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In Vitro Infant Fecal Fermentation Metabolites of Osteopontin and 2'-Fucosyllactose Support Intestinal Barrier
Ran Cai1,2, Yuxing Zheng3, Jonathan A Lane4
1School of Food Science and Engineering, Overseas Expertise Introduction Center for Discipline Innovation of Food Nutrition and Human Health, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510640, China.
Abstract:
In this study, we investigated the effects of infant fecal fermentation-derived metabolites of digested osteopontin (OPN) and 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL), either individually or in combination, on intestinal barrier function using a Caco-2/HT-29 coculture cell model. Our results suggested that the OPN/2'-FL (1:36-1:3) cofermentation metabolites improved epithelial barrier integrity by supporting the mRNA and protein expression of occludin, claudin-1, claudin-2, ZO-1, and ZO-2. All of the OPN/2'-FL treatments decreased the production of IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, while the OPN/2'-FL ratio increased IL-10 production by inhibiting activation of the MyD88/IκB-α/NF-κB signaling pathway. OPN/2'-FL cofermentation altered the metabolic pathways, and the protective effect of fermentation metabolites on intestinal barrier function was related to differential metabolite expression such as short-chain fatty acids, deoxycholic acid, and 4-aminobutyric acid. Our findings provide in vitro evidence to support the application of the OPN/2'-FL combination in infant formula for the advancement of formulation functionality, including intestinal barrier function.
