Search Results (167)

Skeletal muscle satellite cells are indispensable for muscle growth and regeneration, and their myogenic differentiation is precisely controlled by transcription factors. As a core member of the TEAD family, TEAD4 participates in various biological processes, yet its function and regulatory mechanism in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells (PSCs) remain largely unknown. High-purity PSCs were isolated and identified from 7-day-old Large White piglets. Combined approaches of siRNA-mediated TEAD4 knockdown, RT-qPCR, Western blotting, immunofluorescence, EdU assays, and transcriptome sequencing were applied to explore the role of TEAD4 during myogenic differentiation. TEAD4 expression was gradually upregulated during PSC differentiation and positively correlated with myogenic marker genes. Knockdown of TEAD4 did not affect PSC proliferation but significantly suppressed myogenic differentiation, as indicated by reduced expression of myogenic genes and blocked myotube formation. Transcriptomic analysis demonstrated that DEGs were highly enriched in metabolic pathways, particularly the AMPK signaling pathway. TEAD4 knockdown led to excessive upregulation of PRKAG3 and prominent induction of SLC2A4. Collectively, these results indicate that TEAD4 promotes myogenic differentiation in PSCs, likely by maintaining metabolic homeostasis. This study provides the first characterization of TEAD4 in porcine skeletal muscle satellite cells and demonstrates that it promotes myogenic differentiation. Full article

Pork production is closely linked to skeletal muscle growth and anabolic processes. This study investigated the effects of dietary supplementation with a multi-strain probiotic (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, Streptococcus thermophilus, and Bacillus subtilis) on the growth performance, carcass traits, gut microbiota, and potential signaling pathways in growing pigs. A total of 144 weaning piglets (28 days old) were randomly allocated to two groups and fed diets with or without probiotics (0.1%) for 18 weeks. Pigs fed with probiotics showed significantly improved feed efficiency (p < 0.05) and greater muscle mass in the loin eye, arm shoulder, and blade shoulder regions. Microbiome analysis revealed significant enrichment of short-chain fatty acid (SCFA)-producing taxa, including Acidaminococcus, Allisonella, Dialister, and Megasphaera, alongside an increased cecal butyrate level in pigs fed probiotics. Integrated fecal microbiome and serum metabolomics analysis demonstrated that the metabolite profile was substantially altered by the supplementation of probiotics. Additionally, serum insulin levels, expression of the bile acid receptor tgr5, and upstream genes in the PI3K/Akt/mTOR pathway (igf1r, insr, and pi3k) were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). Collectively, these results suggest that a multi-strain probiotic supplementation may be a promising strategy for improving muscle deposition and feed efficiency in commercial pig production. Full article

