Vorland LH. Lactoferrin: A multifunctional glycoprotein. APMIS 1999; 107:971-8 1.Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in milk, exocrine secretions of mammals, and in secondary granules from polymorphonuclear neutrophils. This review describes the wide spectrum of functions ascribed to lactoferrin, with special emphasis on the antimicrobial properties of this protein, and its derived peptides.

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The localization of immunolabelled antimicrobial peptides was studied using transmission electron microscopy. Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli were exposed to lactoferricin B (17^41), lactoferricin B (17^31) and D-lactoferricin B (17^31). E. coli was also exposed to cecropin P1 and magainin 2. The lactoferricins were found in the cytoplasm of both bacteria. In S. aureus the amount of cytoplasmic lactoferricin B (17^41) was time-and concentration-dependent, reaching a maximum within 30 min. Cecropin P1 was confined to the cell wall, while magainin 2 was found in the cytoplasm of E. coli. The finding of intracellularly localized magainin is not reported previously. ß