Lactoferrin suppresses lipopolysaccharide-induced endometritis in mice via down-regulation of the NF-κB pathway

Abstract

Lactoferrin (LF) is one of the most abundant proteins found in milk, and it has been reported to have anti-inflammatory properties. However, the anti-inflammatory effects of LF on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced endometritis and the underlying molecular mechanisms remain to be elucidated. In this study, we evaluated the effects of LF on LPS-induced endometritis in mice. The endometritis model was established by the perfusion of mice with LPS. LF was administered by intraperitoneal injection 1h before and 12h after LPS induction. Our results demonstrated that LF significantly attenuated the histopathological changes in the uterus, reduced the activity of myeloperoxidase (MPO) and the levels of nitric oxide (NO), and inhibited the activation of NF-κB and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) in a dose-dependent manner. The results suggest that LF has an anti-inflammatory effect on LPS-induced endometritis in mice. Therefore, LF may be a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of endometritis.