The combination of human milk oligosaccharides 3-fucosyllactose and 3′-sialyllactose alleviates LPS-induced damage to intestinal epithelial cells

Human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), such as 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL) and 3'-sialyllactose (3'-SL), show promise in intestinal health, but their combined effect on intestinal injury remains unclear. This study investigated their anti-inflammatory mechanisms using lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat intestinal epithelial cells (IEC-6). The results demonstrated that 3-FL and 3'-SL, alone or combined, attenuated LPS-induced cell damage, reduced pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1β (IL-1β)], modulated oxidative stress markers [malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH)], and enhanced tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, and Claudin-1). The 3-FL/3'-SL combination exhibited superior efficacy, suppressing NF-κB activation and promoting Nrf2 nuclear translocation. These findings highlighted the potential of 3-FL and 3'-SL in alleviating intestinal inflammation and barrier dysfunction, offering a novel therapeutic strategy for inflammatory bowel diseases.