Abstract • 5

Human lactoferrin (LF) and certain peptides inhibits production of bacterially induced IL-1, IL-6, IL-8 and TNF-α. They also have a distinct capacity to kill E.coli, enterococci, S.aureus, Pseudomonas and Candida.

Oral intake of LF or peptides in mice infected with E.coli in the urinary tract resulted in significant reduction in the number of bacteria in kidneys and urinary bladder and depressed levels of IL-6 in blood. LF was demonstrated in urine. Experimental Candida colonization in the stomach was also inhibited by orally given LF and LF-peptides.

Acute colitis was induced in mice with dextran sulphate (DS) in the drinking water. They were given LF or LF peptides orally, 2 mg/mouse twice daily through the experiment. The control animals were only given water. A lower incidence of blood in the stool (Hemocult) on day 2 and macroscopic rectal bleeding on day 4 was found in the treatment group (45 %) compared with the control group (79 %). The colon length on day 7 was significantly shorter and the crypt score was higher in the controls compared to those treated. It seems as if human LF and certain peptides thereof show anti-infectious and anti-inflammatory effects in vitro and in vivo.