title: Aerosolized bovine lactoferrin reduces neutrophils and pro-inflammatory cytokines in mouse models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infections.
abstract: Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-chelating glycoprotein of innate immunity, produced by exocrine glands and neutrophils in infection/inflammation sites, is one of the most abundant defence molecules in airway secretions. Lf, a pleiotropic molecule, exhibits antibacterial and anti-inflammatory functions. These properties may play a relevant role in airway infections characterized by exaggerated inflammatory response, as in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection in cystic fibrosis (CF) subjects. To verify the Lf role in Pseudomonas aeruginosa lung infection, we evaluated the efficacy of aerosolized bovine Lf (bLf) in mouse models of P. aeruginosa acute and chronic lung infections. C57BL/6NCrl mice were challenged with 106CFUs of P. aeruginosa PAO1 (acute infection) or MDR-RP73 strain (chronic infection) by intra-tracheal administration. In both acute and chronic infections, aerosolized bLf resulted in nonsignificant reduction of bacterial load but significant decrease of the neutrophil recruitment and pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. Moreover, in chronic infection the bLf-treated mice recovered body weight faster and to a higher extent than the control mice. These findings add new insights into the benefits of bLf as a mediator of general health and its potential therapeutic applications.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Piera
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Frioni
authors.affiliation: b Infection and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rossi
authors.affiliation: b Infection and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ranucci
authors.affiliation: b Infection and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Ida
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Fino
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Antimo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cutone
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rosa
authors.affiliation: b Infection and Cystic Fibrosis Unit, Division of Immunology, Transplantation and Infectious Diseases, IRCCS, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bragonzi
authors.affiliation: a Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, Sapienza University, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Berlutti
mesh_terms: D000280:Administration, Inhalation; D000336:Aerosols; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology; D002417:Cattle; D016207:Cytokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008171:Lung Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000382:microbiology; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects / Q000472:pathogenicity*
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; D016207:Cytokines; D018836:Inflammation Mediators; D007781:Lactoferrin
keywords: Pseudomonas aeruginosa; bovine lactoferrin; cystic fibrosis; fibrose kystique; infection pulmonaire; inflammation; lactoferrine bovine; lung infection