The small intestine proteome is changed in preterm pigs developing necrotizing enterocolitis in response to formula feeding

Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is the most common gastrointestinal emergency in newborn premature infants. Clinical studies show increased incidence of NEC in premature infants with enteral formula feeding; however, pathogenesis remains unclear. To identify the NEC-related proteins for molecular mechanisms, we applied proteomics analysis to characterize changes in the protein expression profile of newborn premature piglet intestines with NEC developed after enteral formula feeding for 24 h. Changes in protein expression were identified using 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis and peptide mass fingerprinting with MS as well as western blotting analysis. Nineteen differentially expressed proteins were identified and these have roles in oxidative stress, chaperone, signal transduction, protein folding and degradation, oxygen transport, signal transduction, and energy metabolism. Proteins with increased levels include manganese-containing superoxide dismutase and hemoglobin subunit and proteins with decreased expression include sorbitol dehydrogenase, mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase 2, glucose-regulated protein 75, CRY protein, snail homolog 3, thyroid hormone-binding protein precursor, and DJ1 (Parkinson's disease 7) etc. The data provided novel mechanistic insights into the pathogenesis of NEC and the insults of a formulated diet to the premature gut.