Lactoferrin: A glycoprotein that plays an active role in human health

Xiang Cao; Yang Ren; Qinyue Lu; Kun Wang; Yanni Wu; YuHao Wang; Yihui Zhang; Xiang-Shun Cui; Zhangping Yang; Zhi Chen

doi:10.3389/fnut.2022.1018336

Lactoferrin: A glycoprotein that plays an active role in human health

Front Nutr. 2023 Jan 5:9:1018336. doi: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1018336. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Xiang Cao¹, Yang Ren¹, Qinyue Lu¹, Kun Wang¹, Yanni Wu¹, YuHao Wang¹, Yihui Zhang¹, Xiang-Shun Cui², Zhangping Yang^{1

3}, Zhi Chen^{1

3

4}

Affiliations

¹ College of Animal Science and Technology, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
² Department of Animal Science, Laboratory of Animal Developmental Biology, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju, Republic of Korea.
³ Joint International Research Laboratory of Agriculture and Agri-Product Safety, Ministry of Education, Yangzhou University, Yangzhou, China.
⁴ International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement, Yangzhou, China.

Abstract

Lactoferrin (Lf), existing widely in human and mammalian milk, is a multifunctional glycoprotein with many functions, such as immune regulation, anti-inflammation, antibacterial, antiviral, and antioxidant. These extensive functions largely attribute to its ability to chelate iron and interfere with the cellular receptors of pathogenic microorganisms and their hosts. Moreover, it is non-toxic and has good compatibility with other supplements. Thus, Lf has been widely used in food nutrition, drug carriers, biotechnology, and feed development. Although Lf has been continuously explored and studied, a more comprehensive and systematic compendium is still required. This review presents the recent advances in the structure and physicochemical properties of Lf as well as clinical studies on human diseases, with the aim of providing a reference for further research of Lf and the development of its related functional products.

Keywords: anticancer; antimicrobial; expression regulation; immunoregulation; lactoferrin.

Publication types

Review

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Postgraduate Research and Practice Innovation Program of Jiangsu Province (KYCX22_3533), Independent Innovation in Jiangsu Province of China [CX(21)3119], and Yangzhou University “Blue Project,” and the Open Project Program of International Joint Research Laboratory in Universities of Jiangsu Province of China for Domestic Animal Germplasm Resources and Genetic Improvement.