Lactoferrin or a fragment thereof inhibits the endotoxin-induced interleukin-6 response in human monocytic cells

Human milk is in several ways anti-inflammatory. This study investigates whether or not human milk lactoferrin (LF) in comparison with bovine LF can affect the IL-6 release from human cells. Human, as well as bovine, LF and a bactericidal pepsin-derived fragment of bovine LF (lactoferricin B) were found to suppress the IL-6 response in a monocytic cell line (THP-1) when stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The suppression of bovine LF was similar to or higher than that of human LF. Lactoferricin B was the strongest inhibitor of the LPS-induced IL-6 response. A time-dependence regarding the inhibitory capacity of LF was found. For human LF, the strongest inhibition was observed when added 15-30 min after the addition of LPS. Addition of LF before the LPS induced an approximately 45% reduction of the IL-6 response. The results suggest an anti-inflammatory activity of both human and bovine LF, and of the LF fragment lactoferricin B through their suppressive effects on the cytokine release.