Hydroxy Selenomethionine Exert Different Protective Effects Against Dietary Oxidative Stress-Induced Inflammatory Responses in Spleen and Thymus of Pigs

Oxidative stress (OS) is widespread in animal husbandry, which causes edema in immune organs and suppresses immune function of animals. Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element involved in immune regulation and improves animals' immunity. In present study, growing and finishing pigs were used to determine the protective effects of the new organic Se (hydroxy selenomethionine, OH-SeMet) on dietary oxidative stress (DOS) induced inflammatory responses, and the corresponding response of selenotranscriptome in spleen and thymus. Forty castrated male pigs (25.0 +/- 3.0 kg) were randomly grouped into 5 dietary treatments (n = 8) and fed on basal diet (formulated with normal corn and normal oils) or oxidized diet (formulated with aged corn and oxidized oils) supplied with 0.0, 0.3, 0.6, or 0.9 mg Se/kg OH-SeMet, after 16 weeks, the corresponding indicators were determined. Results showed that DOS moderately increased the spleen and thymus index, decreased the antioxidant capacity of serum, spleen and thymus, and increased the concentration of serum inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-alpha). The inflammatory response in spleen and thymus under DOS were discrepancies, DOS increased the expression of inflammation-related gene (IFN-beta and TNF-alpha) in thymus, while exhibited no impact on that of the spleen. Dietary OH-SeMet supplementation exhibited protective effects, which decreased the spleen and thymus index, improved the antioxidant capacity of serum, spleen and thymus, and decreased the serum IL-1 beta and IL-6 levels. Se supplementation exhibited limited impact on the inflammation-related genes in spleen, except decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8. On the contrary, Se supplementation showed more impact on that of the thymus, which decreased the mRNA expression of IL-8 and TNF-alpha, increased the expression of IFN-beta, IL-6, IL-10, and MCP1. In addition, selenotranscriptome responsive to dietary Se levels in spleen and thymus were discrepancies. Se supplementation increased the mRNA expression of the selenotranscriptome in thymus, while exhibited limited impact on that of in spleen. In conclusion, dietary OH-SeMet supplementation mitigates the DOS-induced immunological stress by increasing the antioxidant capacity and altering the expression of inflammation-related genes and selenotranscriptome in immune organs, and these response in spleen and thymus were discrepancies.

Automated summary

This study aimed to explore the protective effects of a new organic selenium (OH-SeMet) on dietary oxidative stress (DOS)-induced inflammatory responses, as well as the corresponding response of selenotranscriptome in immune organs. Results showed that OH-SeMet supplementation can reduce immunological stress caused by oxidative stress, improve antioxidant capacity, and alter the expression of inflammation-related genes. The response of spleen and thymus to OH-SeMet supplementation differed.