Yoshinori Mine

Recent advances in the understanding of egg white protein functionality

Abstract Hen egg white proteins have been extensively utilized as ingredients in food processing because of their unique functional properties, such as gelling and foaming. This review article describes the molecular basis for the development of these functional properties during processing, as well as studies of the development of new methods for improving the functional properties of egg white proteins. The theory that egg white proteins are capable of existing in a ‘molten globule state’, which partially explains their functional properties, is also discussed.

Chicken egg yolk antibodies as therapeutics in enteric infectious disease: a review.

Passive immunization by oral administration of specific antibodies has been an attractive approach against gastrointestinal (GI) pathogens in both humans and animals. Recently, laying chickens have attracted considerable attention as an alternative source of antibodies for the prevention and treatment of infectious GI diseases. After immunization, the specific antibodies (called IgY) are transported to the egg yolk, from which the IgY then can be separated without sacrificing chickens. A chicken usually lays about 280 eggs in a year, and egg yolk contains 100-150 mg of IgY per yolk, suggesting that more than 40 g of IgY per year can be obtained from each chicken through eggs. IgY is also an alternative to antibiotics for treatment of enteric antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Oral administration of IgY has proved successful for treatment of a variety of GI infections, such as bovine and human rotaviruses, bovine coronavirus, Yersinia ruckeri, enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli, Salmonella spp., Edwardsiella tarda, Staphylococcus, and Pseudomonas. The IgY technology offers great future opportunities for designing prophylactic strategies against infectious GI diseases in humans and animals. However, there is still controversy regarding the stability of IgY through the GI tract. Finding an effective way to protect the antibodies from degradation in the GI tract would open the door for significant advances in IgY technology and nutraceutical applications.

Recent Advances in the Understanding of Egg Allergens: Basic, Industrial, and Clinical Perspectives

The emergence of egg allergy has had both industrial and clinical implications. In industrialized countries, egg allergy accounts for one of the most prevalent food hypersensitivities, especially in children. Atopic dermatitis represents the most common clinical manifestation in infancy; however, the range of clinical signs is broad and encompasses life-threatening anaphylaxis. The dominant egg allergens are proteins and are mainly present in the egg white, for example, ovalbumin, ovomucoid, ovotransferrin, and lysozyme. However, egg yolk also displays low-level allergenicity, for example, alpha-livetin. Strict avoidance of the offending food remains the most common recommendation for egg-allergic individuals. Nevertheless, the omnipresence of egg-derived components in prepackaged or prepared foods makes it difficult. Therefore, more efficient preventive approaches are investigated to protect consumers from inadvertent exposure and ensuing adverse reactions. On the one hand, commercial kits have become readily available that allow for the detection of egg contaminants at trace levels. On the other hand, attempts to produce hypoallergenic egg-containing products through food-processing techniques have met with promising results, but the approach is limited due to its potentially undesirable effects on the unique functional and sensory attributes of egg proteins. Therefore, the development of preventive or curative strategies for egg allergy remains strongly warranted. Pilot studies have suggested that oral immunotherapy (IT) with raw or cooked preparations of egg may represent a safe alternative, immediately available to allergic subjects, but remains applicable to only nonanaphylactic patients. Due to the limitations of conventional IT, novel forms of immunotherapy are sought based on information obtained from the molecular characterization of major egg allergens. In the past decade, promising approaches to the treatment and prevention of egg allergy have been explored and include, among others, the production of hypoallergenic recombinant egg proteins, the development of customized peptides, and bacterial-mediated immunotherapy. Nonspecific approaches have also been evaluated, and preliminary trials with the use of probiotic bacteria have yielded encouraging results. The current understanding of egg allergens offers novel approaches toward the making of food products safe for human consumption and the development of efficient immunotherapeutic strategies.

PREPARATION AND STABILIZATION OF SIMPLE AND MULTIPLE EMULSIONS USING A MICROPOROUS GLASS MEMBRANE

Abstract A microporous glass membrane with a narrow range of pore sizes was used for the preparation of simple and water-oil-water (W/O/W) type emulsions using egg yolk phospholipids and soybean oil. Simple oil-in-water (O/W) and water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions and a W/O/W type emulsion were successfully prepared using the membranes without any coalescence of oil drops or breakdown of the emulsions. The simple and W/O/W emulsions were stable for at least 6 weeks when stored at 5°C. The particle size distribution of the emulsion depended on the pore size of the membrane. These results indicate that the technique would be valuable for the production of stable simple and multiple emulsions for food uses as well as for intravenous fat and/or drug carriers.

