Transcriptomic analysis reveals the impact of Rutin on the proliferation, barrier function, and transcription of Porcine IPEC-J2.

The gastrointestinal health of livestock is essential for the agricultural sector. Rutin, a natural flavonoid extract from plants, exhibits antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, alongside a protective impact on the intestinal tract of pigs. However its influence on the proliferation, migration, and cellular junctions of IPEC-J2 cells remains unexplored. This study involved treating IPEC-J2 cells with varying concentrations of rutin. It was observed that after 24 h of treatment with 200 µM rutin, cell viability was significantly increased, along with significant upregulation in the mRNA expression levels of proliferation-related genes (CCNE2, CDK4, CDK2, CCNDB, and PCNA) and tight junction genes (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1). Additionally, the expression of proliferation-related PCNA protein was significantly increased. Transcriptome sequencing revealed that rutin treatment impacted the overall transcription profile of IPEC-J2 cells, altering the expression of genes involved in critical physiological processes such as redox balance, cell proliferation, and tight junctions maintenance. Consequently, rutin demonstrated a significant enhancement in the proliferation of IPEC-J2 cells and improved the intestinal barrier function in pigs, offering valuable insights for sustaining pig intestinal health in swine husbandry.