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Vol. 7, Issue 4 (2018)

A multifunctional bioactive protein: Lactoferrin

Author(s):
Preeti, Jagish Kour Reen, Madhu Suman, Uday Kannegundla, Manjula Thakur and Rohit Kumar
Abstract:
Lactoferrin which is also known by the name of lactotransferrin (LTF), is a multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family and is found in almost all human mucosal secretions as well as in the specific granules of polymorphonuclear leukocytes in blood. A variety of functions have been found to associated with this protein along with its contribution to antimicrobial host defense mechanism. Moreover, it has been shown to have direct effects on some of the pathogenic microorganisms through bacteriostatic and microbial iron uptake induction. Several studies have shown that the protein synergistically interacts with immunoglobins, complement, and neutrophil cationic proteins which act against Gram-negative bacteria. Further, both the whole protein and a cationic N-terminus peptide fragment directly damage the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria suggesting a mechanism for its supplemental antimicrobial effects. It has appeared logical that antimicrobial activity of the protein arises from sequestration of environmental iron thereby causing nutritional deprivation of iron in susceptible organisms. Lactoferrin has diverse role where it can be used as an immunotherapeutic and can also play a role in immunodiagnostics. Still its overall physiologic role remains yet to be defined clearly inside the living system.
Pages: 75-79  |  1178 Views  109 Downloads


The Pharma Innovation Journal
How to cite this article:
Preeti, Jagish Kour Reen, Madhu Suman, Uday Kannegundla, Manjula Thakur, Rohit Kumar. A multifunctional bioactive protein: Lactoferrin. Pharma Innovation 2018;7(4):75-79.

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