Lactoferrin
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that plays a basic role in many physiological functions within the human body, from immunity to antimicrobial and antiviral activities.
Its presence is chiefly in secretion fluids such as saliva, tears, and most often in the human and bovine milk.
Being a member of the transferrin family, the iron-binding ability of lactoferrin makes it capable of participating in iron regulation, and so the biological importance of the protein is even more enhanced.
The following paper discusses the multidimensional nature of lactoferrin and its multifunctional roles associated with therapeutic potential, to which its possible role within the context of serious infectious diseases, such as the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
The Structure and Functions of Lactoferrin in the body
Lactoferrin is one of the proteins that fall in the transferrin superfamily. Essentially, lactoferrin is mostly constructed from two lobes with a high affinity towards the iron ions, which gives it the ability to bind iron.
In fact, the most important function of lactoferrin is its ability to bind iron since this capability indicates that it can limit free iron availability to pathogens and thus prevent their growth.
One of the more important roles attributed to lactoferrin is as an iron homeostasis protein.
Iron is an essential nutrient for human beings and most microbes. It binds to free iron, which can limit its availability to pathogens, and thus acts in a sense as a form of defense against bacterial and fungal infections.
Its anti-inflammatory effect may be related to this property of iron binding, as free iron in excess has been associated with oxidative stress and inflammation.
Thus, the ability of lactoferrin to control levels of iron shows the way the component ensures and sustains health against infectious agents.
Lactoferrin is also found in human milk, with extremely high levels occurring within colostrumthe first type of milk produced during the early stages after delivery.
Within human milk, lactoferrin provides infants with defense against pathogens when their own immune systems are not fully developed.
Although lactoferrin is found both in human milk and cow's milk, its presence in both suggests its importance during early life, during which it plays a role in immune defense and gut development.
Immune System Modulation and Antimicrobial Activity of the transferrin family
Lactoferrin is a vital component of the immune system, owing to its established function as an antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory agent. It serves as one of the body's first line of defenses both as a direct antimicrobial and as an immune modulator.
The rationale for lactoferrin's antimicrobial activity is based on its iron-sequestering ability, a requirement for most bacteria to thrive. Lactoferrin acts against pathogens by removing the latter's iron, thus curtailing their growth.
Apart from the fact that it is capable of chelation with iron, lactoferrin can also act directly on the bacterial cell membrane, thereby structurally impairing the cell membrane and hence killing the cells.
It has broad-spectrum antimicrobial action against most bacteria, including Gram-positive and Gram-negative ones, as well as against yeast and some protozoans.
Lactoferrin also has antiviral activity. It is known to also be able to inhibit viruses such as hepatitis C, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), and herpes simplex virus replication.
The antiviral mechanisms of lactoferrin have not been well elucidated, but the protein interference with the entry of the virus into host cells, probably either through binding of the viral receptor or competition with binding sites available in the cell, is postulated.
The treatment of viral infections has been a quite popular area in the latest research, and of course, especially during and following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lactoferrin Regarding SARS-CoV-2
As the interest in its potential for use therapeutically, arising from its antiviral property during the COVID-19 pandemic, SARS-CoV-2 has become a meaningful area of study regarding the potential application of lactoferrin as a treatment or prevention of the infection.
So far, this protein, by binding to iron and its interaction with cellular receptors, stands at the forefront to be one of the candidates for the fight against viral infections, including COVID-19.
There are also numerous studies on the antiviral properties of lactoferrin against SARS-CoV-2.
It is envisioned that lactoferrin could work by inhibiting the virus from attaching and binding to the host cell's ACE2 receptors through the entry points, where they enter. Such may dampen the effect or even prevent infection by the virus.
Beyond the antiviral direct action, lactoferrin has been involved in modulating the immune responses of COVID-19 cases toward lesser changes of exacerbating the inflammatory responses that have led to complications such as acute respiratory distress syndrome.
A study published in Frontiers in Pharmacology suggested that lactoferrin is a good adjunct treatment against COVID-19 since it could exert immunoprotection and even inhibit viral replication, thus the study results as follows: doi 10.3389/fphar.2020.582232.
Of course, more evidence is needed to be proven for the effectiveness of lactoferrin treatment for SARS-CoV-2, but its ability to reduce viral titers and increase the host's immune responses is fairly impressive.
Bovine Lactoferrin versus Human Lactoferrin is a protein
Both human and bovine milk possess lactoferrin, but with minute differences in the molecular structures and activities of the two forms.
Even though bovine lactoferrin is relatively scarce compared to human lactoferrin, it is still applied in dietary supplements and has been utilized in experimental studies.
