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PubMed1998

The gut. A key metabolic organ protected by lactoferrin during experimental systemic inflammation in mice.

The gastrointestinal tract may be viewed as an ecologic system in which a balance between the host and bacterial flora exists. Two major host components appear to be involved in maintaining this balance. The first is a non-specific structural barrier provided by the epithelial layer of the gastrointestinal mucosae. The second component involves functional immunological elements found in the mucosal and submucosal compartments, e.g., gut associated lymphoid tissue. When gut integrity is disrupted by invasive pathogens or by trauma, a myriad of pro-inflammatory mediators are released from cells in the gut wall that exert actions in the tissue or gut lumen. One of these mediators is lactoferrin, and iron binding protein found in high concentration in most human exocrine secretions. Despite controversies on its physiological role, evidence is emerging that lactoferrin plays an important role in host defense against toxic metabolites and antigenic components of potential pathogens2-4. This manuscript is intended to provide an overview of work related to lactoferrin's modulatory roles in inflammation, and to present observations from experimental studies on the preservation of intestinal structure and function by lactoferrin during intestinal inflammation. The possibility that lactoferrin limits the autodestructive inflammatory responses presents a new alternative for the future management of systemic inflammation.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

A randomized controlled trial of consensus interferon with or without lactoferrin for chronic hepatitis C patients with genotype 1b and high viral load.

Recently, lactoferrin has been reported to have anti-HCV effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of combination therapy using consensus interferon (CIFN) and lactoferrin in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Twenty-one patients with chronic HCV infection, who were positive for HCV-RNA genotype 1b with serum viral loads from 100 to 700KIU/ml, were randomly assigned to two groups; the CIFN + Lac group received CIFN with lactoferrin and the CIFN group received CIFN alone. Nine patients in each group completed this trial; the other patients dropped out because of side effects. Three, two and four patients were categorized as complete responders, relapsers and non-responders, respectively, in the CIFN + Lac group, and four, one and four in the CIFN group, respectively. There was no statistically significant difference in virologic response between the two groups. During the follow up after CIFN therapy with continued lactoferrin, there were two relapsers in the CIFN + Lac group and their HCV-RNA titers before treatment were over 400KIU/ml. In conclusion, the combination therapy of CIFN and lactoferrin did not increase the response rate or prevent relapse after discontinuation of IFN.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1998

Cloning and expression of the Moraxella catarrhalis lactoferrin receptor genes.

The lactoferrin receptor genes from two strains of Moraxella catarrhalis have been cloned and sequenced. The lfr genes are arranged as lbpB followed by lbpA, a gene arrangement found in lactoferrin and transferrin receptor operons from several bacterial species. In addition, a third open reading frame, orf3, is located one nucleotide downstream of lbpA. The deduced lactoferrin binding protein A (LbpA) sequences from the two strains were found to be 99% identical, the LbpB sequences were 92% identical, and the ORF3 proteins were 98% identical. The lbpB gene was PCR amplified and sequenced from a third strain of M. catarrhalis, and the encoded protein was found to be 77% identical and 84% similar to the other LbpB proteins. Recombinant LbpA and LbpB proteins were expressed from Escherichia coli, and antisera raised to the purified proteins were used to assess antigenic conservation in a panel of M. catarrhalis strains. The recombinant proteins were tested for the ability to bind human lactoferrin following gel electrophoresis and electroblotting, and rLbpB, but not rLbpA, was found to bind lactoferrin. Bactericidal antibody activity was measured, and while the anti-rLbpA antiserum was not bactericidal, the anti-rLbpB antisera were found to be weakly bactericidal. Thus, LbpB may have potential as a vaccine candidate.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1997

Neoplastic transformation of the endocervix associated with downregulation of lactoferrin expression.

The incidence of cervical adenocarcinomas in young women over the last two decades has increased. Even with increasing knowledge of the role of human papillomavirus in the etiology of adenocarcinoma of the cervix, there is a paucity of data concerning the genetic and epigenetic factors that contribute to the histologic features and biologic behaviors of these tumors. Lactoferrin is a basic glycoprotein found in human milk, secondary granules of neutrophils, and many body secretions, and it has been associated with carcinogenesis of the endometrium, breast, and lymphoid systems. In this study, we examined the expression of lactoferrin in normal human endocervical epithelium and in cervical adenocarcinomas in relation to proliferative index, steroid receptor status, p53 protein expression, and apoptosis. Immunohistochemical and in situ studies demonstrated that lactoferrin protein and mRNA were strikingly downregulated upon neoplastic transformation of the endocervix as early as in adenocarcinoma in situ when compared with the prominent expression exhibited by the normal cervical epithelium. Furthermore, neoplastic transformation of endocervical epithelial cells was accompanied by a pronounced stimulation of proliferation and a substantial reduction in the expression of the estrogen and progesterone receptors and p53 but little or no change in the number of apoptotic cells. In conclusion, we identified lactoferrin as a novel cancer-specific marker of endocervical adenocarcinomas that may be useful in the early detection of the disease, prediction of prognosis, and the development of new therapeutic modalities.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed2001

