MFG-E8-Derived Oligopeptide MOP3 Facilitates Anti-Inflammatory M2-like Macrophage Polarization in Gut

Russell Hollis1,2,3, Yuichi Akama1, Yongchan Lee1

  • 1Center for Immunology and Inflammation, The Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research, Manhasset, NY 11030, USA.

Cells
|April 13, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor VIII-derived oligopeptide 3 (MOP3) peptide promotes anti-inflammatory macrophage polarization in gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury. MOP3 utilizes the αvβ3 integrin to clear damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), reducing gut I/R inflammation.

Area of Science:

  • Immunology
  • Gastroenterology
  • Molecular Biology

Background:

  • Gut ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury triggers inflammation via damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), notably extracellular cold-inducible RNA-binding protein (eCIRP).
  • Macrophage polarization plays a critical role in modulating the inflammatory response during I/R injury, with M1 phenotypes promoting inflammation and M2 phenotypes mediating resolution.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the mechanism by which milk fat globule-epidermal growth factor VIII-derived oligopeptide 3 (MOP3) reduces gut I/R injury.
  • To determine if MOP3 promotes macrophage polarization towards an anti-inflammatory M2 phenotype in the context of gut I/R.

Main Methods:

  • Gut I/R injury was induced in mice. Macrophage polarization was assessed in vivo using flow cytometry and immunofluorescence.
  • Peritoneal macrophages were isolated and treated with eCIRP and/or MOP3 in vitro. Polarization markers, gene expression, and cytokine levels were analyzed.

Main Results:

  • Gut I/R significantly decreased the M2 macrophage proportion and increased the M1 proportion.
  • MOP3 treatment reversed these effects, increasing M2 polarization and decreasing M1 polarization in vivo and in vitro.
  • The effects of MOP3 were significantly diminished by an αvβ3 integrin antibody, indicating its crucial role in MOP3's mechanism.

Conclusions:

  • MOP3 promotes M2 macrophage polarization, shifting the immune response towards an anti-inflammatory state in gut I/R injury.
  • This M2 polarization is mediated through αvβ3 integrin-dependent clearance of eCIRP, representing a novel therapeutic mechanism for MOP3 in reducing gut I/R damage.