Soybean-Derived Antihypertensive Peptide LSW (Leu-Ser-Trp) Antagonizes the Damage of Angiotensin II to Vascular Endothelial Cells through the Trans-vesicular Pathway

Soybean meal peptide Gly-Thr-Tyr-Trp could protect mice from acute alcoholic liver damage: A study of protein-protein interaction and proteomic analysis

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a serious health threat. Soybean meal peptide (SMP) supplementation may protect against this damage; however, the potential mechanism underlying the specific sequence of SMPs is unclear. Protein-protein interaction and proteomic analyses are effective methods for studying functional ingredients in diseases. This study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of action of the peptide Gly-Thr-Tyr-Trp (GTYW) on ALD using protein-protein interaction and proteomic analyses. These results demonstrate that GTYW influenced the targets of glutathione metabolism (glutathione-disulfide reductase, glutathione S-transferase pi 1, and glutathione S-transferase mu 2). It also regulated the expression of targets related to energy metabolism and amino acid conversion (trypsin-2, cysteine dioxygenase type-1, and F6SJM7). Amino acid and lipid metabolisms were identified based on Gene Ontology annotation. These results indicate that GTYW might affect alcohol-related liver disease signaling pathways. This study provides evidence of the protective and nutritional benefits of SMPs in ALD treatment.

Extracellular Vesicles From Mycoplasma gallisepticum: Modulators of Macrophage Activation and Virulence

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate intercellular communication by transporting proteins. To investigate the pathogenesis of Mycoplasma gallisepticum, a major threat to the poultry industry, we isolated and characterized M. gallisepticum-produced EVs. Our study highlights the significant impact of M. gallisepticum-derived EVs on immune function and macrophage apoptosis, setting them apart from other M. gallisepticum metabolites. These EVs dose-dependently enhance M. gallisepticum adhesion and proliferation, simultaneously modulating Toll-like receptor 2 and interferon γ pathways and thereby inhibiting macrophage activation. A comprehensive protein analysis revealed 117 proteins in M. gallisepticum-derived EVs, including established virulence factors, such as GapA, CrmA, VlhA, and CrmB. Crucially, these EV-associated proteins significantly contribute to M. gallisepticum infection. Our findings advance our comprehension of M. gallisepticum pathogenesis, offering insights for preventive strategies and emphasizing the pivotal role of M. gallisepticum-derived EVs and their associated proteins. This research sheds light on the composition and crucial role of M. gallisepticum-derived EVs in M. gallisepticum pathogenesis, aiding our fight against M. gallisepticum infections.

A novel angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide from walnut (Juglans sigillata) protein hydrolysates and its evaluation in Ang II-induced HUVECs and hypertensive rats

This study aims to seek angiotensin-I-converting enzyme inhibitory (ACEi) peptides from walnut using different enzymatic hydrolysis, and further to validate the potent ACEi peptides identified and screened via peptidomics and in silico analysis against hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Results showed that walnut protein hydrolysate (WPH) prepared by combination of alcalase and simulated gastrointestinal digestion exhibited high ACEi activity. WPH was separated via Sephadex-G25, and four peptides were identified, screened and verified based on their PeptideRanker score, structural characteristic and ACE inhibition. Interestingly, FDWLR showed the highest ACEi activity with IC50 value of 8.02 μg/mL, which might be related to its close affinity with ACE observed in molecular docking. Subsequently, high absorption and non-toxicity of FDWLR was predicted via in silico absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion and toxicity. Furthermore, FDWLR exhibited positively vasoregulation in Ang II-induced human umbilical vein endothelial cells, and great blood pressure lowering effect in SHRs.

Effects of Dityrosine on Lactic Acid Metabolism in Mice Gastrocnemius Muscle During Endurance Exercise via the Oxidative Stress-Induced Mitochondria Damage

Dityrosine (Dityr) has been detected in commercial food as a product of protein oxidation and has been shown to pose a threat to human health. This study aims to investigate whether Dityr causes a decrease in lactic acid metabolism in the gastrocnemius muscle during endurance exercise. C57BL/6 mice were administered Dityr or saline by gavage for 13 weeks and underwent an endurance exercise test on a treadmill. Dityr caused a severe reduction in motion displacement and endurance time, along with a significant increase in lactic acid accumulation in the blood and gastrocnemius muscle in mice after exercise. Dityr induced significant mitochondrial defects in the gastrocnemius muscle of mice. Additionally, Dityr induced serious oxidative stress in the gastrocnemius muscle, accompanied by inflammation, which might be one of the causes of mitochondrial dysfunction. Moreover, significant apoptosis in the gastrocnemius muscle increased after exposure to Dityr. This study confirmed that Dityr induced oxidative stress in the gastrocnemius muscle, which further caused significant mitochondrial damage in the gastrocnemius muscle cell, resulting in decreased capacity of lactic acid metabolism and finally affected performance in endurance exercise. This may be one of the possible mechanisms by which highly oxidized foods cause a decreased muscle energy metabolism.

