Dietary Tryptophan Enhanced the Expression of Tight Junction Protein ZO‐1 in Intestine

• Published in: Journal of food science 2017-02, Vol.82 (2), p.562-567
• Main Authors: Liu, Wenhui, Mi, Shumei, Ruan, Zheng, Li, Jing, Shu, Xugang, Yao, Kang, Jiang, Min, Deng, Zeyuan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Amino acids; Animal Feed; Animals; Body Weight; Claudin-3 - metabolism; Diet; Dietary Supplements; Diets; Endotoxins - chemistry; Finishing; Food processing; Food science; intestinal permeability; Intestines; Intestines - metabolism; Mathematical models; Permeability; Proteins; Random Allocation; RNA, Messenger - metabolism; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Small intestine; Swine; tight junction; Tight Junctions - metabolism; Tryptophan; Tryptophan - chemistry; Zonula Occludens-1 Protein - metabolism; zonula occluden‐1
• ISSN: 0022-1147; 1750-3841
• DOI: 10.1111/1750-3841.13603

Dietary amino acids provide various beneficial effects for our health. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of tryptophan (Trp) supplementation on barrier function. Ninety‐six healthy finishing pigs (initial body weight 51.49 ± 1.12 kg) were randomly allocated into 2 treatment groups, control group, and 0.2% Trp group. The control group was fed the basal diet, and 0.2% Trp group was fed basal diet plus 0.2% Trp. The trial period is 60 d. Compared with control group, the mRNA abundance of claudin‐3 and zonula occluden‐1 (ZO‐1) in the jejunum in 0.2% Trp group (P < 0.05) was increased. According to immunohistochemistry and immunoblotting test, the expression of ZO‐1 in jejunum in 0.2% Trp group was also significantly increased compared with the control group (P < 0.05). These results revealed that Trp enhanced the expression of tight junction protein ZO‐1 in the intestine of pig model. Trp may be potential and beneficial dietary functional factor for regulating the intestinal development and inhibiting intestinal aging. Practical  Application The work has beneficial for intestinal health, such as promoting the gut development and inhibiting intestinal aging for the aged. The research has direct commercial application for amino acids supplementation or prebiotics.