Evaluating the impact of sesame meal, vitamin E, and selenium on immune-related gene expression in dairy goats

Bioactive lignans from sesame meal (SM), along with vitamin E (vitE) and selenium (Se), have anti-inflammatory properties that may enhance the defense mechanisms in goats. Consequently, this study aimed at evaluating the effects of the dietary inclusion of these bioactive compounds on the expression levels of various genes involved in the innate immunity (peripheral blood mononuclear cells and granulocytes). For this purpose, 30 crossbred dairy goats were divided into five homogeneous sub-groups and received on average 1 kg alfalfa hay and 1.2 kg concentrates daily. Two types of concentrates were used, one for the control (C) and another one for the four treated groups, the latter differing for the trace mineral vitamin premix. More specifically, in the concentrates of the treated groups, 10% of the soybean meal was replaced by SM and (i) no extra VitE or Se (SM), or (ii) an extra 60 mg of VitE (SME), or (iii) 0.1 mg organic Se (SMSe), or (iv) their combination (60 mg VitE and 0.1 mg organic Se/kg) of concentrate (SMESe) were added. This is the first study indicating a possible involvement of Interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) in the suppression of Nuclear Factor-kappa B (NF-κB)–driven Interleukin-1 beta (IL1B) expression in goats’ mononuclear cells consuming a diet enriched with SM, Se and vitE. Overall, the results of this study indicate that dietary antioxidants- such as lignans, Se and vitE- might provide immunomodulatory and anti-stress benefits during immune activation and oxidative stress.