Curcumin Alleviates IUGR Jejunum Damage by Increasing Antioxidant Capacity through Nrf2/Keap1 Pathway in Growing Pigs

Area of Science:

• Animal Science
• Gastroenterology
• Nutritional Biochemistry

Background:

• Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) leads to jejunum damage in piglets, impacting gut health and development.
• Oxidative stress and inflammation are key contributors to IUGR-induced intestinal injury.
• Curcumin, a natural compound, possesses known antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic effects of dietary curcumin on jejunum damage in IUGR piglets.
• To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms, including the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, involved in curcumin's action.

Main Methods:

• 24 IUGR and 12 normal-birth weight (NBW) piglets were divided into IUGR, NBW, and IUGR + Curcumin (200 mg/kg) groups.
• Diets were supplemented with curcumin from 26 to 115 days of age.
• Jejunum tissues were analyzed for antioxidant enzyme activity (T-SOD, MDA), gene expression (Nrf2, GCLC, SOD1, GCLM, NQO1, TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ, IL-2, caspase3, bax, bcl2, hsp70, ocln) via real-time PCR, and protein levels (Nrf2, NQO1) via Western blot.

Main Results:

• Curcumin significantly increased jejunum T-SOD activity and decreased MDA content in IUGR pigs.
• Curcumin upregulated the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, increasing Nrf2, GCLC, SOD1, GCLM, and NQO1 expression.
• Curcumin reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IFNγ) and apoptosis-related proteins (caspase3, bax), while increasing anti-apoptotic protein (bcl2) and occludin expression.

Conclusions:

• Dietary curcumin (200 mg/kg) effectively alleviates jejunum damage in IUGR growing pigs.
• The protective effects are mediated through the Nrf2/Keap1 pathway, enhancing antioxidant defense and reducing inflammation and apoptosis.
• Curcumin demonstrates potential as a nutritional strategy to improve gut health in IUGR piglets.