Integrated multi-omics reveals Enterococcus faecalis JM263 alleviates high-concentrate diet-induced hepatic injury via the gut-liver axis in goats

Background In intensive ruminant production, long-term feeding of high-concentrate diets (HCD) is employed to boost short-term growth but frequently precipitates systemic inflammation, oxidative stress, and multi-organ damage, posing significant challenges to the sustainability of the goat industry. This study investigated the potential regulatory mechanisms of Enterococcus faecalis JM263, a strain isolated from yak gut contents, in mitigating HCD-induced inflammation and oxidative stress via the gut-liver axis. Twenty-four male Yudong black goats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (CON) and three treatment groups supplemented with 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 g/kg of E. faecalis JM263 (HCD1, HCD2, HCD3), respectively, for a 60-day trial.Results The results demonstrated that E. faecalis JM263 supplementation significant attenuated intestinal and hepatic injury caused by systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, thereby enhancing growth performance and immune function. Mechanistically, E. faecalis JM263 mitigated systemic inflammation by reinforcing intestinal barrier function and remodeling the gut microbiota, specifically enriching the beneficial taxa Muribaculaceae and Acetatifactor. Furthermore, the probiotic reduced hepatic oxidative stress by modulating the Nrf2/Keap1 signaling pathway and boosting antioxidant enzyme activities. Integrated proteomics and metabolomics analyses revealed that E. faecalis JM263 regulates hepatic inflammatory responses and apoptosis primarily through the modulation of arachidonic acid metabolism. Correlation analysis further confirmed robust associations between the gut microbiota, arachidonic acid-related proteins/metabolites, and host phenotypic indices.Conclusions In summary, E. faecalis JM263 alleviates HCD-induced multi-organ damage and functional dysfunction by synergistically improving the intestinal barrier, suppressing systemic inflammation, and reducing oxidative stress. These findings highlight the efficacy of E. faecalis JM263 in promoting growth performance and maintaining health in ruminants via the gut-liver axis.