Figure 3.

Lactoferrin (Lf)-derived peptides promote macrophage conversion to the CD11b^low phenotype. Mice undergoing peritonitis for 48 h were injected intraperitoneally (i.p.) with PBS, FKE, or FKD peptides (50 µM each). After additional 18 h, peritoneal exudates were recovered and the cells were enumerated. Then, exudate cells were immunostained for Ly-6G, F4/80, and CD11b and analyzed by flow cytometry. The numbers of macrophages (A) and neutrophils (B), and the percentages of CD11b^high and CD11b^low macrophages (C) are presented. Results are averages ± SEM from three independent experiments (n = 4 per group). ***/**/*indicate statistically significant differences of P ≤ 0.005/P ≤ 0.01/P ≤ 0.05, respectively, by ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis.