title: Early response in neonatal septicemia. The effect of Escherichia coli, Streptococcus agalactiae and tumor necrosis factor on the generation of lactoferrin.
abstract: Using an in vitro model, we report the early effect of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Streptococcus agalactiea (group B streptococci, GBS) and recombinant tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF) on the release of lactoferrin (LF) and the generation of interleukin-1 (IL-1) due to E. coli, using heparinized whole blood from healthy full-term newborns. We wanted to find a dose response relationship between lactoferrin generation on the one hand and the amount of E. coli, GBS and TNF on the other hand. In a final concentration of 10(7) per ml both bacteria increased the release of LF significantly. The response to E. coli was immediate and mg/l +/- 0.29 mg/l, E. coli 1.83 mg/l +/- 0.76 mg/l, p less than 0.001). GBS was a less potent stimulant than E. coli and the response was only apparent after 20 minutes (mean +/- S.D.: 1.06 mg/l +/- 0.49 mg/l, p less than 0.01). TNF in a concentration of 10000 pg/ml as well as 1000 pg/ml increased the release of LF significantly (after 20 minutes mean +/- S.D.: 1.09 mg/l +/- 0.42 mg/l and 0.97 mg/l +/- 0.36 mg/l, respectively), whereas a concentration of 100 pg/ml had no effect. Whole blood incubated with different preparations of LF for 20 minutes did not increase the generation of LF significantly. No significant changes in IL-1 levels were observed. Lactoferrin had bacteriostatic but no bactericidal effect on GBS and Streptococcus mutans.
authors: Institute of Biological University of Tromsø, Norway.
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Gutteberg
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Dalaker
authors: L H
authors: LH
authors: Vorland
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007375:Interleukin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000097:blood*; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D013292:Streptococcus agalactiae / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D013552:Swine; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D007375:Interleukin-1; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007781:Lactoferrin