in challenge trials. Possible mechanisms explaining these effects of E. faecium NCIMB 10415 are discussed.