Digestates of Pea and Fava Bean Proteins Induce FGF19 in Human Intestinal HT29 Cells: Evidence for a Potential Role of PPARγ

Plant-based proteins are promising alternatives to animal proteins for supporting muscle synthesis and preventing sarcopenia. This study examined whether protein digestates (PDs) from pea and fava bean isolates modulate intestinal Fibroblast Growth Factor 19 (FGF19), a hormone central to energy and muscle mass regulation. Human HT29 cells were exposed to PDs, GW4064 (FXR agonist), or rosiglitazone (PPAR gamma agonist). FGF19 secretion was assessed by ELISA, gene expression by RT-qPCR, and FXR protein by Western-blot. At 6 h, PDs alone had no effect on FGF19 expression but potentiated GW4064 activity by lowering its EC50. At 24 h, PDs modestly increased FGF19 and continued to potentiate GW4064 activity. Rosiglitazone + GW4064 markedly increased FGF19 and FXR expression, an effect abolished by GW9662 (PPAR gamma inhibitor), confirming PPAR gamma involvement. GW9662 also suppressed FGF19 induction by PDs + GW4064. Thus, PPAR gamma may regulate the FXR-FGF19 axis in enterocytes. Both PDs and rosiglitazone enhance FXR-mediated FGF19, with PDs partly acting through PPAR gamma. Pea and fava bean proteins may offer nutritional strategies for metabolic health and sarcopenia prevention.