title: Reciprocal interactions between lactoferrin and bacterial endotoxins and their role in the regulation of the immune response.
abstract: Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding glycoprotein expressed in most biological fluids, represents a major component of the mammalian innate immune system. Lf's multiple activities rely not only on its capacity to bind iron, but also to interact with molecular and cellular components of both host and pathogens. Lf can bind and sequester lipopolysaccharide (LPS), thus preventing pro-inflammatory pathway activation, sepsis and tissue damage. However, Lf-bound LPS may retain the capacity to induce cell activation via Toll-like receptor 4-dependent and -independent mechanisms. This review discusses the complex interplay between Lf and LPS and its relevance in the regulation of the immune response.
authors: Department of Cell Biology and Neurosciences, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, Rome, Italy.
authors: Daniela
authors: D
authors: Latorre
authors: Patrizia
authors: P
authors: Puddu
authors: Piera
authors: P
authors: Valenti
authors: Sandra
authors: S
authors: Gessani
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007107:Immune System / Q000378:metabolism; D007501:Iron / Q000378:metabolism; D007781:Lactoferrin; D008070:Lipopolysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D008070:Lipopolysaccharides; D051197:Toll-Like Receptor 4; D007501:Iron; D007781:Lactoferrin