Wenyang Li1,2,3, Jing Hu1,2,3, Ping Ji1,2,3, Shisheng Zhu4,5, Ying Zhu6. 1. Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400016, China. 2. Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing, 401147, China. 3. Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, 401147, China. 4. Faculty of Medical Technology, Chongqing Medical and Pharmaceutical College, Chongqing, 401331, China. 5. Chongqing Engineering Research Center of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chongqing, 401331, China. 6. Department of Forensic Medicine, Faculty of Basic Medical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Yuzhong District, Yixueyuan Road 1#, Chongqing, 400016, China. 102675@cqmu.edu.cn.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Lactoferrin has recently been reported for its potent bone growth effects. However, the effects of lactoferrin on the healing process of fragility fracture have not yet been studied, so the purpose of this study is to investigate whether oral administration of lactoferrin can promote the fracture healing in an OVX animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three months after bilateral ovariectomy, all rats underwent unilateral tibial osteotomy and were then randomly divided into control group and bovine lactoferrin (bLF) group. At 4 and 8 weeks post-fracture, animals were sacrificed, and the fractured tibiae and serum samples were collected for evaluation. RESULTS: Our results showed that bLF treatment not only accelerated the bone growth at an early stage of OPF healing but also shortened the remolding process of OPF healing. When compared to control group, bLF treatment induced a significant rise in callus BMD (by 35.0% at 4 weeks and by 39.7% at 8 weeks; both p < 0.05) consistent with enhanced biomechanical strength of the callus, with ultimate force increased by 3.39-fold at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) and 1.95-fold at 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Besides, bLF administration resulted in a substantial increase in serum levels of BALP and a significant decrease in serum levels of TRAP 5b and TNF-α. Moreover, both the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio and the expression of TNF-α in the callus of bLF-treated group were markedly lower than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: At a dose of 85mg/kg/day orally administrated bLF potently promoted the bone healing following tibial fracture in OVX rats.
INTRODUCTION: Lactoferrin has recently been reported for its potent bone growth effects. However, the effects of lactoferrin on the healing process of fragility fracture have not yet been studied, so the purpose of this study is to investigate whether oral administration of lactoferrin can promote the fracture healing in an OVX animal model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three months after bilateral ovariectomy, all rats underwent unilateral tibial osteotomy and were then randomly divided into control group and bovine lactoferrin (bLF) group. At 4 and 8 weeks post-fracture, animals were sacrificed, and the fractured tibiae and serum samples were collected for evaluation. RESULTS: Our results showed that bLF treatment not only accelerated the bone growth at an early stage of OPF healing but also shortened the remolding process of OPF healing. When compared to control group, bLF treatment induced a significant rise in callus BMD (by 35.0% at 4 weeks and by 39.7% at 8 weeks; both p < 0.05) consistent with enhanced biomechanical strength of the callus, with ultimate force increased by 3.39-fold at 4 weeks (p < 0.05) and 1.95-fold at 8 weeks (p < 0.05). Besides, bLF administration resulted in a substantial increase in serum levels of BALP and a significant decrease in serum levels of TRAP 5b and TNF-α. Moreover, both the RANKL/OPG mRNA ratio and the expression of TNF-α in the callus of bLF-treated group were markedly lower than those in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: At a dose of 85mg/kg/day orally administrated bLF potently promoted the bone healing following tibial fracture in OVX rats.