title: Effect of bovine lactoferrin in a therapeutic hamster model of hepatic amoebiasis.
abstract: Entamoeba histolytica is the causative agent of amoebiasis, a disease that produces dysentery as a result of the perforation of the large intestine. This parasite often invades other organs, primarily the liver, leading to an amoebic liver abscess (ALA), which can cause death. Metronidazole is the drug of choice for the treatment of ALA; however, it produces toxic side effects in patients. Lactoferrin (Lf) is a glycoprotein of the innate immune response that sequesters iron in the mucosae. Lf possesses immune-regulatory properties, such as antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities. Moreover, the microbicidal activity of apoLf, which lacks bound iron, has been shown. In this study, we evaluated the therapeutic effect of bovine Lf (bLf) against ALA in a model of hepatic amoebiasis in hamsters. Interestingly, hamsters treated intragastrically with Lf (2.5 mg/100 g mass) over a period of 8 days showed no clinical signs of disease and ALA was effectively decreased, with only 0.63% detectable lesion, compared with 63% in untreated animals. Furthermore, liver function and blood cells approached normal levels among those receiving bLf treatment. These results suggest that bLf may aid in the therapy of amoebiasis, likely without producing undesirable effects in patients.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Biología Celular y Productos Naturales, Escuela Nacional de Medicina y Homeopatía, Instituto Politécnico Nacional, Guillermo Massieu Helguera No. 239 Fraccionamiento La Escalera, Ticomán, D.F. 07320, México.
authors.forename: Cynthia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ordaz-Pichardo
authors.forename: Nidia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: León-Sicairos
authors.forename: Verónica Ivonne
authors.initials: VI
authors.lastname: Hernández-Ramírez
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Talamás-Rohana
authors.forename: Mireya
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de la Garza
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000378:metabolism; D000563:Amebicides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D001663:Bilirubin / Q000378:metabolism; D002417:Cattle; D006224:Cricetinae; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004748:Entamoeba histolytica / Q000187:drug effects*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism / Q000469:parasitology / Q000473:pathology; D008101:Liver Abscess, Amebic / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000469:parasitology; D008297:Male; D008647:Mesocricetus; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D012016:Reference Values
chemical_list: D000563:Amebicides; D008795:Metronidazole; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase; D007781:Lactoferrin; D001663:Bilirubin