Lactoferrin
is an important iron-binding protein with many health benefits. The
major form of this powerful protein, is secreted into human biofluids
(e.g. milk, blood, tears, saliva), and is responsible for most of the
host-defense properties. Because of the many beneficial activities
associated with it, researchers are starting to use lactoferrin as a
potential therapeutic protein. And, in contrast to many other
therapeutic proteins, which need to be injected into patients,
lactoferrin can be orally active. Lactoferrin is the subject of the
upcoming June issue of the journal Biochemistry and Cell Biology.
“We
now know that lactoferrin is a protein that has many functions in
innate immunity and that it plays a role in protecting us from
bacterial, viral, fungal, and protozoal infections. It can even protect
us from some forms of cancer,” says special issue guest editor Dr. Hans
Vogel, a professor at the University of Calgary. “Some people describe
this protein as the ‘Swiss army knife’ of the human host defense system.
In part it does all this by binding iron, but many other properties of
the protein contribute to its function.”
This
special issue comprises 27 articles and review papers contributed by
leading international researchers. The role of lactoferrin on skin wound
healing; impacts of lactoferrin on small intestinal growth and
development during early life; and use of bovine lactoferrin on the
inhibition of influenza and in the prevention of preterm delivery
associated with sterile inflammation are among the studies presented.
One
important contribution, already published online, is from a Chinese
research group led by Professor Ning Li in Beijing. It shows that
consumption of milk containing increased levels of the lactoferrin
protein modulates the composition of the gut microflora, which in turn
promotes health. This research relies on extensive biochemistry and
molecular biology to produce the protein and to analyze the changes in
the composition of the gut flora. While the article describes an animal
model study, the results can probably be extended to humans. The
research article titled Transgenic milk containing recombinant human
lactoferrin modulates the intestinal flora in piglets is now available
open access on the NRC Research Press website.
Introduction to the special issue by Dr. Hans Vogel
Transgenic milk containing recombinant human lactoferrin modulates the intestinal flora in piglets
