Employing membrane filtration technology during infant milk formula processing, will improve intestinal barrier function in vitro

Several preclinical studies observed that lowering thermal loads during infant milk formula (IMF) manufacturing has beneficial effects on the immature gut of the infant. To further unravel this benefit, the objective of this study was to determine if IMF produced by membrane filtration (MEM-IMF) can provide health benefits in vitro using gut barrier models (Caco-2/HT29-MTX or HT29-MTX). Ex vivo and in vitro gastrointestinal digested samples of MEM-IMF, protected HT29-MTX monolayers from Salmonella enterica adhesion. In Caco-2/HT29MTX monolayers, MEM-IMF increased levels of the major mucus glycoprotein, mucin-2 and the tight junctions proteins, claudin-1 and occludin. Alpha-S1-casein ²³FFVAP²⁷, identified in digested MEM-IMF, also increased protein levels of mucin-1 and mucin-2, and mRNA transcript levels of mucin-5AC, Krüppel-like factor 4 and atonal BHLH transcription factor 1 in goblet cell monolayers. In conclusion, IMF produced by membrane filtration benefits intestinal mucus functionality in vitro.