Cytoprotective Effects of Lactic Acid Bacteria and Yeast Cell-Free Supernatants Against Acrylamide-Induced Damage in Caco-2 Cells.

Acrylamide (AA) is a food-derived contaminant linked to oxidative stress and genotoxicity in intestinal epithelial cells. This study had two objectives: (i) to evaluate the protective effects of cell-free supernatants from Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus 0997 and Kluyveromyces lactis 0028 against AA-induced damage in Caco-2 cells, and (ii) to investigate AA-induced changes in the surface and functional properties of selected lactic acid bacteria and yeast strains. Cell-free supernatants significantly enhanced DNA repair, reduced genotoxicity, and decreased intracellular reactive oxygen species in Caco-2 cells in a concentration- and AA-dose-dependent manner (p < 0.05). L. rhamnosus 0997 showed stronger cytoprotection at higher AA concentrations, whereas K. lactis 0028 was more effective under lower AA exposure. Independently, AA altered auto-aggregation, biofilm formation, hydrophobicity, adhesion, and zeta potential of the tested microbial strains in a strain-specific manner. These findings demonstrate the cytoprotective potential of microbial cell-free supernatants against AA-induced cellular damage and characterize the effects of AA on selected microbial surface properties.