A mannose-rich exopolysaccharide-1 isolated from Bifidobacterium breve mitigates ovalbumin-induced intestinal damage in mice by modulation CD4 + T cell differentiation and inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathway

Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced intestinal injury is a recurrent and potentially fatal condition. Previous studies have highlighted the roles of exopolysaccharides, particularly a mannose-rich (89.59 %) exopolysaccharide-1 (EPS-1) with a molecular weight of 39.9 kDa, isolated from Bifidobacterium breve H4-2, in repairing intestinal barriers and regulating immune responses. In this study, a mouse model of OVA-induced intestinal injury was used to investigate the effects of EPS-1 on intestinal barrier restoration. The results demonstrated that EPS-1 treatment (400 mg/kg. d) significantly reduced the allergic index (3.25 ± 0.43) in OVA-challenged mice (p < 0.05), improved the physical integrity of the intestinal barrier by increasing mucin content and goblet cell number in the ileum (p < 0.05). EPS-1 treatment (400 mg/kg. d) also maintained immune barrier integrity by restoring imbalanced CD4 + T/CD8 + T ratios from 0.86 ± 0.02 to 1.04 ± 0.06, regulating Th1/Th2 and Th17/Treg cells balance, as well as inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway. Furthermore, EPS-1 maintained microbiota homeostasis by increasing the abundances of Ruminococcus, Butyricicoccus, and Muribaculaceae, while reducing Streptococcus and Candidatus arthromitus. This microbiota modulation enhanced the levels of metabolites such as tyrosine, methionine, tryptophan, triglycerides, and salidroside. In conclusion, EPS-1 shows promise as a functional polysaccharide for therapeutic use.