Effects of 2’-Fucosyllactose on the Colonization and Anti-inflammatory Property of Probiotics

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the effect of 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) on the proliferation, adhesion to intestinal cells and anti-inflammatory ability of lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacterial. Methods: 2’-FL was used to study if the strains could utilize it for promoting proliferation or improving adhesion, by determining the biomass, acid production and variations in adhesion capacity. Then finding out the potential anti-inflammatory strains among the strains whose colonization ability was enhanced by 2’-FL, by a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced macrophage RAW264.7 inflammatory model. Finally, 2’-FL and the combinations of 2’-FL and the potential anti-inflammatory strains were used to investigate their effects on the inflammation. Results: Among the thirty experimental strains, 2’-FL could promote the proliferation of Bifidobacterium bifidum (FL-276.1, FL-228.1) and improve the adhesion of lactic acid bacteria (ML-1, FN515, FN518, FN249, ML329) and bifidobacterial (FL-276.1) to Caco-2 cells. Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-276.1, Bifidobacterium bifidum FL-228.1 and Lactobacillus rhamnosus FN518 could significantly reduce the secretion of NO, TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-1β in the inflammatory model. Meanwhile, 2’-FL alone significantly reduced the secretion of NO, IL-6 and IL-1β. The combination of 2’-FL and the above three strains had a synergistic anti-inflammatory effect, which showed a strain-specific trait. Particularly, strain FL-276.1 combined with 2’-FL exerted the best anti-inflammatory effect. Conclusions: 2’-FL could promote the colonization and anti-inflammatory activity of certain lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacterial, which showed a strain-specific trait. It might provide alternative choice for the prevention of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) in preterm infants.