Immunomodulatory Potential of Agro-Industrial Residues: Passiflora edulis and Rubus glaucus Seed Oils Promote MMP-9 Release from Human Neutrophils

Background: Neutrophil dysregulation drives inflammatory pathologies through mechanisms such as matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) release. High-value bioprospecting of agro-industrial residues offers a sustainable strategy to identify novel bioactive compounds. In this study, the immunomodulatory effects of seed oils (SOs) obtained via supercritical fluid extraction from Passiflora edulis and Rubus glaucus byproducts on human neutrophil responses was evaluated. Methods: SO lipid profiles were characterized via GC-MS. Human neutrophils were isolated using Percoll gradients and treated with the SOs (10–50 µg/mL). Cytocompatibility was assessed via MTT and trypan blue assays. MMP-9 activity and ERK1/2/p38 phosphorylation were determined via zymography and Western blotting, respectively. Results of GC-MS revealed matrices rich in unsaturated lipids: R. glaucus SO was dominated by linoleic (50.02%) and α-linolenic (29.84%) acids, whereas P. edulis SO contained linoleic (58.91%) and oleic (19.75%) acids. Both oils were highly biocompatible up to 50 µg/mL. Both SOs significantly increased MMP-9 release; notably, R. glaucus induced a dose-dependent response and a potential priming effect at 10 µg/mL. Interestingly, neither oil induced the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 or p38. Conclusions: Supercritical fluid-extracted SOs from P. edulis and R. glaucus byproducts modulate early neutrophil responses by increasing MMP-9 release through pathways independent of classical MAPK phosphorylation. Further functional and in vivo validation is needed to clarify the precise regulatory roles of these specialized lipid matrices in human inflammation resolution and their potential as bioactive ingredients for nutraceutical or pharmaceutical applications.