Influences of orally administered lactoferrin on IFN-gamma and IL-10 production by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes and mesenteric lymph-node cells.

Intestinal mucosal immunity plays an important role in mucosal and systemic immune responses. We investigated the influences of orally administered bovine lactoferrin (LF) on cytokine production by intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IEL) and mesenteric lymph-node (MLN) cells, especially T cells. Bovine LF or bovine serum albumin (control) was administered to mice once daily for 3 d. After 24 h from the last administration, IEL of the jejunum and ileum and MLN cells were isolated. These cells were cultured with and without the anti-T-cell-receptor antibody, and then the culture supernatants were assayed for cytokines with ELISA. Oral LF did not affect the ratio of T-cell subpopulations in IEL and MLN; however, LF enhanced both interferon (IFN)-gamma and interleukin (IL)-10 production by unstimulated IEL and by IEL stimulated with the alphabeta T-cell receptor but not with the gammadelta T-cell receptor. LF also enhanced both IFN-gamma and IL-10 production by stimulated and unstimulated MLN cells. The production level of IFN-gamma by MLN cells was correlated with that of IL-10. These results suggest that oral LF enhances the production of both Th1-type and Th2/Tr-type cytokines in the small intestine of healthy animals.