This study examined the protective effects of citrulline enriched-fermented milk with live Lactobacillus helveticus ASCC 511 (LH511) on intestinal epithelial barrier function and inflammatory response in IPEC-J2 cells caused by pathogenic Escherichia coli. Five percent (v/v) of fermented milk with live LH511and 4 mM citrulline (5%LHFM_Cit-4mM) significantly stimulated the population of IPEC-J2 cells by 36% as determined by MTT assay. Adhesion level of LH511 was significantly increased by 9.2% when incubated with 5%LHFM_Cit-4mM and 5%LHFM_Cit-4mM reduced the adhesion of enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and entero-invasive (EIEC) E. coli in IPEC-J2 cells by 35.79% and 42.74%, respectively. Treatment with 5%LHFM_Cit-4mM ameliorated lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from E. coli O55:B5 induced activated inflammatory cytokines expression (TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8) and concentration (IL-6 and IL-8) and early apoptosis. It restored the transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and regulated the expression and distribution of tight junction (TJ) proteins (zonula occluden-1 (ZO-1), occludin and claudin-1), tolllike receptors (TLRs) (TLR2 and TLR4) and negative regulators of TLRs signalling pathway (A20 and IRAK-M). In conclusion, our findings suggested that 5%LHFM_Cit-4mM might have the positive effects on improving and maintaining the intestinal epithelial cell integrity and inflammatory response under both normal and pathogenic LPS-stimulated conditions.Probiotics are defined as live micro-organisms that contribute health-promoting effects 1 . These organisms have been extensively investigated for their health-promoting effects on intestinal tract and modulating the intestinal epithelial barrier functions by several mechanisms, such as prevention against pathogenic adhesion, reinforcement of tight junctions (TJ), protective effects against damage on TJ, suppression of inflammatory cytokines and anti-apoptotic effects 2 .Pathogenic infection occurs when pathogen adheres to host intestinal epithelium 3 . The infection of pathogenic Escherichia coli strains, such as enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) and enteroinvasive (EIEC) E. coli, begins with the colonization and adherence to the intestinal mucosal surface and thus causing damage to the host 4 . The ability of probiotics to adhere to the intestinal epithelial cells is considered as a possible mechanism contributing to the inhibition effect against pathogenic adhesion by competing the adhesion site or/and for nutrients 3 or producing antimicrobial agents 5 . Several Lactobacillus strains, such as L. rhamnosus GG, L. fermentum, L. acidophilus and L. plantarum, have been demonstrated to adhere to the intestinal mucus and markedly diminish the adhesion of Bacteroides vulgatus, Clostridium histolyticum, Enterobacter aerogenes and Staphylococcus aureus 3 . Impaired intestinal barrier functions following pathogenic infection include TJ dysfunction, including increased epithelial permeability and damages to epithelial structure, trigger of pro-inflammatory response and excessive apoptosis. With regard to...