TY - JOUR T1 - Therapeutic Effect and Mechanism of Action of Low-molecular-weight Whey Protein Capable of Activating Macrophages in Bovine Mastitis JF - Anticancer Research JO - Anticancer Res SP - 4701 LP - 4706 DO - 10.21873/anticanres.14470 VL - 40 IS - 8 AU - TORU TASAKA AU - KATSUHIKO MAEHASHI AU - HISATSUGU YAMADA AU - AKIHIRO SHIRAI AU - HIDEKI UNUMA AU - KEN TOKUNAGA AU - AKIO HAYAKAWA AU - AKITERU GO AU - KIKYO GO AU - YOSHIHIRO UTO Y1 - 2020/08/01 UR - http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/40/8/4701.abstract N2 - Background/Aim: Bovine mastitis is caused by the invasion and propagation of pathogenic microorganisms into the udder and mammary gland tissues of cattle. In this study, the therapeutic effect of a low-molecular-weight whey protein (LMW-WP) on bovine mastitis was evaluated. Materials and Methods: LMW-WP was orally, intraperitoneally, and vaginally administered to bovine with mastitis. The number of somatic cells in milk was measured 24 h before the administration of LMW-WP. The effect of LMW-WP on cytokine production was measured with a microarray that evaluates the expression of cytokines. Results: In the group that received 1,000 mg intraperitoneally, the somatic cell count was reduced to less than 400,000 at the shipment standard value in three of the four udders, indicating 75% efficacy. The group that received 1,000 mg by vaginal administration showed 67% efficacy. It was confirmed that LMW-WP increased the production of cytokines such as IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-12, MCP-1, and VEGF in mouse macrophage cells, but it did not show any antibacterial activity. Conclusion: LMW-WP may be an effective therapeutic agent for bovine mastitis. ER -