Enteral supplementation of bovine lactoferrin improves gut barrier function in rats after massive bowel resection.
Previous studies have shown that bovine lactoferrin (bLF) exerts antibacterial, immune-modulating and anti-inflammatory effects. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of enteral bLF supplementation on intestinal adaptation and barrier function in a rat model of short bowel syndrome (SBS). Male Sprague-Dawley rats aged 4 weeks were randomised into three groups (n 10 per group): Sham group (rats submitted to bowel transection and reanastomosis); SBS group (rats submitted to 80 % small-bowel resection); SBS-bLF group (rats submitted to 80 % small-bowel resection plus treatment with bLF (0·5 g/kg per d) by oral administration from day 2 to day 20). Despite similar food intake, both the SBS and SBS-bLF groups exhibited significantly lower body weight gain, but increased villus height and crypt depth and a higher intestinal epithelial cell proliferation index (P< 0·05) when compared with the Sham group. Compared with that in the SBS group, in the SBS-bLF group, bacterial translocation to regional organs was low and intestinal permeability was significantly reduced. The SBS-bLF group also had increased secretory IgA (sIgA) concentrations in ileal contents (29·9 (23·8-33·0) ng/ml), when compared with the other two groups having similar sIgA concentrations (17·5 (12·6-29·1) and 19·3 (11·5-27·0) ng/ml, respectively). The relative expression levels of two tight junction (TJ) proteins, occludin and claudin-4, in the SBS-bLF group were significantly higher than those in the SBS group (P< 0·05), but did not exhibit any significant differences when compared with those in the Sham group. In conclusion, enteral bLF supplementation up-regulates small-bowel sIgA concentrations and TJ protein expression and reduces intestinal permeability and could thus support intestinal barrier integrity and protect against bacterial infections in SBS.
Department of Clinical Nutrition,Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Jiang
J
Wu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Jie
J
Chen
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Wenjie
W
Wu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Jia
J
Shi
Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Yan
Y
Zhong
Mead Johnson Pediatric Nutrition Institute,Nijmegen,The Netherlands.
Eric A F
EA
van Tol
Department of Clinical Nutrition,Xin Hua Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Qingya
Q
Tang
Shanghai Institute for Pediatric Research,Shanghai,People's Republic of China.
Wei
W
Cai
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D002417:Cattle; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D062506:Claudin-4 / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D020895:Enterocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005766:Gastrointestinal Contents / Q000737:chemistry; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory / Q000032:analysis; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D062793:Occludin / Q000378:metabolism; D010539:Permeability; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012778:Short Bowel Syndrome / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015430:Weight Gain
D062506:Claudin-4; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D007071:Immunoglobulin A, Secretory; D062793:Occludin; C568987:Ocln protein, rat; D007781:Lactoferrin