Biologically Active Peptides from Corn Gluten Meal Improve Microbiota Disorders Caused by Helicobacter pylori Infection in Mice

This study investigated the potential effects of corn protein activity peptides (CPAPs) on inflammation response levels and gastrointestinal microbiota in <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> (<i>H. pylori</i>) infection mice. CPAPs significantly up-regulated the mRNA expression of the anti-inflammatory factor IL-10 and down-regulated the mRNA expression of the pro-inflammatory factors TGF-β, TLR4, MyD88, and NF-κB, indicating that CPAPs may antagonize <i>H. pylori</i>-induced inflammatory responses by inhibiting NF-κB signaling pathways. Through the intervention of CPAPs, <i>H. pylori</i> colonization in the stomach was significantly reduced. Additionally, the structural composition of the gastrointestinal microbiota improved, with an increase in abundance and diversity. These changes positively regulate gastrointestinal microbiota disorders in mice. In addition, the PICRUST function prediction of intestinal microbiota revealed that CPAPs may prevent or reduce metabolic disorders brought about by <i>H. pylori</i>, which improve biometabolic pathways by modulating intestinal microbiota composition. In conclusion, these findings suggest that CPAPs may prevent or mitigate metabolic disorders induced by <i>H. pylori</i>, offering theoretical support for the development of corn-protein-based functional foods.