Recombinant Human Lactoferrin: An Opportunity to Treat the Neonatal and Adult Severe Sepsis

Abstract

Lactoferrin, both human and bovine, acts against oxidative stress damage and has a range of beneficial activities such as antipathogenic, anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-regulatory. In addition, clinical studies have shown human lactoferrin to attenuate inflammation and reduce mortality from neonatal and adult severe sepsis. However, the magnitude of the lactoferrin effect varies between studies. Given the demonstrated efficacy of recombinant human lactoferrin in sepsis, its lack of side effects, ease of administration, and relatively low cost, it is worth exploring whether the protein could be administered “preventively” as soon as the possibility of a patient’s condition progressing to severe sepsis is likely