Short-chain fatty acids regulate macrophage-mediated immune responses in intestinal inflammation: Implications for pigs
Authors:
Open Access
- 1 June 2026
- journal article
- review article
- Published by KEAI Publishing in Animal Nutrition
- Vol. 25, 536-544
Abstract
Intestinal inflammation poses a significant challenge to pig production, as it impairs gut health, compromises growth performance, and results in substantial economic losses. Therefore, preventing and controlling intestinal inflammation in pigs is essential for maintaining intestinal health and production efficiency. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are gut microbiota metabolites that play an important role in alleviating intestinal inflammation by regulating macrophage function. Mechanistic insights largely derived from murine and in vitro studies have revealed that SCFAs regulate macrophage mediated inflammation through mechanisms involving histone deacetylases (HDACs), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), and other pathways. Moreover, nutritional strategies such as dietary fiber, prebiotics, and fermented feed for alleviating intestinal inflammation in pigs are discussed. This review aims to provide a theoretical foundation for developing SCFA-based nutritional interventions to improve gut health, immune regulation, and production performance in pigs.Keywords
Funding Information
- National Key Research and Development Program of China (2023YFD1301402)
This publication has 105 references indexed in Scilit:
- Propionate‐producing engineered probiotics ameliorated murine ulcerative colitis by restoring anti‐inflammatory macrophage via the GPR43/HDAC1/IL‐10 axisBioengineering & Translational Medicine, 2024
- Regulation of dietary fiber on intestinal microorganisms and its effects on animal healthAnimal Nutrition, 2023
- Time-course effects of different fiber-rich ingredients on energy values, microbiota composition and SCFA profile in growing pigsAnimal Nutrition, 2023
- Macrophage orchestration of epithelial and stromal cell homeostasis in the intestineJournal of Leukocyte Biology, 2022
- Glutamine in suppression of lipopolysaccharide-induced piglet intestinal inflammation: The crosstalk between AMPK activation and mitochondrial functionAnimal Nutrition, 2022
- Ferulic acid exhibits anti-inflammatory effects by inducing autophagy and blocking NLRP3 inflammasome activationMolecular & Cellular Toxicology, 2022
- Citral alleviates peptidoglycan‐induced inflammation and disruption of barrier functions in porcine intestinal epithelial cellsJournal of Cellular Physiology, 2021
- Micro-encapsulated essential oils and organic acids combination improves intestinal barrier function, inflammatory responses and microbiota of weaned piglets challenged with enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli F4 (K88+)Animal Nutrition, 2020
- Macrophage plasticity, polarization, and function in health and diseaseJournal of Cellular Physiology, 2018
- Microbiota metabolite short chain fatty acids, GPCR, and inflammatory bowel diseasesJournal of Gastroenterology, 2016