Bovine lactoferrin, human lactoferrin, and bioactivity.

摘要

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding glycoprotein and is the second most abundant protein in human milk (1,2). In human milk, concentrations are high in colostrum and then decline; however, the decline in concentration is slower in the milk of mothers delivering premature infants (3). LF is found on mucosal surfaces and less so in mature human milk, tears, saliva, seminal fluid, and secondary granules of neutrophils. The expression and secretion of LF on mucosal surfaces and its release at inflammatory sites have established its role as an agent of innate immunity and could be an attractive synergistic agent with antifungals (4) and probiotics (5). Bovine LF (bLF) inhibits the growth of a wide variety of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasites. Furthermore, a high homology between the human and bovine forms of LF suggests that supplementation of infant formulas with LF may provide similar protection against sepsis as observed with the use of human milk.