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Effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm delivery in mice
Y Mitsuhashi1, K Otsuki, A Yoda
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Background:
The present study attempted to confirm the preventive effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm delivery in mice.
Methods:
Female C3H/HeNCrj mice were pair-mated with male Crj: B6D2F1 mice. On day 15 of gestation, a 50 micron/kg intraperitoneal injection of LPS (LPS group) was administered twice with a 3-hour interval between injections (at 2:00 and 5:00 PM). The mice were also given an intraperitoneal injection of lactoferrin (0.2 or 1 mg/200 microl/body) 1 hour prior to each LPS injection) (at 1:00 and 4:00 PM). To determine the effect of LF on plasma IL-6 level, mother mice were sacrificed and blood samples were obtained at 6 hours after the second treatment of LPS.
Results:
Preterm delivery was induced by LPS in all mice on day 16 of gestation. Lactoferrin administration to LPS-treated mice significantly prolonged (p<0.001) gestation when compared with the LPS group. Plasma levels of IL-6 in the LPS group (1.628+/-115 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the untreated group (497+/-39 pg/ml). On the other hand, administration of lactoferrin (1 mg/body) to LPS-treated mice significantly suppressed (p<0.001) IL-6 levels (1.060+/-154 pg/ml).
Conclusions:
Lactoferrin exerts a preventive effect on the incidence of preterm delivery in mice via a suppression of plasma IL-6 augmentation by LPS.