Dataset Information

Early-Life Intervention with Lactobacillus reuteri Enhances Intestinal2 Barrier Function and Resilience in Suckling Piglets via Modulation of3 Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

ABSTRACT: Early-life nutritional interventions are pivotal for promoting piglet growth and health, particularly in reducing weaning-associated disorders. This study investigated the effects of early-life Lactobacillus reuteri (L.reuteri) supplementation on growth performance, immune function, intestinal morphology, gut microbiota, ileal metabolites, and barrier function in suckling piglets. Neonatal piglets were administered L.reuteri for either 3 or 7 days post-birth. Results indicated that L.reuteri supplementation significantly increased weaning weight and average daily gain (ADG) while markedly reducing diarrhea incidence. Immune and antioxidant capacities were enhanced, evidenced by elevated serum and ileal IgG, IL-4, IL-10, T-SOD, T-AOC, and GSH-Px levels, alongside decreased pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α) and MDA. Histological analysis revealed improved intestinal architecture, characterized by increased ileal villus height and reduced crypt depth. 16S rRNA sequencing and metabolomic analyses showed that L.reuteri reshaped the gut microbiota by expanding beneficial Lactobacillus species and suppressing potential pathogens (Streptococcus, Pasteurellaceae), while modulating ileal metabolites involved in amino acid and energy metabolism. Multi-omics integration highlighted coordinated interactions between microbial composition and metabolites linked to improved health outcomes. Furthermore, the expression of tight junction proteins (Occludin, Claudin-3, ZO-1) and mucins (MUC-1, MUC-2) was significantly upregulated, indicating strengthened intestinal barrier integrity. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that early-life intervention with L.reuteri confers comprehensive benefits on suckling piglet health through immune enhancement, antioxidant protection, microbiota remodeling, metabolic regulation, and barrier reinforcement, supporting its potential as a practical strategy to improve early-life resilience and mitigate weaning-associated disorders in swine production.

INSTRUMENT(S): Liquid Chromatography MS - negative - reverse-phase, Liquid Chromatography MS - positive - reverse-phase

PROVIDER: MTBLS14164 | MetaboLights | 2026-03-27

REPOSITORIES: MetaboLights

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			Action	DRS
	a_MTBLS14164_LC-MS_negative_reverse-phase.txt	Txt
	a_MTBLS14164_LC-MS_positive_reverse-phase.txt	Txt
	i_Investigation.txt	Txt
	m_MTBLS14164_LC-MS_negative_reverse-phase_v2_maf.tsv	Tabular
	m_MTBLS14164_LC-MS_positive_reverse-phase_v2_maf.tsv	Tabular

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Project description:Development of immune competence in pigs is important for resilience, disease resistance, and performance later in life. Dietary interventions in early life can contribute to immune system development. Use of model dietary interventions, such as diets with a high concentration of zinc, can contribute to the understanding of the interactions between the diet, the intestinal microbiota and intestinal tissues. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of provision of a diet with a high concentration of zinc (Zn, 2690 mg/kg), as model intervention, as compared to provision of a control diet with a regular Zn concentration (100 mg/kg) during a period of nine days during the post weaning period (d 14-23 post weaning (pw)), on the composition of the intestinal microbiota and gene expression in the intestinal mucosa on d 23 and 35 pw (12 d after the termination of the Zn intervention). Whole genome gene expression analysis of the jejunal and ileal mucosa revealed a small overall time-treatment interaction effect at d 23 pw in both intestinal tissues. In both jejunal and ileal mucosa various genes/probes were differentially up or down regulated between treatments. In intestinal tissue samples obtained on d 35 no differences in gene expression were observed. Probes of d 23 pw that were differently expressed and had an annotation were subsequently used as input for further functional analysis using DAVID and Gene Decks databases. The analysis did not result in the identification of gene sets that were differentially expressed between dietary treatments. However, it was shown that a number of upregulated genes in the jejunal mucosa on d 23 pw by the high zinc intervention are involved in pathways related to mineral absorption, immune signalling and cell energy metabolism (glycolysis and gluconeogenesis). A few down regulated genes by the Zn intervention are also involved in immune signalling pathways. It was concluded from the present study that provision of a diet with a high concentration of zinc as zinc oxide during a short period of time (9 days) to piglets in the post weaning period (d 14-23 pw) induces differences on the intestinal expression of genes in part related to the functioning of the local innate immune system. The high dietary zinc intervention can therefore be considered as a suitable model for studying relationships between dietary interventions and development of immune competence in post weaning piglets.

Project description:BACKGROUND: Dietary intervention has been reported to improve intestinal health. The intestinal microbiota of newborn animals plays a fundamental role in the development of intestinal function and the innate immune system. However, little is currently known about dietary interventions in the gut microbiota and barrier function of livestock, especially suckling Bamei piglets. To this end, we studied the effect of early dietary supplementation on intestinal bacterial communities and intestinal barrier function in piglets.RESULTS: 10 purebred Bamei sows were randomly allocated into two groups. In group one, the piglets received a supplementary milk replacer on day 7 of age, whereas the other control group was allowed sow’s milk alone. At 21 days, 18 and 17, respectively, piglets in each group of average weight were randomly selected and sacrificed. Tissue and digesta samples were collected from the jejunum to evaluate differences in the microbiome-metabolome and the mRNA expression of inflammatory cytokines (TLR4, TNFα and IL-8) and barrier proteins (ZO-1, Occludin and Claudin-1). Sequencing of 16S rRNA revealed that ES improved the gut microbiome composition of Bamei suckling piglets. The relative abundances of some bacterial species such as Lactobacillales, Romboutsia, Actinobacillus, Bacteroides were significantly reduced in the ES group. Metabolomics analysis indicated that 23 compounds were enriched and 35 compounds decreased in the ES group. And correlation analysis demonstrated that some gut bacterial genera were highly correlated with altered gut microbiota-related metabolites. Meanwhile, ES of Bamei suckling piglets altered the gene expression of inflammatory cytokine and barrier protein in the jejunum.CONCLUSIONS: In summary, these results provide important insights on the relationships between jejunal microbiota and related metabolites, and jejunal barrier function during the early life of Bamei suckling piglets.

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Early-Life Intervention with Lactobacillus reuteri Enhances Intestinal2 Barrier Function and Resilience in Suckling Piglets via Modulation of3 Gut Microbiota and Metabolites

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