A dose-response trial of lactoferrin intervention on gene expression profile in postnatal piglets
Year: 2016
Type: article
Abstract: Background/Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate the doseresponse effect of lactoferrin (Lf) intervention on gene expression in the hippocampus of postnatal piglets during neurodevelopment.Methods: Fifty-one 3-day-old piglets were randomly allocated into a high (H) Lf dose group (n ¼ 18), a low (L) Lf dose group (n ¼ 17) and a control (C) group (n ¼ 16).Piglets were fed sow milk replacer supplemented with Lf at 285 mg/kg/d (H), 155 mg/kg/d (L) and 16 mg/kg/day (C).Piglets were euthanized at 38 days of age.RNA transcript profiling in the hippocampus was carried out using RNA isolated from 10 piglets/gp on Porcine Affymetrix.A TaqMan ® Gene expression assay based on qPCR was used to validate the microarray findings.The results were analyzed using the Partek Genomics Suite 6.5 software and Ingenuity System.Results: Low-dose Lf activated neurotrophin signalling pathways and modulated expression of genes associated with neurodevelopment, learning & memory, including BDNF, FGFR, IRS1 and CAMKK1.Functional analysis showed network signalling impacted brain development, neuron structure and long-term potentiation.In contrast, piglets on the high dose of Lf showed no effect on neurotrophin signalling but an increase in gene expression and signalling pathways leading to cell death/apoptosis and decreased neurogenesis.Conclusions: Low-dose Lf supplementation up-regulated neurotrophin signalling pathways associated with neurodevelopment and cognition, a finding in contrast to piglets on a high dose of Lf.The molecular mechanism(s) underling this paradoxical finding remains under study.
Authors: Y. Chen, Y. Shi, F.A. Troy, B. Wang
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,850
OpenAlex ID: W2341984220