Advances in the protection of intestinal mucosal barrier function by milk-derived miRNAs

Milk is a significant component of the human diet, providing an abundance of energy and nutrients and a variety of functional factors. Recent studies have revealed that milk is highly enriched in exosomes with intercellular communication functions, which can act on target cells in vivo by carrying and delivering miRNAs and critically participating in physiological processes such as host intestinal development, cell differentiation, and immune response. In recent years, the biosynthesis of milk-derived miRNAs and their cross-border uptake mechanisms, the biological functions of milk-derived miRNAs and the universality of their regulatory modalities, the extraction and identification of milk-derived miRNAs as novel active ingredients and their potential as biomarkers have been extensively studied. Accordingly, this paper compares and summarizes the cutting-edge research on the nutritional and health functions of milk-derived miRNAs, including the types and contents of milk-derived miRNAs, their transportability and stability in the digestive tract, with special attention to the molecular mechanisms of the milk-derived miRNAs in protecting the barrier function of the intestinal mucosa, and looks forward to the application of milk-derived miRNAs as novel dietary supplements in infant foods and functional foods. It will inform future efforts to elucidate the profound impact of milk-derived miRNAs on the human intestine and broader health.