Egg Yolk Antibodies for Passive Immunity

The avian egg contains all of the necessary nutrients and growth factors required for the developing embryo, including antibodies that are transported from the blood of the hen into the egg yolk to provide immunity to the chick. Since the discovery of egg yolk antibodies, now called immunoglobulin Y (IgY), in the late 1800s, this process has been harnessed to produce antigen-specific yolk antibodies for numerous applications in the medical and research fields, including in areas such as diagnostics and proteomics. However, one of the most valuable and promising areas of IgY research is its use for passive immunization to treat and prevent human and animal diseases. The following review covers the key features and advantages of IgY and the production and purification of IgY from the egg yolk, as well as highlights some of the most promising applications of egg yolk antibodies in human and veterinary medicine.

l-Tryptophan exhibits therapeutic function in a porcine model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis☆

Conventional therapies for the treatment of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) have demonstrated limited efficacy and potential toxicity; therefore, there is a need for novel therapies that can safely and effectively treat IBD. Recent evidence has indicated that amino acids may play a role in maintaining gut health. L-tryptophan has been shown to reduce oxidative stress and improve neurological states. The objective of this study was to assess the therapeutic effects of L-tryptophan in a porcine model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. DSS was administered to piglets via intragastric catheter for 5 days followed by tryptophan administration at 80% of the daily recommended intake. The severity of colitis was assessed macroscopically and histopathologically, and intestinal permeability was monitored in vivo by D-mannitol analysis. The effect of tryptophan on the local expression of key mediators of inflammation and IBD pathogenesis was examined at the protein and gene expression levels. Supplementation with tryptophan ameliorated clinical symptoms and improved weight gain to feed intake conversion ratios. Histological scores and measurements were also improved, and gut permeability was notably reduced in tryptophan-supplemented animals. Moreover, tryptophan reduced the expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-12p40, IL-1beta and IL-17, as well as IL-8 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and resulted in increased expression of apoptosis initiators caspase-8 and Bax. These results demonstrate that L-tryptophan supplementation can reduce inflammation and enhance the rate of recovery in DSS-induced colitis and may be an effective immunomodulating agent for the treatment of IBD.

L-cysteine supplementation attenuates local inflammation and restores gut homeostasis in a porcine model of colitis

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, is characterized by a deregulation of the mucosal immune system and resistance of activated T cells to apoptosis. Current therapeutics show limited efficacy and potential toxicity; therefore there is a need for novel approaches for the treatment of IBD. L-cysteine was examined for its ability to reduce colitis symptoms and modulate local gene expression in a DSS-induced porcine model of colitis. METHODS Colitis was induced via intra-gastric infusion of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS), followed by the administration of L-cysteine or saline. Clinical signs, morphological measurements, histology and gut permeability were assessed for the prognosis of colitis. Local tissue production of cytokines and gene expression in the colon were analyzed by ELISA and real-time RT-PCR. RESULTS L-cysteine supplementation attenuated DSS-induced weight loss and intestinal permeability, reduced local chemokine expression and neutrophil influx, and markedly improved colon histology. Furthermore, cysteine significantly reduced the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including TNF-alpha, IL-6, IL-12p40, IL-1beta, and resulted in increased expression of the apoptosis initiator caspase-8 and decreased expression of the pro-survival genes cFLIP and Bcl-xL. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE These results suggest that L-cysteine administration aids in restoring gut immune homeostasis by attenuating inflammatory responses and restoring susceptibility of activated immune cells to apoptosis, and that cysteine supplementation may be a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of IBD.

The PepT1-transportable soy tripeptide VPY reduces intestinal inflammation.

BACKGROUND Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. The peptide transporter PepT1 is responsible for the intestinal uptake of dietary peptides, and its expression in the gastrointestinal tract is up-regulated during intestinal inflammation, indicating that PepT1 may be a promising target for IBD therapeutics. METHODS The transport of soy-derived di- and tripeptides across Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells was examined, and the anti-inflammatory effects of the transported peptide VPY were evaluated in vitro in Caco-2 and THP-1 macrophages, and in vivo in a mouse model of DSS-induced colitis. RESULTS VPY inhibited the secretion of IL-8 and TNF-α, respectively, from Caco-2 and THP-1 cells. VPY transport and anti-inflammatory activity in Caco-2 cells was reduced in the presence of Gly-Sar, indicating this activity was mediated by PepT1. In mice, VPY treatment reduced DSS-induced colitis symptoms and weight loss, improved colon histology, reduced MPO activity, and decreased gene expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α, IL-6, IL-1β, IFN-γ and IL-17 in the colon. CONCLUSIONS AND GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE VPY is a novel PepT1 substrate that can inhibit the production of pro-inflammatory mediators in vitro in intestinal epithelial and immune cells, and reduce the severity of colitis in mice by down-regulating the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the colon, suggesting that VPY may be promising for the treatment of IBD.

Nutraceutical proteins and peptides in health and disease.

