Open AccessPreventive effect of recombinant human lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide‐induced preterm delivery in mice
Author(s) -
Sasaki Yasushi,
Otsuki Katsufumi,
Hasegawa Akitoshi,
Sawada Maki,
Chiba Hiroshi,
Negishi Momoko,
Nagatsuka Masaaki,
Okai Takashi
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
acta obstetricia et gynecologica scandinavica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.401
H-Index - 102
eISSN - 1600-0412
pISSN - 0001-6349
DOI - 10.1111/j.0001-6349.2004.00587.x
Subject(s) - lipopolysaccharide , medicine , intraperitoneal injection , gestation , saline , lactoferrin , recombinant dna , endocrinology , pharmacology , immunology , pregnancy , biology , biochemistry , gene , genetics
Background. In order to investigate whether recombinant human lactoferrin (rh‐LF) has the same effect as bovine LF (b‐LF) for the prevention of preterm delivery, we conducted the following animal studies. Methods. Female C3H/HeNCrj mice were pair‐mated with male Crj:B6D2F1 mice. As a model of preterm delivery, on day 15 of gestation, a 50 µg/kg intraperitoneal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was administered twice with a 3‐hr interval between injections (14:00 and 17:00 hours). At 1 hr prior to each LPS injection (13:00 and 16:00 hours), an intraperitoneal injection of saline, b‐LF, or rh‐LF (1 mg/body) was administered. In non‐LPS‐treated controls, an intraperitoneal injection of saline was administered four times (13:00, 14:00, 16:00, and 17:00 hours). We measured body weight and recorded delivery time. To measure plasma levels of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6), other pregnant mice, in which the same preparation as mentioned above had been done, were killed 6 h after the second LPS injection and blood samples were obtained. Results. Delivery occurred in preterm (16.2 ± 0.4 days of gestation) in all LPS‐treated mice not administered LF. LF significantly prolonged gestation of LPS‐treated mice: LPS + b‐LF, 17.8 ± 0.3 days; LPS + rh‐LF, 18.2 ± 1.3 days ( p < 0.05). LF (1 mg/body) significantly suppressed plasma IL‐6 in LPS‐treated mice: LPS + b‐LF, 1060 ± 154; LPS + rh‐LF, 244.2 ± 59.4; and LPS without LF, 1628 ± 115 pg/ml ( p < 0.05). Conclusions. rh‐LF has an effect of prolongation of gestation in LPS‐induced preterm delivery in mice, suppressing LPS‐induced plasma IL‐6 augmentation.