Deficiency of the specific granule proteins, R-binder/transcobalamin I and lactoferrin, in plasma and saliva: a new disorder.

The mechanisms of hereditary deficiency of R binder, which originates in neutrophils and exocrine gland epithelium, are unknown and may be multiple. This led us to examine if defective R binder synthesis also involves proteins that colocalize with it in neutrophil-specific granules and exocrine epithelial cells and may be under common regulatory control. Stored plasma and saliva samples from five unrelated R binder-deficient patients and control subjects were assayed for R binder, lactoferrin, cationic antimicrobial protein-18, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin, gelatinase, lysozyme, and myeloperoxidase. One patient, patient A, had lactoferrin levels below the limits of detection in both plasma and saliva in addition to his R binder deficiency. Although his deficiency involved lactoferrin as well, he had no history of predisposition to infection. PCR amplification of his R binder gene promoter region and the beginning of the first exon revealed no DNA abnormalities. His son and the son of his equally deficient brother, both presumptive heterozygotes, had mild deficiency of both R binder and lactoferrin. The results show that R binder deficiency exists in at least two forms. One, presumably the less common of the two forms, is the new hereditary entity described here, which is characterized by deficiency of more than one specific granule protein in both plasma and saliva. Despite this more widely distributed absence of the proteins than is found in congenital specific granule deficiency, infection posed no clinical problem in the affected patient.

Female↗

PubMed1994

Iron-induced conformational change in human lactoferrin: demonstration by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and analysis of effects of iron binding to the N and C lobes of the molecule.

Analysis of Fe-saturated- and apo-lactoferrin by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) without heating the samples prior to application revealed a substantial difference in mobility. The mobility shift was fully reversible on repetitive removal and readdition of Fe. Binding of a single Fe to the N-lobe binding site was sufficient to cause the gel shift; binding of a second Fe to the C-lobe site did not further alter mobility. Removal of Fe from the N lobe of Fe2 lactoferrin did not restore mobility to the position of apolactoferrin. No change in mobility with Fe binding was detected in N and C lobes isolated from intact lactoferrin by controlled trypsin digestion. The data indicate that a conformational change induced by Fe binding to a single site on lactoferrin is detectable by SDS-PAGE and that this change requires an intact molecule, possibly due to the need for interactions between the two homologous lobes of the molecule.

Apoproteins↗

PubMed1996

Comparison of heparin-binding to lactoferrin from human milk and from human granulocytes by means of affinity capillary electrophoresis.

Human lactoferrin from two different sources: milk and secondary granules of neutrophil granulocytes, was compared with respect to heparin binding by means of affinity capillary electrophoresis. This method is based on analysis of migration pattern shifts induced by various amounts of ligand present in the electrophoresis buffer. Since lactoferrin is a basic molecule, analyses were performed at pH 8 in a capillary with a neutral hydrophilic coating. However, analyzable peaks were only obtained in the presence of heparin in the electrophoresis buffer. Proportionally to the amount of heparin present, these peaks exhibited shape changes and strong migration shifts. In the ensuing analysis it could be demonstrated that the two lactoferrins had comparable migration shifts and peak shape changes. This indicates that also in this respect the two forms of lactoferrin are identical. Affinity capillary electrophoresis is a convenient and fast method to investigate functional characteristics of low amounts of unmodified biomolecules.

Electrophoresis, Capillary↗

PubMed1991

Expression of lactoferrin in human stomach.

