Plasma lactoferrin content: Differential effect of steroid administration and infective illnesses: Lack of effect of ambient temperature at which specimens are collected

Abstract

The effect of parenteral hydrocortisone on plasma lactoferrin concentration, neutrophil count and 1actoferrin:neutrophil ratio was assessed in 10 volunteer subjects.Administration of a single dose of corticosteroid was followed by a significant rise in the circulating neutrophil count, a significant but proportionately smaller rise in the plasma lactoferrin concentration and a significant fall in the 1actoferrin:neutrophil ratio. Acute viral infections were found to be associated with a disproportionately low plasma lactoferrin concentration relative to the circulating neutrophil count. The relatively low lactoferrin concentrations in both these situations could be of significance in regard to the propensity to bacterial infection and superinfection which these 2 groups of subjects display. Compared to patients with viral infection, those suffering from plasmodium falciparum malaria showed a significantly elevated lactoferrin:neutrophil ratio, although this ratio was not significantly different when malarial patients were compared to normal individuals. These findings suggest that the pathogenesis of relative neutropenia in viral and protozoal illnesses is fundamentally different. Finally, it was found that the temperature at which specimen collection takes place does not appear to be a significant variable determining the plasma lactoferrin concentration.

Effects of lactoferrin on non-specific immune responses of gilthead seabream (Sparus auratus L.)

“…Epithelial cells in the mucosa of many mammalian species produce Lf and, as a result, this protein is present in numerous mucosal secretions such as tears, saliva, seminal and vaginal fluids and plasma [39,42]. Furthermore, Lf is present in secondary granules of neutrophilic granulocytes, where it is stored until cellular activation [43]. Lf is considered an important component of the non-specific immune system since the protein is strategically situated in the first line of defense against microbial infections [40].…”

Safety determination for the use of bovine milk-derived lactoferrin as a component of an antimicrobial beef carcass spray

“…However, all these amounts are comparable to those reported for other species. Human neutrophil lactoferrin content has been variously reported as 4.3 lg per 10 6 cells (Venge et al, 1978), 3.0 lg per 10 6 cells (Masson et al, 1969), and 8.2 lg per 10 6 cells (Baynes et al, 1986), while a figure of from 2 to 4 lg per 10 6 cells has been reported for mouse neutrophils (Segars and Kinkade, 1977). Based on this sampling of data, it is reasonable to assume 8.0 lg lactoferrin per 10 6 bovine neutrophils, as a basis for further calculations.…”

Corticosteroid effects on blood gene expression in Duchenne muscular dystrophy

“…8 Our data confirm an earlier study that showed administration of corticosteroids to normal volunteers increased lactotransferrin protein levels in blood. 9 Lipocalin 2 is important in removing or preventing iron from entering siderophore bound iron in bacteria. 10 Lipocalin 2 also binds and carries iron in neutrophils, 11 and plays a role in resistance against tissue injury.…”