Soybean-derived antihypertensive hydrolysates attenuate Ang II-induced renal damage by modulating MAPK and NF-κB signaling pathways

Hypertension-induced kidney injury is considered a vital consequence of long-term and uncontrolled hypertension, which is commonly associated with an excessive accumulation of angiotensin II (Ang II) from hyperactivated RAS. Antihypertensive peptides have a significant effect on blood pressure regulation, but few studies have focused on the ameliorative function of antihypertensive peptides on renal injury. This study explored the effects of soybean protein-derived hydrolysate (SPH) on SHR and Ang II-induced HK-2 cells. SPH significantly attenuated blood pressure and alleviated renal pathological injury in SHRs after oral gavage administration. According to the pathological results, the kidneys of SHRs showed inflammation and SPH attenuated inflammatory cell infiltration in the kidneys of SHRs. Immunohistochemical analysis further revealed that SPH inhibited MCP-1 expression and increased Nrf2 expression in the kidneys. An in vitro HK-2 cell model demonstrated that SPH exhibited optimal activity for reducing Ang II-induced inflammatory cytokines and ROS overproduction. Mechanistically, SPH was observed to regulate MAPK/JNK and NF-κB signaling pathways. These findings indicate that potent antihypertensive SPH significantly ameliorates hypertension-induced kidney damage.

Identification and Screening of Potential ACE2 Activating Peptides from Soybean Protein Isolate Hydrolysate against Ang II-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) is a counterregulator against ACE by converting angiotensin II (Ang II) to Ang-(1-7), and its down-regulation leads to endothelial dysfunction in the vascular system. In the present study, we investigated the effects of soybean protein isolate hydrolysate (SPIH) on Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction with its underlying mechanisms via ACE2 activation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). We further screened potential ACE2 activating peptides by peptidomics analysis combined with bioinformatics tools. Results showed that SPIH remarkably attenuated Ang II-induced cell migration from 129 to 92%, decreased the ROS level from 2.22-fold to 1.45-fold, and increased NO concentration from 31.4 ± 0.7 to 43.7 ± 0.1 μM in HUVECs. However, these beneficial effects were reversed by ACE2 inhibitor MLN-4760 to a certain extent, indicating the modulation of ACE2. Further results revealed that SPIH (1 mg/mL) significantly increased the expression and activity of ACE2 and two novel ACE2 activating peptides with different mechanisms were explored from SPIH. IVPQ and IAVPT (50 μM) enhanced ACE2 activity, and only IVPQ (50 μM) increased ACE2 protein expression in HUVECs. These findings furthered our understanding of the antihypertensive mechanism of SPIH mediating the ACE2 activation on vascular endothelium.

Soybean-Derived Tripeptide Leu-Ser-Trp (LSW) Protects Human Vascular Endothelial Cells from TNFα-Induced Oxidative Stress and Inflammation via Modulating TNFα Receptors and SIRT1

Soybean is a rich source of high-quality proteins and an excellent food source of bioactive peptides. A tripeptide, Leu−Ser−Trp (LSW), was previously identified from soybean as an angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitory peptide. In the present work, we further studied its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities in human vascular endothelial cells (EA.hy926) and elucidated the mechanisms underlying these biological activities. In tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-stimulated EA.hy926 cells, LSW significantly inhibited oxidative stress, both reduced superoxide and malondialdehyde levels (p < 0.001), owing to its free-radical-scavenging ability. LSW treatment also mitigated the elevated protein expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (p < 0.001) and cyclooxygenase 2 (p < 0.01) via inhibition of NF-κB and p38/JNK signaling, respectively. Additionally, LSW also inhibited the endogenous formation of TNFα and attenuated the expression of its two receptors in EA.hy926 cells. Furthermore, LSW upregulated sirtuin-1 level, which partially contributed to its anti-inflammatory activity. These results demonstrate the multiple roles of LSW in ameliorating vascular endothelial oxidative stress and inflammatory responses, which support its uses as a nutraceutical or functional food ingredient for combating endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases.