The expression of the haeme-binding protein, lactoferrin, was studied in human gastric tissues displaying normal, benign hyperplastic or malignant histology. A single 2.5-kb mRNA was detected in only 14% (2/14) of normal resections. This was similar to the finding that 85% of tumours were also negative, with 4/27 positive. In contrast, samples with superficial or atrophic gastritis had a high frequency of expression, with 5/7 and 9/14 positive respectively. The higher incidence of lactoferrin mRNA in antral samples was a reflection of the greater proportion of these compared with body resections of patients with gastritis. No expression was seen in any of 5 gastric carcinoma cell lines. High levels were observed in the cardia, in contrast to complete absence in the oesophagus. Immunocytochemistry showed localization of lactoferrin in cells of both antral and body glands. Chief cells, but not adjacent parietal cells, were strongly stained. In tissues exhibiting superficial or atrophic gastritis we observed a greater degree and intensity of staining as compared with samples with normal histology. We also observed some staining of tumour cells, though this was very patchy. Lactoferrin may have a role in mucosal iron transport in both normal and highly proliferating tissue, but does not appear to be significantly associated with malignant lesions.

Adenocarcinoma↗

PubMed1994

Role of diradylglycerol formation in H2O2 and lactoferrin release in adherent human polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) adherent to fibrinogen exhibit a delay in the release of H2O2 in response to fMLP. Previously, we demonstrated that H2O2 release in adherent PMNs coincides with the exocytosis of lactoferrin-containing specific granules and activation of phospholipase D (PLD). We also found that chelation of intracellular calcium blocked both lactoferrin and H2O2 release in stimulated PMNs in spite of the fact that adhesion and spreading remained normal. Since diradylglycerol (DRG) formation has been implicated in PMN secretion and oxidant release, we determined the effect of intracellular calcium chelation on PLD activation and DRG formation to ascertain whether DRG formation was coupled to lactoferrin and H2O2 release. We observed that chelation of intracellular calcium with bis-(O-aminophenoxy)-ethanol-N,N;N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA) prevented PLD activation as monitored by inhibition of phosphatidylethanol formation. Formation of DRG derived from phosphatidic acid (PA) was also inhibited in the presence of BAPTA. Following the addition of the calcium ionophore ionomycin to the BAPTA-treated PMNs, lactoferrin and H2O2 release was coincident with the onset of DRG formation. Also the addition of sn-1,2-didecanoylglycerol to the BAPTA-treated PMNs stimulated them to release H2O2. Our studies support the hypothesis that DRG derived from PLD activation is required for degranulation of specific granules and associated H2O2 release from adherent PMNs.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed1999

Interaction of tear lipocalin with lysozyme and lactoferrin.

The interaction of human tear lipocalin with lysozyme and lactoferrin was studied by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. TL mutants I98C and F99C were spin labeled with MTSL and its derivative. The spectra demonstrated that at sites C98 and C99 the mobility of the nitroxides was reduced in the presence of lysozyme, lactoferrin, but not albumin. The reduced mobility was manifested as a reduction in side chain motion and backbone fluctuations. The overall correlation time of tear lipocalin, measured by MTSL derivative-labeled F99C, was prolonged in the presence of lysozyme and lactoferrin indicating that the interaction involves direct contact. The effect was mitigated at high salt concentration suggesting an electrostatic interaction of the molecules. The reduction in side chain mobility at C98 and C99 of tear lipocalin was observed in tears. Taken together, the data indicate that tear lipocalin interacts with both lysozyme and lactoferrin and suggest that they may function in concert with one another.

Animals↗

PubMed1996

Subthreshold UV radiation-induced peroxide formation in cultured corneal epithelial cells: the protective effects of lactoferrin.

Acute exposure to suprathreshold ultraviolet B radiation (UV-B) is known to cause photokeratitis resulting from the necrosis and shedding of corneal epithelial cells. however, the corneal effects of low dose UV-B in the environmental range is less clear. In this study, subthreshold UV-B was demonstrated to cause non-necrotic peroxide formation in cultured corneal epithelial cells, which was attenuated by the major tear protein lactoferrin. Intracellular oxidative insults and cell viability of rabbit corneal epithelial cells (RCEC) were assessed by dual-color digital microfluorography using carboxydichlorofluorescin (CDCFH) diacetate bis (acetoxymethyl) ester, a hydroperoxide-sensitive fluoroprobe, and propidium iodide (PI), respectively. The magnitude of UV-induced oxidative insults was calibrated by concentrations of exogenously applied H2O2 which evoke compatible levels of CDCFH oxidation. Exposure of RCEC to low-dose UV-B (2.0 mJ cm-2 at 313 nm, 10.0 mJ cm-2 total UV-B) caused intracellular oxidative changes which were equivalent to those elicited by 240 microM hydrogen peroxide under the conditions of the study. The changes were dose dependent, non-necrotic, and were partially inhibited by lactoferrin (1 mg ml-1) but not by iron-saturated lactoferrin. Pretreatment with deferoxamine (2 mM) or catalase (100 U ml-1) also attenuated the UV-induced oxidative stress. The results indicate that UV-B comparable to solar irradiation levels causes significant intracellular peroxide formation in corneal epithelial cells, and that lactoferrin in tears may have a physiological role in protecting the corneal epithelium from solar UV irradiation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Production of human lactoferrin in transgenic tobacco plants.

