Evaluation of the Anti-Inflammatory Activity of Enzymatic Hydrolysis Peptide SEP-3 from Skipjack (Katsuwonus pelamis) Based on NF-κB and MAPK Pathways

ABSTRACT

The skipjack enzymatic peptide 3 (SEP-3) has been previously isolated and purified from a byproduct of skipjack. In this paper, the anti-inflammatory activity and mechanism of SEP-3 in RAW264.7 macrophages activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) were investigated. We found that SEP-3 enhanced the proliferation and phagocytic capacity of RAW264.7 macrophages and suppressed the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α. Cells treated with SEP-3 showed decreased phosphorylation of ERK, p38, JNK, NF-κB p65, and IκBα and inhibited NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) inflammatory pathways. Optimal dosage was determined, and modified outcome was identified when SEP-3 treatment was combined with indomethacin. In addition, the metabolites of the dominant microflora of mice gavaged by SEP-3 showed antioxidant activity in vitro. Therefore, we conclude that SEP-3 extracted from skipjack may have a direct or indirect anti-inflammatory effect and can be used as an adjuvant drug to treat inflammatory diseases.

KEYWORDS:

• Enzymolysis peptide of skipjack
• anti-inflammatory
• NK-κB/MAPK
• anti-oxidation

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Author contributions

Contributions were as follows: C.Y. – data collection, data analysis, writing of manuscript; Y.W. – data collection, writing of manuscript; Z.-g.W. – methodology, data collection, data analysis; K.-m.W.,Z.-k. Z. – data collection, data analysis; B.W. – methodology, supervision; H.-y.L. – resources, writing, review, and editing of manuscript.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the [Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China #1] under Grant [number LY19C200008]; and [Public Science and Technology Research Funds Projects of the Ocean #2] under Grant [number 201305013].