title: Lactoferrin: mechanism of action, clinical significance and therapeutic relevance.
abstract: Lactoferrin is an iron binding protein involved in a large spectrum of biological actions including antimicrobial actions. Lactoferrin plays a central role in ferrokinetics: it binds free iron with great affinity limiting the amount of ions available for microorganism's metabolism. Its role in the host defence mechanisms consists in bacteriostatic and bactericidal effects; moreover it inhibits the proliferation of other microbes such as fungi and viruses. Lactoferrin is also involved in the modulation of immune system and recent studies indicate that lactoferrin directly modulates both production and function of neutrophils and monocytes.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Clinical Science, Chair of Gastroenterology, University of Parma, Parma. giuliamartina@yahoo.it
authors.forename: Giulia Martina
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Cavestro
authors.forename: Anna Virginia
authors.initials: AV
authors.lastname: Ingegnoli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aragona
authors.forename: Veronica
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Iori
authors.forename: Nicola
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mantovani
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Altavilla
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dal Bò
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pilotto
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bertelè
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Franzè
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Mario
authors.forename: Loris
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Borghi
mesh_terms: D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D007781:Lactoferrin