Abstract
The intestinal tight junction (TJ) barrier is a crucial defense mechanism that prevents the passage of intestinal content into the intestinal wall, tissue, and systemic circulation. A compromised intestinal TJ barrier has been identified as a significant factor in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), necrotizing enterocolitis, and other gut-related inflammatory conditions. Recent studies have revealed the importance of the probiotic bacterial strains of Bifidobacterium in protecting against intestinal inflammation and IBD pathogenesis via the regulation of intestinal TJ barrier function. Numerous species and strains of Bifidobacterium have been found to regulate TJ proteins and the signaling pathways responsible for maintaining intestinal barrier integrity and permeability. In this review, we provide a summary of recent studies that highlight the regulatory role of Bifidobacterium species and the strain effect on the intestinal TJ barrier. We also discuss the intracellular mechanisms involved in Bifidobacterium modulation of the intestinal barrier and the potential therapeutic efficacy of targeting the barrier function to regulate intestinal inflammation.