title: Prevention of carcinogenesis and cancer metastasis by bovine lactoferrin.
abstract: Increasing attention is being paid to chemopreventive agents for individuals at high risk of cancer. We have concentrated on bovine lactoferrin (bLF), an 80 kDa iron-binding glycoprotein known to have anti-microbial and immunoprotective effects. Lactoferrin is particularly abundant in colostrum, and is also present in tears, saliva and seminal and uterine secretions. However, only little is known regarding its influence on carcinogenesis. We have shown preventive effects of bLF and its fragment peptide, lactoferricin (bLFcin), consisting of a 25 amino acid sequence without iron binding capacity, on chemically-induced colon carcinogenesis in the rat and transplanted carcinoma cell metastasis in the mouse. The mechanisms are wide-spectrum, including elevation of caspase-1 and IL-18 in the small intestine, enhancement of the cell killing activity of cytotoxic T and natural killer (NK) cells, and anti-inflammatory and anti-angiogenic effects. It also inhibits the induction of liver CYP1A2, a carcinogen activating enzyme, and induces apoptosis in the colon epithelium of carcinogen treated rats. Thus, bLF possesses multi-functional potential to suppress carcinogenesis and is a good candidate for practical application in humans.
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Hiroyuki
authors: H
authors: Tsuda
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Katsumi
authors: K
authors: Fukamachi
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Jiegou
authors: J
authors: Xu
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan.
authors: Kazunori
authors: K
authors: Sekine
authors: Department of Molecular Toxicology, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Japan ; Cancer Prevention Basic Research Project, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan .
authors: Shigetoshi
authors: S
authors: Ohkubo
authors: Cancer Prevention Basic Research Project, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan .
authors: Nobuo
authors: N
authors: Takasuka
authors: Cancer Prevention Basic Research Project, National Cancer Center Research Institute, Tokyo, Japan .
authors: Masaaki
authors: M
authors: Iigo
keywords: Cancer chemoprevention; IL-18; lactoferricin; lactoferrin; multi-function