Berberine improves intestinal barrier function and reduces inflammation, immunosuppression, and oxidative stress by regulating the NF-κB/MAPK signaling pathway in deoxynivalenol-challenged piglets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of berberine (BBR) on the intestinal health of piglets exposed to deoxynivalenol (DON). A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly allotted to 1 of 3 treatment groups with 10 replication pens per treatment and 6 piglets per pen. The treatments were basal diet, basal diet +4 mg/kg DON, and basal diet +4 mg/kg DON +40 mg/kg BBR. The experiment lasted for 21 d. BBR improved the growth performance of DON-challenged piglets. BBR could inhibit DON-induced intestinal injury by increasing the expression of serum antioxidant enzymes and T cell surface antigens and reducing the release of proinflammatory cytokines in the small intestine. BBR significantly increased the protein expression levels of zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), Occludin and Claudin-1 in the ileal and jejunal mucosa and increased the morphological parameters of the jejunum. Moreover, we found that BBR significantly reduced the DON-induced gene and protein expression levels of ERK, JNK, and NF-κB in the jejunum and ileum. In conclusion, BBR can regulate DON-induced intestinal injury, immunosuppression and oxidative stress by regulating the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways and ultimately maintain the intestinal health of piglets.