title: Lactoferrin and cyclic lactoferricin inhibit the entry of human cytomegalovirus into human fibroblasts.
abstract: Lactoferrin is mainly produced by polymorphonuclear leukocytes and has been demonstrated in mammalian milk and external secretions. Lactoferrin is an iron-binding, multifunctional protein and may play an important role in immune regulation and in defense mechanisms against bacteria, fungi and viruses. Lactoferricin is a potent antimicrobial peptide generated from the N-terminal part of lactoferrin by pepsin cleavage. We demonstrate that lactoferrins from different species and its N-terminal peptide lactoferricin (particularly the cyclic form) inhibit expression of early and late antigens, as well as production of infectious viral progeny during human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection in vitro. Iron-saturated lactoferrin did not affect HCMV antigen expression. Heparin had the same effects as iron-depleted lactoferrin. Yet, mixtures of lactoferrin and heparin did not inhibit HCMV multiplication i.e. lactoferrin and heparin seemed to mutually block each other's antiviral activities. HCMV-infected cells exposed to lactoferrin and cyclic lactoferricin contained less intracellular virus than unexposed cells. The antiviral activity of cyclic lactoferricin was more than seven-fold weaker than that of the maternal molecule. Lactoferrin and cyclic lactoferricin prevented HCMV entrance into the host cell.
authors: Department of Microbiology, University Hospital of Tromsø, N 9038 Tromsø, Norway. mlabjeh@rito.no
authors: J H
authors: JH
authors: Andersen
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Osbakk
authors: L H
authors: LH
authors: Vorland
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Traavik
authors: T J
authors: TJ
authors: Gutteberg
mesh_terms: D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002460:Cell Line; D003587:Cytomegalovirus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000821:virology; D006801:Humans; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; C082171:lactoferricin B; D007781:Lactoferrin