LAUSR

Stearic acid (SA), a saturated long-chain fatty acid consisting of 18 carbon atoms, is widely found in feed ingredients such as corn, soybeans, and wheat. However, the roles of SA in the renewal of intestinal epithelial cells remain unclear. In the present study, we found that 0.01-0.15 mM SA promoted IPEC-J2 cell differentiation. In addition, the results showed that the viability of IPEC-J2 cells was inhibited by SA in a time- and dose-dependent manner. Flow cytometry and western blot analysis suggested that SA induced apoptosis and blocked autophagic flux in cells. In addition, the amounts of triglyceride were significantly increased upon challenge with SA. Moreover, the decrease in the viability of cells induced by SA could be attenuated by 4-PBA, an inhibitor of ER stress. In summary, SA accelerated IPEC-J2 cell differentiation at 0.01-0.15 mM. Furthermore, SA induced IPEC-J2 cell apoptosis and impaired autophagic flux by causing ER stress.