Pig jejunum protein profile changes in response to a porcine epidemic diarrhea virus challenge1

Abstract

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) negatively impacts the gastrointestinal tract, which results in high mortalities in suckling piglets and reduced growth performance in older pigs. Therefore, our objective was to determine the effect of PEDV infection on the protein profile of the jejunum using 2D-differential in gel electrophoresis (DIGE). Sixteen gilts (n = 8/treatment; 16.7 +/- 0.98 kg BW) were gastrically inoculated with PEDV (PED) or saline (CON). After 7 d of infection, pigs were euthanized, whole jejunum was collected, and proteins were analyzed using 2D-DIGE. PEDV infection resulted in severe jejunum villus atrophy and attenuated villi to crypt ratios compared to CON pigs. Compared to CON, relative abundance of 141 protein spots was significantly different (P < 0.05) in PEDV infected jejunum. Compared to the CON, the PED pigs exhibited a 21% increase in the apoptosis marker Annexin A5 (P = 0.036), 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein (11%, P < 0.01), prolyl 4-hydroxylase beta polypeptide (7%, P = 0.040), and the intermediate metabolism enzyme l-lactate dehydrogenase B chain (13%, P < 0.001). PED infection resulted in a 15% decrease of the structural proteins tubulin and alpha-and beta-actin compared to the CON (P < 0.05). The immune signal transducer, TNF-receptor associated factor 6, was also decreased (23%, P < 0.05) in PED pigs. Altogether, these proteomic data on jejunum indicate that PEDV alters several intestinal proteins involved in cell migration, proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, and structure, as well as immune response.