Effects of Intravenous Infusion With Sodium Butyrate on Colonic Microbiota, Intestinal Development- and Mucosal Immune-Related Gene Expression in Normal Growing Pigs.

Xue Chen,Yong Su,Weiyun Zhu,Jumei Xu

doi:10.3389/fmicb.2018.01652

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate effects of intravenous infusion with sodium butyrate (SB) on colonic microbiota, intestinal mucosal immune and intestinal development in normal growing pigs. Twelve crossbred barrows (Duroc × Landrace × Large White) fitted with a medical polyethylene cannula via internal jugular vein were daily infused with 10 ml SB (200 mmol/l) or the same volume of physiological saline for 7 days. Results showed that SB infusion had no effects on the short-chain fatty acids concentrations and the number of total bacteria, but significantly increased the microbial richness estimators (ACE and Chao1), and the abundance of genera related to Clostridiales order in the colonic digesta (P < 0.05). SB infusion significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in the colon, while no change was found in the ileum. Only the relative mRNA of pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-6 gene was decreased significantly in the ileum by SB infusion. On the contrary, in the colon, SB infusion significantly decreased the gene expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1) and pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-18, IL-12p40, and TNF-α (P < 0.05), but significantly increased the secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentration, the gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10, and the expression of intestinal development-related gene zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), occludin, and epidermal growth factor (EGF) (P < 0.05). The results suggest that systemic SB can modify colonic microbial composition, regulate the inflammatory cytokine- and intestinal development-related gene expression in pigs under the normal physiological condition. This study may provide an alternative strategy for improving the intestinal health of normal piglets.

Highlights

Microbes in the intestine degrade a variety of plant polysaccharides and other dietary substances (Ley et al, 2008)
The present study showed that sodium butyrate (SB) infusion increased the gene expression of monocarboxylate transporters monocarboxylate transporter 1 (MCT1) in the colon, whereas no change was found in the ileum
The present study showed that parenteral butyrate significantly down-regulated the gene expression of histone deacetylase 1 (HDAC1), inhibited the gene expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-18, TNF-α, and IL-12p40 in the colon, which is consistent with the previous studies through gut intervention with SB (Xiong et al, 2016)

Summary

Introduction

Microbes in the intestine degrade a variety of plant polysaccharides and other dietary substances (Ley et al, 2008). This enhances host digestive efficiency, and provides energy source for the microbes (Duncan et al, 2007). Butyrate has shown to be related with several beneficial effects on gut health because it can be quickly absorbed by the epithelial cells of the terminal ileum and large intestine, especially in the colon, and provides energy for the epithelial cells to stimulate the epithelial cells proliferation, differentiation, and maturation, and reduce cell apoptosis (Cummings and Macfarlane, 1997). Little information is available on the impact of parenteral butyrate on gut microbiota and their subsequent role in host gut health

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