To unravel the genetic basis of economically critical reproductive traits in swine, we genotyped 839 sows from three commercial breeds (Duroc, Landrace, Yorkshire) using the Porcine Breeding Chip_plus 50K SNP array, and analyzed three key traits: total number born (TNB), number born alive (NBA), and number of healthy piglets (NHP). We integrated principal component analysis (PCA) for population structure, runs of homozygosity (ROH) detection, genome-wide association studies (GWAS), and GO/KEGG enrichment analysis. Phenotypically, Yorkshire sows exhibited superior and persistent reproductive capacity across parities 1–7 (peak TNB: 14.17 ± 2.82 at parity 4 based on N ≥ 3 data), Duroc sows had limited data with only parity 1 available (TNB: 9.44 ± 2.13), and Landrace sows showed moderate to high performance across parities 1–4 and 7, with peak TNB at parity 4 (17.08 ± 4.61). ROH analysis further revealed that short ROH fragments (1–5 Mb) were the most abundant category across breeds, while the majority of detected ROH were under 10 Mb in length. GWAS identified significant SNPs concentrated on chromosomes 1 and 2, and annotated candidate genes including AMH (ovarian reserve), IZUMO4 (embryo implantation), ACSBG2 (steroid synthesis), RFX2 (follicular maturation), and DOT1L (embryonic development). GO/KEGG enrichment highlighted pathways such as “histone methyltransferase activity” and “fatty acid biosynthesis”, which are critical for reproductive processes. This study clarifies breed-specific reproductive patterns and identifies key genetic loci/genes for porcine reproductive traits, providing molecular markers and a theoretical basis for improving swine reproductive performance via molecular breeding. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes lethal enteritis in neonatal piglets, yet the mechanisms underlying rapid intestinal injury remain unclear. In particular, it is unknown whether different regulated cell death pathways act separately or cooperatively to worsen mucosal damage. To address this question, we performed multi-omics analyses of infected intestinal tissues and found concurrent activation of pyroptosis and ferroptosis during PEDV infection. PEDV infection activated the Caspa-se-1/GSDMD pathway in the duodenum and jejunum, as shown by generation of the Caspase-1 p20 fragment and cleavage of GSDMD into its active N-terminal form, indicating pyroptosis. At the same time, infected tissues displayed key features of ferroptosis, including weakened antioxidant defenses, increased lipid peroxidation, iron accumulation, lipid remodeling, and dysregulated ACSL4 and GPX4 expression. These two processes were closely linked and together contributed to tight junction disruption and barrier instability. Molecular docking further suggested that PEDV NSP1 and S proteins may interact with Caspase-1, providing a possible explanation for pyroptosis induction. Correlation analysis also showed strong associations between pyroptosis-related genes and ferroptosis-associated metabolites. Overall, our findings indicate that pyroptosis and ferroptosis cooperate to drive PEDV-induced intestinal inflammation and barrier damage, highlighting their joint inhibition as a potential strategy to reduce PEDV pathogenicity. Full article

In this experiment, we used a late 17th century embalming protocol for the long-term preservation (7.2 years) of an infant-sized piglet in order to evaluate the success of this technique over a period of several years. According to the description of the French anatomist Penicher (published in 1699), an 8.8 kg female piglet corpse was treated with a broad spectrum of herbs, seeds, leaves, flowers and dried berries, along with an alcohol-based fluid following subtotal exenteration and a reduction in peripheral muscle mass. The further process of this dry embalming technique was monitored by visual, tactile and olfactory evaluation of the embalmed body, along with a record of the body weight. Repeatedly taking samples from the skin and soft tissues provided insight into eventual changes on a histomorphological level and two whole-body CT scans complemented the evaluation of the internal changes within the corpse, which was eventually examined at autopsy. On the macroscopic level, we recorded slight signs of autolysis and very mild putrefaction within the first few weeks and a very well preserved and stable body over the subsequent years of evaluation. In parallel, we noted a gradual loss of fluid, as shown by a reduction in the body weight. This occurred faster in the first year (reduction in body weight by ca. 25%) than in the following ca. 4 years (with another ca. 25% loss of body weight). The CT scans showed stable osseous and soft tissue structures, while the few remaining internal organs that had been left inside the body after initial evisceration (such as kidneys and internal genitalia) had already completely disappeared after approx. 1 year. On the histological level, the histoanatomy of skin, subcutis and muscle remained intact over the entire observation period. A loss of epidermal cell nuclei was not noted before day 1772 and there were only slight signs of adipocire formation of fat tissue at the end point of observation (day 2634). In summary, we can confirm that excellent body preservation of external skin and soft tissue was maintained over a considerably long period (in this case, 7.2 years) using the applied protocol of dry embalming, but a complete loss of residual internal organs/structures beyond skin, subcutaneous fat tissue and muscle. Previous observations of the excellent preservation of an infant mummy that underwent the dry embalming procedure are very plausible. Full article

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) causes acute diarrhea, dehydration and death in piglets, resulting in significant economic losses in the pig industry. It is crucial to identify the pathogenesis and mechanism between host–PEDV interactions. In our study, we performed transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses in PEDV-infected Large White (LW) pigs. PEDV infection caused blunted and fused intestinal villi, necrosis of the intestinal mucosal epithelial cells and atrophy of intestinal glands. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed 692 differentially expressed genes and 1485 differential metabolites, respectively. Among them, differentially expressed genes were enriched in virion assembly, lipoprotein metabolic process and PPAR signaling pathway. Differential metabolites were enriched in primary bile acid biosynthesis and lipoic acid metabolism. An integrated analysis of the transcriptome and metabolome revealed that differentially expressed genes and metabolites were co-enriched in steroid hormone biosynthesis and bile secretion. In addition, key metabolites Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and Estriol in steroid hormone biosynthesis both inhibited PEDV infection and alleviated the excessive inflammatory response in vitro. Collectively, our study constructed a multi-omics landscape of PEDV infection in LW pigs, providing potential targets for developing metabolic-targeted antiviral interventions. Full article

