Bovine Colostrum Lowers NF-kappaB in Cells Lining Digestive Tract

Byron's Comments:

Any compound that modulates NF-kappaB while supporting immunity is of great value to human health.

Study Title:

Bovine colostrum inhibits nuclear factor kappaB-mediated proinflammatory cytokine expression in intestinal epithelial cells.

Study Abstract:

Colostrum, a nutrient-rich fluid produced by female mammals immediately after giving birth, is loaded with several immune, growth, and tissue repair factors. However, it remains unknown whether bovine colostrum has anti-inflammatory effects on intestinal epithelial cells (IEC). In this study, we aimed to investigate the anti-inflammatory effects of colostrum on IEC and to elucidate its molecular mechanisms. Human colon cancer HT-29 cells were stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1beta with or without bovine colostrum. The effects of colostrum on nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling in HT-29 cells were examined using real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction detect IL-8 and intracellar adhesion molecule-1 mRNA expression using a NF-kappaB-dependent reporter gene assay and an electrophoretic mobility shift assay. Furthermore, we assessed the expression levels of inhibitor protein of NF-kappaB-alpha, cyclooxygenase-2, and p65 proteins by Western blotting. Bovine colostrum significantly inhibited IL-1beta-induced IL-8 and intracellar adhesion molecule-1 mRNA expression. Moreover, it suppressed IL-1beta-induced NF-kappaB activation, including NF-kappaB dependent reporter gene expression in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, Western blotting revealed that colostrum decreased the cyclooxygenase-2 protein expression level, inhibited inhibitor protein of NF-kappaB-alpha degradation, and blocked translocation of p65 into the nucleus. These data demonstrated that bovine colostrum might protect against IEC inflammation by inhibiting the NF-kappaB pathway, suggesting colostrum has a therapeutic potential for intestinal inflammation.

Study Information:

An MJ, Cheon JH, Kim SW, Park JJ, Moon CM, Han SY, Kim ES, Kim TI, Kim WH. Bovine colostrum inhibits nuclear factor kappaB-mediated proinflammatory cytokine expression in intestinal epithelial cells. Nutr Res. 2009 April 29(4):275-80.
Department of Internal Medicine and Institute of Gastroenterology, Brain Korea 21 Project for Medical Science, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.