β-Carotene improves intestinal barrier function by modulating proinflammatory cytokines and improving antioxidant capacity in β-lactoglobulin-sensitized mice.

Increased intestinal permeability due to barrier dysfunction is supposed to cause several gastrointestinal diseases. We have previously demonstrated that a single β-carotene (BC) dose protects against increase in anaphylactic response in β-lactoglobulin (BLG)-sensitized mice with no effect on the epithelial permeability and weak recovery of villi length. Utilizing the same murine ex vivo intestinal model, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of different BC doses on BLG-mediated intestinal epithelial barrier disturbances.

Taurine administration prevents the intestine from the damage induced by beta-lactoglobulin sensitization in a murine model of food allergy.

Background: Allergy to cow's milk proteins has often been associated with dysfunction of the intestinal mucosa caused by chronic inflammation in infants. This study evaluated the protective effect of taurine on intestinal damage induced by beta-lactoglobulin (β-Lg) in Balb/c mice used as an animal model of allergy to cow's milk proteins.

Methods: Balb/c mice were treated with taurine administered orally by gavage (3mmol/kg/day) or intraperitoneally (100mg/kg/day) for two weeks, then sensitized intraperitoneally with β-Lg.