Preventive effect of recombinant human lactoferrin in a rabbit preterm delivery model.
OBJECTIVE
Lactoferrin, an iron-binding glycoprotein found in cervical mucus and amniotic fluid, plays a defensive role against mucosal infections. This study examined the effect of recombinant human lactoferrin on preterm delivery in a rabbit model.


METHODS
Anesthetized rabbits were randomly assigned to receive either inoculation with Escherichia coli or saline solution and to receive treatment with or without recombinant human lactoferrin inserted into the cervix 2 hours before bacterial inoculation (condition A: saline + saline; condition B: E coli + saline; condition C: E coli + recombinant human lactoferrin). E coli , saline solution, and recombinant human lactoferrin were inserted into the cervix using a hysteroscope and a sterile polyethylene cannula. Fetus survival rate and days to delivery after inoculation were monitored and tumor necrosis factor-alpha concentrations were measured in maternal serum and amniotic fluid.


RESULTS
Fetus survival for conditions A, B, and C were 95.7%, 0%, and 32.6%, respectively, whereas pregnancy continuation was 7.00 +/- 0 days, 3.25 +/- 0.43 days, and 4.85 +/- 1.77 days, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Cervical recombinant human lactoferrin administration increased fetal survival and extended pregnancy. Lactoferrin has an anti-inflammatory action as well as an antibacterial action, suggesting that recombinant human lactoferrin has the potential to prevent preterm delivery originating from cervical infection in the clinical setting.
Hasegawa
Akitoshi
A
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Showa University, School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Otsuki
Katsufumi
K
Sasaki
Yasushi
Y
Sawada
Maki
M
Mitsukawa
Kaori
K
Chiba
Hiroshi
H
Nagatsuka
Masaaki
M
Okai
Takashi
T
Kato
Atsuko
A
D000818:Animals; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004927:Escherichia coli Infections / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D005313:Fetal Death; D005322:Premature Rupture of Fetal Membranes / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010920:Placenta / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011322:Primary Prevention / Q000379:methods*; D011817:Rabbits; D011897:Random Allocation; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism
D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D007781:Lactoferrin