Immunomodulatory Effects of Galleria mellonella and Alphitobius diaperinus Protein Digestates Generated Using a Modified INFOGEST Protocol - In Vitro and In Silico Evidence.
5 affiliations
- 1School of Food Science and Nutrition, University of Leeds, LeedsLS2 9JT, U.K.
- 2School of Food Science, Southwest University, Chongqing400715, China.
- 3National Alternative Protein Innovation Centre (NAPIC), LeedsLS2 9JT, UK.
- 4Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnological Engineering, Université de Sherbrooke, Sherbrooke, QuebecJ1K 2R1, Canada.
- 5Institute of Nutrition and Functional Foods (INAF), Université Laval, Quebec, QuebecG1V 0A6, Canada.
Abstract
Insect-derived peptides have attracted increasing attention due to their potential health-promoting properties. This study investigated peptides released from Galleria mellonella (W) and Alphitobius diaperinus (B) proteins following a modified static INFOGEST protocol. Digestion-derived peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro assays, bioinformatic prediction, and molecular docking, focusing on IKK-β as a key regulator of the NF-κB pathway. At 500 μg protein/mL, W-I2h and B-I2h reduced NF-κB reporter activity by 28.7% and 53.5%, respectively, and decreased nitric oxide production by 31%. Digestates also reduced IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β secretion at selected concentrations and decreased IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression. Conversely, 25 μg protein/mL increased IL-1β secretion by 109.4% and 102.1%, respectively. Increased HO-1 and γGCS transcripts suggested modulation of Nrf2-responsive gene expression, although pathway activation was not confirmed. These findings demonstrate concentration-dependent immunomodulatory effects and identify candidate peptides for future validation.
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BibTeX
@article{ma2026immunomodulatory,
title = {{Immunomodulatory Effects of Galleria mellonella and Alphitobius diaperinus Protein Digestates Generated Using a Modified INFOGEST Protocol - In Vitro and In Silico Evidence.}},
author = {Zidan Ma and Christine Boesch and Martin Mondor and Oscar Abel Sánchez-Velázquez and Alan Javier Hernández-Álvarez},
journal = {Journal of agricultural and food chemistry},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1021/acs.jafc.6c09355},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915803},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Immunomodulatory Effects of Galleria mellonella and Alphitobius diaperinus Protein Digestates Generated Using a Modified INFOGEST Protocol - In Vitro and In Silico Evidence.
AU - Zidan Ma
AU - Christine Boesch
AU - Martin Mondor
AU - Oscar Abel Sánchez-Velázquez
AU - Alan Javier Hernández-Álvarez
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/01
JO - Journal of agricultural and food chemistry
DO - 10.1021/acs.jafc.6c09355
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42915803
AB - Insect-derived peptides have attracted increasing attention due to their potential health-promoting properties. This study investigated peptides released from Galleria mellonella (W) and Alphitobius diaperinus (B) proteins following a modified static INFOGEST protocol. Digestion-derived peptides were identified by LC-MS/MS and evaluated for anti-inflammatory activity using in vitro assays, bioinformatic prediction, and molecular docking, focusing on IKK-β as a key regulator of the NF-κB pathway. At 500 μg protein/mL, W-I2h and B-I2h reduced NF-κB reporter activity by 28.7% and 53.5%, respectively, and decreased nitric oxide production by 31%. Digestates also reduced IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, and IL-1β secretion at selected concentrations and decreased IL-6 and IL-1β mRNA expression. Conversely, 25 μg protein/mL increased IL-1β secretion by 109.4% and 102.1%, respectively. Increased HO-1 and γGCS transcripts suggested modulation of Nrf2-responsive gene expression, although pathway activation was not confirmed. These findings demonstrate concentration-dependent immunomodulatory effects and identify candidate peptides for future validation.
SN - 0021-8561
SN - 1520-5118
ER -