low-molecular-weight hydrolyzed fucoidan, Caco-2/RAW264.7 cell co-culture, inflammation, transcriptome, intestinal barrier, Chemical technology, TP1-1185

Fucoidan, a sulfated polysaccharide rich in fucose, is derived from brown algae and marine invertebrates. Multiple bioactivities have been shown with fucoidan, while growing attraction has emerged in its low-molecular-weight (Mw) hydrolysates. Here, the anti-inflammatory effect of fucoidan, low-Mw acidolyzed fucoidan (LMAF, Tnf, Il6, Il1b, Junb, and Nfkb1 in the TNF signaling pathway, NF-kappa B signaling pathway, and cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction. RT-PCR results indicated that LMAF markedly reduced the LPS-elevated expression of Cxcl2, Tnf, Ccl2, Il1b, and Csf2. Moreover, LMAF effectively increased the proteins expression of Claudin-1, Occludin, and Zonula occluden-1 in Caco-2 cells. This study highlights the potential of LMAF to improve inflammation and intestinal barrier integrity, offering a foundation for further application of low-Mw fucoidan hydrolysates.