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ARS Home » Plains Area » Houston, Texas » Children's Nutrition Research Center » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #153964
Title: USE OF TRANSGENIC MOUSE MODELS TO EXAMINE THE ROLE OF LACTOFERRIN IN HOST DEFENSE

Author
item WARD, P - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item MENDOZA-MENESES, M - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE
item CONNEELY, O - BAYLOR COLL OF MEDICINE

Submitted to: Nutrition Conference Proceedings
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/1/2002
Publication Date: 1/1/2003
Citation: Ward, P.P., Mendoza-Meneses, M., Conneely, O.M. 2003. Use of transgenic mouse models to examine the role of lactoferrin in host defense. Gulf Coast GI Research Forum, League City, Texas. p. 46.

Interpretive Summary: Interpretive Summary not needed for this 115.

Technical Abstract: The overall aim of this project is to address the role of lactoferrin (LF) in host defense against microbial infection and inflammation in the gastrointestinal tract. To this end, we have generated transgenic mice that target overexpression of LF to the intestine using a liver fatty acid binding promoter (FABPL). Northern blot analysis demonstrated that LF is overexpressed at varying levels in the ileum and colon of three transgenic founder lines. The Founder line with the highest level of LF expression was analyzed further. Histological and immunohistochemical analysis indicated that intestinal cell proliferation and morphology are normal in FABPL/LF transgenic mice. To examine the potential protective effects of sustained delivery of LF to the intestinal tract, a mouse model of gastrointestinal infection and inflammation has been established using Citrobacter rodentium, a member of the enteropathogenic and enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli gastrointestinal pathogens. Preliminary studies indicate that transgenic overexpression of LF does not confer antimicrobial protection from oral challenge with this mouse pathogen. Future studies will examine whether overexpression of LF protects against epithelial cell damage and inflammation induced by C. rodentium. This LF transgenic mouse model will also be invaluable in establishing the host defense properties of LF against other GI pathogens and in intestinal models of inflammation.