Evaluation of Zn-Peptides from Holothuria scabra: Gut Microbiota Profile and Cytokine Signalling Pathways in Rat Pups Born to Zinc-Deficient Parent

Zinc is essential for skeletal development and maintaining immune homeostasis, with zinc deficiency (ZD) leading to compromised immunity and heightened infection risk. This study explores the potential of Zinc-chelating Peptides (ZCP), a novel third-generation zinc supplement sourced from Holothuria scabra , to ameliorate ZD-induced immune dysregulation and gut dysbiosis in rat offspring. Through a metagenomic approach, we demonstrate that ZD markedly increases pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-10, IFN-γ) and disrupts gut microbial diversity. ZCP treatment effectively modulated these cytokine profiles, with ZnSO ₄ supplementation (ZDZn group) leading to the greatest restoration of microbial diversity. These results underscore the critical role of the gut microbiome in mediating zinc's immunomodulatory effects and suggest that ZCP holds promise for restoring both gut health and immune balance in ZD states, necessitating further exploration of its underlying mechanisms and long-term implications.