Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers

This study investigated the effects of 0.4 % Leucine (Leu) addition on growth performance, intestinal growth, carcass characteristics, and pattern recognition receptors (PRR) gene expression in broilers. A Total of 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into two treatment groups:...

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Main Authors: Xue Pan, Jie He, Okasha Hamada, Johan Buyse, Zhigang Song, Lixian Zhu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-08-01
Series:Poultry Science
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005085
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author Xue Pan
Jie He
Okasha Hamada
Johan Buyse
Zhigang Song
Lixian Zhu
author_facet Xue Pan
Jie He
Okasha Hamada
Johan Buyse
Zhigang Song
Lixian Zhu
author_sort Xue Pan
collection DOAJ
description This study investigated the effects of 0.4 % Leucine (Leu) addition on growth performance, intestinal growth, carcass characteristics, and pattern recognition receptors (PRR) gene expression in broilers. A Total of 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into two treatment groups: the basal diet (CON) and the basal diet added with 0.4 % crystalline Leu. Growth performance, visceral organ indices, carcass traits, intestinal growth, and mRNA levels of TLR2, TLR4, NOD1, NOD5, and IL-4 were analyzed at 20 and 40 d. Results indicated that Leu reduced the FCR during 1-20 d (P < 0.05) and increased ADG during 21-40 d (P < 0.05). Leu increased IL-4 expression in the duodenum and jejunum and enhanced relative intestinal weight and length during the starting phase (20 d) (P < 0.05). Leu downregulated the gene expression of NOD1, NOD5, and TLR4 in the duodenum (P < 0.05) and reduced the jejunal mRNA levels of NOD1 (P < 0.05). At 40 d, Leu increased pectoral muscle yield and downregulated TLR4 in pectoral muscle (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary Leu supplementation improves intestinal development and modulates PRR-related immune responses in a tissue-specific manner, highlighting its potential as an immunomodulatory feed additive.
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spelling doaj-art-afecbf0169e644a98a8b24e687abcc472025-08-20T03:31:25ZengElsevierPoultry Science0032-57912025-08-01104810526610.1016/j.psj.2025.105266Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilersXue Pan0Jie He1Okasha Hamada2Johan Buyse3Zhigang Song4Lixian Zhu5College of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, PR China; Key Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, PR ChinaCenter for Mitochondria and Healthy Ageing, College of Life Sciences, Yantai University, Yantai, Shandong 264005, PR ChinaKey Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, PR China; Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, EgyptDivision Laboratory of Livestock Physiology, Department of Biosystems, Leuven 3001, BelgiumKey Laboratory of Efficient Utilization of Non-Grain Feed Resources, College of Animal Science and Technology, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, PR ChinaCollege of Food Science and Engineering, Shandong Agricultural University, Taian, Shandong 271018, PR China; Corresponding author.This study investigated the effects of 0.4 % Leucine (Leu) addition on growth performance, intestinal growth, carcass characteristics, and pattern recognition receptors (PRR) gene expression in broilers. A Total of 144 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into two treatment groups: the basal diet (CON) and the basal diet added with 0.4 % crystalline Leu. Growth performance, visceral organ indices, carcass traits, intestinal growth, and mRNA levels of TLR2, TLR4, NOD1, NOD5, and IL-4 were analyzed at 20 and 40 d. Results indicated that Leu reduced the FCR during 1-20 d (P < 0.05) and increased ADG during 21-40 d (P < 0.05). Leu increased IL-4 expression in the duodenum and jejunum and enhanced relative intestinal weight and length during the starting phase (20 d) (P < 0.05). Leu downregulated the gene expression of NOD1, NOD5, and TLR4 in the duodenum (P < 0.05) and reduced the jejunal mRNA levels of NOD1 (P < 0.05). At 40 d, Leu increased pectoral muscle yield and downregulated TLR4 in pectoral muscle (P < 0.05). These findings suggest that dietary Leu supplementation improves intestinal development and modulates PRR-related immune responses in a tissue-specific manner, highlighting its potential as an immunomodulatory feed additive.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005085BroilerLeucineIntestineMusclePattern recognition receptors
spellingShingle Xue Pan
Jie He
Okasha Hamada
Johan Buyse
Zhigang Song
Lixian Zhu
Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
Poultry Science
Broiler
Leucine
Intestine
Muscle
Pattern recognition receptors
title Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
title_full Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
title_fullStr Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
title_full_unstemmed Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
title_short Effects of dietary Leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in broilers
title_sort effects of dietary leucine supplementation on intestinal development and gene expression of pattern recognition receptors prrs in broilers
topic Broiler
Leucine
Intestine
Muscle
Pattern recognition receptors
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0032579125005085
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