Egg white protein hydrolysate ameliorated sepsis-induced inflammatory injuries in kidney and liver based on metabolomics analysis

Sepsis caused by infection could induce systemic inflammation and various organ damages. Bioactivities of peptides derived from eggs were proved by lots of researchers; hence they might be further developed for therapeutic use. In this study, the hydrolysate named "PEP" was obtained by enzymatic hydrolysis and purification. Rats were divided into control, LPS, PEP1 and PEP2 groups. The rat model was established using lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at 10 mg/kg by intraperitoneal injection. The results of blood counts, pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6), BUN and Cr levels and pathological damage in tissue or serum suggested that PEP alleviated LPS-induced injuries. Plasma metabolites of PEP were analyzed and identified using UPLC-MS/MS, which revealed that seven pathways might play critical roles in the protection process, involved in oxidative stress, energy and amino acid metabolism. Our data suggest that PEP ameliorated LPS-induced acute liver and kidney injuries, which is helpful for further development and research.