Effect of dietary yeast β‐glucan on immune development in neonatal piglets

Abstract

Purified yeast (1,3/1,6)‐β‐D‐glucan (βG) is a biological response modifier meaning that it does not have direct cytotoxic activities, but is able to boost host defense mechanisms. Herein, the hypothesis that dietary βG would modulate the intestinal and systemic immune development was tested. Piglets (n=5–6/group) were fed formula containing 0 (control), 1.8, 18 or 90 mg βG/kg body weight. Piglets were euthanized at 7 and 21 days of age. Ileal Peyer's Patches (IPP), spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) and ascending colon (ASC) were collected for analysis. Piglet weight, formula intake and small intestinal length and weight were unaffected by dietary βG. In addition, dectin (a receptor for βG), IL‐10, IL‐12 and TNF‐α mRNA expression in IPP, spleen, MLN and ASC were unaffected by age or dietary βG. T‐cell phenotypes (CD45+CD3+CD4+ and CD45+CD3+CD8+) were examined in IPP, spleen, MLN, and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) by flow cytometry. No differences in IPP or MLN T‐cells were observed. Spleen and PBMC T‐cells showed an interaction between age and dietary βG. Thus, dietary βG had little effect on intestinal mucosal immune development in neonatal piglets. (Supported by Abbott Nutrition)