Hemp Protein Hydrolysates Modulate Inflammasome-Related Genes in Microglial Cells

Abstract

A prolonged inflammatory response can lead to the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Enzymatic hydrolysis is a sustainable way to increase the value of protein sources by obtaining peptides that can exert bioactivity. Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) protein hydrolysates have been proven to exert anti-inflammatory activity. In this study, two hemp protein hydrolysate (HPHs), obtained with Alcalase as sole catalyst, or with Alcalase followed by Flavourzyme, were evaluated as inflammatory mediators (TNFα, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-10), microglial polarization markers (Ccr7, iNos, Arg1, and Ym1), and genes related to inflammasome activation (Nlrp3, Asc, Casp1, and Il18), employing the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced neuroinflammation model in murine BV-2 microglial cells. A significant decrease of the expression of proinflammatory genes (e.g., Tnfα, Ccr7, inos, and Nlrp3, among others) and increase of the expression anti-inflammatory cytokines in microglial cells was observed after treatment with the test HPHs. This result in the cell model suggests a polarization toward an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype. Our results show that the evaluated HPHs show potential neuroprotective activity in microglial cells via the inflammasome.

Modulation of Beta-Amyloid-Activated Primary Human Neutrophils by Dietary Phenols from Virgin Olive Oil

“…Inflammation is a physiopathological phenomenon involved in the genesis of numerous diseases as a response of the immune system to injurious stimuli such as tissue injury, infection, or toxicants [ 8 , 9 ]. During physiological inflammation, with a primary role in the clearance of extracellular pathogens, neutrophils and monocytes are recruited from the circulation to sites of inflammation, infiltrated into the affected tissues, and then these cells produce oxidants, complement components, Fc receptors, prostaglandins, cytokines, and chemokines that cooperate to achieve healing and to restore homeostasis [ 10 , 11 ]. Upon identifying cellular injuries, immune cells like microglia, astrocytes, and activated T cells can cause neuroinflammation.…”