title: Lactoferrin reduces colitis in rats via modulation of the immune system and correction of cytokine imbalance.
abstract: Natural immunomodulator lactoferrin is known to exert an anti-inflammatory effect. However, there have been no studies that examine the mode of action of lactoferrin in reducing intestinal damage. We investigated the effect of lactoferrin on a trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis model in rats. Bovine lactoferrin was given once daily through gavage, starting 3 days before (preventive mode) or just after TNBS administration (treatment mode) until death. The distal colon was removed to be examined. Colitis was attenuated by lactoferrin via both modes in a dose-dependent manner, as reflected by improvement in macroscopic and histological scores and myeloperoxidase activity. Lactoferrin caused significant induction of the anti-inflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-10, significant reductions in the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor-alpha and IL-1beta, and downregulation of the nuclear factor-kappaB pathway. We concluded that lactoferrin exerts a protective effect against colitis in rats via modulation of the immune system and correction of cytokine imbalance. Lactoferrin has potential as a new therapeutic agent for inflammatory bowel disease.
authors.affiliation: Third Department of Internal Medicine, Yokohama City University School of Medicine, Yokohama 236-0004, Japan. j_togawa@med.yokohama-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Jun-Ichi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Togawa
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagase
authors.forename: Katsuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tanaka
authors.forename: Masahiko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Inamori
authors.forename: Tadashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Umezawa
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nakajima
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naito
authors.forename: Shinobu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Toshifumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Hisahiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sekihara
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003106:Colon / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007107:Immune System / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D016328:NF-kappa B / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D016328:NF-kappa B; D014302:Trinitrobenzenesulfonic Acid; D007781:Lactoferrin