Thermal treatment of lactoferrin influences the physicochemical, structural, and functional characteristics of its ternary complexes with chlorogenic acid and pectin.

Background: Gingivitis is common among pregnant women due to hormonal changes, and stress can increase the severity. Chlorhexidine (CHX) is the standard treatment for gingivitis, but its side effects limit its use during pregnancy. Ginger has an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effect. The research aims to evaluate ginger mouthwash’s impact on gingival health, cortisol, and lactoferrin (LF) levels in pregnant women with stress and gingivitis compared to distilled water and CHX. Methods: The completed research was a parallel 3-arm triple-blind randomized clinical investigation. The study included 45 pregnant women with stress and gingivitis. Clinical periodontal indicators (bleeding on probing [BOP], plaque index [PI], and gingival index [GI]) were examined at baseline visit and after 7 days of using mouthwash, diaphragmatic breathing, and progressive muscle relaxation (PMR). Salivary cortisol and LF levels were measured, and a comparison was made before and after treatment. The participants answered a “visual analog scale-based questionnaire” at the second visit. Results: Significantly reduced in BOP, PI, and GI in all interventions, but ginger and CHX had a greater significant effect compared to placebo. All mouthwashes, diaphragmatic breathing, and PMR significantly reduced cortisol and LF concentrations. However, the responses to the questionnaire showed that ginger and CHX had significant differences in Q1 and Q3, while nonsignificant differences in Q2, Q4, Q5, and Q6. Conclusion: Ginger mouthwash achieved CHX-comparable reductions in BOP, GI, and PI and decreased cortisol and LF concentrations after 1 week from baseline without adverse effects, highlighting a safe, natural alternative during pregnancy., Cite this article as: Tareq BA, Mahmood AA, Hussein HM. The impact of ginger mouthwash on pregnant women with stress and gingivitis by measuring different salivary biomarker levels. Eurasian J Med. 2026, 58(1), 1093, doi: 10.5152/eurasianjmed.2026.251093.

Brain-targeting nanoplatform repurposing silymarin for enhanced GBM immunotherapy via synergistic mitochondrial suppression

Pulmonary iron levels are increased in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), possibly due to increased red blood cell leakage from the microvasculature. Neutrophils cause endothelial cell damage which may cause vascular dysfunction and iron dysregulation in COPD. We investigate the relationships between neutrophilic inflammation, iron metabolism and vascular dysfunction in COPD. Using gene and protein analysis, associations between neutrophilic inflammation, iron dysregulation and vascular dysfunction were investigated in two COPD bronchoscopy cohorts: EvA (n=51) and Manchester (n=33). Patients were sub-grouped based on bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) neutrophil percentage (neutrophilhigh≥3% and neutrophillow<3%). Heme was measured in BAL by LC-MS. BAL cell gene expression of neutrophilic inflammation markers such as C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 8 (CXCL8) and interleukin 6 receptor (IL6R) were significantly increased in neutrophilhigh compared with neutrophillow patients in both cohorts; fold change (FC) differences 1.06-17. We found increased markers of iron and iron trafficking including lactoferrin (LTF), lipocalin-2 (LCN2) and myoglobin (MB) in neutrophilhigh patients in both cohorts. BAL cell gene expression and BAL fluid protein levels of the vascular dysfunction marker, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), were significantly higher in neutrophilhigh compared with neutrophillow patients. Fibrinogen and heme were significantly increased in neutrophilhigh BAL fluid. In vitro experiments revealed that blood neutrophils had significantly increased expression of LTF and VEGFA following LPS-stimulation and heme induces endothelial dysfunction. COPD patients with distal lung neutrophilic inflammation have dysregulated iron metabolism which may be a consequence of increased vascular leakage into the airways.

Bovine lactoferrin improves doxorubicin- and ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial injury by activating AMPK-mediated signaling pathways.

Lactotransferrin (LTF), a critical multifunctional glycoprotein, plays an essential role in the immune defence, growth and development, and milk quality of dairy cows. The regulatory mechanisms governing gene expression are intricate, with sequence variations in the promoter region potentially exerting a substantial impact on gene expression. In this study, sequencing analysis of the bovine lactotransferrin promoter region was conducted, leading to the identification of two linked single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites. A significant association between these SNPs and lactotransferrin content was observed in a cohort of 301 Holstein cows. Subsequently, further investigation into the transcriptional activity of various lactotransferrin genotypes was performed by constructing promoter fragments encompassing different lactotransferrin genotypes. The findings reveal that the two SNPs significantly influence the activity of the lactotransferrin promoter, thereby affecting lactotransferrin expression. These results hold substantial implications for advancing our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms underlying lactotransferrin expression and for the genetic enhancement of dairy cows.

