title: [Antimicrobial mechanisms and potential clinical application of lactoferrin].
abstract: Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron binding multifunctional glycoprotein that is present in several mucosal secretions like milk, tears and saliva. Lf is also an abundant component of the specific granules of neutrophils and can be released into the serum upon neutrophil degranulation. One of the functions of this protein is the transport of metals, but it is also an important component of the non-specific immune system. Human and bovine Lfs display a broad antimicrobial spectrum against Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, fungi and several viruses. While the iron-binding properties were originally believed to be solely responsible for the host defense properties ascribed to lactoferrin, it is now known that other mechanisms contribute to the antimicrobial role of this glycoprotein. This review gives an overview of the knowledge of these mechanisms and the potential clinical applications of Lf against infections
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación en Alimentación y Desarrollo A.C. Coordinación de Ciencia de los Alimentos, Sonora.
authors.forename: Dora Alicia
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Franco
authors.forename: Luz
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vázquez-Moreno
authors.forename: Gabriela
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ramos-Clamont Montfort
mesh_terms: D000595:Amino Acid Sequence; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002417:Cattle; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D006094:Gram-Positive Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D006509:Hepatitis B / Q000188:drug therapy; D019698:Hepatitis C, Chronic / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008958:Models, Molecular; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D011487:Protein Conformation; D014780:Viruses / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin