MUC2 and irritable bowel syndrome: Although the interventions with L. plantarum ZYC501, GOS, as well as the synbiotic all markedly enhanced the integrity of the gut barrier, upregulated expression of MUC2 in the colon, improved gut microbiota composition, increased production of SCFAs, and reduced mast cells hyperactivation, the synbiotic exerted greater benefits on counteracting some of these perturbations, particularly on colonic transit function, as well as mucosal integrity in the context of IBS.