Chicken feather keratin peptides for the control of keratinocyte migration

• Published in: Applied sciences 2021-07, Vol.11 (15), p.6779
• Main Authors: Botelho, Cláudia M., Ferreira-Santos, P., Toubarro, Duarte, Dinis, H., Osório, Hugo, Costa-Barbosa, Augusto, Sampaio, Paula, Simões, Nelson, Teixeira, J. A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cellular migration; Chicken feathers; Inflammation; Keratin peptides; Keratinocytes; Microbial hydrolysis; Science & Technology
• ISSN: 2076-3417
• DOI: 10.3390/app11156779

FAO estimates that in 2030 the poultry meat production could reach 120 million tons, which is a challenge in terms of waste management. Feathers are mainly composed of keratin, an important biomaterial. Using feathers as a source of keratin will minimize the waste generated, while contributing to supply an important material for several industries, such as pharmaceutical and biomedical. The peptides were extracted from the feathers by microbial degradation. In this study, we evaluated the peptides effect on keratinocyte metabolic activity and migration. The influence of these peptides on non-activated and activated macrophages was also assessed. It was demonstrated that depending on the keratin peptide fraction in contact with keratinocytes, it is possible to modulate the migration rate of the keratinocytes. Peptide fraction with low molecular weight increases migration, while peptides with a high range of molecular sizes decreases it. Some peptide fractions induce the secretion of TNF- in non-activated macrophages and not on activated macrophages, demonstrating that these peptides should only be placed in contact with cells, in the context of an ongoing inflammatory process. This work is a step forward on the understanding of keratin peptides influence on keratinocytes and immune cells system cells, macrophages. This research was funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) under the scope of the strategic funding of UIDB/04469/2020 unit. It was also was financed by the Portuguese Mass Spectrometry Network, integrated in the National Roadmap of Research Infrastructures of Strategic Relevance (ROTEIRO/0028/2013; LISBOA-01-0145-FEDER-022125) and the MAC 2014-2020-MAC/1.1b/042-INTERREG V A España-Portugal, “BIOTRANSFER 2: Transferencia de la investigación biotecnológica orientada a rentabilidad empresarial y movilización de flujos de negocio 2”.