Vaginal Lactoferrin Administration before Genetic Amniocentesis Decreases Amniotic Interleukin-6 Levels

Abstract

Aim: To verify the eventual efficacy of lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein, to decrease the amniotic concentration of interleukin-6 (IL-6). Methods: We prospectively enrolled 60 Caucasian patients at the 16th week of their singleton physiological gestation. A vaginal compound containing 300 mg of LF was administered randomly 4 or 12 h prior to amniocentesis, as to obtain 3 groups: A, 20 untreated patients; B, 20 treated 4 h before amniocentesis; C, 20 treated 12 h before amniocentesis. Results: A normal karyotype was registered in all cases. The comparison of the distribution of IL-6 among the 3 groups showed a highly significant difference (p = 0.001). The difference between mean values of group B and both groups C and A was shown to be highly significant (p = 0.006 and p = 0.03, respectively). In contrast, there was no significant difference between mean values of groups A and C. Conclusion: Vaginal LF administration decreases amniotic IL-6 concentration. We therefore suggest that the glycoprotein may exert a protective role against ominous pregnancy complications linked to an increased level of the cytokine, such as abortion secondary to amniocentesis.

Vaginal Lactoferrin Modulates PGE2, MMP-9, MMP-2, and TIMP-1 Amniotic Fluid Concentrations

“…Taken together, our results suggest that LF may play an anti-inflammatory role in the amniotic environment, thereby completing the scenario previously hypothesized on the basis of IL-6 findings [20]. We did, in fact, find decreased AF levels of PGE 2 , active MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in treated patients.…”

“…Previous studies have also demonstrated that oral administration of lactoferrin (LF), an 80 kDa iron-binding glycoprotein, is able to decrease IL-6 serum concentration [31]. In addition, a recent study has shown that vaginal administration of the compound four hours prior to amniocentesis reduces the AF concentration of the cytokine [20]. …”

“…In a previous study [20], we observed that vaginal administration of lactoferrin (LF), a glycoprotein with bacteriostatic and anti-inflammatory properties [21, 22], 4 hours before amniocentesis led to a decrease in AF levels of IL-6.…”

Amniotic fluid immunoregulatory proteins in the mono- and mixed carriage of perinatal infection pathogens

“…Установлено, что вагинальное введе-ние ЛФ способно снижать уровни ИЛ-6 в амниотической жидкости [16] при том, что при ВУИ наблюдается избы-ток данного цитокина в околоплодных водах [13]. Наибо-лее низкие уровни ЛФ в околоплодных водах при моно-носительстве возбудителей перинатально значимых ин-фекций по сравнению с микстносительством также впол-не объяснимы.…”

The structure and functions of lactoferrin and its role in human reproduction (a review)

“…Поэтому в акушерстве особый интерес вызывают возможности снижения уровня интерлейкина-6 в околоплодных водах. В связи с этим было показано [44], что интра-вагинальное применение ЛФ достоверно снижает риск абортов и преждевременных родов. Повыше-ние уровня ЛФ в плазме крови и его корреляция с длительностью безводного периода, выявленная при преждевременных родах как у матери, так и у плода, может рассматриваться как компенсаторная реакция на повышение уровня интерлейкина-6.…”