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, 10 mg/kg kaempferol treated murine mastitis (ip), and 30 mg/kg kaempferol treated murine mastitis (ip). Primary cultured mouse mammary epithelial cells (MMEC) were indiscriminately divided into seven groups including control group, 10 mu mol/L vehicle of kaempferol group, 10 mu mol/L kaempferol treated group, 20 mu g/mL LPS treated group, 1 mmol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group, 3 mu mol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group, and 10 mu mol/L kaempferol plus LPS treated group. Results: In murine mastitis, kaempferol (10 or 30 mg/kg) treatment prevented mastitis development, decreased myeloperoxidase (MPO) production, interleukin (IL)-6 level, tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) concentration, and ANGPTL2 expression. In MMEC, kaempferol (1, 3 or 10 mu M) reduced MPO production, TNF-alpha 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. (c) 2018 Institute of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.