Supplementation with bovine colostrum enhances natural killer cell activity in influenza‐infected mice

Abstract

Bovine colostrum (BC), from the first milking following partuition, is available as a human nutraceutical for immune support, although data are limited. Oral administration of BC in mice has been demonstrated to affect local intestinal immunity, including an increase in the percentage of NK cells; however, resistance to infection has not been studied. Therefore, we proposed to investigate the effects of BC (W150, La Belle, Inc.) on the innate immune response to influenza infection in 4 month‐old female C57BL/6 mice supplemented with 1g of BC/kg of body weight by pipette for 7 days prior to and following a non‐lethal infection with mouse‐adapted influenza A virus (H1N1, PR8). Animals were observed through 3 days of infection and assessed for weight loss and recovery, lung virus titers, splenic NK cell activity and serum IgA. BC‐supplemented mice demonstrated less reduction in body weight and decreased lung virus burden following infection compared to controls, indicating a less severe infection. BC‐supplemented mice also demonstrated a significant increase in influenza‐enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity compared to controls at 3 days post‐infection (P<0.05). There were no differences in IgA levels between groups. BC supplementation enhanced NK cell cytotoxicity and improved the immune response to influenza virus infection in mice, with no effect on serum IgA. (Sponsored by La Belle, Inc., Bellingham, WA)