Weaning differentially affects mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis in normal and low birth weight piglets

Weaning is associated with increased occurrence of infections and diseases in piglets. Recent findings indicate that weaning induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress conditions that more severely impact smaller piglets. The objective of this study was to characterize the molecular mech...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:PloS one 2021-02, Vol.16 (2), p.e0247188-e0247188
Main Authors: Novais, Aliny K, Deschêne, Karine, Martel-Kennes, Yan, Roy, Caroline, Laforest, Jean-Paul, Lessard, Martin, Matte, J Jacques, Lapointe, Jerome
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age
Agribusiness
Agricultural production
Agriculture
Animals
Antibiotics
Apoptosis
Biology and Life Sciences
Birth weight
Birth weight, Low
Cell death
Energy metabolism
Feeds
Females
Food
Gender
Health aspects
Health promotion
Hogs
Infancy
Infants
Inflammation
Intestine
Laboratory animals
Lactation
Low birth weight
Males
Medicine and Health Sciences
Metabolism
Methodology
Mitochondria
Oxidative metabolism
Oxidative stress
Physiological aspects
Physiology
R&D
Research & development
Swine
Weaning
Zinc oxides
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Summary:Weaning is associated with increased occurrence of infections and diseases in piglets. Recent findings indicate that weaning induces mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress conditions that more severely impact smaller piglets. The objective of this study was to characterize the molecular mechanisms underlying these physiological consequences and the relation with systemic inflammatory status in both normal and low birth weight (NBW and LBW) piglets throughout the peri-weaning period. To conduct the study, 30 sows were inseminated, and specific piglets from their litters were assigned to one of two experimental groups: NBW (n = 60, 1.73 ± 0.01 kg,) and LBW piglets weighing less than 1.2 kg (n = 60, 1.01 ± 0.01 kg). Then, 10 piglets from each group were selected at 14, 21 (weaning), 23, 25, 29 and 35 days of age to collect organ and plasma samples. Specific porcine RT2 Profiler™ PCR Arrays related to mitochondrial function, oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptosis processes were first used to target genes that are modulated after weaning in NBW piglets (d 23 and d 35 vs. d 14). Expression of selected genes was evaluated by quantitative PCR. These analyses revealed that expression of inflammatory genes CXCL10 and CCL19 increased after weaning in intestinal mucosa, while expression of genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial respiratory chain was downregulated in liver and kidney of both groups. Interestingly, major modulators of mitophagy (BNIP3), cell survival (BCL2A1) and antioxidant defense system (TXNRD2, GPx3, HMOX1) were found to be highly expressed in NBW piglets. The systemic levels of TNF-α and IL1-β significantly increased following weaning and were higher in NBW piglets. These results provide novel information about the molecular origin of mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress observed in weaned piglets and suggest that clearance of dysfunctional mitochondria, antioxidant defenses and inflammatory response are compromised in LBW piglets.
ISSN:1932-6203
1932-6203
DOI:10.1371/journal.pone.0247188