lactoferrin and Osteomyelitis

The article demonstrates that the examination of patients with chronic osteomyelitis treated using the transosseous osteosynthesis technique established the ambiguous character of changes in concentration of lactoferrin and lysozyme in blood serum as compared with pre-surgery values. It is demonstrated that closer to the end of 2-3 months after surgery the normalization of analyzed indicators occurs. The complex detection of lactoferrin, lysozyme applied additionally to basal examination of cell immunity can be used to monitor the chronic osteomyelitis. This approach can play a significant diagnostic and prognostic role in evaluation of severity on infection process.

Topics: Adult; Aged; Chronic Disease; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Male; Middle Aged; Muramidase; Osteomyelitis

We studied the release of human lactoferrin 1-11 (hLF1-11), a potent antimicrobial peptide, in an animal model. Calcium phosphate cement with 50 mg/g hLF1-11 was injected into the femoral canal of 12 rabbits. One, 3, and 7 days later, four animals were terminated, and the femora excised. Sections of bone and cement were removed for histological analysis. We used liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry for semiquantitative determination of the hLF1-11 concentration. Blood samples were drawn for leukocyte count and differentiation to identify a potential immunomodulating effect of hLF1-11. After an initial burst release, the hLF1-11 concentration in cement and bone decreased steadily. This in vivo release profile is consistent with earlier in vitro studies. Tissue ingrowth into the cement, without signs of inflammation or necrosis, was observed. Leukocytosis or a shift in leukocyte differentiation did not occur. The carrier released over 99% of the hLF1-11, resulting in peak concentrations at the cement-bone interface. This indicates that hLF1-11 could become a valuable prophylactic agent in osteomyelitis treatment.

Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Bone Cements; Calcium Phosphates; Drug Delivery Systems; Female; Humans; Lactoferrin; Osteomyelitis; Peptide Fragments; Prosthesis Implantation; Rabbits

The therapeutic efficacy of an antimicrobial peptide, human lactoferrin 1-11 (hLF1-11), was investigated in a model of chronic methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) (gentamicin susceptible) osteomyelitis in rabbits. We incorporated 50 mg hLF1-11/g or 50 mg gentamicin/g cement powder into a calcium phosphate bone cement (Ca-P) and injected it into the debrided tibial cavity, creating a local drug delivery system. The efficacy of hLF1-11 and gentamicin was compared to that of a sham-treated control (plain bone cement) (n=6) and no treatment (infected only) (n=5). The results were evaluated by microbiology, radiology, and histology. MRSA was recovered from all tibias in both control groups (n=11). On the other hand, hLF1-11 and gentamicin significantly reduced the bacterial load. Furthermore, no growth of bacteria was detected in five out of eight and six out of eight specimens of the hLF1-11- and gentamicin-treated groups, respectively. These results were confirmed by a significant reduction of the histological disease severity score by hLF1-11 and gentamicin compared to both control groups. The hLF1-11-treated group also had a significantly lower radiological score compared to the gentamicin-treated group. This study demonstrates the efficacy of hLF1-11 incorporated into Ca-P bone cement as a possible therapeutic strategy for the treatment of osteomyelitis, showing efficacy comparable to that of gentamicin. Therefore, the results of this study warrant further preclinical investigations into the possibilities of using hLF1-11 for the treatment of osteomyelitis.

Topics: Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Bone Cements; Calcium Phosphates; Chronic Disease; Disease Models, Animal; Drug Carriers; Female; Gentamicins; Humans; Lactoferrin; Methicillin Resistance; Osteomyelitis; Peptide Fragments; Rabbits; Radiography; Staphylococcal Infections; Staphylococcus aureus; Tibia; Treatment Outcome

The efficacy of prophylactic treatment with human lactoferrin 1-11 (hLF1-11), a broad-spectrum antimicrobial peptide, was studied in a rabbit model of femur infection.. Calcium phosphate cement with 50 mg/g hLF1-11 or gentamicin was injected into the femoral canal, after inoculation with Staphylococcus aureus. Three weeks later, slices of the proximal femora were sawn for quantitative bacterial culture and histology.. Treatment with hLF1-11 (P<0.038) or gentamicin (P<0.008) caused a reduction of cfu compared with the untreated control rabbits. The number of sterile cultures was higher in hLF1-11- (3/7) and gentamicin- (5/6) treated animals than in controls (1/7). Radiological and histological analysis showed early bone ingrowth into the cement cracks, and only moderate pathological changes in rabbits with positive cultures.. Local prophylaxis with hLF1-11 effectively reduced development of osteomyelitis in a rabbit model, but gentamicin resulted in a larger number of sterile femora.

Topics: Abscess; Animals; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Anti-Infective Agents; Bone Cements; Calcium Phosphates; Colony Count, Microbial; Drug Carriers; Female; Femur; Gentamicins; Lactoferrin; Methicillin Resistance; Necrosis; Osteogenesis; Osteomyelitis; Peptide Fragments; Rabbits