Abstract
Intestinal epithelial cells continuously migrate and mature along crypt-villus axis (CVA), while the changes in energy metabolism during maturation are unclear in neonates. The present study was conducted to test the hypothesis that the energy metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells would be changed during maturation along CVA in neonates. Eight 21-day-old suckling piglets were used. Intestinal epithelial cells were isolated sequentially along CVA, and proteomics was used to analyze the changes in proteins expression in epithelial cells along CVA. The identified differentially expressed proteins were mainly involved in cellular process, metabolic process, biological regulation, pigmentation, multicellular organizational process and so on. The energy metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells of piglets was increased from the bottom of crypt to the top of villi. Moreover, the expression of proteins related to the metabolism of glucose, most of amino acids, and fatty acids was increased in intestinal epithelial cells during maturation along CVA, while the expression of proteins related to glutamine metabolism was decreased from crypt to villus tip. The expression of proteins involved in citrate cycle was also increased intestinal epithelial cells during maturation along CVA. Moreover, dietary supplementation with different energy sources had different effects on intestinal structure of weaned piglets.
Highlights
Of epithelial cells along the crypt-villus axis (CVA) ensures the functions of small intestine[7]
It was reported that the metabolism of glucose, fatty acid, and amino acid might be changed in villi compared with crypt[11,12]
The capacity of intestinal epithelial cells in L-glutamate, L-glutamine, and glucose uptake increased during maturation along CVA in piglets[19,23]
Summary
The intestinal epithelial cells undergo continual renewal that involves highly coordinated processes of cellular proliferation, differentiation, migration, and apoptosis along CVA22. The mRNA expression of genes and the activities of enzymes related to glycolysis in jejunal epithelial cells were increased from the bottom of crypt to the tip of villi These results indicated that the catabolism of glucose in intestinal epithelial cells of neonatal animals were increased during maturation along CVA. The results of the present experiment showed that the expression of proteins involved in β-oxidation were increased in intestinal epithelial cells during maturation along CVA in piglets. Consistent with the increase in glucose, amino acids, and fatty acids metabolism in intestinal epithelial cells during maturation along CVA, the expression of proteins involved in citrate cycle increased from the bottom of crypt to the top of villi in jejunum of piglets. These results will provide potential methods to use energy sources to regulate intestinal morphology and functions
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