Gut Microbiota-Mucosal Immune Interactions Underlying Intestinal Homeostasis in Weaned Piglets.
- 1Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition of the Ministry of Education, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
- 2School of Life Science and Technology, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710129, China.
Abstract
The gut microbiota and mucosal immune system undergo extensive remodeling after weaning and jointly influence intestinal homeostasis, resistance to enteric pathogens, and growth performance in piglets. This developmental transition is particularly vulnerable to dietary changes, the loss of maternally derived factors, environmental stressors, and pathogen exposure, all of which can disrupt microbial ecology and mucosal immune regulation. This review examines the reciprocal interactions between the gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in weaned piglets. It describes how microbial communities and their metabolites regulate epithelial barrier integrity, innate and adaptive immune responses, B-cell differentiation, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) production, with particular emphasis on short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan-derived metabolites, and bile acids. Conversely, host-derived factors, including mucins, antimicrobial peptides, sIgA, cytokines, and inflammation-associated changes in the intestinal microenvironment, are discussed in relation to microbial colonization, spatial distribution, and functional activity. Disruption of these interactions can impair epithelial barrier function, promote excessive inflammation, weaken colonization resistance, and increase susceptibility to enteric infection and post-weaning diarrhea. Finally, this review evaluates nutritional and microbiota-targeted strategies for modulating microbiota-immune interactions and improving intestinal health in weaned piglets.
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BibTeX
@article{qin2026microbiotamucosal,
title = {{Gut Microbiota-Mucosal Immune Interactions Underlying Intestinal Homeostasis in Weaned Piglets.}},
author = {Jieyi Qin and Tiantian Li and Xiao Li and Peiyuan Han and Mingliang Jin and Lei Qiao},
journal = {Animals : an open access journal from MDPI},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/ani16193075},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883044},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gut Microbiota-Mucosal Immune Interactions Underlying Intestinal Homeostasis in Weaned Piglets.
AU - Jieyi Qin
AU - Tiantian Li
AU - Xiao Li
AU - Peiyuan Han
AU - Mingliang Jin
AU - Lei Qiao
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
DO - 10.3390/ani16193075
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42883044
AB - The gut microbiota and mucosal immune system undergo extensive remodeling after weaning and jointly influence intestinal homeostasis, resistance to enteric pathogens, and growth performance in piglets. This developmental transition is particularly vulnerable to dietary changes, the loss of maternally derived factors, environmental stressors, and pathogen exposure, all of which can disrupt microbial ecology and mucosal immune regulation. This review examines the reciprocal interactions between the gut microbiota and mucosal immunity in weaned piglets. It describes how microbial communities and their metabolites regulate epithelial barrier integrity, innate and adaptive immune responses, B-cell differentiation, and secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) production, with particular emphasis on short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan-derived metabolites, and bile acids. Conversely, host-derived factors, including mucins, antimicrobial peptides, sIgA, cytokines, and inflammation-associated changes in the intestinal microenvironment, are discussed in relation to microbial colonization, spatial distribution, and functional activity. Disruption of these interactions can impair epithelial barrier function, promote excessive inflammation, weaken colonization resistance, and increase susceptibility to enteric infection and post-weaning diarrhea. Finally, this review evaluates nutritional and microbiota-targeted strategies for modulating microbiota-immune interactions and improving intestinal health in weaned piglets.
SN - 2076-2615
ER -