Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2025
Two-dimensional Porcine Intestinal Organoids Reflecting the Physiological Properties of Native Gut
Published on: January 31, 2025
Bile Acid Metabolic Profiles and Their Correlation with Intestinal Epithelial Cell Proliferation and Barrier
Min Zhu1, Chong Lin2, Kaimin Niu2
1Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China.
Insights
Bile acids (BAs) significantly increase in suckling piglets, promoting intestinal cell growth by upregulating TGR5 and downregulating FXR. This highlights BAs
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Metabolomics
- Neonatal Physiology
Background:
- Bile acids (BAs) are vital for intestinal homeostasis, but their role in neonatal pig intestinal development is not fully understood.
- Changes in BA profiles and their impact on intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) after birth require further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize BA profiles in newborn and suckling piglets.
- To investigate the effects of BAs on IEC proliferation and barrier integrity.
- To explore the underlying molecular mechanisms involving BA receptors.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of serum biochemistry and BA content in newborn and suckling piglets.
- Measurement of BA synthase (CYP27A1) and receptor (TGR5, FXR) expression in ileum.
- Assessment of IEC proliferation marker (Ki-67) and barrier integrity marker (occludin) expression.
- Spearman correlation analysis to determine relationships between BAs, receptors, and markers.
Main Results:
- Suckling piglets showed increased serum triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, albumin, and total BA content compared to newborns.
- Ileal expression of BA synthase CYP27A1 and BA receptor TGR5, along with proliferation marker Ki-67, were upregulated in suckling piglets.
- Expression of BA receptor FXR and barrier integrity marker occludin were downregulated in suckling piglets.
- Strong positive correlations were observed between TGR5/Ki-67 and FXR/occludin, and between total serum BAs and these markers.
Conclusions:
- Increased BA synthesis and metabolism in suckling piglets may promote IEC proliferation and influence barrier function.
- Upregulation of TGR5 and downregulation of FXR by BAs appear to be key mechanisms in neonatal pig intestinal development.
- This study provides novel insights into the critical role of bile acids and their receptors in regulating intestinal maturation in neonatal pigs.
Abstract:
Bile acids (BAs) are crucial for maintaining intestinal epithelial homeostasis. However, the metabolic changes in BAs and the communication between intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) in infants after birth remain unclear. This study aims to elucidate the BA profiles of newborn piglets (NPs) and suckling piglets (SPs), and to investigate their regulatory effects on IEC proliferation and barrier integrity, as well as the potential underlying mechanisms. In this study, compared with NPs, there were significant increases in serum triglycerides, total cholesterol, glucose, and albumin levels for SPs. The total serum BA content in SPs exhibited an obvious increase. Moreover, the expression of BA synthase cytochrome P450 27A1 (CYP27A1) was increased, and the ileal BA receptor Takeda G-coupled protein receptor 5 (TGR5) and proliferation marker Ki-67 were upregulated and showed a strong positive correlation through a Spearman correlation analysis, whereas the expression of farnesoid X receptor (FXR) and occludin was markedly downregulated in SPs and also revealed a strong positive correlation. These findings indicate that the increased synthesis and metabolism of BAs may upregulate TGR5 and downregulate FXR to promote IEC proliferation and influence barrier function; this offers a fresh perspective and evidence for the role of BAs and BA receptors in regulating intestinal development in neonatal pigs.