Background: Transmissible gastroenteritis virus (TGEV) is a highly pathogenic porcine coronavirus that causes severe gastrointestinal damage in piglets. However, how TGEV affects host iron homeostasis, oxidative stress, and the ferroptosis process remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the effects of TGEV infection on cellular iron metabolism, oxidative damage, and lipid peroxidation-mediated ferroptosis, as well as to evaluate the potential therapeutic role of retinoic acid (RA). Methods: Using an intestinal epithelial cell model of TGEV infection, we assessed key regulators of iron handling, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis. The expression of ferroportin (FPN) and ferritin (FTH/L) and the activity of the p62–NRF2–GPX4/HO-1 antioxidant axis were analyzed, and the effects of exogenous RA treatment on these endpoints were examined. Results: TGEV infection disrupted cellular iron homeostasis by downregulating the expression of ferroportin (FPN) and ferritin (FTH/L), leading to the accumulation of intracellular free iron, which in turn induced the generation of a large amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and ultimately triggered ferroptosis in intestinal epithelial cells. Additionally, TGEV infection significantly inhibited the p62-NRF2-GPX4/HO-1 antioxidant signaling pathway, further exacerbating the ferroptosis process. Conclusions: This study reveals that ferroptosis is a key pathological mechanism in TGEV-induced intestinal injury and demonstrates that RA exerts a therapeutic effect by regulating iron metabolism and activating the p62-NRF2-GPX4/HO-1 signaling pathway. These findings provide new theoretical insights for potential intervention strategies targeting virus infection-associated ferroptosis and intestinal damage. Full article

In the intensive livestock farming industry, weaned piglets are highly prone to renal injury triggered by weaning stress, pathogen infection, and antibiotic abuse. This injury induces metabolic disorders and immunosuppression, severely restricting production efficiency. As a natural pentacyclic triterpene, betulinic acid (BA) exhibits notable biological activities, particularly in anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. However, its preventive potential against renal injury in piglets and the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. In this study, BA was administered as a long-term dietary pretreatment prior to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge to evaluate its protective role in a preventive model of renal inflammatory injury in weaned piglets. BA pretreatment significantly mitigated pathological lesions, including renal tubular epithelial cell shedding and interstitial congestion, reduced the renal index, and decreased the concentrations of renal injury markers and serum UREA. In addition, BA pretreatment mitigated the renal oxidative stress and inflammatory injury induced by LPS in piglets. Molecular analyses showed that BA pretreatment was associated with decreased expression of key markers involved in apoptosis, necroptosis, and pyroptosis in renal tissue. Furthermore, protein–protein interaction analysis suggested potential associations between the HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway and PANoptosis-related processes, providing exploratory and hypothesis-generating support for the proposed regulatory network. Collectively, these findings suggest that dietary BA pretreatment exerts a preventive effect against LPS-induced renal inflammatory injury in weaned piglets, potentially through modulation of HMGB1/TLR4/NF-κB-associated PANoptosis-related pathways, providing a theoretical basis for its application in livestock production. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a common mycotoxin in cereal crops such as corn, wheat, and their processed products. It can cause feed refusal and growth retardation in piglets. This study systematically evaluated the effects of dietary exposure to purified DON at low doses of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 mg/kg on growth performance, blood biochemistry, antioxidant capacity, immune function, intestinal health, and reproductive development in female weaned piglets over a 42-day period. Although dietary exposure to 0.25–2.0 mg/kg of DON did not significantly affect growth performance, it induced subclinical multi-organ toxicity. Notably, decreased platelet count (PLT) at 0.25–2.0 mg/kg and increased serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) activity at 2.0 mg/kg were observed. DON exposure also impaired antioxidant function with reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) at 0.25–2.0 mg/kg, and elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) content in the jejunum and ileum at 0.5–2.0 mg/kg. Furthermore, at all doses tested (0.25–2.0 mg/kg), DON suppressed anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10 (IL-10) levels in both serum and intestine, reduced duodenal villus height (VH), and decreased serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels. Additionally, histopathological injuries of liver, kidney, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, uterus and ovaries were also observed at doses of 1.0–2.0 mg/kg. In summary, this study confirms the multi-organ toxicity of low-dose DON in piglets. Our findings suggest that DON concentrations in pig feed should be more strictly controlled and highlight the importance of considering subclinical health endpoints, such as oxidative stress markers and immune parameters, in future risk assessments of mycotoxin exposure. Full article

