Differential protective effects of whole and skimmed whey on LPS-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation in Caco-2/TC7 cells | Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Skip to main content Skip to main navigation menu Skip to site footer Open Menu Functional Foods in Health and Disease - Online ISSN: 2160-3855; Print ISSN: 2378-7007 Home Food Science Publisher Functional Food Center Current Archives About About the Journal Aims and Scope Contact Editing Services Editorial Team Express Peer Review Graphical Abstract Journal Insights Privacy Statement Submissions Announcements Search Search Register Login Home / Archives / Vol. 15 No. 11 (2025): November 2025 / Research Articles Differential protective effects of whole and skimmed whey on LPS-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation in Caco-2/TC7 cells Authors Elena Layunta Laura García Sofía Gimeno Jaime Martínez Lourdes Sánchez Laura Gras DOI: https://doi.org/10.31989/ffhd.v15i11.1774 Abstract Background: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria disrupts intestinal epithelial integrity and promotes inflammation, contributing to the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal disorders. Dairy-based whey products are rich in bioactive compounds with known barrier-protective and immunomodulatory properties.  Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of two types of bovine whey — bovine whole whey (BWW) and bovine skimmed whey (BSW) — on LPS-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation in the intestinal in vitro model Caco-2/TC7 cells.  Methods: Caco-2/TC7 cell line was exposed to 20 µg/ml LPS for 24h to induce epithelial barrier disruption. Additionally, cells were treated with 5 mg/ml BWW or 5 mg/ml BSW alone, or in combination with 20 µg/ml LPS. Transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER), FITC-dextran permeability, and mRNA expression of tight junction (TJ) proteins (ZO-1, claudin-1, claudin-3, occludin) and inflammation-related genes (IL-1R, COX-2, iNOS) were assessed.  Results: LPS significantly reduced TEER without increasing macromolecular permeability or altering TJ gene expression. Both whey fractions restored TEER to control levels, with BSW also enhancing baseline barrier integrity. BWW and BSW upregulated ZO-1 and claudin-1 mRNA expression, though claudin-1 was downregulated when BSW was combined with LPS. Importantly, only BWW normalized LPS-induced overexpression of IL-1R, COX-2, and iNOS, indicating better anti-inflammatory properties likely due to its retained lipid components. Conclusion: Both whey fractions reinforce epithelial barrier function under LPS challenge, but only whole whey (BWW) provides dual protection by also attenuating inflammatory responses. These findings support the potential of whole whey as a functional food ingredient for intestinal health by targeting both physical and immunological aspects of barrier dysfunction. Keywords: bovine whey, LPS, intestinal permeability, tight junction proteins, inflammation Downloads [Abstract] [Full Article] Published 2025-11-17 Issue Vol. 15 No. 11 (2025): November 2025 Section Research Articles License Copyright (c) 2025 Elena Layunta, Laura García, Sofía Gimeno, Jaime Martínez, Lourdes Sánchez, Laura Gras This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. Authors retain the copyright of their articles and grant the Functional Food Center (FFC) and its journals the right of first publication under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. This license permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, including commercial use, provided the original author(s) and source are properly credited. Authors may post and share their published work freely, provided that the original publication in this journal is acknowledged. By submitting to this journal, authors confirm that their manuscripts are original, not under consideration elsewhere, and that they hold the necessary rights to grant this license. The Functional Food Center encourages open scientific exchange and allows derivative and extended works, provided attribution to the original publication is maintained. About the Journal      Editing Services      Graphical Abstract      Journal Insights        Submissions        Editorial Team       Privacy Statement        Contact        Current        Archives   Open Journal Systems Hosting and Support by: OpenJournalSystems.com