Lactoferrin: A Critical Player in Neonatal Host Defense

Abstract

Newborn infants are at a high risk for infection due to an under-developed immune system, and human milk has been shown to exhibit substantial anti-infective properties that serve to bolster neonatal defenses against multiple infections. Lactoferrin is the dominant whey protein in human milk and has been demonstrated to perform a wide array of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory functions and play a critical role in protecting the newborn infant from infection. This review summarizes data describing the structure and important functions performed by lactoferrin in protecting the neonate from infection and contributing to the maturation of the newborn innate and adaptive immune systems. We also briefly discuss clinical trials examining the utility of lactoferrin supplementation in the prevention of sepsis and necrotizing enterocolitis in newborn infants. The data reviewed provide rationale for the continuation of studies to examine the effects of lactoferrin administration on the prevention of sepsis in the neonate.

Children were less frequently infected with SARS-CoV-2 than adults during 2020 COVID-19 pandemic in Warsaw, Poland

“…In the case of newborns, and very young babies, a part of explanation can be that they are protected either by antibodies transferred during pregnancy through the placenta from mother [3,11,24]. or the compounds, such as the lactoferrin, a globular glycoprotein present in the breast milk that have the antimicrobial and immunomodulatory roles in protecting the newborn from the various infections [32], including the necrotizing enterocolitis [27] and SARS [14].…”

The Biology of Lactoferrin, an Iron-Binding Protein That Can Help Defend Against Viruses and Bacteria

“…Protecting neonates via breast milk (34)(35)(36)(37)(38)(39)(40)(41) LF in cervicovaginal mucosa and female reproductive tract; antibacterial, antifungal antiparasitic, antiviral (42)(43)(44)(45) LF in the airways (46,47) Mucosal surfaces, allergen-induces skin infections (48) Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) production (49) Saliva and its antimicrobial activities and iron binding (50-52)…”

More than sugar in the milk: human milk oligosaccharides as essential bioactive molecules in breast milk and current insight in beneficial effects

“…A multifunctional iron-binding glycoprotein, i.e. lactoferrin (LF), is present in mother milk and affects microbiota activity by protecting against infection through degradation of gram-negative cell walls of pathogenic bacteria (Telang 2018). Lactoferrin is considered to be a so-called defensin (Adamkin 2012).…”