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Using herbal extracts as nutritional additives in aquaculture industry increases the resistance of fish to infectious agents while also providing a substitute for traditional antibiotics, enhancing the immune system, and promoting the growth of fish. The present experiments were designed to investigate the effects of a diet containing hydroalcoholic extract of savory (Satureja hortensis) on the growth performance, hematological parameters, and histopathology of the intestine in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) fry. For this purpose, 240 rainbow trout fry with an average weight of 2.02 ± 0.02 grs were randomly distributed into 4 experimental groups with three replicates and fed diets containing concentrations of 0 (control), 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% hydroalcoholic extract of savory for 6 weeks. The results showed that growth performance indices including final weight, body weight gain, and specific growth rate significantly increased in the group fed with a diet containing 1% extract compared to the control group. Additionally, the number of white and red blood cells, and hematocrit levels increased in the groups fed with savory extract (P<0.05). The use of hydroalcoholic extract of savory in the diet of rainbow trout fry had no negative effect on the distal intestine tissue of the fish in all groups. Overall, the results indicated that feeding with 1% hydroalcoholic extract of savory in the diet could improve the health and better growth of rainbow trout fry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To study the early molecular immunity of Echinococcus granulosus infection in livestock, especially in sheep, the immunohistochemistry, in-situ hybridization was used to study the relationship and the distribution between miR-216b and IL2RB in the intestine tissue of kazakh sheep with resistant and non-resistant MHC haplotypes after oral infection with E. granulosus eggs. The results demonstrated that miR-216b negatively regulated IL2RB in the cystic echinococcosis intestinal tissues, and they were differentially expressed in the intestine tissue between the resistant sheep and non-resistant sheep, more widely distributed in the resistant group. These results illustrated that miR-216b and IL2RB activated stronger immune response in the resistant sheep, compared with the non-resistant sheep, and participating in the T cell immune response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We previously reported that Androctonus australis hector (Aah ) venom induces inflammation in several tissues, however limited information is available on its role in gastrointestinal tract. Here we evaluate the involvement of TNF-α in lipid metabolism in the small intestine after Aah envenomation. To address these issues, NMRI mice (3-month-old) were pre-treated with a TNF-α antagonist, 30 min prior to Aah venom injection. Redox status, cytotoxicity and histopathological changes were analyzed in small intestine 3 and 24 h after Aah injection. Lipid metabolism was evaluated through lipid tolerance test in sera. Lipid content in small intestine was also evaluated at different times after envenomation. Obtained results showed that Aah venom affects the intestinal integrity. This cytotoxicity could be associated with lipid peroxidation and altered or insufficient antioxidant system. These results also highlight the perturbation of lipid absorption in intestine tissue of envenomed mice. The use of TNF-α antagonist prior to Aah venom injection seems to be able to improve lipid profile, oxidative stress and antioxidant activity. These findings suggest that Aah venom induces lipid alterations in the intestinal tissue mechanisms involving of TNF- α. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crypt-villus architecture in the small intestine is crucial for the structural integrity of the intestinal epithelium and maintenance of gut homeostasis. We utilized three-dimensional (3D) printing and inverse molding techniques to form three-dimensional (3D) spongy scaffold systems that resemble the intestinal crypt-villus microarchitecture. The scaffolds consist of silk fibroin protein with curved lumens with rows of protruding villi with invaginating crypts to generate the architecture. Intestinal cell (Caco-2, HT29-MTX) attachment and growth, as well as long-term culture support were demonstrated with cell polarization and tissue barrier properties compared to two-dimensional (2D) Transwell culture controls. Further, physiologically relevant oxygen gradients were generated in the 3D system. The various advantages of this system may be ascribed to the more physiologically relevant 3D environment, offering a system for the exploration of disease pathogenesis, host-microbiome interactions, and therapeutic discovery.

An in vitro model of intestinal epithelium with an immune component was bioengineered to mimic immunologic responses seen in inflammatory bowel disease. While intestinal immune phenomena can be modeled in transwells and 2D culture systems, 3D tissue models improve physiological relevance by providing a 3D substrate which enable migration of macrophages towards the epithelium. An intestinal epithelial layer comprised of non-transformed human colon organoid cells and a subepithelial layer laden with monocyte-derived macrophages was bioengineered to mimic native intestinal mucosa cell organization using spongy biomaterial scaffolds. Confluent monolayers with microvilli, a mucus layer, and infiltration of macrophages to the basal side of the epithelium were observed. Inflammation, induced by E. coli O111:B4 lipopolysaccharide and interferon γ resulted in morphological changes to the epithelium, resulting in ball-like structures, decreased epithelial coverage, and increased migration of macrophages to the epithelium. Analysis of cytokines present in the inflamed tissue model demonstrated significantly upregulated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines that are often associated with active inflammatory bowel disease, including CXCL10, IL-1β, IL-6, MCP-2, and MIP-1β. The macrophage layer enhanced epithelial and biochemical responses to inflammatory insult, and this new tissue system may be useful to study and develop potential therapies for inflammatory bowel disease. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The in vitro long-term expansion of primary intestinal epithelial cells has been hampered by the inability to maintain an immature stem cell population. Recent technical advances have led to the development of a novel in vitro culture system that can sustain intestinal stem cells (ISCs) using growth factors that mimic the intestinal microenvironment in combination with a three-dimensional (3D) culture. The resulting intestinal organoids display a crypt-villus architecture that recapitulates the native intestinal epithelium. Here, we describe our method for the long-term culture of intestinal epithelial organoids via consistent passaging using a gentle cell dissociation reagent to easily break the organoid into smaller pieces. The long-term cryopreservation and defining characteristics of these intestinal organoids also make this work relevant for the advancement of epithelial organoid-based therapeutic technologies by allowing the production of large numbers of cells for use in clinical applications.