LACTOFERRIN REGULATES THE RELEASE OF TUMOR-NECROSIS-FACTOR-ALPHA AND INTERLEUKIN-6 IN-VIVO

The effects of bovine lactoferrin on the serum cytokine levels, induce d by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice, are described. Bovine lactoferr in (BLF) introduced intravenously, 24 hours before i.v. injection of 5 0 mug of LPS, significantly lowered the serum concentration of TNF-alp ha. Doses of BLF lower than 100 mug as well as pretreatment of mice wi th BLF on days 6-2 or 12-2 hours before LPS challenge, were not effect ive. Moreover, BLF induces by itself a relatively high level of IL-6, peaking at 1 hour following injection. Pretreatment of LPS-injected mi ce with BLF causes, in addition, a small but statistically significant drop in IL-6 level. Human albumin, used as a control protein, did not cause any changes in the cytokine levels. The data reported herein pr ovide a satisfactory explanation with regard to preventive activity of LF in infection.