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In Vivo Effects of Bifidobacteria and Lactoferrin on Gut Endotoxin Concentration and Mucosal Immunity in Balb/c Mice

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Abstract

The aim of the present study was to examine the effects of oral supplementation of newborn Balb/c mice with bifidobacteria (B. infantis, B. bifidum) and iron-free apo-lactoferrin (bovine, human) on gut endotoxin concentration and mucosal immunity. Endotoxin concentration was measured in ileocecal filtrates at 7, 14, 21, and 28 days postdelivery by a quantitative limulus amebocyte lysate test. While endotoxin levels in bifidobacteria-fed mice showed a steady rise over time, they were consistently lower than that observed in control animals. Results of lactoferrin supplementation varied depending on the specific time point, but overall by day 28, all treatment groups showed lower intestinal endotoxin concentrations compared to saline fed animals. Neither bifidobacteria nor lactoferrin stimulated an increase in B or T cells, or in cytokine production (IL-6, TNF-α, INF-γ), in Peyer's patches as measured by flow cytometry. Bifidobacteria and lactoferrin were well tolerated as dietary supplements and showed promising potential to reduce gut endotoxin levels.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Pediatrics, The Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo, Kaleida Health, and School of Medicine, State University of New York at Buffalo, Buffalo, New York

    Elizabeth A. Griffiths, Linda C. Duffy, Haiping Qiao, Diane Dryja, Allen Leavens, Jon Rossman, Gary Rich & Pearay L. Ogra

  2. Department of Animal Sciences, Laboratories of Molecular and Developmental Biology, Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Ohio State University, Wooster, Ohio

    Floyd L. Schanbacher

  3. National Dairy Council, Dairy Management Inc., Rosemont, Illinois, USA

    Douglas Dirienzo

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  1. Elizabeth A. Griffiths
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  2. Linda C. Duffy
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Griffiths, E.A., Duffy, L.C., Schanbacher, F.L. et al. In Vivo Effects of Bifidobacteria and Lactoferrin on Gut Endotoxin Concentration and Mucosal Immunity in Balb/c Mice. Dig Dis Sci 49, 579–589 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:DDAS.0000026302.92898.ae

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