2023 Volume 23 Issue 8 Pages 423-429
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein found in mammalian exocrine secretions, including milk and tears. It has a three-dimensional structure similar to that of transferrin (serotransferrin), an iron transport protein in blood plasma. Lactoferrin binds two ferric ions per molecule with high affinity, making the protein a strong iron scavenger. The iron-depriving ability combined with a direct bactericidal and immunomodulating activity contributes its host defense function. Furthermore, animal and human studies indicate that oral administration of lactoferrin improve glucose homeostasis and ameliorate their metabolic and diabetic phenotypes. At the cellular level, lactoferrin attenuated adipogenic differentiation of preadipocytes and reduced lipid accumulation by inducing lipolysis in mature adipocytes. In hepatocytes and adipocytes, LDL receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1) is involved in cellular uptake of lactoferrin and activation of intracellular signaling pathways in response to lactoferrin.
