Synergistic effect of lactoferrin and osteopontin on intestinal barrier injury

In Vitro Infant Fecal Fermentation Metabolites of Osteopontin and 2'-Fucosyllactose Support Intestinal Barrier Function

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.

Looking Inside of the Intestinal Permeability Regulation by Protein-Derivatives from Bovine Milk

The prime function of the epithelium is to regulate the intestinal permeability; the latter is a quantitative parameter that refers to the measurement of the rate of passage of solutes through the epithelial monolayer. Function of epithelial monolayer depends on the expression of protein complexes known as tight junction proteins; whose function and expression can be disrupted under conditions of inflammation including irritable bowel disease (IBD), intestinal infections, and high-fat diets, among others. This manuscript is focused to outline the effects of bovine milk protein derivatives on the intestinal permeability addressed mostly in animal models in which the intestinal barrier is disrupted. At present, the properties of bovine milk protein derivatives on intestinal permeability have been scarcely documented in humans, but evidence raised from clinical trials provides promising findings of potential application of colostrum to control of the intestinal permeability in critically ill patients, users of non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs, like athletes and militia members.

Immunoregulation of bovine lactoferrin together with osteopontin promotes immune system development and maturation

The immune system of infants is partly weak and immature, and supplementation of infant formula can be of vital importance to boost the development of the immune system. Lactoferrin (LF) and osteopontin (OPN) are essential proteins in human milk with immunoregulation function. An increasing number of studies indicate that proteins have interactions with each other in milk, and our previous study found that a ratio of LF : OPN at 1 : 5 (w/w, denoted as LOP) had a synergistic effect on intestinal barrier protection. It remains unknown whether LOP can also exert a stronger effect on immunoregulation. Hence, we used an in vitro model of LPS-induced macrophage inflammation and in vivo models of LPS-induced intestinal inflammation and early life development. We showed that LOP increased the secretion of the granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (132%), stem cell factor (167%) and interleukin-3 (176%) in bone marrow cells, as well as thymosin (155%) and interleukin-10 (161%) in the thymus, more than LF or OPN alone during development, and inhibited changes in immune cells and cytokines during the LPS challenge. In addition, analysis of the components of digested proteins in vitro revealed that differentially expressed peptides may provide immunoregulation. Lastly, LOP increased the abundance of Rikenellaceae, Muribaculum, Faecalibaculum, and Elisenbergiella in the cecum content. These results imply that LOP is a potential immunomodifier for infants and offers a new theoretical basis for infant formula innovation.