The Functional Role of Lactoferrin in Intestine Mucosal Immune System and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Abstract

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), encompassing ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), is one of the main types of intestinal inflammatory diseases with intestine mucosal immune disorder. Intestine mucosal immune system plays a remarkable and important role in the etiology and pathogenesis of IBD. Therefore, understanding the intestine mucosal immune mechanism is a key step to develop therapeutic interventions for IBD. Intestine mucosal immune system and IBD are influenced by various factors, such as inflammation, gut permeability, gut microbiota, and nutrients. Among these factors, emerging evidence show that nutrients play a key role in inflammation activation, integrity of intestinal barrier, and immune cell modulation. Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding glycoprotein belonging to transferrin family, is a dietary bioactive component abundantly found in mammalian milk. Notably, LF has been reported to perform diverse biological functions including antibacterial activity, anti-inflammatory activity, intestinal barrier protection, and immune cell modulation, and is involved in maintaining intestine mucosal immune homeostasis. The improved understanding of the properties of LF in intestine mucosal immune system and IBD will facilitate its application in nutrition, clinical medicine, and health. Herein, this review outlines the recent advancements on LF as a potential therapeutic intervention for IBD associated with intestine mucosal immune system dysfunction. We hope this review will provide a reference for future studies and lay a theoretical foundation for LF-based therapeutic interventions for IBD by understanding the particular effects of LF on intestine mucosal immune system.

Efficacy of Inferrin<sup>TM</sup> and Lactoferrin on Symptoms of Irritable Bowel Syndrome in Otherwise Healthy Adults: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study

“…The mechanism of action for lactoferrin may involve recruitment of immune cells, including neutrophils, and decreasing levels of inflammation markers such as TNF-α [10] [11]. Studies have found that lactoferrin can maintain the integrity of the epithelial barrier within the gut, as well as shape the microbiota [10]. This evidence could explain the results of the current study, whe- An animal study conducted in piglets found that dosing with lactoferrin caused decreases in diarrhoea, with no significant changes being seen in haematological parameters [12], and although it was conducted on animals, showed similar results to the current study.…”

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

“…(The images used were extracted from Servier Medical Art). Related references cited in the Figure: ( a : [ 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 ]; b : [ 16 , 17 ]; c : [ 18 ]; d : [ 11 , 19 ]; e : [ 19 ]; f : [ 20 , 21 ]; g : [ 20 , 22 ]; h : [ 23 ]; i : [ 24 , 25 , 26 ]; j : [ 25 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]; k : [ 30 , 31 ]; l : [ 32 ]; m : [ 33 , 34 ]; n : [ 11 , 19 ]; o : [ 15 ]; p : [ 11 , 15 , 19 ]; q : [ 16 , 35 , 36 ]; r : [ 16 , 37 ]; s : [ 11 , 35 , 38 ]; t : [ 16 , 38 ]; u : [ 16 ]; v : [ 39 ]; ...…”

Colostrum and Lactoferrin Protect against Side Effects of Therapy with Antibiotics, Anti-inflammatory Drugs and Steroids, and Psychophysical Stress: A Comprehensive Review

“…All of these effects of LF positively affect many aspects of our health, playing a particularly important role in the development of newborns and infants, as well as in older patients treated for a variety of infections (including bacteremia and sepsis) and during convalescence after serious diseases, surgery or chemotherapy [ 60 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 ]. LF may be regarded as a “biological drug” which is active by systemic (oral, intravenous, intramuscular and subcutaneous) and topical (on mucous membranes and skin) administration [ 60 , 61 , 62 , 64 , 65 , 66 , 67 , 68 , 70 , 73 , 74 , 75 , 76 , 77 , 78 , 79 , 80 , 81 ]. An overview of LF activity is shown in Figure 3 .…”

“…It stimulates growth, accelerates maturation and has a protective effect on intestinal tissues—epithelial cells and immune cells of lymph nodules—increases the secretion of digestive enzymes, strengthens the physiological intestinal microbiota, inhibits toxin production and the proliferation of pathogenic microorganisms, and seals tight junctions between epithelial cells, resulting in reducing intestinal permeability. In addition, LF inhibits chronic inflammation and the development of polyps, which represent an early stage of intestinal cancer [ 80 , 81 , 82 ].…”