摘要：
Background: The limited bioavailability of free phytosterols restricts their clinical application in managing hypercholesterolemia. This study aimed to develop phytosterol nanoparticles (PNs) to enhance bioactivity and investigate their cholesterol-lowering efficacy and underlying mechanisms in vivo. Methods: Phytosterol nanoparticles (PNs) (93.35 nm) were engineered using soy protein isolate and administered orally at concentrations of 4.00-12.50 mg/mL to high-fat-diet-induced hypercholesterolemic mice (n = 60) over a 4-week period. Serum and hepatic lipid profiles, histopathology, gene/protein expression related to cholesterol metabolism, and fecal sterol content were evaluated. Results: PNs dose-dependently reduced serum total cholesterol (TC: 28.6-36.8%), triglycerides (TG: 22.4-30.1%), and LDL-C (31.2-39.5%), while increasing HDL-C by 18.7-23.4% compared to hyperlipidemic controls (p < 0.01). Hepatic TC and TG accumulation decreased by 34.2% and 41.7%, respectively, at the highest dose, with histopathology confirming attenuated fatty degeneration. Mechanistically, PNs simultaneously suppressed cholesterol synthesis through downregulating HMGCR (3.2-fold) and SREBP2 (2.8-fold), while enhancing cholesterol catabolism via CYP7A1 upregulation (2.1-fold) at protein level. Although less potent than simvastatin (p < 0.05), the nanoparticles exhibited unique dual-pathway modulation absent in conventional phytosterol formulations. Fecal analysis revealed dose-responsive cholesterol excretion (36.01 vs. 11.79 mg/g in controls), indicating enhanced enteric elimination. While slightly less potent than simvastatin (p < 0.05), PNs offered unique dual-pathway modulation absent in conventional phytosterol formulations. Conclusions: Nano-encapsulation significantly improves the bioavailability and hypocholesterolemic efficacy of phytosterols. PNs represent a promising nutraceutical strategy for cholesterol management by concurrently regulating cholesterol synthesis and catabolism, with potential application in both preventive and therapeutic contexts.
通讯机构：
[Zhu, AX ] 6;68 South Xufu Rd, Wuhan, Hubei, Peoples R China.
关键词：
Cationic liposome-embedded squalene adjuvant;Immune;Piglets;Porcine circovirus type 2 vaccine
摘要：
Cationic liposome-embedded squalene (CLS) is a promising adjuvant that enhances antigen stability and mobility and improves immune response. This study compares the efficacy of a CLS-adjuvant porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine (CSV) with a conventional vaccine against PCV2. The CSV vaccine showed superior stability and was effective against PCV2-induced growth decline. It significantly increased serum immunoglobulin and cytokine levels, reduced serum PCV2 DNA, shortened the duration of viremia, and provided robust protection. CSV outperformed conventional vaccines, highlighting its potential for innovative vaccine development.
Cationic liposome-embedded squalene (CLS) is a promising adjuvant that enhances antigen stability and mobility and improves immune response. This study compares the efficacy of a CLS-adjuvant porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) vaccine (CSV) with a conventional vaccine against PCV2. The CSV vaccine showed superior stability and was effective against PCV2-induced growth decline. It significantly increased serum immunoglobulin and cytokine levels, reduced serum PCV2 DNA, shortened the duration of viremia, and provided robust protection. CSV outperformed conventional vaccines, highlighting its potential for innovative vaccine development.
关键词：
Suckling Piglet;Weaning Piglet;Creep Feed;Creep Feed Types;Growth Performance;Intestinal Development
摘要：
<jats:p>Objective: This study aimed to determine the effects of soft pellet creep feed (SPCF) on growth performance and intestinal development in piglets.Methods: A total of 18 sows and their litters of crossbred piglets (14±2 days, 3.73±0.72 kg) were assigned to one of three dietary groups receiving i) powder creep feed (PCF), ii) hard pellet creep feed (HPCF) or iii) SPCF during the pre-weaning period. After weaning, piglets were selected for continuous evaluation of the three diets on growth performance and intestinal health.Results: In the pre-weaning period, the average daily feed intake and average daily dry matter intake were significantly higher in the SPCF group than the HPCF group (p<0.05). In the post-weaning and entire experimental period, the different diets had no significant effect on growth performance. At 10 d after weaning, the serum glucose concentration was lower in the SPCF group (p<0.05) than the other groups; a higher (p<0.05) villus height and lower (p<0.05) crypt depth in the jejunum were also observed in the SPCF group than the other groups; Meanwhile, in the duodenum and jejunum, the SPCF group had a higher (p<0.05) villus height to crypt depth ratio than the other groups; Furthermore, the higher (p<0.05) threshold cycle values of lactic acid bacteria and lower (p<0.05) threshold cycle values of <i>Clostridium, Enterobacter and Escherichia coli</i> were also observed in the SPCF group, and the sucrase and maltase activity was higher (p<0.05) in the SPCF group than the other groups in duodenum and ileum.Conclusion: The SPCF improved pre-weaning feed intake and decreased the negative effects of weaning stress in the intestine in piglets.</jats:p>
关键词：
Carbohydrate oxidation impairment;Flaxseed oil;Muscle atrophy;Protein kinase B/Forkhead box O signalling pathways;Toll-like receptor 4/nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain protein signalling pathway
摘要：
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Flaxseed oil is rich in α-linolenic acid (ALA), which is the metabolic precursor of EPA and DHA. The present study investigated the effect of flaxseed oil supplementation on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced muscle atrophy and carbohydrate oxidation impairment in a piglet model. Twenty-four weaned pigs were used in a 2 × 2 factorial experiment including dietary treatment (5 % maize oil<jats:italic>v</jats:italic>. 5 % flaxseed oil) and LPS challenge (saline<jats:italic>v</jats:italic>. LPS). On day 21 of treatment, the pigs were injected intraperitoneally with 100 μg/kg body weight LPS or sterile saline. At 4 h after injection, blood, gastrocnemius muscle and longissimus dorsi muscle were collected. Flaxseed oil supplementation increased ALA, EPA, total<jats:italic>n</jats:italic>-3 PUFA contents, protein:DNA ratio and pyruvate dehydrogenase complex quantity in muscles (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>< 0·05). In addition, flaxseed oil reduced mRNA expression of toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and nucleotide-binding oligomerisation domain protein (NOD) 2 and their downstream signalling molecules in muscles and decreased plasma concentrations of TNF-<jats:italic>α</jats:italic>, IL-6 and IL-8, and mRNA expression of TNF-<jats:italic>α</jats:italic>, IL-1<jats:italic>β</jats:italic>and IL-6 (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>< 0·05). Moreover, flaxseed oil inclusion increased the ratios of phosphorylated protein kinase B (Akt) 1:total Akt1 and phosphorylated Forkhead box O (FOXO) 1:total FOXO1 and reduced mRNA expression of FOXO1, muscle RING finger (MuRF) 1 and pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase 4 in muscles (<jats:italic>P</jats:italic>< 0·05). These results suggest that flaxseed oil might have a positive effect on alleviating muscle protein loss and carbohydrates oxidation impairment induced by LPS challenge through regulation of the TLR4/NOD and Akt/FOXO signalling pathways.</jats:p>
