Lycium barbarum arabinogalactan alleviates intestinal mucosal damage in mice by restoring intestinal microbes and mucin O-glycans

Structurally defined arabinogalactan (LBP-3) from Lycium barbarum have effect on improving intestinal barrier function. However, whether its intestinal barrier function depended on the changes of intestinal mucin O-glycans have not been investigated. A dextran sodium sulfate-induced acute colitis mouse model was employed to test prevention and treatment with LBP-3. The intestinal microbiota as well as colonic mucin O-glycan profiles were analyzed. Supplementation with LBP-3 inhibited harmful bacteria, including Desulfovibrionaceae, Enterobacteriaceae, and Helicobacteraceae while significantly increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria (e.g., Lachnospiraceae, Ruminococcaceae, and Lactobacillaceae). Notably, LBP-3 augmented the content of neutral O-glycans by stimulating the fucosylation glycoforms (F1H1N2 and F1H2N2), short-chain sulfated O-glycans (S1F1H1N2, S1H1N2, and S1H2N3), and sialylated medium- and long-chain O-glycans (F1H2N2A1, H2N3A1, and F1H3N2A1). In summary, we report that supplement LBP-3 significantly reduced pathological symptoms, restored the bacterial community, and promoted the expression of O-glycans to successfully prevent and alleviate colitis in a mouse model, especially in the LBP-3 prevention testing group. The underlying mechanism of action was investigated using glycomics to better clarify which the structurally defined LBP-3 were responsible for its beneficial effect against ulcerative colitis and assess its use as a functional food or pharmaceutical supplement.