Immune System Activation and Dietary Threonine Metabolism in Animal Health
Summary
Immune system activation and dietary threonine metabolism are closely intertwined determinants of animal health and productivity. During infection or inflammation, the immune response reallocates nutrients towards synthesis of acute-phase proteins, mucins and immune effector cells, elevating requirements for threonine, an essential amino acid that is often limiting in livestock diets. Threonine serves a dual role in general protein deposition and as a critical substrate for mucin produced by goblet cells, thereby maintaining gut barrier integrity and controlling pathogen translocation. Nutrient-sensing pathways such as mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) adjust protein metabolism according to immune demand, while alterations in dietary threonine influence gut microbial composition, short-chain fatty acid profiles and epithelial function. Understanding the balance between threonine supply and immune activation is crucial for optimising feed formulations, improving disease resilience and ensuring sustainable animal production globally.
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Immune System Activation and Dietary Threonine Metabolism in Animal Health publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in immune system activation and dietary threonine metabolism in animal health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Threonine: An essential amino acid required for protein synthesis and mucin production in the gut.
Mucin: High-molecular-weight glycoproteins secreted by goblet cells that form a protective mucus layer on the intestinal epithelium.
Goblet cells: Specialised epithelial cells in the gastrointestinal tract responsible for synthesising and secreting mucins.
Lipopolysaccharide (LPS): A component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria that potently activates innate immune responses.
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFA): Metabolic by-products of microbial fermentation in the hindgut that support epithelial health and modulate immune function.
References
- Growth performance, caecal microbiome profile, short-chain fatty acids, and litter characteristics in response to placement on reused litter and combined threonine, arginine and glutamine supplementation to juvenile male broiler chickens. Animal Microbiome (2023).
- A Simple Assay to Assess Salmonella Typhimurium Impact on Performance and Immune Status of Growing Pigs after Different Inoculation Doses. Microorganisms (2023).
- Physiological Functions of Threonine in Animals: Beyond Nutrition Metabolism. Nutrients (2021).
- Formulating Diets for Improved Health Status of Pigs: Current Knowledge and Perspectives. Animals (2022).
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