Lactoferrin in Human Immunity
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that is present in human milk and cow milk. Lactoferrin is found in abundance in mammalian milk. The lactoferrin found in cow milk is known as Bovine Lactoferrin. [1] Lactoferrin is present in...
The Role of Lactoferrin in Human Immunity
Lactoferrin is a glycoprotein that is present in human milk and cow milk. Lactoferrin is found in abundance in mammalian milk. The lactoferrin found in cow milk is known as Bovine Lactoferrin. [1]
Lactoferrin is present in many other parts of the human body like the intestine, respiratory tract, eyes, and nose. Lactoferrin is also available as a dietary supplement in the form of lactoferrin capsules.
Lactoferrin has a lot of health benefits. It acts as a cell-secreted mediator that plays an important role in our innate and adaptive immune responses. Lactoferrin can bind with iron and can interact with various molecular and cellular responses. [2]
The health benefits of human and bovine lactoferrin and five key ways by which human and bovine lactoferrin supports a healthy immune system in the human body are described below:
LACTOFERRIN AS A MEDIATOR BRIDGING THE INNATE AND ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSES
Lactoferrin plays a very important role in innate immune responses, which support the body's natural first-line defences. Lactoferrin also plays an important role in supporting a healthy inflammatory response. Lactoferrin has a high affinity to iron, so it is a vital component that supports the body's natural defences.
Lactoferrin can support the leukocyte immune system by helping the activity of natural killer cells. Lactoferrin supports the function of neutrophils and helps modulate the production of ROS. Lactoferrin supports macrophage activity through cytokine and NO production. So daily use of bovine lactoferrin or lactoferrin capsules may help support our normal innate and adaptive immune function. [3]
LACTOFERRIN IS A POWERFUL ANTIOXIDANT
Bovine Lactoferrin acts as an anti-oxidant by helping to maintain healthy intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Bovine Lactoferrin also helps support healthy levels of oxidative stress and supports the body's natural cell turnover processes. So, daily oral use of bovine lactoferrin capsules may help support our healthy immune system because of its antioxidant properties. [3]
LACTOFERRIN AND THE BODY'S INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
Lactoferrin is found in the serum and is involved in the body's natural inflammatory signalling. Increased levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in our body can affect a healthy inflammatory balance. Lactoferrin helps support healthy mitochondrial function and supports a healthy inflammatory response. So daily use of lactoferrin capsules may help support normal immune function and a healthy inflammatory response. This describes published research and is not a claim about the effects of our product. [4]
LACTOFERRIN'S ROLE IN OXIDATIVE STRESS-INDUCED RESPONSES
Lactoferrin is a constituent of our natural immune system that helps to support healthy levels of oxidative stress at the molecular level, and it supports various healthy inflammatory responses. When the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeds our body's natural antioxidant defenses, then oxidative stress can occur. Cells can maintain their physical and metabolic activities under small levels of oxidative stress. Research describes how high levels of oxidative stress in the human body can affect cell function and brain health. [5]
Iron is a very important component that regulates the production of these reactive oxygen species in our bodies. So Iron also plays an important role in supporting healthy oxidative balance. As we know, Lactoferrin has a high affinity to iron, so it plays a very important role in supporting healthy oxidative balance in the human body. So daily oral use of bovine lactoferrin or lactoferrin capsules may help support healthy oxidative balance and support normal immune function. [6]
LACTOFERRIN'S ROLE IN ANTIGEN-SPECIFIC ADAPTIVE IMMUNE RESPONSES
Lactoferrin plays a very important role in our innate and adaptive immune responses, both T-cell and B-cell mediated responses. All T cell subsets have the expression of lactoferrin receptors. Both human and bovine lactoferrin can bind with these lactoferrin receptors on the T cells. Bovine or human lactoferrin can support T cells in many ways and it depends on the stage of T cells like maturation, activation, or differentiation. The lactoferrin present in the human body binds with CD4- and CD8- murine T cells and helps modulate T cell activity and its reactivity to local antigens. [6]
Lactoferrin has supportive effects on a healthy inflammatory response and on T cells. Both bovine and human lactoferrin help modulate overall cytokine production. They also help modulate the production of specific interferons and interleukins. Research describes how lactoferrin may support normal humoral immune responses. Lactoferrin administered either orally or intraperitoneally may help support healthy circulating T-cell populations. So Lactoferrin has the ability to help modulate antigen-specific T cell responses that can last for several weeks after the initial sensitization. So lactoferrin may support processes during priming of naive T-cells to specific antigens. This describes published research and is not a claim about the effects of our product. [6]
In addition to Lactoferrin's role in supporting T cell-mediated immunity, Human and Bovine lactoferrin may also support B cell-mediated immunity. Human and Bovine Lactoferrin may support B cell-mediated immunoreactivity. Human and Bovine Lactoferrin supports maturation of murine immature B-cells by increasing C3R expression and it supports the acquisition of surface IgD. So, by supporting the maturation of immature B cells, human and bovine lactoferrin may support antigen-specific T cell proliferation. Orally administered Lactoferrin (Bovine lactoferrin) may support the secretion of IgA and IgG. So in short, Bovine lactoferrin acts on B cells and supports antibody responses in the human body. So orally administered lactoferrin (Bovine lactoferrin or lactoferrin capsules) may support our normal immune function by acting on both B cells and T cells. [6]
References:
1.Dominique Legrand, P. "Overview of Lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator" Retrieved from The Journal of Pediatrics: https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(16)00294-8/fulltext
2.Douglas B. Kell, E. P. The Biology of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein. Retrieved from Frontiers in Immunology: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2020.01221/full
3.Jeffrey K Actor, S.-A. H. Lactoferrin as a natural immune modulator. Retrieved from PubMed.gov: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19519436/
4.Marian L Kruzel, J. K. Lactoferrin in a Context of Inflammation. Retrieved from Frontiers in Immunology: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2017.01438/full
5.Plaut, A. G. Lactoferrin. Retrieved from Science Direct: https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/neuroscience/lactoferrin
6.Shen-An Hwang, J. K. Lactoferrin as a Natural Immune Modulator. Retrieved from NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2915836/