Dietary Lycopene Supplementation Could Alleviate Aflatoxin B1 Induced Intestinal Damage through Improving Immune Function and Anti-Oxidant Capacity in Broilers.

Md Touhiduzzaman Sarker,Zhiyue Wang,Haiming Yang,Xiaoli Wan

doi:10.3390/ani11113165

Md Touhiduzzaman Sarker, Zhiyue Wang + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11113165

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Abstract

Simple SummaryAflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common and devastating food-borne fungal toxic in the broiler industry. AFB1 has adverse effects on the world poultry industry as it impairs the health, performance, intestinal integrity, and immunity of broilers. There has been a great economic concern in the global poultry production, leading to billions of dollars loss every year due to AFB1. Antibiotic-free broiler production relies on feed supplementation as an alternative to antibiotic usage. We previously reported that dietary supplementation with lycopene (LYC) has shown a promising effect on performance and intestinal integrity in the broilers infected with AFB1. However, there are few reports on the effects of LYC on the intestinal development and antioxidant capacity in the broiler against AFB1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of LYC supplementation on the intestinal immune function, barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of broilers fed with an AFB1 contaminated diet. The findings of this research highlighted that the diet supplemented with LYC has a potential effect to improve intestinal health and reduce AFB1 related oxidative and inflammatory status. Hence, this study suggested that addition of LYC in broiler poultry production alleviates the AFB1 toxicity.The present study aims to evaluate the effects of lycopene (LYC) supplementation on the intestinal immune function, barrier function, and antioxidant capacity of broilers fed with aflatoxinB1 (AFB1) contaminated diet. A total of 144 one-day-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into three dietary treatment groups; each group consisted of six replicates (eight birds in each cage). Treatments were: (1) a basal diet containing neither AFB1 nor LYC (Control), (2) basal diet containing 100 µg/kg AFB1, and (3) basal diets with 100 µg/kg AFB1 and 200 mg/kg LYC (AFB1 and LYC). The results showed that dietary LYC supplementation ameliorated the AFB1 induced broiler intestinal changes by decreasing the inflammatory cytokines interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interleukin 1beta (IL-1β), and increasing mRNA abundances of cludin-1 (CLDN-1) and zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1) in the jejunum mucosa. On the other hand, AFB1-induced increases in serum diamine oxidase (DAO) activities, D-lactate concentration, mucosal malondialdehyde (MDA), and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) concentrations were reversed by dietary LYC supplementation (p < 0.05). Additionally, LYC supplementation ameliorated the redox balance through increasing the antioxidant enzyme activities and their related mRNA expression abundances compared to AFB1 exposed broilers. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with LYC could alleviate AFB1 induced broiler intestinal immune function and barrier function damage and improve antioxidants status.

Highlights

The small intestine is a physiological and mechanical barrier consisting of intestinal epithelial and tight junction proteins
As oxidative stress has a significant impact on the Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) toxicity mechanism, adding antioxidants to animals’ diets increased their antioxidant and immunity system, protecting them against AFB1 toxicity [8,9,10]
In our previous study we reported that dietary supplementation with lycopene (LYC) has shown a promising effect on growth performance and intestinal integrity in the broilers infected with AFB1 [35]

Summary

Introduction

The small intestine is a physiological and mechanical barrier consisting of intestinal epithelial and tight junction proteins. It is essential for protecting the gut organs from pathogens, toxins, and other potentially hazardous substances, and forms a structure to preserve the intestinal epithelial and barrier function [1]. Are affected by Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ), more translocation of bacteria and toxins will take place, resulting in increased oxidative response and a state of inflammation. It enhances the generation of free radicals, prolongs oxidative damage, and leads to cell damage and, animal death [6,7]. As oxidative stress has a significant impact on the AFB1 toxicity mechanism, adding antioxidants (e.g., lycopene and curcumin) to animals’ diets increased their antioxidant and immunity system, protecting them against AFB1 toxicity [8,9,10]

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