Maternally-derived antibody to fibroblast growth factor-23 reduced dietary phosphate requirements in growing chicks

• DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.03.063
• Publication Date: 2012-03-17T20:05:22Z
• Authors: Elizabeth A. Bobeck; Kimberly S. Burgess; Taylor R. Jarmes; Michelle L. Piccione; Mark E. Cook
• Keywords: Monogastric; Bone ash

Phosphate in manure of monogastric animals pollutes the environment if improperly applied to soil. Strategies that reduce phosphate inputs into animal production systems reduce environmental pollution. Using a novel vaccine to fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), we induced neutralizing antibodies that reduced the phosphate requirement of growing chickens. Breeding hens were injected with a FGF-23 peptide (AFLPGMNP) conjugate. Antibody was passively transferred from hen to chick and chick response to deficient dietary phosphate intake was determined. Chicks without passive anti-FGF-23 antibody had a 43% and 21% reduction in blood phosphate and bone ash, respectively, when fed a phosphate deficient diet and compared to chicks fed a phosphate replete diet (P<0.05). Chicks with circulating anti-FGF-23 antibodies fed the phosphate deficient diet had plasma phosphate and bone ash that did not differ from chicks fed the phosphate replete diet (P>0.05). Neutralization of FGF-23 offers a new approach to reduce phosphate requirements of farmed animals and may provide a new means to reduce phosphate pollution related to animal farming.