Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers

Abstract Background Intestinal oxidative stress serves as an endogenous host defense against the gut microbiota by increasing energy expenditure and therefore decreasing feed efficiency (FE). Several systems coordinately regulate redox balance, including the mitochondrial respiratory chain, nicotina...

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Main Authors: Hongfeng Jiang, Genghui Li, Xue Yang, Xiaohua Feng, Penglin Li, Huisi Yang, Demin Cai, Qingyan Jiang, Gang Shu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-02-01
Series:Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01163-3
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author Hongfeng Jiang
Genghui Li
Xue Yang
Xiaohua Feng
Penglin Li
Huisi Yang
Demin Cai
Qingyan Jiang
Gang Shu
author_facet Hongfeng Jiang
Genghui Li
Xue Yang
Xiaohua Feng
Penglin Li
Huisi Yang
Demin Cai
Qingyan Jiang
Gang Shu
author_sort Hongfeng Jiang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Intestinal oxidative stress serves as an endogenous host defense against the gut microbiota by increasing energy expenditure and therefore decreasing feed efficiency (FE). Several systems coordinately regulate redox balance, including the mitochondrial respiratory chain, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, and different antioxidants. However, it remains unclear which redox balance compartments in the intestine are crucial for determining FE. Results In this study, we first screened the key targets of different metabolites and redox balance-related gene expression in broiler ceca. We then constructed a mouse colitis model to explore malic acid (MA) ability to alleviate intestinal inflammation. We further used controlled release technology to coat MA and investigated its effects on the intestinal redox status and FE in vivo. Finally, we examined the underlying mechanism by which MA modulated redox status using a porcine intestinal epithelial cell jejunum 2 (IPEC-J2) cell model in vitro. Our results demonstrated that the MA/malic enzyme 3 (ME3) pathway may play an important role in reducing oxidative stress in the broiler cecum. In addition, colon infusion of MA attenuated inflammatory phenotypes in the dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced mouse colitis model. Then, dietary supplementation with controlled-release MA pellet (MAP) reduced the feed to gain (F/G) ratio and promoted chicken growth, with reduced oxidative stress and increased bacterial diversity. Finally, the in vitro IPEC-J2 cell model revealed that ME3 mediated the effect of MA on cellular oxidative stress. Conclusion In summary, our study firstly revealed the important role of the MA/ME3 system in the hindgut of broiler chickens for improving intestinal health and FE, which may also be crucial for the implications of colon inflammation associated diseases.
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spelling doaj-art-1dc1505fa42d433ab2a05213c9626ce52025-08-20T02:16:55ZengBMCJournal of Animal Science and Biotechnology2049-18912025-02-0116111810.1186/s40104-025-01163-3Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilersHongfeng Jiang0Genghui Li1Xue Yang2Xiaohua Feng3Penglin Li4Huisi Yang5Demin Cai6Qingyan Jiang7Gang Shu8State Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityState Key Laboratory of Swine and Poultry Breeding Industry, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Animal Nutritional Regulation, College of Animal Science, South China Agricultural UniversityAbstract Background Intestinal oxidative stress serves as an endogenous host defense against the gut microbiota by increasing energy expenditure and therefore decreasing feed efficiency (FE). Several systems coordinately regulate redox balance, including the mitochondrial respiratory chain, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, and different antioxidants. However, it remains unclear which redox balance compartments in the intestine are crucial for determining FE. Results In this study, we first screened the key targets of different metabolites and redox balance-related gene expression in broiler ceca. We then constructed a mouse colitis model to explore malic acid (MA) ability to alleviate intestinal inflammation. We further used controlled release technology to coat MA and investigated its effects on the intestinal redox status and FE in vivo. Finally, we examined the underlying mechanism by which MA modulated redox status using a porcine intestinal epithelial cell jejunum 2 (IPEC-J2) cell model in vitro. Our results demonstrated that the MA/malic enzyme 3 (ME3) pathway may play an important role in reducing oxidative stress in the broiler cecum. In addition, colon infusion of MA attenuated inflammatory phenotypes in the dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) induced mouse colitis model. Then, dietary supplementation with controlled-release MA pellet (MAP) reduced the feed to gain (F/G) ratio and promoted chicken growth, with reduced oxidative stress and increased bacterial diversity. Finally, the in vitro IPEC-J2 cell model revealed that ME3 mediated the effect of MA on cellular oxidative stress. Conclusion In summary, our study firstly revealed the important role of the MA/ME3 system in the hindgut of broiler chickens for improving intestinal health and FE, which may also be crucial for the implications of colon inflammation associated diseases.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01163-3ColitisFeed efficiencyMalic acidMalic enzyme 3Redox
spellingShingle Hongfeng Jiang
Genghui Li
Xue Yang
Xiaohua Feng
Penglin Li
Huisi Yang
Demin Cai
Qingyan Jiang
Gang Shu
Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology
Colitis
Feed efficiency
Malic acid
Malic enzyme 3
Redox
title Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
title_full Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
title_fullStr Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
title_full_unstemmed Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
title_short Malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
title_sort malic enzyme 3 mediated the effects of malic acid on intestinal redox status and feed efficiency in broilers
topic Colitis
Feed efficiency
Malic acid
Malic enzyme 3
Redox
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40104-025-01163-3
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