Integrated Proteomics and Metabolomics Analysis Reveals Potential Pathways Underlying Onion-Mediated Regulation of Spleen Immune Function in Liangshan Black Sheep
by
, ,
Zengwen Huang
1,2,
Jing Wang
1,
Zhiqiu Huang
1,
Gang Lv
2,
Hehua Wang
1,
Chaoyun Yang
1,*,
Shengwang Jiang
1,
Guiying Hao
1,3 and
Yi Zhang
1,4,* 1
Xichang University, Xichang 615000, China
2
Xinjiang Taikun Group Co., Ltd., Changji 831100, China
3
Panxi Laboratory of Animal Epidemic Disease Detection and Control of Sichuan, Xichang 615000, China
4
Key Laboratory of Local Characteristic Goats, Xichang University, Xichang 615000, China
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(5), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13050486
Submission received: 19 March 2026
/
Revised: 6 May 2026
/
Accepted: 14 May 2026
/
Published: 17 May 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nutritional Strategies to Improve Animal Health and Immunity)
Simple Summary
Feed additives improve livestock immunity, but their molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This study integrated proteomics and metabolomics to explore how fermented onion (FO) enhances splenic immunity in Liangshan Black Sheep. FO supplementation increased antioxidant and immune indices. Multi-omics revealed differential protein and metabolite profiles, highlighting calcium signaling and purine metabolism as core pathways, with F2R, adenosine, and hypoxanthine as key mediators. These findings support FO as a promising immunomodulatory feed additive.
Abstract
Feed additives play a crucial role in boosting livestock immunity, but their underlying molecular mechanisms are often incompletely understood. This study used integrated proteomics and metabolomics to systematically investigate the immunomodulatory effects of dietary fermented onion (FO) on the spleen of Liangshan Black Sheep. Results showed that FO supplementation significantly improved systemic antioxidant capacity and immune function, indicated by a higher spleen index and increased serum concentrations of SOD, MCP-1, and IL-2 (p < 0.05). Multi-omics profiling of spleen tissues identified 169 differentially expressed proteins and 168 differential metabolites. Integrated pathway enrichment revealed calcium signaling and purine metabolism as potential core regulatory hubs for the observed immunomodulation. This molecular remodeling correlated with key molecules including protein F2R and metabolites adenosine and hypoxanthine, which may form a coordinated regulatory network. Overall, our findings suggest potential pathways linking dietary FO supplementation to enhanced splenic immune function in Liangshan Black Sheep, likely via synergistic regulation of specific signaling pathways. This work supports FO as a promising functional feed additive and provides a molecular framework for developing novel immunomodulatory strategies in livestock production.
Keywords:
onion; Liangshan black sheep; spleen immunity; proteomics; metabolomics
