link.springer.com

Lactoferrin - Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences

  • ️Mazurier, J.
  • ️Wed Nov 02 2005

Abstract.

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein of the transferrin family. Abundant expression and secretion of lactoferrin, in particular in milk and fluids of the digestive tract, are related to its implication in the first line of host defense. Lactoferrin is also a prominent component of the secondary granules of neutrophils (PMNs) and is released in infected tissues and blood during the inflammatory process. In addition to its direct antimicrobial properties, the abilities of lactoferrin to regulate the immune response and to protect against infection and septic shock have been described in numerous in vitro and in vivo studies. Although the cellular and molecular mechanisms that account for the modulation of the inflammatory and immune responses by lactoferrin are not yet totally elucidated, many are now established. At the cellular level, lactoferrin modulates the migration, maturation and function of immune cells. At the molecular level and in addition to iron binding, interactions of lactoferrin with a plethora of compounds, either soluble or membrane molecules, account for its modulatory properties. This paper reviews our current understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms that explain the regulatory properties of lactoferrin in host defence.

Article PDF

Similar content being viewed by others

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Unité de Glycobiologie Structurale et Fonctionnelle et Unité Mixte de Recherche n°8576 du Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Institut Fédératif de Recherche n°118, Bâtiment C9, Université des Sciences et Technologies de Lille, 59655, Villeneuve d’Ascq cedex, France

    D. Legrand, E. Elass, M. Carpentier & J. Mazurier

Authors

  1. D. Legrand

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. E. Elass

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Carpentier

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. Mazurier

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. Legrand.

About this article

Cite this article

Legrand, D., Elass, E., Carpentier, M. et al. Lactoferrin. Cell. Mol. Life Sci. 62, 2549 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5370-2

Download citation

  • Published: 02 November 2005

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00018-005-5370-2

Key words.