The protective effect of lactoferrin on adenosine deaminase, nitric oxide and liver enzymes in lipopolysaccharide-induced experimental endotoxemia model in rats

Abstract

In this study, the effect of lactoferrin (LF) on adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity, nitric oxide (NO) and liver enzyme levels were investigated in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced experimental endotoxemia model in rats. Forty Sprague Dawley female rats were divided into four groups as control, LF (20 mg/kg, i.p.), LPS (20 μg/kg, i.p.) (E. coli type 0111:B4) and LF+LPS (20 mg/kg LF+20 μg/kg LPS, i.p.). For a week, LF was given daily, while LPS was given a single dose. Liver adenosine deaminase, nitric oxide and liver enzymes (aspartate aminotransferase "AST", alanine aminotransferase "ALT" and gamma glutamyltranspeptidase "GGT") levels of animals sacrificed six hours after LPS injection were determined. It was found that ADA activity, considered to be a marker of cellular immunity, and NO levels increased in LPS-induced endotoxemia and LF supplementation decreased these levels significantly (P<0.001). There was no statistically significant difference between liver ALT, AST and GGT activity levels of all groups, but serum AST and GGT activity levels were significantly higher (P<0.001 and P<0.05, respectively) in the LPS group than in the other groups, and LF supplementation significantly reduced these enzyme levels. As a result, it can be said that LPS increases ADA synthesis and NO release and LF acts as an anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressor in stimulating immune response.

Keywords

• lactoferrin
• lipopolysaccharide
• endotoxemia
• adenosine deaminase
• nitric oxide