title: Potential antimicrobial effects of human lactoferrin against oral infection with Listeria monocytogenes in mice.
abstract: Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen that causes serious listeriosis in humans. Antimicrobial effects of human lactoferrin (hLF) against L. monocytogenes have been clearly demonstrated in in vitro studies. However, in vivo studies have not been reported yet. This study investigated whether the oral administration of hLF could inhibit oral infection of listeria in BALB/c mice. The MICs for several strains of L. monocytogenes were determined, and the most sensitive strain was used for the animal work. hLF was administered to BALB/c mice for 7 days, commencing 4 days before oral infection. The effect of hLF was determined by bacterial enumeration and histopathological analysis of the liver and spleen, which are well-known as the major targets of oral listeria infection in mice. In bacterial enumeration, hLF decreased the number of L. monocytogenes cells in the liver. Histopathologically, the size and frequency of necrotic foci in the liver samples decreased with hLF administration. However, these changes were not observed in the spleen samples. The mRNA levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1beta, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma, decreased in the liver of mice receiving hLF. This study has shown that hLF decreases the hepatic colonization of L. monocytogenes, hepatic necrosis and expression of inflammatory cytokines. It revealed that perorally given hLF could mediate antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities remote from the gut (i.e. in the liver) of mice challenged with L. monocytogenes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Hui-Young
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong-Hwan
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Seung-Hyeok
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Seok
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Won
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Baek
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Dong-Jae
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Byoung-Hee
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Pil-Don
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Yong-Soon
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine and School of Agricultural Biotechnology, Seoul National University, San 56-1, Shillim-Dong, Kwanak-Gu, Seoul, 151-742, Korea 2Department of Agricultural Biology, National Institute of Agricultural Science and Technology, RDA, Suwon, 441-744, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae-Hak
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Park
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D016207:Cytokines / Q000096:biosynthesis; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D005260:Female; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008089:Listeria monocytogenes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008088:Listeriosis / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008099:Liver / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009336:Necrosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000032:analysis; D013154:Spleen / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D007781:Lactoferrin