👤 Paola Cremonesi

Genetically modified soybean is largely used in animal feed and its massive cultivation affects the environmental sustainability of livestock and the dependency for the import in the European market. The aim of this study was to evaluate the partial substitution of soybean meal with an innovative common bean genotype (Phaseolus vulgaris lec-lpa) with reduced content of anti-nutritional factors on zootechnical performance, gut microbiota modulation and faecal minerals in post-weaning piglets. Fourteen piglets were divided into a control group fed with a basal diet and a treatment group fed with a commercial diet in which 7.3% of soybean meal and 0.8% of soybean oil were replaced with 10% of P. vulgaris lec- lpa for 28 days. BW, ADG, ADFI and FCR were evaluated, and diarrhoea incidence was recorded. Evaluation of pH, nitrogen content, protein digestibility and mineral content was performed on faecal samples. Microbiota was analysed by rectal swabs samples. Blood serum metabolic profile was evaluated. The treatment group showed lower BW and ADG during the trial (p < 0.05), but the health status of the animals was preserved. The treatment group released lower levels of minerals in faeces when compared with the control group after 28 days (p < 0.05) suggesting a lower dispersion of faecal minerals in the environment. Significant Beta diversity index was observed at 14 and 28 days (p < 0.05). Roseburia and Butyricicoccus increased in treatment group at day 28 (p < 0.05). These genera are associated with SCFA production, contributing to the maintenance of intestinal integrity, promoting positive bacterial populations and limiting inflammatory phenomena. In conclusion, P. vulgaris lec- lpa could be a viable and sustainable alternative protein source to reduce the European protein gap, playing a potential role in microbiota modulation and faecal minerals release. Show less

The lack of early diagnosis, progression markers and effective pharmacological treatment has dramatic unfavourable effects on clinical outcomes in patients with peripheral artery disease (PAD). Addressing these issues will require dissecting the molecular mechanisms underlying this disease. We sought to characterize the Notch signaling and atherosclerosis relevant markers in lesions from femoral arteries of symptomatic PAD patients. Plaque material from the common femoral, superficial femoral or popliteal arteries of 20 patients was removed by directional atherectomy. RNA was obtained from 9 out of 20 samples and analysed by quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). We detected expression of Notch ligands Delta-like 4 (Dll4) and Jagged1 (Jag1), of Notch target genes Hes1, Hey1, Hey2, HeyL and of markers of plaque inflammation and stability such as vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1), smooth muscle 22 (SM22), cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2), Bcl2, CD68 and miRNAs 21-5p, 125a-5p, 126-5p,146-5p, 155-5p, 424-5p. We found an "inflamed plaque" gene expression profile characterized by high Dll4 associated to medium/high CD68, COX2, VCAM1, Hes1, miR126-5p, miR146a-5p, miR155-5p, miR424-5p and low Jag1, SM22, Bcl2, Hey2, HeyL, miR125a-5p (2/9 patients) and a "stable plaque" profile characterized by high Jag1 associated to medium/high Hey2, HeyL, SM22, Bcl2, miR125a and low Dll4, CD68, COX2, VCAM1, miR126-5p, miR146a-5p, miR155-5p, miR424-5p (3/9 patients). The remaining patients (4/9) showed a plaque profile with intermediate characteristics. This study reveals the existence of a gene signature associated to Notch activation by specific ligands that could be predictive of PAD progression. Show less