Heat Stress and Gut Health in Broilers: Role of Tight Junction Proteins.
Heat stress or hyperthermia results from failed thermoregulation that occurs when animals produce or absorbs more temperature than it dissipates. The adverse effects of HS can range from discomfort to multiple organ damage and, under severe stress, to death by spiraling hyperthermia. The Gut plays a vital role in nutrient absorption, digestion and transport, yet it is very responsive and susceptible to HS. In this editorial we will review the effect of heat stress on tight junction proteins and gut health.
Under thermoneutral conditions, the gut is able to efficiently digest and absorb most nutrients through cell plasma membranes that involves specific receptors. Epithelial cells in the intestine provides a barrier isolating the external environment from the internal body, yet, providing tolerance to water and digested nutrients.
In contrast to transcellular transport, the transfer of molecules through the space between the cells across an epithelium is passive down a concentration gradient Interestingly, the molecular composition, ultrastructure, and function of TJ is regulated by intracellular proteins through a series of intracellular signaling pathways that includes myosin light kinase, mitogen-activated protein kinases, protein kinase C among others. Similarly, FITC dextrin is a large molecule which does not usually leak through the intact gastrointestinal tract barrier. However, when there are conditions which disrupt the tight junctions between epithelial cells, the molecule can enter circulation demonstrated by an increase in trans-mucosal permeability associated with chemically induced disruption of tight junctions
Adv Food Technol Nutr Sci Open J. 2017; 3(1): e1-e4. doi: 10.17140/AFTNSOJ-3-e010
