A microencapsulated feed additive containing organic acids and botanicals has a distinct effect on proliferative and metabolic related signaling in the jejunum and ileum of broiler chickens

Authors: Johnson, Casey; ARSENAULT, RYAN - University Of Delaware; PIVA, ANDREA - University Of Bologna; GRILLI, ESTER - University Of Bologna; Swaggerty, Christina - Christi

Submitted to: Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/10/2023
Publication Date: 3/22/2023
Citation: Johnson, C.N., Arsenault, R.J., Piva, A., Grilli, E., Swaggerty, C.L. 2023. A microencapsulated feed additive containing organic acids and botanicals has a distinct effect on proliferative and metabolic related signaling in the jejunum and ileum of broiler chickens. Frontiers in Physiology. 14. Article 1147483. https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1147483.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2023.1147483

Interpretive Summary: Natural feed additives have the potential to provide many of the beneficial growth and health promoting effects of in-feed antibiotics. These in-feed alternatives to antibiotics are most beneficial when designed to be delivered to the small intestine and have ingredients that provide a variety of positive effects on the host. Here, we describe how a product designed to be delivered to the small intestine effects the immune and metabolic functions of different parts of the gut of broiler chickens. Analysis of the immune and metabolic effects of the product were conducted on jejunum and ileum tissue samples from broiler chickens fed either a diet containing the product or a control diet. This analysis allows a detailed evaluation of cellular processes occurring in each tissue which provides insight into the immune and metabolic functions occurring at the tissue level. Detailed analysis revealed that in the ileum there was a broad increase in pro-inflammatory immune activation and glycolysis. These responses were largely decreased in the jejunum relative to control birds. Gene expression analysis is in agreement with the kinome data showing strong immune gene expression in the ileum and reduced expression in the jejunum. The product elicited a more anti-inflammatory response in the jejunum while resulting in enhanced pro-inflammatory and glycolytic responses in the ileum.

Technical Abstract: Well designed and formulated natural feed additives have the potential to provide many of the growth promoting and disease mitigating characteristics of in-feed antibiotics. The most advanced of these in-feed alternatives to antibiotics are designed to have a targeted effect on specific areas of the gut and have ingredients that elicit a variety of positive effects on the host. Here, we describe the mechanism of action of a microencapsulated feed additive containing organic acids and botanicals on the jejunum and ileum of broiler chickens. Chicken-specific kinome peptide array analysis was conducted on jejunum and ileum tissue samples from broiler chickens fed either a diet containing a microencapsulated blend of organic acids and botanicals or a non-supplemented diet (control). Detailed analysis of peptides representing individual kinase target sites revealed that in the ileum there was a broad increase in the signal transduction pathways centering on activation of HIF-1a, AMPK, mTOR, PI3K-Akt and NF'B. These signaling responses were largely decreased in the jejunum relative to control birds. Gene expression analysis is in agreement with the kinome data showing strong immune gene expression in the ileum and reduced expression in the jejunum. The microencapsulated blend of organic acids and botanicals elicit a more anti-inflammatory phenotype and reduced signaling in the jejunum while resulting in enhanced immunometabolic responses in the ileum.