title: Lactoferrin lowers serum interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha levels in mice subjected to surgery.
abstract: Mice subjected to thymectomy or splenectomy in general anesthesia release interleukin 6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) into circulation reaching high concentrations after 4 h following operation. In the case of thymectomy IL-6 can be detected only on the day of operation and TNF-alpha attains a maximal value on day 3 postoperation. Splenectomy, which is a more extensive surgical operation, results in a higher, and more prolonged existence of IL-6 in circulation accompanied by higher levels of TNF-alpha. Bovine lactoferrin (BLF; 10 mg/mouse), given intravenously (i.v.) 24 h before thymectomy, reduced, on average, the level of serum IL-6 by 70% as measured 4 h after operation. The inhibiting effect of BLF on TNF-alpha production was smaller with a mean 30% reduction. The effects of BLF (i.v.) administration on the cytokine levels following splenectomy were less inhibitory. BLF caused an approximate 35% fall in IL-6 levels and even weaker effects (20% inhibition) on TNF-alpha release. Application of much lower (1-0.2 mg) per os doses of BLF was even more effective in lowering IL-6 levels after thymectomy (up to 90%) after 5 BLF doses, and by 55% of TNF-alpha. The data suggest that lactoferrin may find therapeutical application for diminishing manifestations of shock caused by clinical insults.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Immunology and Experimental Therapy, Polish Academy of Sciences, Wrocław.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zimecki
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Właszczyk
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zagulski
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kübler
mesh_terms: D000284:Administration, Oral; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012769:Shock / Q000276:immunology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013934:Thymectomy / Q000009:adverse effects; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007781:Lactoferrin