Daidzein Promotes the Proliferation of Porcine Mammary Epithelial Cells Through the mTOR Signaling Pathway

Mengmeng Xu, Le Liu, Wenjing Duan, Lizhu Niu, He Cheng, Chenyang Du, Mengyun Li, Wenying Huo, Hongyu Deng, Pan Zhou, Wen Chen () and Long Che ()
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Mengmeng Xu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Le Liu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzi Lake University Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Wenjing Duan: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzi Lake University Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Lizhu Niu: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
He Cheng: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Chenyang Du: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Mengyun Li: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Wenying Huo: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Hongyu Deng: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Pan Zhou: School of Life Science and Engineering, Southwest University of Science and Technology, Mianyang 621010, China
Wen Chen: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan Agricultural University, No. 15 Longzi Lake University Campus, Zhengzhou 450046, China
Long Che: College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Animal Husbandry and Economy, No. 6 North Longzihu Road, Zhengdong New District, Zhengzhou 450046, China

Agriculture, 2025, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-12

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of daidzein on the proliferation of porcine mammary epithelial cells (PMECs) and elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. PMECs were treated with varying daidzein or rapamycin levels, and then cell proliferation and mTOR pathway protein expression were detected. When the concentration of daidzein added was in the range of 0–80 μM, cell proliferation was significantly promoted ( p < 0.05). These results were in agreement with those obtained using the 5-ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine (EdU) assay. Daidzein administration at 20 and 40 μM concentrations triggered significant activation of the mTOR signaling cascade and enhanced expression of downstream cell-cycle-regulatory proteins (cyclin D1) ( p < 0.05). Moreover, exposure to 40 μM daidzein attenuated apoptotic signaling, as evidenced by reduced levels of Bax protein and cleaved caspase-3 ( p < 0.05). These effects were reversed when rapamycin was used to inhibit the mTOR pathway. In conclusion, our findings suggest that daidzein activates PMEC proliferation via the mTOR pathway. The present work not only characterizes new functional properties of daidzein but also establishes mechanistic evidence supporting its role in augmenting sow lactation efficiency.

Keywords: daidzein; porcine mammary epithelial cells; cell proliferation; mTOR signal pathway (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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