Bovine lactoferrin has been shown to have many biological properties that are similar to human lactoferrin, including its antimicrobial, antiviral, and anti-inflammatory effects, which are active in the human body, while the latter was found to be inactive.
The increasing demand for bovine lactoferrin has seen its extensive application in supplements to support immunity, primarily among vulnerable groups such as infants, elderly people, and patients with immunodepressed conditions.
The product has also been put into treatment for several gastrointestinal disorders since it promotes gut health through the promotion of beneficial bacteria that inhibit pathogenic bacteria.
Of special interest are studies concerning the role of bovine lactoferrin in prophylaxis against gastroenteritis in infants.
In addition to its antimicrobial activity, this compound may have protective action for the mucosa of the gut as well as immunoenhancing effects that reduce the incidence and severity of infections.
There are many studies on the preventive effects of bovine lactoferrin against neonatal sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis, two lethal forms of infection that may develop in the preterm infant.
Lactoferrin and Iron Metabolism
Iron metabolism is certainly one of the biological activities of lactoferrin. Lactoferrin is an extremely potent ironbinding protein, and it is thereby that it is effective in inhibition of bacterial growth through regulation at levels of iron within the body.
Bacterial growth and replication are dependent upon iron, and through the sequestering of free iron, lactoferrin deprives bacteria of this necessary nutrient.
Besides the apparent effect of iron binding in regulating the amount of free iron available, other factors place lactoferrin as a determining agent in the human body. The accumulation of iron was linked to oxidative stress and consequently inflammation.
Oxidative stress and inflammation are among the causes of illnesses, such as cardiovascular disease and neurodegenerative diseases.
In general words, lactoferrin maintains the level of free iron within a body at optimal levels, thus reducing the chances of oxidative injury and inflammation by iron.
It has been further hypothesised that lactoferrin may also play a role in iron absorption in the gut.
A few research studies suggested that lactoferrin could serve as a possible therapeutic agent through stimulating dietary iron absorption for patients with iron-deficiency anemia.
Lactoferrin thus contributes to the overall maintenance of the body's iron homeostasis by facilitating the absorption of iron and also by offering protection against dangers of iron overload.
Therapeutic Potential of Lactoferrin in the body
Lactoferrin is endowed with antimicrobial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulating activities, and it has broad therapeutic potential.
The multifunctional nature of lactoferrin has been the rationale for the study of its application in treating infections, inflammatory diseases, and cancer.
One field of interest that is now on the rise includes the application of lactoferrin in cancer treatment.
Studies have also revealed that lactoferrin may inhibit various mechanisms related to cancer growth, especially in colon cancer colonization.
These can be due to the modification of the immune response, reduction of inflammatory processes, and retardation in the growth of cancerous cells through lactoferrin, though further studies need to be done to unlock its full potential in cancer treatment.
It is also looked at for its therapeutic use in treating inflammatory diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
Its anti-inflammatory properties, along with its function in regulating iron and stimulating the immune system, make this compound a good candidate for fighting inflammation in the above disease.
Future of Lactoferrin Research
Studies in lactoferrin are becoming highly promising, with new studies highlighting more of the advantages the compound contains.
Since their knowledge about the role of lactoferrin in the immune system, iron metabolism, and the prevention of diseases continues to grow, very likely lactoferrin will be used for a much greater number of therapeutic application purposes.
Future applications of lactoferrin might include its incorporation into even more sophisticated drug delivery systems or combination with other forms of therapy to increase its effectiveness.
For instance, encapsulation of lactoferrin with nanoparticles can be utilized to increase its bioavailability for targeted delivery to the tissues or organs where it is needed.
Such developments may further expand the therapeutic potential of lactoferrin, particularly in treating infection and inflammatory diseases and even cancer.
Conclusion
Lactoferrin is multi-functional in its activity: activities are basically host defense and immune modulation, iron regulatory, and antimicrobial functions.
Its ability to bind with iron makes it such a potent antimicrobial agent, and in addition to the antiviral properties and anti-inflammatory properties, this makes it very instrumental in fighting diseases or, otherwise, preventing them.
From infant nutrition, it might be interesting in its yet presumably vast potential.
A protein with a huge therapeutic value in treatment is lactoferrin of viral infections, such as COVID-19.
Effects of lactoferrin on the human body: These far exceed iron chelation. As its functions are further explored, lactoferrin may increasingly play a role in disease treatment encompassing all from infections and inflammatory disorders to cancer.
Its function, like no other, has been broadly recognized as unique in regulating iron levels, modulating immune responses, and offering protection against pathogens.
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