The Role of Bovine Kappa-Casein Glycomacropeptide in Modulating the Microbiome and Inflammatory Responses of Irritable Bowel Syndrome

Abstract

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder marked by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and irregular bowel habits. Effective treatments are still actively sought. Kappa-casein glycomacropeptide (GMP), a milk-derived peptide, holds promise because it can modulate the gut microbiome, immune responses, gut motility, and barrier functions, as well as binding toxins. These properties align with the recognized pathophysiological aspects of IBS, including gut microbiota imbalances, immune system dysregulation, and altered gut barrier functions. This review delves into GMP’s role in regulating the gut microbiome, accentuating its influence on bacterial populations and its potential to promote beneficial bacteria while inhibiting pathogenic varieties. It further investigates the gut microbial shifts observed in IBS patients and contemplates GMP’s potential for restoring microbial equilibrium and overall gut health. The anti-inflammatory attributes of GMP, especially its impact on vital inflammatory markers and capacity to temper the low-grade inflammation present in IBS are also discussed. In addition, this review delves into current research on GMP’s effects on gut motility and barrier integrity and examines the changes in gut motility and barrier function observed in IBS sufferers. The overarching goal is to assess the potential clinical utility of GMP in IBS management.

CSN1S1, CSN3 and LPL: Three Validated Gene Polymorphisms Useful for More Sustainable Dairy Production in the Mediterranean River Buffalo

“…Therefore, it is possible that the κ-casein has retained some of the functions of its ancestral gene and plays an active role as indicator of SCS and mastitis. Further support for this statement derives from the role that the κ-casein glycomacropeptide (GMP) plays in modulating the immune response, and its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties [48][49][50]. In addition, SNP rs43703017, located in CSN3, has recently been associated with an increase in SCS in domestic cattle [51].…”

Milk: A Natural Guardian for the Gut Barrier

“…74 GMP's potential as an intestinal antiinflammatory agent for the ileal segment is demonstrated by its ability to decrease the expression of inflammatory mediators like IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-17, thereby mitigating the damage caused by intestinal inflammation. 76,114 Milk-derived GMP can significantly reduce the expression of CD4 and CD8 in the intestinal mucosal lamina propria, stimulating SIgA secretion and strengthening intestinal immunity. GMP's immunomodulatory and gut barrier-protective attributes of GMP are intrinsically associated with numerous molecular pathways.…”

Macrophage-Immunomodulatory Actions of Bovine Whey Protein Isolate, Glycomacropeptide, and Their In Vitro and In Vivo Digests

“…GMP has been shown to modulate various inflammatory pathways in different cell and animal models, with most of the literature indicating its anti-inflammatory effects within the innate immune response [14][15][16]. GMP appears to exert this anti-inflammatory effect by limiting activation of the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways [17].…”

“…The authors observed GMP incubation resulted in dose-dependent increases in the inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 in both unstimulated Tohoku Hospital Pediatrics-1 (THP-1) monocytes and primary monocytes [17]. GMP also has performed a number of other bioactivities in cell and animal studies, including enhancing intestinal cell barrier function, modulating gut motility, and prebiotic activity [16].…”