Growth stagnation or weight loss is prevalent in weaned piglets, with post-weaning diarrhea severely compromising intestinal health, underscoring the criticality of intestinal structural integrity for preventing digestive disorders. Tight junction proteins (TJPs), core components of intestinal intercellular junctions, play indispensable roles in maintaining barrier function, nutrient absorption, and intestinal homeostasis by regulating paracellular permeability and mediating immune defense-related signaling pathways. Dysregulated TJP expression disrupts these processes and impairs piglet growth performance. Despite recent progress in characterizing TJP-mediated regulation of intestinal health in weaned piglets, key knowledge gaps remain regarding the specific regulatory mechanisms by which distinct TJP subtypes modulate intestinal microbiota–immune crosstalk. Future research should prioritize elucidating the effects of nutritional interventions on TJP expression and intestinal health, as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying TJP involvement in intestinal diseases. These efforts will provide theoretical support for developing novel feed additives and nutritional strategies to improve weaned piglet health. Full article

Deoxynivalenol (DON, commonly known as vomitoxin) is one of the most prevalent mycotoxins contaminating feed in China, posing a serious threat to the health of piglets. Beyond intestinal damage, the liver is a key target organ for the systemic toxicity of DON, but its hepatotoxic molecular mechanisms, particularly the changes at the proteome level, remain unclear. To investigate the protein regulatory network of DON-induced liver injury in piglets, this study systematically analyzed differential expression in the liver proteome using quantitative proteomic techniques. Proteomic analysis identified 5851 proteins in total, among which 88 were differentially expressed proteins (DEPs), including 39 upregulated and 49 downregulated proteins. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that these DEPs were significantly enriched in pathways such as DNA damage repair, RNA metabolism, ribosome biogenesis, and cysteine metabolism. Suppressed expression of key proteins like Replication Factor C Subunit 4 (RFC4) and Exosome Component 9 (EXOSC9) indicated that DON exposure severely disrupted the maintenance of genomic stability and RNA processing capacity in hepatocytes. Conversely, the activation of Nucleic Acid Binding Protein 1 (NABP1) might represent a compensatory DNA protection response. Furthermore, the upregulation of Lactate Dehydrogenase B (LDHB) suggested that DON might influence epigenetic modifications by regulating lactate metabolism. This study reveals, for the first time from a proteomic perspective, a novel mechanism by which DON induces hepatotoxicity in piglets by disrupting DNA repair and RNA metabolic homeostasis, providing an important theoretical basis and data support for elucidating the toxicological effects of DON and improving feed biosafety control strategies. Full article

Weaning is known to induce oxidative stress and dysregulated inflammatory responses, thus damaging performance growth. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of dulcitol (Dul) on the growth performance and gut health of weaned piglets using multi-omics technologies. Two groups (n = 6, 6 pigs per replicate) of piglets (28 days old, BW, 8.91 ± 0.18 kg) were randomly assigned to receive either a basal diet supplemented with Dul (500 mg/kg) or without it for a period of 28 days. The findings indicated that the addition of Dul to the diet improved growth performance and had positive effects on antioxidant and anti-inflammatory statuses in weaned piglets (p < 0.05). Dul also strengthened intestinal barrier integrity via decreased diamine oxidase and D-lactate and elevated tight junction proteins (i.e., ZO-1, CLDN, and OCLN, p < 0.05). Multi-omics analyses demonstrated that Dul induced modifications in colonic protein expression associated with oxidative stress and glucose metabolism, altered linoleic acid metabolic pathways, and restructured the gut microbiota. This restructuring was characterized by a decreased prevalence of genera linked to inflammation and oxidative stress, including Proteobacteria, Prevotella, and Prevotellaceae_NK3B31_group. Collectively, the findings indicate that Dul promotes intestinal wellness and growth in weaned piglets through intricate interactions between gut microbiota and host metabolic processes. Full article

