Effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm deliveryin mice

Background. The present study attempted to confirm the preventive effect of lactoferrin on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced preterm delivery in mice. Methods. Female C3H/HeNCrj mice were pair-mated with male Crj: B6D2F1 mice. On day 15 of gestation, a 50 mu/kg intraperitoneal injection of LPS (LPS g roup) was administered twice with a 3-hour interval between injections (at 2:00 and 5:00 PM). The mice were also given an intraperitoneal injection of lactoferrin (0.2 or 1 mg/200 mu l/body) 1 hour prior to each LPS injection ) (at 1:00 and 4:00 PM). To determine the effect of LF on plasma IL-6 level , mother mice were sacrificed and blood samples were obtained at 6 hours af ter the second treatment of LPS. Results. Preterm delivery was induced by LPS in all mice on day 16 of gesta tion. Lactoferrin administration to LPS-treated mice significantly prolonge d (p<0.001) gestation when compared with the LPS group. Plasma levels of IL -6 in the LPS group (1.628+/-115 pg/ml) were significantly higher (p<0.001) than in the untreated group (497+/-39 pg/ml). On the other hand, administr ation of lactoferrin (1 mg/body) to LPS-treated mice significantly suppress ed (p<0.001) IL-6 levels (1.060+/-154 pg/ml). Conclusions. Lactoferrin exerts a preventive effect on the incidence of pre term delivery in mice via a suppression of plasma IL-6 augmentation by LPS.