Positive Effect of Peptides Obtained from Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) on Inflammation Regulation and Wound Healing

Abstract

This study investigated the effect of natural compounds from Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) skin on wound healing in IL-10 knockout mice. The healing fraction, Fraction T19, was obtained through hydrolysis with trypsin. In vitro, T19 was not cytotoxic to RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, promoting increased cell proliferation and migration. In vivo, mice (n = 30) were divided into three groups with 12 mm wounds in the dorsal region: control (distilled water), T1 (T19 at 125 μg/mL), and T2 (T19 at 250 μg/mL). Daily applications were performed, with tissue removal after nine days. The results showed that T19 increased the production of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), preventing wound contamination. There was an increase in pro-inflammatory (IL-2 and IFNγ) and anti-inflammatory (IL-4) cytokines, as well as cell proliferation markers (PCNA and KI67). Antibodies CD31, CD163, and COX-2 indicated an increase in the formation of new vessels and a reduction in inflammation. Both groups treated with T19 showed better healing results, with better effects observed at higher doses. It was concluded that T19 can effectively modulate the skin repair process and represent an alternative therapeutic for improving the quality of wound skin, especially in the clinical context. Formulations using tilapia skin are safe and effective for accelerating wound healing.