The immune-enhancing activity of egg white ovalbumin hydrolysate prepared with papain via MAPK signaling pathway in RAW 264.7 macrophages

• Published in: Journal of functional foods Vol. 103; p. 105487
• Main Authors: Yeon Cho, Hee, Lee, Ji-Eun, Hoon Lee, Jae, Uk Ahn, Dong, Paik, Hyun-Dong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.04.2023; Elsevier
• Subjects: Egg white; Enzymatic hydrolysis; Immune-enhancing activity; MAPK pathway; Ovalbumin; MAPK pathway; Ovalbumin; Egg white; Immune-enhancing activity; Enzymatic hydrolysis
• ISSN: 1756-4646; 2214-9414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2023.105487

[Display omitted] •Ovalbumin hydrolysate prepared with papain (OAPP) enhanced NO production and expression of iNOS mRNA in RAW 264.7 cells.•OAPP increased the mRNA expression and production levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines.•The MAPK signaling pathway involved the macrophage activation induced by the OAPP.•The immune-enhancing activity of OAPP was improved under the digestion model. Ovalbumin (OA) is a major protein in egg white, and enzymatic hydrolysis of OA is well-known to improve its functional properties. In this study, the immune-enhancing effects of OA hydrolysates (OAH), prepared using proteolytic enzymes (Alcalase®, α-chymotrypsin, Flavourzyme®, Neutrase®, and papain) in RAW 264.7 macrophages, were investigated. All the OAH enhanced NO production, with the maximum level found in the OAH prepared with papain (OAPP) by increasing the expression of iNOS mRNA and protein. RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with the OAPP showed higher mRNA expression levels and the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6). The evaluation results with specific inhibitors showed that the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway involved the macrophage activation induced by the OAPP. Moreover, the immunomodulatory activity of OAPP was improved under the in vitro gastrointestinal digestion model, indicating that the OAPP could be used as an effective immune-enhancing agent in the functional food industry.