Lactoferrin, Osteopontin and Lactoferrin–Osteopontin Complex: A Critical Look on Their Role in Perinatal Period and Cardiometabolic Disorders

Abstract

Milk-derived bioactive proteins have increasingly gained attention and consideration throughout the world due to their high-quality amino acids and multiple health-promoting attributes. Apparently, being at the forefront of functional foods, these bioactive proteins are also suggested as potential alternatives for the management of various complex diseases. In this review, we will focus on lactoferrin (LF) and osteopontin (OPN), two multifunctional dairy proteins, as well as to their naturally occurring bioactive LF–OPN complex. While describing their wide variety of physiological, biochemical, and nutritional functionalities, we will emphasize their specific roles in the perinatal period. Afterwards, we will evaluate their ability to control oxidative stress, inflammation, gut mucosal barrier, and intestinal microbiota in link with cardiometabolic disorders (CMD) (obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and hypertension) and associated complications (diabetes and atherosclerosis). This review will not only attempt to highlight the mechanisms of action, but it will critically discuss the potential therapeutic applications of the underlined bioactive proteins in CMD.

Milk Osteopontin and Human Health

“…The bioactivities of the bovine lactoferrin-OPN complex are also seen when it is added in formula protein blends [122]. Interestingly, the ratio between the concentration of the two proteins is the same in bovine (~20 mg/L OPN, ~200 mg/L lactoferrin) and human milk (~200 mg/L OPN, ~2000 mg/L lactoferrin) [18].…”

“…Recently, the bovine milk protein ingredient Lacprodan OPN-10© (Arla Foods Ingredients), consisting of +95% bovine OPN, has been recommended for use as Novel Food in infant formula by The European Food Safety Authorities (EFSA) [12]. Milk OPN has previously been reviewed by several groups [13][14][15][16][17][18]. In the present review, we summarize existing knowledge about human and bovine milk OPN, with emphasis on the cellular and physiological effects of milk OPN as a dietary ingredient.…”

The Role of Osteopontin in Atherosclerosis and Its Clinical Manifestations (Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Diseases)—A Narrative Review

“…However, due to alternative splicing and post-translational modifications (glycosylation, serine/threonine phosphorylation, oxidation, tyrosine sulfation, calcium binding and proteolytic processing), it is expressed in different isoforms with varied molecular weights, depending on the tissue. This molecular heterogeneity explains its various functions and interactions with different proteins [11]. There are three known isoforms with different structures and functions: OPN-a (full length isoform), OPN-b (lacks exon 5) and OPN-c (lacks exon 4) [10].…”