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

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.