Protective Mechanism of Leucine and Isoleucine against H2O2-Induced Oxidative Damage in Bovine Mammary Epithelial Cells

Leucine and isoleucine possess antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. However, their underlying protective mechanisms against oxidative damage remain unknown. Therefore, in this study, the protective mechanism of leucine and isoleucine against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in a bovine mammary epithelial cell lines (MAC-T cells) were investigated. Briefly, MAC-T cells exposed or free to H2O2 were incubated with different combinations of leucine and isoleucine. The cellular relative proliferation rate and viability, oxidative stress indicators, and inflammatory factors were determined by specific commercial kits. The genes related to barrier functions was measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The protein expression differences were explored by 4D label-free quantitative proteomic analyses and validated by parallel reaction monitoring. The results revealed that leucine and isoleucine increased cell proliferation, total antioxidant status (TAS), and the relative mRNA expression of occludin, as well as decreased malondialdehyde (MDA), total oxidant status (TOS)/TAS, IL-6, IL-1 beta, and TOS. When leucine and isoleucine were combined, MDA, TOS/TAS, and the relative mRNA expression levels of claudin-1, occludin, and zonula occludens-1 increased when compared to leucine or isoleucine alone. Proteomics analyses revealed that leucine significantly upregulated the propanoate metabolism; valine, leucine, and isoleucine degradation; and thermogenesis pathways, whereas isoleucine significantly upregulated the peroxisome and propanoate metabolism pathways. In conclusion, leucine protected MAC-T cells from H2O2-induced oxidative stress by generating more ATP to supplement energy demands, and isoleucine improved the deficit in peroxisome transport and promoted acetyl-CoA production. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of the protective mechanisms of leucine and isoleucine against oxidative damage.