The in vitro anti-inflammatory mechanism of Porphyra haitanensis oligosaccharides on lipopolysaccharide-induced injury in IEC-6 cells

Porphyra haitanensis, with its rich nutritional value and distinctive flavour, has become a research hotspot in food field. P. haitanensis oligosaccharides (PHO) are oligosaccharides with potential anti-inflammatory properties that ameliorate lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory responses in the in vitro IEC-6 cell line model. Here, the structure of PHO was investigated, and LPS–induced injury mechanisms in IEC-6 were determined by cellular, molecular, and transcriptome analyses. After PHO exposure, LPS-induced IEC-6 cells showed reduced apoptosis, decreased oxidative stress levels, improved cell membrane integrity, and paracellular permeability. This study shows that PHO attenuates injury in the IEC-6 cell line by increasing the expression of tight junctions. PHO also inhibited the TLR4/NF-κB pathway and caused downregulation of intracellular pro-inflammatory cytokines, which attenuates LPS-induced injury in an in vitro model, and further offers the possibility of restoring the intestinal barrier. This study provides insight into the role of PHO in alleviating the intestinal epithelial barrier damage.