The potential role of extracellular vesicles in bioactive compound-based therapy: A review of recent developments

Recent studies have explored the field of extracellular vesicles (EVs), driving an increasing interest in their application to human health. EVs have unique physicochemical traits to participate in intercellular communication, thus fostering the idea of using EVs to yield synergistic, preventive, and therapeutic effects. Many reports have shown that EVs contain natural bioactive compounds, such as lipids, proteins, RNA, and other active components that regulate biological processes, thereby contributing to human health. Therefore, in this review, we comprehensively elucidate various facets of the relationship between EVs and bioactive compounds that modulate EVs contents, including RNAs and proteins, discussing different forms of biological regulation. The use of EVs for cargo-loading bioactive compounds to exert biological functions and methods to load bioactive compounds into EVs are also discussed. This review highlighted the effect of EV-delivered bioactive compounds on several therapeutic mechanisms and applications, providing new insight into nutrition and pharmacology.

Long Non-Coding RNA GDAR Regulates Ovine Granulosa Cells Apoptosis by Affecting the Expression of Apoptosis-Related Genes

Short-term dietary supplementation of ewes during the luteal phase can increase fertility, most probably by stimulating glucose uptake by the follicles. However, the molecular mechanism of glucose regulation of follicular development has not yet been clarified, especially the further study of long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) in determining fertility during follicular development. We generated granulosa cell (GC) models of different doses of glucose (0, 2.1, 4.2, 8.4, 16.8 and 33.6 mM), and observed that the highest cell viability was recorded in the 8.4 mM group and the highest apoptosis rates were recorded in the 33.6 mM group. Therefore, a control group (n = 3, 0 mM glucose), a low glucose group (n = 3, add 8.4 mM glucose), and a high glucose group (n = 3, add 33.6 mM glucose) of GCs were created for next whole genomic RNA sequencing. In total, 18,172 novel lncRNAs and 510 annotated lncRNAs were identified in the GCs samples. Gene Ontology indicated that differentially expressed lncRNAs associated with cell apoptosis were highly enriched. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analysis of lncRNA target genes found that the apoptosis pathway and the p53 signaling pathway were both enriched. Furthermore, we focused on the function of a lncGDAR and verified that lncGDAR could influence cell apoptosis in GC development through affecting the mRNA and protein expression of apoptosis-related markers. These results provide the basis for further study of the lncRNA regulation mechanism in nutrition on female fertility.

An updated review of functional properties, debittering methods, and applications of soybean functional peptides

Soybean functional peptides (SFPs) are obtained via the hydrolysis of soybean protein into polypeptides, oligopeptides, and a small amount of amino acids. They have nutritional value and a variety of functional properties, including regulating blood lipids, lowering blood pressure, anti-diabetes, anti-oxidant, preventing COVID-19, etc. SFPs have potential application prospects in food processing, functional food development, clinical medicine, infant milk powder, special medical formulations, among others. However, bitter peptides containing relatively more hydrophobic amino acids can be formed during the production of SFPs, seriously restricting the application of SFPs. High-quality confirmatory human trials are needed to determine effective doses, potential risks, and mechanisms of action, especially as dietary supplements and special medical formulations. Therefore, the physiological activities and potential risks of soybean polypeptides are summarized, and the existing debitterness technologies and their applicability are reviewed. The technical challenges and research areas to be addressed in optimizing debittering process parameters and improving the applicability of SFPs are discussed, including integrating various technologies to obtain higher quality functional peptides, which will facilitate further exploration of physiological mechanism, metabolic pathway, tolerance, bioavailability, and potential hazards of SFPs. This review can help promote the value of SFPs and the development of the soybean industry.

Antihypertensive effect of soybean bioactive peptides: A review

Hypertension is a global disease that is extremely harmful to humans. Timely lowering of blood pressure is necessary in order to avoid the occurrence of corresponding complications. This review shows that soy peptides are beneficial in resisting hypertension. One of the advantages is the abundance of raw materials for producing soybean peptides. Secondly, there are no reports of adverse reactions due to soy peptides. Moreover, they exert protective effect against hypertension-induced complications such as long-term memory impairment and kidney damage. However, there are still some obstacles associated with the development of soybean peptides. Therefore, this review is focused on statistical analysis of peptide sequences, amino acid residues, and possible targets of anti-hypertensive soybean peptides. Eventually, it proposes that application of genetic engineering technology to specifically modify the N- and C-terminal of the soybean peptides, and possible targets in identifying the likely drug targets involved in the antihypertensive effects of these peptides.