lactoferrin and Leukocytosis

To study the immune-modulating and anti-oxidant effects of beta-glucan, papaya, lactoferrin, and vitamins C and E on sperm characteristics of patients with asthenoteratozoospermia associated with leucocytosis.. Fifty-one patients referred to our Sterility Center for semen analysis were selected. Sperm parameters were assessed before and after patient's treatment with beta-glucan, lactoferrin, papaya, and vitamins C and E. DNA damage was assessed by the acridine orange test and sperm structural characteristics were evaluated by transmission electron microscopy.. After 90 days of treatment, an increase in the percentage of morphologically normal sperm (17.0 +/- 5.2 vs. 29.8 +/- 6.5) and total progressive motility (19.0 +/- 7.8 vs. 34.8 +/- 6.8) were detected. Structural sperm characteristics as well as chromatin integrity were also improved after treatment. In terms of leukocyte concentration in seminal fluid, a significant reduction was recorded (2.2 +/- 0.9 vs. 0.9 +/- 0.2).. The treatment of an inflammatory process by the synergic action of immune modulators and anti-oxidants could protect sperm during maturation and migration, leading to improved sperm function.

Topics: Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; Asthenozoospermia; beta-Glucans; Carica; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukocytosis; Male; Middle Aged; Phytotherapy; Plant Preparations; Spermatozoa; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin E

Leukocytes are often present in human seminal plasma and more frequently in infertile men. Leukocytospermia is associated with sperm morphological and functional alterations. Immune cell activation leads to an increase of free radical production, without any antioxidant defence activation. Leukocyte presence during sperm maturation and migration through male genital tract and consequently exposure to reactive oxygen species led to sperm alteration: axonemal, acrosomal and nuclear structure damage, associated with necrosis. In order to evaluate the immune-modulating and antioxidative activity of beta-glucan, fermented papaya and lactoferrin associated with vitamins C and E, we analysed sperm characteristics of selected infertile male with astheno-teratospermia and abacterial leukocytosis.. We selected 20 patients referred to our Sterility Centre for semen analysis with leukocyte concentration higher than 1x106 cell/mL. Seminal quality evaluation was performed according to WHO guidelines (1999) using Papanicolau and eosin staining, before and after three months of treatment with beta-glucan, papaya, lactoferrin, vitamin C and E.. After therapy, seminal analysis showed a significant reduction of leukocyte concentration and an increase of sperm motility and normal sperm morphology.. Our results suggest that a combined immunomodulating and antioxidant treatment protect sperm cells during maturation and migration through the male genital tract, resulting in a functional rescue demonstrated by the improvement of semen quality.

Topics: Adjuvants, Immunologic; Adult; Antioxidants; Ascorbic Acid; beta-Glucans; Carica; Case-Control Studies; Drug Therapy, Combination; Fruit; Humans; Infertility, Male; Lactoferrin; Leukocytosis; Male; Middle Aged; Phytotherapy; Spermatozoa; Treatment Outcome; Vitamin E

Cyclophosphamide (CP) is used in the treatment of autoimmune disorders and leukemia. The compound induces severe leuko- and neutropenia. Lactoferrin (LF) is a protein which plays a role in the innate immunity. In this study we evaluated the usefulness of LF in reversing CP-induced lympho- and neutropenia in mice.. CBA mice were treated with CP (350 mg/kg body weight, intraperitoneally) and given LF as a 0.5% addition to drinking water. Alternatively, LF was administered orally (seven doses, 1 mg each) on alternate days following CP injection. Control groups received CP or LF only. Blood samples were taken before treatment and on days 4, 8, 15 and 22 following CP injection to determine leukocytosis and cell types in blood smears.. Mice treated with CP showed severe leukopenia, strong eosinophilia (day 4), and an altered lymphocyte/neutrophil ratio (days 8-22). Treatment of mice with LF for 21 days partially normalized the cell composition in CP-treated mice (increased percentage of lymphocytes and decreased eosinophil content). The content of leukocytes increased upon LF treatment on days 4, 8, 15 and 22 (by 36.8, 39.5, 72 and 70.7%, respectively). More importantly, LF partly normalized the neutrophil and lymphocyte composition on day 22 (neutrophils: 29.2% in control mice, 50.6% in CP-treated, and 39.16% in CP/LF-treated; lymphocytes: 66.18% in control mice, 35% in CP-treated and 48.8% in CP/LF-treated). Administration of LF alone did not change the cell numbers or composition.. LF given orally to CP-immunocompromised mice accelerates reconstitution of lymphopoiesis and myleopoiesis.

Topics: Animals; Body Weight; Cyclophosphamide; Eosinophils; Immunosuppressive Agents; Lactoferrin; Leukocytosis; Lymphocytes; Lymphopenia; Mice; Mice, Inbred CBA; Myelopoiesis; Neutropenia; Neutrophils; Time Factors

Topics: Anemia, Sickle Cell; Child; Child, Preschool; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Leukocytosis; Neutrophils; Prostaglandins E

Plasmatic lactoferrin measure (LF) by immuno-enzymatic technique combined with neutrophil blood count (PN) on 100 subjects (controls and patients) allows us to show a LF increase proportional to circulating blood neutrophils. In neutropenia, plasmatic lactoferrin measure seems able to divide the central causes from the peripheric ones. Regarding the granulocytosis, LF levels are clearly higher in myeloproliferative diseases than in other causes. Lactoferrin could therefore represent an index of total circulating neutrophil pool but also seems to reflect the granulocyte activation.

Topics: Adult; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Leukocyte Count; Leukocytosis; Male; Neutropenia; Neutrophils

A quantitative cytochemical study has been made, using scanning-integrating microdensitometry, of 1000 toxic granulation blood neutrophils from 20 infected patients, in comparison with 1250 normal blood neutrophils. Myeloid precursor cells in 10 normal marrows were also studied. Normal bone marrow granulocyte maturation was associated with a progressive decrease in azurophilic granule enzymes (myeloperoxidase, beta-glucuronidase, acid phosphatase, chloroacetate esterase), and also Alcian blue staining from acid mucosubstance, but an increase in the specific granule marker lactoferrin. Toxic granulation blood neutrophils showed minor changes in the enzyme content of their azurophilic and specific granules, consistent with cell immaturity, and an increase in acid mucosubstance in azurophilic granules. Abnormal maturation of azurophilic granules, with persistence of acid mucosubstance, is the likely explanation for the intense Romanowsky dye staining of the toxic granulation neutrophil.

Topics: Acute Disease; Bacterial Infections; Bone Marrow Cells; Cell Differentiation; Cytoplasmic Granules; Densitometry; Histocytochemistry; Humans; Lactoferrin; Leukocytosis; Lysosomes; Neutrophils

Lactoferrin (LF), the iron-binding protein of external secretions and neutrophilic polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), was studied in 27 patients during granulocytosis caused by acute inflammation and in disorders without granulocytosis (iron deficiency anemia, iron overload and liver diseases). During granulocytosis the LF concentration of PMN was significantly lower than in controls (p less than 0.001). This difference proved to be related to the number of PMN. A relation between the LF concentration of PMN and iron metabolism could be demonstrated: loss of iron by blood donation is accompanied by a significant decrease in the LF concentration in PMN, whereas iron therapy in patients with iron deficiency anemia is accompanied by a significant increase in the LF concentration in PMN.

Topics: Anemia, Hypochromic; Blood Transfusion; Female; Fluorescent Antibody Technique; Hepatitis; Humans; Immunodiffusion; Inflammation; Iron; Lactoferrin; Lactoglobulins; Leukocytosis; Liver Cirrhosis; Neutrophils