基于上皮间质转化探究乳铁蛋白对放射性肠损伤的防护作用

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the protective effect of lactoferrin intervention on radiation-induced intestinal injury by focusing on intestinal epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Thirty-two male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into four groups: control (Control), irradiation-only (10Gy), low-dose lactoferrin + 10Gy irradiation (0.5 g/kg +10Gy, LLf), and high-dose lactoferrin + 10Gy irradiation (1.0 g/kg +10Gy, HLf). A single abdominal X-ray irradiation was administered to establish a radiation-induced intestinal injury model. Lactoferrin intervention groups received daily oral gavage for 7 days before irradiation until 1 hour prior to exposure. Mice were euthanized 7 days post-irradiation for intestinal tissue collection, functional evaluation, and molecular analysis. Results: Lactoferrin intervention significantly improved general health status, upregulated mRNA levels of tight junction proteins (ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin-1), preserved intestinal epithelial microvillus length and mitochondrial integrity, and suppressed radiation-induced EMT by inhibiting E-cadherin downregulation and N-cadherin&α-SMA upregulation. Conclusion: Lactoferrin alleviates radiation-induced intestinal injury by modulating EMT progression.