lactoferrin(Noun)

A globular multifunctional protein with antimicrobial activity, found in milk and many mucosal secretions such as tears and saliva.

Lactoferrin

An iron-binding protein in plasma and secretions (milk, mucus, bile), secreted by leukocytes. It is an important component of GRANULOCYTES. It is bacteriostatic, working by depriving bacteria of iron essential for growth.

Lactoferrin

Lactoferrin, also known as lactotransferrin, is a multifunctional protein of the transferrin family. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa that is widely represented in various secretory fluids, such as milk, saliva, tears, and nasal secretions. Lactoferrin is also present in secondary granules of PMN and is secreted by some acinar cells. Lactoferrin can be purified from milk or produced recombinantly. Human colostrum has the highest concentration, followed by human milk, then cow milk. Lactoferrin is one of the components of the immune system of the body; it has antimicrobial activity and is part of the innate defense, mainly at mucoses. In particular, lactoferrin provides antibacterial activity to human infants. Lactoferrin interacts with DNA and RNA, polysaccharides and heparin, and shows some of its biological functions in complexes with these ligands.