Multilayer assembled MFGM mimetics improve digestive fate of human milk structural lipids.

Exploring lactoferrin as an innovative covalently immobilized chiral selector for the selective separation of pharmaceutical enantiomers using HPLC.

Nanogel therapy for chronic and post-surgical wounds: a bioengineered Lactoferrin-Acacia-Alginate system enhancing tissue regeneration and inflammatory resolution.

The Role of LTF, ENAM, and AMELX Gene Polymorphisms in Dental Caries Susceptibility: A Meta-Analysis

This study explores the development of electrospun nanofibrous materials as delivery systems for the probiotic strain Lactobacillus paragasseri K7 (LK7) and the bioactive glycoprotein lactoferrin (LF) with applications targeting vaginal health. Electrospinning was used to encapsulate LK7 and LF into poly-(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based nanofibers supported on polypropylene fabric. Three formulationsPEO/LF, PEO/lactobacilli (LB) (with LK7), and PEO/LF/LBwere characterized for their physicochemical properties, fiber morphology (SEM), chemical composition (FTIR, XPS), and antioxidant activity (2,2'-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenz-thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assay). SEM analysis confirmed successful nanofiber formation, though LK7 remained on the fiber surface due to its size. FTIR and XPS analyses verified the incorporation of functional groups and elements associated with LF and LK7. The antioxidant assays showed that both LF and LK7 exhibited strong radical scavenging activity in formulations and it decreased slightly after electrospinning. Among the electrospun samples, the PEO/LF/LB formulation demonstrated the highest antioxidant potential. The viability and release studies revealed that 0.38-0.45% of LK7 survived during the electrospinning process and that the bacterial cells were released rapidly within 1 min of PBS exposure. Storage at 8 or 20 °C under 65% humidity reduced the viability (cfu) further, likely due to a transition to a viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. Despite the low survival rates, the immediate release profile and antimicrobial potential of the materials support their suitability for short-term therapeutic applications such as vaginal tampons or wound dressings. This study highlights the potential of nozzle-free electrospinning for developing delivery systems for live biotherapeutics and postbiotics and suggests future work to optimize viability or expand into postbiotic applications.

Lactoferrin (LF), a major iron-binding protein, has been proposed as a delivery system through which iron can be absorbed from human milk to enhance iron status. However, the effects of combining LF with iron on iron status in children remain to be comprehensively evaluated. To investigate whether iron combined with bovine LF is more effective than iron alone in improving iron status in children with or without anemia, thereby clarifying the potential adjuvant role of LF in anemia therapy. A systematic search of PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and the Cochrane Library was conducted for clinical trials published up to December 2024. Population characteristics and mean difference (MD) in iron metabolism indicators were extracted and analyzed. A random-effects model was used to estimate pooled effects. A total of 160 studies were identified, of which 10 were included in qualitative synthesis and 8 in meta-analysis. Overall, LF supplementation showed an additional effect on serum ferritin compared with iron alone (MD, 3.52 µg/L; 95% CI, 0.66-6.38; P = .02). However, no significant effects were observed on hemoglobin, serum iron, or serum transferrin receptor levels (all P > .05). The combination of LF and iron did not improve hemoglobin status in children with or without anemia compared with iron alone, but it modestly increased serum ferritin. These findings suggest that LF may play a specific adjuvant role in regulating iron storage rather than enhancing hemoglobin levels. PROSPERO registration no. CRD42021259371.

Introduction.Escherichia coli is a dominant cause of neonatal sepsis for which no prevention measures currently exist. Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-sequestering antibacterial protein that has been noticed to decrease neonatal late-onset sepsis.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. LF’s effect on in vitro growth of neonatal E. coli clinical isolates causing septicaemia is unknown. The prevalence of iron acquisition virulence genes which contribute to pathogenicity outcomes in these strains has also not been described in detail.Aim. To evaluate bovine lactoferrin’s (bLF) effects on the in vitro growth of neonatal septicaemia E. coli isolates, and to determine the presence of iron acquisition virulence genes in these isolates.Methodology.E. coli clinical strains isolated from blood of septic neonates, including the archetypal RS218 strain, all representing prevalent phylogroups and multi-locus sequence types among neonatal invasive strains were studied. Strains were grown in batch growth with 0, 0.1, 1.0 and 10 mg ml−1 bLF. OD measurements over time were used to generate growth curves, and the area under these curves was statistically compared using ANOVA or Kruskal–Wallis tests. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data were used to identify iron acquisition genes.Results. For all strains, growth decrease with 10 mg ml−1 bLF compared to zero was highly significant (P<0.001), and with 1 mg ml−1 for some strains (P≤0.02). WGS showed that all neonatal strains carried several iron acquisition virulence genes, including chuA, fyuA, irp2 and sitA. Additional siderophore genes were found in some strains.Conclusion. bLF is effective in impairing growth of neonatal sepsis-causing E. coli regardless of the presence of multiple iron acquisition virulence genes.

