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. 2025 Aug 12;104(11):105677.
doi: 10.1016/j.psj.2025.105677. Online ahead of print.

Effect of berberine on LPS-induced intestinal epithelial injury and m6A methylation in broilers

Lin Yuan  1 , Wanli Li  2 , Guoxi Li  3 , Wei Jin  4 , Bingxun Wang  4 , Shengli Li  4 , Haoyu Wang  4
Affiliations

Effect of berberine on LPS-induced intestinal epithelial injury and m6A methylation in broilers

Lin Yuan et al. Poult Sci. .

Abstract

This study sought to explore the effects of and potential mechanisms underlying berberine (BBR) in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced intestinal epithelium injury in broilers. Ninety 19-day-old male AA broilers were randomly divided into five groups: the negative control group (NC), positive control group (PC), and three treatment groups (T1, T2, and T3). On the 21st day of age, the control group was orally administered saline, the LPS-challenged group was orally administered LPS (3 mg/kg body weight), and the treatment groups were orally administered BBR (6, 12, 18 mg/kg body weight) along with LPS (3 mg/kg body weight). Afterwards, in vitro cell experiments were used for validation. The results revealed that the oral administration of LPS caused intestinal inflammation and cell apoptosis and disrupted the intestinal barrier and function. However, simultaneous administration of high-dose BBR alleviated LPS-induced adverse changes in intestinal morphology and mucosal barrier integrity by decreasing the expression of inflammatory cytokines and apoptotic proteins, increasing the expression of tight junction proteins, and inhibiting LPS-induced increases in m6A methylation and METTL3 expression. Our findings indicated that BBR addition attenuated LPS-induced intestinal epithelium injury by increasing the expression of tight junction proteins and increasing the anti-inflammatory and antiapoptotic capacity of broiler chickens, possibly via coregulating METTL3 protein expression and m6A methylation levels. The research will provide theoretical support for the application of natural alkaloid anti-inflammatory additives in poultry farming.

Keywords: Berberine; Broiler; Intestinal epithelium injury; Intestinal inflammation; Methylation.

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Conflict of interest statement

Disclosures We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work, and there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service or company that could be construed as influencing the content of this paper.

Figures

Fig 1
Fig. 1
Histopathological features observed in the ileum of 28-day-old chickens orally administered LPS and berberin.
Fig 2
Fig. 2
Changes in villus height (VH) and crypt depth (CD) in 28-day-old chickens after the oral administration of LPS and BBR.
Fig 3
Fig. 3
Changes in proinflammatory cytokines in 28-day-old chickens after the oral administration of LPS and BBR.
Fig 4
Fig. 4
Changes in the levels of ileal barrier-associated proteins in 28-day-old chickens after the oral administration of LPS and BBR.
Fig 5
Fig. 5
Changes in m6A methylation levels in 28-day-old chickens after the oral administration of LPS and BBR.
Fig 6
Fig. 6
Changes in m6A methylase protein levels in 28-day-old chickens after the oral administration of LPS and BBR.
Fig 7
Fig. 7
Changes in IL-1β, claudin-1, occludin and METTL3 mRNA levels in DF-1 chicken fibroblasts after stimulated of LPS and BBR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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