| dc.description.abstract | Background: Deoxynivalenol (DON) is a major mycotoxin present in staple foods (particularly in cereal products)
that induces intestinal inflammation and disrupts intestinal integrity. Lactoferrin (LF) is a multifunctional protein that
contributes to maintaining intestinal homeostasis and improving host health. However, the protective effects of LF on
DON-induced intestinal dysfunction remain unclear.
Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the effects of LF on DON-induced intestinal dysfunction in mice, and its
underlying protective mechanism.
Methods: Male BALB/c mice (5 wk old) with similar body weights were divided into 4 groups (n = 6/group) and treated
as follows for 5 wk: Veh [peroral vehicle daily, commercial (C) diet]; LF (peroral 10 mg LF/d, C diet); DON (Veh, C diet
containing 12 mg DON/kg); and LF + DON (peroral 10 mg LF/d, DON diet). Intestinal morphology, tight junction proteins,
cytokines, and microbial community were determined. Data were analyzed by 2-factor ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis test.
Results: The DON group exhibited lower final body weight (−12%), jejunal villus height (VH; −41%), and jejunal occludin
expression (−36%), and higher plasma IL-1β concentration (+85%) and jejunal Il1b mRNA expression (+98%) compared
with the Veh group (P < 0.05). In contrast, final body weight (+19%), jejunal VH (+49%), jejunal occludin (+53%),
and intelectin 1 protein expression (+159%) were greater in LF + DON compared with DON (P < 0.05). Additionally,
jejunal Il1b mRNA expression (−31%) and phosphorylation of p38 and extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (−40%
and − 38%) were lower in LF + DON compared with DON (P < 0.05). Furthermore, the relative abundance of Clostridium
XIVa (+181%) and colonic butyrate concentration (+53%) were greater in LF + DON compared with DON (P < 0.05).
Conclusions: Our study highlights a promising antimycotoxin approach using LF to alleviate DON-induced intestinal
dysfunction by modulating the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and gut microbial community in mice. J Nutr
2022;152:2451–2460 | en_US |
