title: Lactoferrin impedes epithelial cell adhesion in vitro.
abstract: In the process of host defence against microbial challenge, neutrophils release granule contents with the potential side effect of damaging structural tissues. In the junctional epithelium such damage may contribute to the degeneration and renewal of the epithelial cells attached directly to the tooth (DAT cells), and subsequently to periodontal pocket formation. This study reports on lactoferrin, one of the substances released by neutrophils, and its effects on epithelial cell adhesion, growth, DNA synthesis and spreading of cell colonies at concentrations recorded in the crevicular fluid. We show that, in opposition to what has been reported on bacterial cells, lactoferrin has no effect on the DNA synthesis of attached epithelial cells in model systems attempting to simulate the DAT cells in vivo. However, both iron-saturated and unsaturated lactoferrin hampered cell adhesion, growth and spreading of cell colonies in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that lactoferrin does not affect epithelial cell proliferation but it may have a role in delaying the repair of the DAT cell population during inflammation by interfering with cell adhesion.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Turku, Finland. marja.pollanen@utu.fi
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Pöllänen
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Häkkinen
authors.forename: D O
authors.initials: DO
authors.lastname: Overman
authors.forename: J I
authors.initials: JI
authors.lastname: Salonen
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000818:Animals; D001345:Autoradiography; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects; D016923:Cell Death; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000502:physiology; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002460:Cell Line; D002465:Cell Movement / Q000187:drug effects; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000502:physiology; D004247:DNA / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000187:drug effects; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004846:Epithelial Attachment / Q000502:physiology; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D005881:Gingiva / Q000166:cytology; D005883:Gingival Crevicular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007249:Inflammation; D007501:Iron / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000502:physiology; D010513:Periodontal Ligament / Q000166:cytology; D010514:Periodontal Pocket / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D012867:Skin / Q000166:cytology; D013552:Swine; D013936:Thymidine; D014316:Tritium
chemical_list: D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals; D014316:Tritium; D004247:DNA; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin; D001973:Bromodeoxyuridine; D013936:Thymidine