Lactoferrin: A multifunctional glycoprotein

Abstract

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.

Effect of orally administered bovine lactoferrin on the immune response in the oral candidiasis murine model

“…LF has a number of biological functions, including antimicrobial and immunomodulatory effects in vitro and in vivo (Brock, 1995;Tomita et al, 2002;Vorland, 1999). It has been reported that orally administered bovine LF reduces the number of pathogenic organisms not only in the gastrointestinal tract (Teraguchi et al, 1995;Wada et al, 1999) but also in tissues distant from the gastrointestinal tract in several animal models of infection (Abe et al, 2000;Bhimani et al, 1999;Haversen et al, 2000) and in humans with chronic hepatitis C and tinea pedis (Ishii et al, 2003;Iwasa et al, 2002;Yamauchi et al, 2000).…”

Correction: Genome Watch: Enemies within

“…Lactoferrin is a high-affinity iron-binding protein that is present in body fluids such as milk, saliva, tears and serum, and is released from neutrophils on degranulation 55,56 . In circulation, LF is incompletely saturated with iron and therefore it can clear free iron from the tissues.…”

“…Feeding mice with LF also decreases the endotoxin burden in the intestine, indicating a lower degree of intestinal settlement 58 . Furthermore, the LF sequence comprises a defensin-like peptide, lactoferricin, which shows microbicidal activity against Candida albicans, S. mutans, V. cholerae and various enterobacteria 55,56,[59][60][61][62] . Although these data indicate that LF has direct anti-infective functions, LF-knockout mice do not show heightened susceptibility to various pathogens, most notably M. tuberculosis (P. Ward and U. Schaible, unpublished observations).…”

Histomorphometric study of role of lactoferrin in atrophy of the intestinal mucosa of rats

“…A large number of studies of the role of lactoferrin in the intestinal mucosa have been related to the participation of this protein in the control of microorganisms, mainly related to the ability to transport iron and other metals [6,23,24]. Our experiment with its greater emphasis on cell proliferation assessed the role of lactoferrin with regard to the regeneration of intestinal villi undergoing atrophy.…”