Mucin alleviates colonic barrier dysfunction by promoting spermine accumulation through enhanced arginine metabolism in Limosilactobacillus mucosae

Abstract

Microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids produced by dietary fiber fermentation have been demonstrated to have beneficial effects on intestinal health. However, it is essential to acknowledge that certain amino acids entering the colon can be metabolized by microorganisms to produce polyamines. The polyamines can promote the renewal of intestinal epithelial cell and maintain host-microbe homeostasis. Our study highlighted the specific enrichment by mucin on promoting the arginine metabolism in Limosilactobacillus mucosae to produce spermine, suggesting that microbial-derived polyamines support a significant enhancement on the goblet cell proliferation and barrier function.