Prebiotics can modulate gut fermentation and improve intestinal barrier function in mammals. First, inulin fermentation profile was tested in a three-step in vitro model of the piglet’s gastro-intestinal tract combining a hydrolysis – dialysis step to a batch fermentation. Then, the differential effects of digested inulin (after the hydrolysis – dialysis steps) or fermented inulin (after the fermentation step) on the expression of gut barrier and immune-related genes of IPEC-J2 cells were investigated by high-throughput qPCR. Inulin was associated with elevated short-chain fatty acids and butyrate levels. Upregulated expressions of tight and adherens junction genes were observed in IPEC-J2 cells supplemented with inulin fermentation supernatant compared to control IPEC-J2 cells and digested inulin. Therefore, metabolites arising from the fermentation process, including butyrate, could be responsible for the reinforcement of the barrier function.

益生元可以调节哺乳动物的肠道发酵并改善肠道屏障功能。首先，通过三步体外测试菊粉的发酵特性仔猪胃肠道模型的组合，包括水解-透析步骤到分批发酵。然后，通过高通量qPCR研究了消化的菊粉（在水解-透析步骤之后）或发酵的菊粉（在发酵步骤之后）对IPEC-J2细胞肠屏障表达和免疫相关基因的差异影响。菊粉与短链脂肪酸和丁酸水平升高有关。与对照IPEC-J2细胞和消化的菊粉相比，在补充菊粉发酵上清液的IPEC-J2细胞中观察到紧密连接基因和粘附连接基因的上调表达。因此，发酵过程中产生的代谢产物（包括丁酸盐）可能是屏障功能增强的原因。