TDK conference 2017

In our research two feed supplements used in swine and poultry nutrition were tested: Immunofort, a substance containing organic acids to acidify drinking water and beta-glucan which is a polysaccharide from yeast cell walls, were used in two different concentrations. Beta-glucan binds to cell-surface receptors, and by a cascade-activation stimulates the production of cytokines, by which it results in increasing the local and humoral immune activity. Immunofort alongside the short-chained organic acids also contains amino-acids, phosphoric acid and salts of zinc and copper. Those acids help to create a balanced bacterial flora in the guts, and by increasing the immune-activity responses to vaccinations also improve. Our experiment was conducted on IPEC-J2 porcine jejunal enterocyte cell culture.

In our experiment we tested the relative expression of three cytochrome genes: CYP1A1, CYP1A2 and CYP3A29 by PCR method. According to the results, the low concentration of drinking water acidifier increased the expression of CYP1A1 gene by a small extent, and high concentrations by large extent. The other genes remained unaffected. The beta-glucan treatments have not had an effect on the expression of the tested genes. It is important, because concomitant use of these preparations with drugs can be safe under farm conditions, they do not interact on the CYP enzymes.

In another experiment we used bacterial lipopolysaccharide to induce inflammation, and it was given simultaneously our test substances. We tested the viability of the cells and the expression of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha and HSP70 genes. The viability of the cells has not been significantly reduced by any of the treatments. During the transepithelial resistance (TER) measurement; the LPS given alongside with the treating substances resulted in lower TER values. The co-administration of beta-glucan, and LPS decreased the gene expression of TNF-alpha and HSP70, IL-6 levels had not shown any change, the levels of IL-8 were higher than in case of only LPS treatment. TNF-alpha and HSP70 down regulated, as result of treatment with the water acidifier, in case of IL-8 low concentration of Immunofort in combination with LPS resulted in decreased levels, however at high concentration the gene expression increased. IL-6 was not affected by any of the treatments.

Generally, based on the results of the experiment it could be said that the use of both beta-glucan and Immunofort had decreased the levels of certain inflammatory markers at the swine jejunal cell culture that we have used. Hereinafter it would be advisable to carry out further measurements, both on other tissue types and on live animals to better understand the mechanism of action of these substances.