Effects of orally administered bovine lactoferrin and lactoperoxidase on influenza virus infection in mice.

Abstract

Milk contains a wide variety of host protective factors against infectious microbes. Among these protective factors, lactoferrin (LF) and lactoperoxidase (LPO) have been reported to exhibit antiviral activities as well as immuno-modulatory effects. In the present study, the effects of orally administered LF and LPO were assessed in a mouse influenza virus infection model. BALB/c mice were intranasally infected with 6.6x10(2) p.f.u. of influenza virus A/PR/8/34(H1N1). Bovine LF or LPO was administered once daily at a dose of 62.5 mg per mouse by gavage, starting 1 day before infection. Mice given LF or LPO showed a significantly lower lung consolidation score on day 6 after infection compared with the control mice that were given water instead. Concurrently, the number of infiltrated leukocytes recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) on day 6 was significantly lower in mice given LF or LPO. However, the virus yield in the BALF was not affected by these treatments. The serum level of IL-6, a pro-inflammatory cytokine, positively correlated with the lung consolidation score in each group and was significantly lower on day 6 in the mice given LPO. These results suggest the potential of oral administration of LF or LPO to attenuate pneumonia in influenza-virus-infected mice through the suppression of infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung.

• Authors: Kouichirou Shin, Hiroyuki Wakabayashi, Koji Yamauchi, Susumu Teraguchi, Yoshitaka Tamura, Masahiko Kurokawa, Kimiyasu Shiraki
• Journal: Journal of medical microbiology (J Med Microbiol) Vol. 54 Issue Pt 8 Pg. 717-723 (Aug 2005) ISSN: 0022-2615 [Print] England
• PMID: 16014423 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Chemical References

• Antiviral Agents
• Lactoperoxidase
• Lactoferrin

Topics

• Administration, Oral
• Animals
• Antiviral Agents (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Lactoferrin (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Lactoperoxidase (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Mice
• Orthomyxoviridae
• Orthomyxoviridae Infections (drug therapy, mortality)