This study quantified mercury (Hg) levels in the body hair of domestic and wild animals in four Brazilian states, Paraná, Mato Grosso do Sul, Goiás, and Minas Gerais, by analyzing 169 samples from sows, piglets, free-range pigs, and wild animals. The highest mean Hg concentration (274.93 ± 48.14 µg/kg) was found in wild animals in the Pantanal (MSSilvestre, Mato Grosso do Sul), followed by Minas Gerais (245.09 ± 40.27 µg/kg) and Paraná (193.0 ± 42.45 µg/kg). Levels at the GO, MGM, MSLiv, and PRV sites were significantly lower (p ≤ 0.05), according to the Scott–Knott test. Statistical analysis using ANOVA indicated significant variation in Hg levels between locations (F = 2.36; p ≤ 0.05), with homogeneity of variance (Levene’s test, p = 0.1772). Animals raised in confinement had lower levels than wild animals, which, due to extensive movement and contact with diverse environments, exhibited greater bioaccumulation. Lactating sows showed greater sensitivity than piglets, demonstrating an effect of animal category on metal absorption. The main sources of mercury are anthropogenic activities, such as mining and industrial processes, responsible for the environmental release of the metal. Although the detected levels do not pose an immediate risk to animal health or meat quality, they highlight the need for continuous monitoring, given mercury’s ability to bioaccumulate and affect ecosystems and food security. This work contributes to the understanding of environmental exposure to mercury in Brazil, reinforcing the urgency of effective mitigation strategies to preserve biodiversity and public health. Full article

The growing consumption of oilseed-pressed cakes (OSCs), a largely underutilized feedstock, plays a significant role in animal feed. The study evaluates the use of three OSCs—flax (FSC), pumpkin (PSC), and hemp (HSC)—as substrates for Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6051a (BS) in a solid-state fermentation (SSF) to enhance enzyme production and probiotic viability. The SSF process was assessed to evaluate the microbial growth, sporulation efficiency, enzymatic activity (protease, cellulase, xylanase, and phytase), and in vitro digestibility of fermented substrates. The results indicate that bacterial growth and sporulation varied significantly among substrates (p < 0.05). FSC presents the highest spore resistance (86.52%), followed by PSC (82.87%) and HSC (81.29%). Notably, protease was highest in HSC (184.67 U/g), while FSC supported maximum cellulase activity. HSC exhibited superior xylanase (1.86 ± 0.043 U/g DW, p < 0.05) and phytase production, while pH analysis indicated a shift toward alkalinity in PSC and HSC due to proteolytic activity. FSC maintained the most stable bacterial population during digestion, suggesting its potential as a probiotic carrier. These findings highlight that fermentation of OSCs with BS improved their nutritional value and can be used as a sustainable solution in feeding programs for piglets. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of combining load–close–homogenize (LCH), test and removal (T&R), and rollover strategies for PRRSV elimination in breeding herds using PRRSV-positive weaned gilts. Here, a novel strategy was explored for PRRSV elimination from more than 1500 weaned gilts, and we documented the process from PRRSV natural infection to elimination at the herd level. With LCH implementation, the herd achieved PRRSV-positive stability within 8 months. Consequently, by rolling in self-breeding PRRSV-naive gilts to replace PRRSV-positive weaned sows batch by batch, the time from being positive stable to negative was 13 months. A PRRSV-positive farm intending to retain its genes in its repopulate farrow to become a finished breeding farm can initiate PRRSV elimination from its weaned gilts; this will result in the first farrowing batch of piglets aged 8–10 weeks becoming PRRSV-negative after 8 months of herd closure. This approach offers a viable pathway for genetic retention and PRRSV elimination in breeding farms. Full article