title: Recombinant human lactoferrin enhances the efficacy of triple therapy in mice infected with Helicobacter pylori.
abstract: Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a life-threatening pathogen which causes chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers and even stomach cancer. Treatment normally involves bacterial eradication; however, this type of treatment only has a rate of effectiveness of <80%. Thus, it is a matter of some urgency to develop new therapeutic strategies. Lactoferrin, a member of the transferrin family of iron-binding proteins, has been proven to be effective in removing a vast range of pathogens, including H. pylori. In the present study, we examined the effectiveness of recombinant human lactoferrin (rhLf) isolated from transgenic goats as a treatment for H. pylori in vitro and in vivo. For the in vivo experiments, BALB/c mice received an intragastric administration of 0.1 ml of a suspension of H. pylori. The mice were then divided into 4 groups: group A, treated with saline; group B, treated with 1.5 g of rhLF; group C, treated with the standard triple therapy regimen; and group D, treated with the standard triple therapy regimen plus.5 g of rhLF. Following sacrifice, the stomach tissues of the mice were histologically examined for the presence of bacteria. For the in vitro experiments, the bacteria were cultured in BHI broth and RT-qPCR and western blot analysis were carried out to determine the mRNA and protein levels of virulence factors (CagA and VacA) in the cultures. Our results revealed that rhLf not only inhibited the growth of H. pylori, but also suppressed the expression of two major virulence factors. Moreover, rhLf markedly increased bacterial eradication and effectively reduced the inflammatory response when combined with the standard triple therapy regimen. These results provide evidence supporting the use of rhLF as an adjuvant to traditional therapeutic strategies in the treatment of H. pylori.
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yuping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yuan
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio‑Resources, Yunnan University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Qinyi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Jielong Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Guoxiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xuefang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Jielong Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Siguo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Jielong Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Aimin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bian
authors.affiliation: Shanghai Jielong Bioengineering Co., Ltd., Shanghai, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jianquan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Jiajun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lv
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Xiangqian
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Yunzhen
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Yunnan Institute of Digestive Disease, Department of Digestive Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, P.R. China.
authors.forename: Lanqing
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ma
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D015964:Gene Expression Regulation, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D006041:Goats; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D011994:Recombinant Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D013270:Stomach / Q000276:immunology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; C490098:LTF protein, human; D011994:Recombinant Proteins; D007781:Lactoferrin