Protective Effects of Human Milk Oligosaccharides (hMOs) on Analgesic, Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDs)-Induced Disruption of Gut Barrier Integrity in Cocultures Mimicking Neuro-Gut Epithelial Cell Crosstalk

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like indomethacin alter gut microbiota composition and disrupt intestinal integrity, increasing the risks of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Gut barrier function is regulated by a complex crosstalk between different cell types, including epithelial cells and cells from the enteric nervous system (ENS). Human milk oligosaccharides (hMOs), particularly 2 '-fucosyllactose (2 '-FL) and 3-fucosyllactose (3-FL), can regulate intestinal barrier function, but their roles in neuroepithelial crosstalk under NSAID stress remain unclear. This study focused on hMOs' direct epithelial effects to explore their potential in microbiota-independent effects caused by the NSAID indomethacin. T84 colorectal carcinoma cells were cocultured with SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells in ratios of 29:1 and 14:1. We evaluated the protective role of hMOs in indomethacin-induced barrier disruption. We found that indomethacin reduced transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), disrupted F-actin organization, and decreased tight junction (TJ) protein expression. Pretreatment with 2 '-FL and 3-FL protected against these effects, particularly in cocultures with a higher nerve cell ratio of 14:1, restoring TEER, F-actin integrity, and claudin-1 expression. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of 2 '-FL and 3-FL in directly maintaining barrier integrity in intestinal neuroepithelial cocultures during NSAID treatment.