Benzoic Acid potentiates intestinal IgA response in broiler chickens against Salmonella enterica Serovar Typhimurium infection

As a feed additive, Benzoic Acid (BA) has been demonstrated to significantly enhance feed conversion efficiency, regulate gastrointestinal pH, and improve overall animal health. Young animals, highly susceptible to S. Typhimurium infection, suffer from high mortality rates and substantial economic losses due to this pathogen. Despite promising indications of BA's immunomodulatory potential in boosting intestinal immunity, its underlying mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study investigates how BA strengthens intestinal anti-infection defenses in young animals via immunomodulatory pathways, focusing on its impact on macrophage polarization and IgA-mediated immune responses. Employing in vitro cell experiments and animal models, we examined the macrophage phenotypic alterations following BA treatment. We assessed the expression of immune-related genes in the intestine through immunofluorescence staining, Western blotting, and quantitative real-time PCR. The results demonstrate that BA promotes M2 macrophage polarization by activating the mTOR/PPAR-γ/STAT3 signaling pathways. Furthermore, BA enhances the intestinal expression of the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIgR), B-cell activating factor (BAFF) from the TNF family, and activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), thereby enhancing IgA production by B-cells. These results underscore the potential of BA to bolster innate immune functions in young chickens, mitigate intestinal damage caused by S. Typhimurium infection, and ultimately promote both animal health and food safety.