Production and characterization of human lactoferrin (hLf) in transgenic tobacco is reported. We have engineered two constructs containing either the native signal peptide from human lactoferrin or the signal peptide from sweet potato sporamin fused to human lactoferrin encoding cDNA. N-terminal sequences of rhLf purified from tobacco were identical to Lf from human milk for both constructs. The tobacco rhLf presents a molecular mass closely identical to native protein. Overall sugar composition shows the presence of plant specific xylose while sialic acid is absent. Binding parameters of the recombinant molecule to both Jurkat lymphoblastic T-cells or HT29-18-C1 enterocytes are similar to those of human lactoferrin isolated from milk.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMed2001

Does human lactoferrin in the milk of transgenic mice deliver iron to suckling neonates?

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein abundantly present in human milk, and has been postulated both to increase and to decrease intestinal iron absorption. To examine this problem, the interaction of milk iron with pup hemoglobin was studied in controls and in transgenic mice overexpressing human lactoferrin in their milk (2 lines expressing 12 mg/mL and 4 mg/mL, respectively). At day 14 of gestation, pregnant mice were switched from a diet of commercial chow containing iron at 300 mg/kg to diets containing 5, 15, or 50mg iron/kg; controls continued on chow. Nontransgenic pups were cross-fostered to transgenic dams to ensure that any results found in the pups were the effect of milk components. The hemoglobin level in the blood of 10-day-old suckling neonates was measured and calculated as total hemoglobin per pup. The total hemoglobin levels were lower in the pups receiving milk high in human lactoferrin, but the difference reached significance (P < 0.02) only at the highest level of dietary iron. Our findings do not support the hypothesis that lactoferrin functions as an intestinal iron scavenger, at least at high doses.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

The role of lactoferrin as an anti-inflammatory molecule.

The formation of hydroxyl radical via the iron catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction has been implicated in phagocyte-mediated microbicidal activity and inflammatory tissue injury. The fact that neutrophils contain lactoferrin and mononuclear phagocytes have the capacity to acquire exogenous iron has suggested that iron bound to lactoferrin may influence the nature of free radical products generated by these cells. Over the years the iron-lactoferrin complex has been heralded as both a promoter and inhibitor of hydroxyl radical formation. This manuscript is intended to provide an overview of work performed to date related to this controversy and to present results of a number of preliminary studies which shed further light on the role of lactoferrin in inflammation.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Lactoferrin gene promoter in human and mouse. Analogous and dissimilar characteristics.

Lactoferrin promoter and the 5'-flanking region of both human and mouse were isolated from a genomic library constructed with lambda phage. A 2.0 kbp Sac I fragment of the human clone (HLF031a.30) and a 3.0 kbp Eco R I/Hinc II fragment of the mouse clone (mL14p9E) containing the lactoferrin promoter, 5'-flanking region, first exon and partial intron were sequenced completely. There were many sequence homologies between human and mouse at the promoter/enhancer (1 to -363) region, yet substantial divergence was observed beyond this region. To determine the promoter activity, 5'-deletion mutants of the mouse lactoferrin gene were linked to a CAT-reporter plasmid and transfected into the human endometrium carcinoma cell line, RL95-2. We identified a number of positive and negative regulatory sequences as well as the estrogen-response element in the 5'-flanking region of the lactoferrin gene. The imperfect estrogen response elements of both human and mouse are functional as demonstrated by transfection experiments, band-shift assay and DNase I footprint analysis. The molecular mechanism that governs the estrogen-stimulated response, however, differs between human and mouse.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Synergism and substitution in the lactoferrins.

