Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits
Zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin primarily generated by the Fusarium species, constitutes a prevalent contaminant in both human and animal feedstuffs. Chronic exposure to this mycotoxin induces hepatic inflammatory responses in livestock species including rabbits, ultimately leading to organ damage. S...
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2025-05-01
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| author | Xiaoguang Chen Wenjuan Wei Haonan Li Wenjing Xu Qiongxia Lv Yumei Liu Ziqiang Zhang |
| author_facet | Xiaoguang Chen Wenjuan Wei Haonan Li Wenjing Xu Qiongxia Lv Yumei Liu Ziqiang Zhang |
| author_sort | Xiaoguang Chen |
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| description | Zearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin primarily generated by the Fusarium species, constitutes a prevalent contaminant in both human and animal feedstuffs. Chronic exposure to this mycotoxin induces hepatic inflammatory responses in livestock species including rabbits, ultimately leading to organ damage. Selenomethionine (SeMet), an organic selenium source recognized for its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory bioactivity, demonstrates protective benefits in animals through its detoxification mechanism and growth promotion. The present study investigated the protective effect of SeMet against ZEA-induced hepatic inflammation and elucidated its underlying mechanisms. Fifty healthy 90-day-old rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: control, ZEA-exposed and three SeMet-supplemented groups receiving 0.2, 0.35 or 0.5 mg/kg via dietary inclusion. After two weeks of SeMet pretreatment, ZEA administration (1.2 mg/kg B.W.) was imitated via oral gavage daily for one week in both the ZEA group and three SeMet-treated groups. As a result, ZEA exposure induced the significant structural disruption of the hepatic lobules, accompanied by increased collagen deposition, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and reduced anti-inflammatory mediator levels (IL-10, TGF-β). SeMet supplementation alleviated ZEA-induced histological alterations, including inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen accumulation. Biochemical analysis indicated the restoration of inflammatory markers to near-normal levels when treated with SeMet. Notably, immunohistochemical results showed that SeMet significantly reduced the protein levels of IL-6 and its downstream target STAT3 under ZEA exposure. These findings indicated that SeMet attenuated ZEA-induced hepatic inflammation by modulating the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis, with dietary supplementation of 0.35 mg/kg SeMet exhibiting the most significant effect on alleviating ZEA-induced hepatic inflammatory injury. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | Kabale University |
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| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
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| series | Toxins |
| spelling | doaj-art-c99728b0bdb14669b9f480d289b3bef82025-08-20T03:29:49ZengMDPI AGToxins2072-66512025-05-0117627510.3390/toxins17060275Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in RabbitsXiaoguang Chen0Wenjuan Wei1Haonan Li2Wenjing Xu3Qiongxia Lv4Yumei Liu5Ziqiang Zhang6College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaCollege of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang 471000, ChinaZearalenone (ZEA), a mycotoxin primarily generated by the Fusarium species, constitutes a prevalent contaminant in both human and animal feedstuffs. Chronic exposure to this mycotoxin induces hepatic inflammatory responses in livestock species including rabbits, ultimately leading to organ damage. Selenomethionine (SeMet), an organic selenium source recognized for its antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory bioactivity, demonstrates protective benefits in animals through its detoxification mechanism and growth promotion. The present study investigated the protective effect of SeMet against ZEA-induced hepatic inflammation and elucidated its underlying mechanisms. Fifty healthy 90-day-old rabbits were randomly divided into five groups: control, ZEA-exposed and three SeMet-supplemented groups receiving 0.2, 0.35 or 0.5 mg/kg via dietary inclusion. After two weeks of SeMet pretreatment, ZEA administration (1.2 mg/kg B.W.) was imitated via oral gavage daily for one week in both the ZEA group and three SeMet-treated groups. As a result, ZEA exposure induced the significant structural disruption of the hepatic lobules, accompanied by increased collagen deposition, elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine profiles (IL-6, IL-1β, TNF-α) and reduced anti-inflammatory mediator levels (IL-10, TGF-β). SeMet supplementation alleviated ZEA-induced histological alterations, including inflammatory cell infiltration and collagen accumulation. Biochemical analysis indicated the restoration of inflammatory markers to near-normal levels when treated with SeMet. Notably, immunohistochemical results showed that SeMet significantly reduced the protein levels of IL-6 and its downstream target STAT3 under ZEA exposure. These findings indicated that SeMet attenuated ZEA-induced hepatic inflammation by modulating the IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis, with dietary supplementation of 0.35 mg/kg SeMet exhibiting the most significant effect on alleviating ZEA-induced hepatic inflammatory injury.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/6/275selenomethioninezearalenonehepatic injuryinflammatory cytokinesIL-6/STAT3 signaling axis |
| spellingShingle | Xiaoguang Chen Wenjuan Wei Haonan Li Wenjing Xu Qiongxia Lv Yumei Liu Ziqiang Zhang Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits Toxins selenomethionine zearalenone hepatic injury inflammatory cytokines IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis |
| title | Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits |
| title_full | Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits |
| title_short | Role of the IL-6/STAT3 Signaling Axis in the Protective Effect of Selenomethionine Against Zearalenone-Induced Hepatic Inflammatory Injury in Rabbits |
| title_sort | role of the il 6 stat3 signaling axis in the protective effect of selenomethionine against zearalenone induced hepatic inflammatory injury in rabbits |
| topic | selenomethionine zearalenone hepatic injury inflammatory cytokines IL-6/STAT3 signaling axis |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6651/17/6/275 |
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