All research
2026-06-22 PubMed

Food-derived peptide RDP3 enhances oral mucosal repair by inhibiting pyroptosis via IL-2Rβ/PI3K axis

Food-derived peptide RDP3 mitigates pyroptosis to enhance oral mucosal repair via the IL-2Rβ/PI3K axis.

Background

Oral ulcers are a common mucosal disease lacking multifunctional therapeutics that address both healing and underlying pathology. Current treatments often fall short in comprehensively promoting tissue regeneration and maintaining local homeostasis. This study explores RDP3, a food-derived peptide, as a novel candidate due to its tissue-penetrating capability and potential to modulate key inflammatory pathways. Specifically, the paper investigates its interaction with the interleukin-2 receptor β subunit (IL-2Rβ) and its downstream effects on PI3K signaling, a critical pathway in cell growth, survival, and inflammation.

Study Design

This study investigated the therapeutic effects of RDP3 on oral ulcer repair using both in vivo and in vitro models. Researchers administered RDP3 at a low concentration of 1 nM to evaluate its ability to promote mucosal healing. They performed binding affinity assays to characterize the interaction between RDP3 and IL-2Rβ, determining a KD value. The study also employed various biochemical and cellular assays, including those to assess PI3K signaling, NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, inflammation markers, and microbiome composition, to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of action.

Results

RDP3 significantly promoted the repair of oral ulcer mucosal in both in vivo and in vitro models, demonstrating efficacy at a low concentration of 1 nM. This is the first report of a food-origin peptide accelerating oral ulcer mucosal repair. RDP3 not only accelerated wound healing but also restored microbiome homeostasis within the oral mucosa. Mechanistically, RDP3 functions as a novel peptide-antagonist of the interleukin-2 receptor β subunit (IL-2Rβ). Its binding affinity to IL-2Rβ was determined to be a KD of 0.99 μM. This interaction was found to suppress pathological PI3K signaling, which in turn inhibited NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis. Consequently, RDP3 reduced inflammation and promoted mucosal regeneration.

RDP3, at 1 nM, significantly promoted oral ulcer mucosal repair and acted as an IL-2Rβ antagonist with a KD of 0.99 μM, suppressing PI3K signaling and NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.

Key Findings

  • Food-derived peptide RDP3 significantly promotes oral ulcer mucosal repair in vivo and in vitro at 1 nM.
  • RDP3 accelerates wound healing and restores oral microbiome homeostasis.
  • RDP3 acts as a novel peptide-antagonist of IL-2Rβ with a binding affinity (KD) of 0.99 μM.
  • RDP3 suppresses pathological PI3K signaling, inhibiting NLRP3/GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis.
  • RDP3 reduces inflammation and promotes mucosal regeneration in oral ulcers.

Why It Matters

This research highlights RDP3 as a promising, multifunctional therapeutic candidate for oral ulcer treatment, offering a novel approach beyond current standards. Its food-derived origin suggests a potentially favorable safety profile, which could accelerate its translation into clinical use. The dual action of accelerating wound healing and restoring microbiome homeostasis addresses multiple facets of oral ulcer pathology, a significant improvement over single-target therapies. For biohackers and clinicians, this opens the door to exploring RDP3 as a topical or systemic agent for mucosal repair, potentially offering a more holistic and safer option for chronic or recurrent oral ulcers. Further research will be needed to establish optimal human dosing and delivery protocols.


rdp3 oral-ulcers mucosal-repair pyroptosis il-2rb pi3k
Source: pubmed:42323320 · Ingested 2026-06-22 · Digest: gemini-2.5-flash