The anion binding properties of human lactoferrin (Lf), with Fe3+ or Cu2+ as the associated metal ion, highlight differences between the two sites, and in the anion binding behaviour when different metals are bound. Carbonate, oxalate and hybrid carbonate-oxalate complexes have been prepared and their characteristic electronic and EPR spectra recorded. Oxalate can displace carbonate from either one or both anion sites of Cu2(CO3)2Lf, depending on the oxalate concentration, but no such displacement occurs for Fe2(CO3)2Lf although it does for the bovine analogue. Addition of oxalate and the appropriate metal ion to apoLf under carbonate-free conditions gives dioxalate complexes with both Fe3+ and Cu2+. The anion sites as determined from the crystal structures of Fe2(CO3)2Lf, Fe2(C2O4)2Lf, Cu2(CO3)2Lf, and Cu2(CO3)(C2O4)Lf have been compared. Both the carbonate and oxalate ions bind in bidentate fashion to the metal, except that the carbonate ion in the N-lobe site of dicupric lactoferrin is monodentate. The hybrid copper lactoferrin complex shows that the oxalate ion binds preferentially in the C-lobe site in a bidentate mode. A series of complexes containing the synergistic anion O,N-chelates with increasing substitution on the N atom (glycinate, iminodiacetate and nitrilotriacetate) have been prepared with iron bovine lactoferrin for comparison with the O,O-chelate oxalate. Overall these observations lead to a generalised model for synergistic anion binding by transferrins and allow comparisons to be made with nonsynergistic anions such as citrate and succinate.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Bovine lactoferrin and Lactoferricin inhibit tumor metastasis in mice.

The effect of a bovine milk protein, lactoferrin (bLf), and a pepsin-generated peptide of bLf, lactoferricin (Lfcin-B), on inhibition of tumor metastasis produced by highly metastatic murine tumor cells, B16-BL6 melanoma and L5178Y-ML25 lymphoma cells, was examined in experimental and spontaneous metastasis models using syngeneic mice. The subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of bovine apo-lactoferrin (apo-bLf) and Lfcin-B 1 day after tumor inoculation significantly inhibited liver and spleen metastasis of L5178Y-ML25 cells and lung metastasis of B16-BL6 cells, whereas human apo-lactoferrin (apo-hLf) and bovine holo-lactoferrin (holo-Lf) at the dose of 1 mg/mouse did not. Furthermore, both apo-bLf and Lfcin-B, but not apo-hLf and holo-bLf, inhibited the number of tumor-induced blood vessels and suppressed tumor growth on day 8 after tumor inoculations in an in vivo model. However, in a long-term analysis of tumor growth for up to 21 days after tumor inoculation, single administration of apo-bLf significantly suppressed the growth of B16-BL6 cells throughout the examination period, but Lfcin-B showed inhibitory activity only during the early period (8 days). In spontaneous metastasis model, multiple administration of both apo-bLf and Lfcin-B significantly inhibited lung metastasis of B16-BL6 cells, however it was only apo-bLf that exhibited the inhibitory effect of tumor growth at the time of primary tumor amputation (on day 21) after tumor inoculation. The results suggest that apo-bLf and Lfcin-B inhibit tumor metastasis through different mechanisms, and that the inhibitory activity of bLf on tumor metastasis may be related to the property of iron (Fe3+)-saturation.

Animals↗

PubMed1998

Glycation ligand binding motif in lactoferrin. Implications in diabetic infection.

Lactoferrin and lysozyme are two important, naturally occurring antibacterial proteins found in saliva, nasal secretions, milk, mucus, serum and in the lysosomes of neutrophils and macrophages. Both proteins bind specifically to glucose-modified proteins bearing advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs). Exposure to AGE-modified proteins blocks the bacterial agglutination and bacterial killing activities of lactoferrin and also inhibits the bactericidal and enzymatic activity of lysozyme. Peptide mapping by AGE ligand blot revealed two AGE-binding domains in lactoferrin, and a single AGE-binding domain in lysozyme. None of these AGE-binding domains displayed any significant homology in their primary sequences; however, a common 17-18 amino acid cysteine loop motif (CX15-16C) was identified among them, which we named an ABCD motif (AGE-Binding Cysteine-bounded Domain). Similar domains are also present in other antimicrobial proteins such as defesins. Hydrophilicity analysis indicated that each of these ABCD loops is markedly hydrophilic. Synthetic peptides, corresponding to these motifs in lactoferrin and lysozyme, exhibited AGE-binding activity. Since diabetes is associated with abnormally high levels of tissue and serum AGEs, the elevated AGEs may inhibit endogenous antibacterial proteins by binding to the conserved ABCD motif, thereby increasing susceptibility to bacterial infections in diabetic individuals. These results may provide a basis for the development of new approaches to prevent diabetic infections.

Amino Acid Sequence↗