Lactoferrin mitigates ethanol-induced gastric ulcer via modulation of ROS/ICAM-۱/Nrf۲ signaling pathway in Wistar rats

Objective(s): We aimed to investigate the gastroprotective effect of lactoferrin (LF; ۱۰۰ & ۳۰۰ mg/kg) in male Wistar rats versus gastric ulcers induced by ۹۶% ethanol.Materials and Methods: Rats were randomly allocated into ۴ groups: control, ethanol, ethanol+LF۱۰۰, and ethanol+LF۳۰۰. LF۱۰۰ & ۳۰۰ were given ۱۵ days before ulcer induction. At the end of the experiment, the gastric mucosa was examined macroscopically and microscopically.Results: The ethanol group showed damage and degeneration of the stomach mucosa in addition to elevation of oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers. LF showed explicit healing of the gastric mucosal damage. LF reduced gastric malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-۱β (IL-۱β), myeloperoxidase (MPO), and intracellular adhesion molecule-۱ (ICAM-۱). On the other hand, LF elevated the depleted reduced glutathione (GSH) and Nuclear factor-erythroid factor ۲ (Nrf۲).Conclusion: Our current study is the first to study the antiulcer effect of LF via its potential modulatory effects on the ROS/ICAM-۱/Nrf۲ signaling pathway. Moreover, we concluded that pretreatment with LF۱۰۰ & ۳۰۰ mitigated the ethanol-induced gastric ulcer via modulation of both oxidative stress and inflammatory responses.

Keywords:

Anti-oxidant , Anti-inflammatory , Ethanol , Gastric ulcer , Lactoferrin