Comparative effects of dietary methionine and cysteine supplementation on redox status and intestinal integrity in immunologically challenged-weaned pigs

Sulfur-containing amino acids such as methionine and cysteine play critical roles in immune system and redox status. A body of evidence shows that metabolic aspects of supplemented Met and Cys may differ in the body. Therefore, the study aimed to investigate the effects of dietary Met and Cys supplementation in immunologically challenged weaned pigs. Forty weaned piglets (6.5 ± 0.3 kg) were randomly allocated to five treatment groups. The treatment included: (1) sham-challenged control (SCC), (2) challenged control (CC), (3) MET (CC + 0.1% DL -Met), (4) CYS (CC + 0.1% L -Cys), and (5) MET + CYS (CC + 0.1% DL -Met + 0.1% L -Cys). On day 7, all pigs were intramuscularly injected with either Escherichia coli O55:B5 lipopolysaccharides (LPS) or phosphate-buffered saline. Blood, liver, and jejunum samples were analyzed for immune response and redox status. The CC group had lower ( P < 0.05) villus surface area and higher ( P < 0.05) flux of 4-kDa fluorescein isothiocyanate dextran (FD4) than the SCC group. A lower ( P < 0.05) glutathione (GSH) concentration was observed in the jejunum of pigs in the CC group than those in the SCC group. Dietary Cys supplementation increased ( P < 0.05) villus surface area, GSH levels, and reduced ( P < 0.05) the flux of FD4 in the jejunum of LPS-challenged pigs. Dietary Met supplementation enhanced ( P < 0.05) hepatic GSH content. Pigs challenged with LPS in the MET group had lower serum IL-8 concentration than those in the CC group. There was a Met × Cys interaction ( P < 0.05) in serum IL-4 and IL-8 concentrations, and Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity. Dietary L -Cys supplementation restored intestinal integrity and GSH levels that were damaged by lipopolysaccharides administration. Dietary DL -Met supplementation improved hepatic GSH and reduced systemic inflammatory response, but antagonistic interaction with dietary L -Cys supplementation was observed in the inflammatory response and redox status.