Studies on novel neuromodulatory factors derived from human milk protein

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 25660104
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Food science
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: OHINATA Kousaku 京都大学, (連合)農学研究科(研究院), 准教授 (00361147)
• Project Period (FY): 2013-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: ペプチド / 母乳 / ヒトラクトフェリン / 抗不安作用 / 情動調節 / 経口投与 / 消化管酵素

Outline of Final Research Achievements

It is known that offspring in mammals, including human, grow and develop by intake of milk, which their mothers biosynthesize and secrete. We hypothesized that milk-derived molecules, which were produced in the gastrointestinal tract of offspring, interact with the nervous system, and focused on peptides derived from lactoferrin, known as a major human milk protein. We found that, among peptides released from human lactoferrin under enzymatic conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract, a novel peptide exhibited anxiolytic-like effect after oral administration in mice using behavior test. This is the first neuromodulating peptide derived from human lactoferrin. These results imply a new maternal-infant interaction in the nervous system, and further investigation will uncover the biological significance of this milk peptide-mediated interaction.

Free Research Field

食品生理機能学