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Lactoferrin impedes epithelial cell adhesion in vitro.

Journal of periodontal research (1998-04-03)
M T Pöllänen, L Häkkinen, D O Overman, J I Salonen
ABSTRACT

In the process of host defence against microbial challenge, neutrophils release granule contents with the potential side effect of damaging structural tissues. In the junctional epithelium such damage may contribute to the degeneration and renewal of the epithelial cells attached directly to the tooth (DAT cells), and subsequently to periodontal pocket formation. This study reports on lactoferrin, one of the substances released by neutrophils, and its effects on epithelial cell adhesion, growth, DNA synthesis and spreading of cell colonies at concentrations recorded in the crevicular fluid. We show that, in opposition to what has been reported on bacterial cells, lactoferrin has no effect on the DNA synthesis of attached epithelial cells in model systems attempting to simulate the DAT cells in vivo. However, both iron-saturated and unsaturated lactoferrin hampered cell adhesion, growth and spreading of cell colonies in a dose-dependent manner. These findings suggest that lactoferrin does not affect epithelial cell proliferation but it may have a role in delaying the repair of the DAT cell population during inflammation by interfering with cell adhesion.

MATERIALS
Product Number
Brand
Product Description

Sigma-Aldrich
Lactoferrin human, recombinant, expressed in rice, Partially iron saturated, ≥90% (SDS-PAGE)
Sigma-Aldrich
Lactoferrin human, recombinant, expressed in rice, Iron saturated, ≥90% (SDS-PAGE)
Sigma-Aldrich
Lactoferrin from human milk, ≥85% (SDS-PAGE), lyophilized powder
Sigma-Aldrich
Lactoferrin from human milk, Iron saturated, ≥85% (SDS-PAGE)