I Nutrient Absorption System Nutraceutical Proteins and Peptides in Health and Disease: An Overview: Y. Mine and F. Shahidi Calcium-Binding Peptides: D. Kitts Mineral-Binding Proteins and Peptides and the Bioavailability of Trace Elements: D. Bougle and S. Bouhallab Cholesterol-Lowering Proteins and Peptides: Satoshi Nagaoka Heavy-Metal-Binding Proteins: Jennifer Kovacs-Nolan and Yoshinori Mine Tight-Junction-Modulatory Factors in Food: Makoto Shimizu and Akira Mori II Bodys Defense System Antimicrobial Peptides: Judy C.K. Chan and Eunice C.Y. Li-Chan Bovine Milk Antibodies for Protection against Microbial Human Diseases: Hannu Korhonen and Pertti Marnila Avian Immunoglobulin Y and its Application in Human Health and Disease: Jennifer Kovacs-Nolan, Yoshinori Mine, and Hajime Hatta Antiangiogenic Proteins, Peptides, and Amino Acids: Jack N. Losso and Hiba A. Bawadi Relevance of Growth Factors for the Gastrointestinal Tract and Other Organs: Subrata Ghosh and Raymond J. Playford Cystatin: A Novel Bioactive Protein: Soichiro Nakamura III Bodys Regulating System ACE Inhibitory Peptides: Hans Meisel, Daniel Walsh, Brian Murray, and Richard J. FitzGerald Regulation of Bone Metabolism: Milk Basic Protein: Yukihiro Takada and Seiichiro Aoe Anticariogenic Peptides: K.J. Cross, N.L. Huq, and E.C. Reynolds Fibrinolytic Enzymes from Food in Cardiovascular Disease: Ada H.-K. Wong and Yoshinori Mine IV Bodys Nervous System Opioid Peptides: Daniel Tome, Benjamin Guesdon, and Lisa Pichon Factor on Bodys Nervous System: Relaxation Effects of Tea L-Theanine: M. Ozeki, T.P. Rao, and L.R. Juneja V Hypoallergenic Foods Introduction to Food Allergy: Steve L. Taylor and Susan L. Hefle The Production of Hypoallergenic Wheat Flour for Wheat-Allergic Patients: Soichi Tanabe and Jun Watanabe Milk Proteins: Koko Mizumachi and Jun-ichi Kurisaki Egg Proteins: Prithy Rupa and Yoshinori Mine Soybean: T. Ogawa Meat Allergy: Soichi Tanabe and Toshihide Nishimura Rice-Seed Allergenic Proteins and Hypoallergenic Rice: Tsukasa Matsuda, Masayuki Nakase, Angelina M. Alvarez, Hidehiko Izumi, Takeo Kato, and Yuichi Tada Buckwheat Allergy: Chein-Soo Hong and Kyu-Earn Kim VI Modern Approaches to BioactiveProteins and Peptides Database of Protein and Bioactive Peptide Sequences: Jerzy Dziuba and Anna Iwaniak Rational Designing of Bioactive Peptides: S. Nakai and N. Alizadeh-Pasdar Engineering Hen Egg-White Lysozyme: Akio Kato New Methodologies for the Synthesis of Oligopeptides and Conformation-Constrained Peptidomimetics: Kazuhiro Chiba Lacticin 3147 : Paul D. Cotter, Colin Hill, and R. Paul Ross Membrane-Based Fractionation and Purification Strategies for Bioactive Peptides: Yves Pouliot, Sylvie F. Gauthier, and Paule Emilie Groleau

Hen egg lysozyme attenuates inflammation and modulates local gene expression in a porcine model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis.

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic and recurring inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, associated with a dysregulation of the mucosal immune system. There is an increasing prevalence of IBD; however, current pharmaceutical treatments are only moderately effective and have been associated with potential long-term toxicity. Lysozyme, a well-known antimicrobial protein found in large quantities in hen egg white, is a promising alternative for the treatment of IBD. A porcine model of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis was used to examine the effect of hen egg lysozyme (HEL) supplementation on intestinal inflammation. Treatment with DSS resulted in weight loss, severe mucosal and submucosal inflammation, colonic crypt distortion, muscle wall thickening, down-regulation of mucin gene expression, and increased gastric permeability, but these symptoms were attenuated following supplementation with HEL and restored to basal levels observed in untreated control animals. Treatment with HEL also significantly reduced the local expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, IL-8, and IL-17 while increasing the expression of the anti-inflammatory mediators IL-4 and TGF-beta, indicating that HEL may function as a potent anti-inflammatory and immunomodulator. Furthermore, the concomitant increases in TGF-beta and Foxp3 levels suggest that HEL may aid in restoring gut homeostasis by activating regulatory T cells, which are important in the regulation of the mucosal immune system. These results suggest that HEL is a promising novel therapeutic for the treatment of IBD.