2′‐Fucosyllactose promotes Lactobacillus rhamnosus KLDS 8001 to repair LPS‐induced damage in Caco‐2 cells

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of 2'-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) on the repair of monolayer barrier damage in Caco-2 cells by Lactobacillus rhamnosus KLDS 8001 (KLDS 8001). The results showed that the addition of 2′-FL not only promoted the adhesion ability of KLDS 8001 to Caco-2 cells but also improved the anti-adhesive effect of pathogenic bacteria. Compared with 2′-FL or KLDS 8001 alone, 2′-FL+KLDS 8001 significantly reduced lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced malondialdehyde (MDA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, and cytokine (IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α) production. In addition, 2′-FL effectively promoted the transmembrane electrical resistance (TEER), cell viability, and cellular permeability of KLDS 8001 repaired damaged cells with dose-dependent properties. The mRNA and protein expression of Zonula Occludens-1 (ZO-1), Occludin, and Claudin-1 were also upregulated in the KLDS 8001 and 2′-FL co-treated treatment group. It was speculated that 2′-FL could effectively regulate the interaction between KLDS 8001 and intestinal epithelial cells to play a role in maintaining intestinal barrier function and avoiding pathogenic bacteria invasion. Practical applications As the most widely used human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), 2′-FL is vital for maintaining infant intestinal health. Our study found that the addition of 2′-FL promoted KLDS 8001 adhesion, anti-adhesion of pathogenic bacteria, anti-inflammatory capacity, repair of barrier damage, and tight junction protein expression, providing a new strategy to protect infant intestinal health and prevent various intestinal diseases.