Immunostimulatory Effect of Ovomucin Hydrolysates by Pancreatin in RAW 264.7 Macrophages via MAPK Signaling Pathway

Ovomucin (OM), which has insoluble fractions is a viscous glycoprotein, found in egg albumin. Enzymatic hydrolysates of OM have water solubility and bioactive properties. This study investigated that the immunostimulatory effects of OM hydrolysates (OMHs) obtained by using various proteolytic enzymes (Alcalase^®, bromelain, α-chymotrypsin, Neutrase^®, pancreatin, papain, Protamax^®, and trypsin) in RAW 264.7 cells. The results showed that OMH prepared with pancreatin (OMPA) produced the highest levels of NO in RAW 264.7 cells, through upregulation of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA expression. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 were increased with the cytokines mRNA expression. The effect of OMPA on mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was increased the phosphorylation of p38, c-Jun NH₂-terminal kinase (JNK), and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in a concentration-dependent manner. Therefore, OMPA could be used as a potential immune-stimulating agent in the functional food industry.