Kaempferol modulates Angiopoietin-like protein 2 expression to lessen the mastitis in mice.

BACKGROUND: Mastitis is inflammation of a breast (or udder). Angiopoietin-like protein 2 (ANGPTL2) has been found as a key inflammatory mediator in mastitis. Purpose of this research was to investigate the mechanisms about repressing effect of kaempferol on mastitis.

METHODS: Forty mice were randomly divided into 4 groups (n=10): C57BL/6J control mice, untreated murine mastitis, 10mg/kg kaempferol treated murine mastitis (ip), and 30mg/kg kaempferol treated murine mastitis (ip). Primary cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMEC) were indiscriminately divided into seven groups including control group, 10mmol/L vehicle of kaempferol group, 10μmol/L kaempferol treated group, 20μg/mL LPS treated group, 1μmol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group, 3μmol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group, and 10μmol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group.

RESULTS: In murine mastitis, kaempferol (10 or 30mg/kg) treatment prevented mastitis development, decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) production, interleukin (IL)-6 level, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) concentration, and ANGPTL2 expression. In MMEC, kaempferol (1, 3 or 10μM) reduced MPO production, TNF-α concentration, IL-6 level, and ANGPTL2 expression.

CONCLUSIONS: The results in present study show that kaempferol modulates the expression of ANGPTL2 to lessen the mastitis in mice.