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Zheng J, Zhou Y, Zhang D, Ma K, Gong Y, Luo X, Liu J, Cui S. Intestinal melatonin levels and gut microbiota homeostasis are independent of the pineal gland in pigs. Front Microbiol 2024; 15:1352586. [PMID: 38596375 PMCID: PMC11003461 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2024.1352586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Melatonin (MEL) is a crucial neuroendocrine hormone primarily produced by the pineal gland. Pinealectomy (PINX) has been performed on an endogenous MEL deficiency model to investigate the functions of pineal MEL and its relationship with various diseases. However, the effect of PINX on the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) MEL levels and gut microbiome in pigs has not been previously reported. Methods By using a newly established pig PINX model, we detected the levels of MEL in the GIT by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. In addition, we examined the effects of PINX on the expression of MEL synthesis enzymes, intestinal histomorphology, and the intestinal barrier. Furthermore, 16S rRNA sequencing was performed to analyze the colonic microbiome. Results PINX reduced serum MEL levels but did not affect GIT MEL levels. Conversely, MEL supplementation increased MEL levels in the GIT and intestinal contents. Neither PINX nor MEL supplementation had any effect on weight gain, organ coefficient, serum biochemical indexes, or MEL synthetase arylalkylamine N-acetyltransferase (AANAT) expression in the duodenum, ileum, and colon. Furthermore, no significant differences were observed in the intestinal morphology or intestinal mucosal barrier function due to the treatments. Additionally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed that PINX had no significant impact on the composition of the intestinal microbiota. Nevertheless, MEL supplementation decreased the abundance of Fibrobacterota and increased the abundance of Actinobacteriota, Desulfobacterota, and Chloroflexi. Conclusion We demonstrated that synthesis of MEL in the GIT is independent of the pineal gland. PINX had no influence on intestinal MEL level and microbiota composition in pigs, while exogenous MEL alters the structure of the gut microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Zheng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yewen Zhou
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Di Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Kezhe Ma
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Yuneng Gong
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
| | - Xuan Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Jiali Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Animal Biotech Breeding, College of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural University, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Cui
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Jiangsu Co-Innovation Center for Prevention and Control of Important Animal Infectious Diseases and Zoonoses, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
- Institute of Reproduction and Metabolism, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China
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Effect of melatonin on T/B cell activation and immune regulation in pinealectomy mice. Life Sci 2019; 242:117191. [PMID: 31863775 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2019.117191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2019] [Revised: 12/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Melatonin is an indole neuroendocrine hormone that is mainly secreted by the pineal gland to regulate circadian rhythm, antioxidation, and immune regulation. Melatonin plays an important role in T cell-mediated immune responses against cancer, infections, and the development of many autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunomodulatory effects of melatonin on T/B cell activation in pinealectomy mice. The improved pinealectomy procedure for mice presented in this study is a good animal model to be used in follow-up studies on melatonin. After pinealectomy, the tissue removed was identified as the pineal body using HE staining. The effects of melatonin supplementation on T cell activation and activation-related changes to the MAPK/NF-κ B pathways were analyzed by flow cytometry and real-time PCR. We found that expression levels of Th1, Th2 and Th17-related cytokines in peripheral blood were lower in mice that had undergone pinealectomy, compared with normal mice. After melatonin supplementation, cytokine levels rapidly increased within a short period of time, which resulted in the gradual recovery of cytokine expression levels. Moreover, activation of T/B cells in mice was weakened and decreased after pineal gland removal. Melatonin was found to inhibit the expression of TLR3, p38, JNK, and MAPK/NF-κ B within a short period (2 weeks) of melatonin replenishment. This inhibition gradually weakened with time, since the degree of inhibition is negatively related with the dosage of melatonin. In conclusion, melatonin may regulate the activation of T/B cells, playing a critical role in the regulation of immune balance.
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