Effect of short-term dietary intake of bovine lactoferrin on intestinal lymphocyte apoptosis in healthy mice.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to describe the effects of short-term dietary exposure of bovine lactoferrin (Lf) on intestinal lymphocyte apoptosis and expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) in healthy mice.


METHODS
Female C57BL/6 mice were randomly assigned to three treatment groups: 0% Lf (n = 16), 0.2% Lf (n = 16), and 2.0% Lf (n = 15). Bovine Lf was administered orally, as part of the diet, for 4 consecutive days. Intestinal lymphocytes (ILs) were isolated and analyzed for percentages of CD4, CD8, apoptotic CD4, and apoptotic CD8 cells using flow cytometry. Pro- (caspase-3) and anti- (Bcl-2) apoptotic protein expressions and TNF-alpha expression in ILs were determined by Western blotting.


RESULTS
There were significant increases in the percentages of CD4 (P = 0.02) and apoptotic CD4 (P = 0.02) ILs in bovine Lf-fed compared with control mice. Percentages of CD8 and apoptotic CD8 cells and expression of caspase-3 and Bcl-2 in ILs did not differ significantly by diet group. In contrast, the expression of TNF-alpha was significantly lower in Lf-fed versus control mice (P = 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Short-term dietary Lf decreased TNF-alpha expression in ILs and increased apoptosis of CD4 ILs in healthy mice.
Spagnuolo
Paul A
PA
Department of Health Studies and Gerontology, Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Bird
Ranjana P
RP
Hoffman-Goetz
Laurie
L
D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015153:Blotting, Western; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D019254:Genes, bcl-2; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008213:Lymphocyte Activation; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D011897:Random Allocation; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000378:metabolism*