Apart from its role as a nutrient in mammalian milk, lactoferrin (LF) is also an important part of the innate immune system, where it functions as a potent microbicidal molecular factor. An important structural feature of LF, which makes it distinct from its next-of-kin serum transferrin (TF, an iron transporter that is not involved in the innate immune response), is the presence of an extended patch of positive charge on the surface of LF. While the relevance of this structural feature to the protein's immunoprotective properties is indisputable, the specific molecular mechanism that governs its involvement in protection against a wide array of pathogens remains poorly understood. We use native mass spectrometry (MS) and molecular modeling to study LF interaction with glycosaminoglycans, whose structure approximates that of the highly sulfated segments of heparan sulfate (HS), a major component of the extracellular matrix. Even the shortest highly sulfated HS segments readily associate with LF under near-native conditions, suggesting that this interaction plays an important role in concentrating the microbicidal agent in the vicinity of the point of its release from the activated neutrophil, thereby preventing its removal from the infection site by diffusion or blood flow. No such properties are exhibited by TF, consistent with its role as an iron transporter that needs to be freely circulated until its encounter with a receptor on the surface of a cell that requires a supply of iron for its growth or specific function(s). We also examine the interaction of LF with heparin, a highly sulfated glycosaminoglycan that is released from the mast cells upon their activation. Native MS reveals the ability of a single heparin chain to accumulate a significant number of LF molecules (up to five), consistent with its proposed role as an antagonist of the heparin-associated tryptases (which are deactivated upon their dissociation from heparin). This provides a molecular basis for the immunomodulatory properties of LF as a factor limiting the harm to the host inflicted by tryptases in the course of the mast cells' coactivation with neutrophils.

Lactoferrin (LF) is an iron-binding immunoprotein of the mammary gland whose levels increase during mastitis and may be influenced by the metabolic status of the cow. During early lactation, dairy cows are exposed to a negative energy balance (NEB) and the associated increase in susceptibility to mastitis. However, the extent to which the metabolic profile influences LF secretion in milk during the postpartum period remains unclear. The objective of this study was to assess the associations between metabolic status and milk LF contents in Holstein cows (n = 122) in the first twenty days of lactation. Based on the milk LF contents, the cows were categorized into two groups: LF-LOW (≤123 mg/L; n = 81) and LF-HIGH (&gt;123 mg/L; n = 41). Serum indicators of energy and nitrogen metabolism, hepatic function, and selected macro-/microelements were measured; urine electrolytes and net acid–base excretion (U-ABB) were assessed; and milk composition, including somatic cell count (SCC), was determined. LF-HIGH cows showed higher SCC (p = 0.0516) and serum glucose (p &lt; 0.001), together with lower serum triglycerides (p = 0.0101) versus LF-LOW cows. Milk beta-hydroxybutyric acid (BHB) content was lower in the LF-HIGH group (trend, p ≈ 0.062). LF-HIGH also exhibited significantly greater natriuresis (p = 0.0078) and a more negative U-ABB (p &lt; 0.001), indicating higher acid–base load. In conclusion, elevated LF contents during the postpartum period were associated with the activation of local mammary gland immune defence and concurrent compensatory metabolic processes related to NEB, rather than with pronounced alterations in basic milk composition. Milk LF content may therefore be considered as a specific indicator of immunometabolic compensation during the early postpartum period, rather than as a general marker of overall cow health.

High-temperature short-time (HTST, 72°C, 15 s) pasteurization can be successfully used for human milk (HM) preservation. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of different HTST heating methods: microwave (MHTST) and standard convective (CHTST) on macronutrients, fatty acids (FAs), lactoferrin (LF), vitamin C, lysozyme (LZ), α-amylase (α-A) activity, lipid oxidation and antioxidant properties of HM. Regardless of the heating methods, the macronutrients and FA content, LZ activity and antioxidant properties of HM proved to be insensitive to HTST treatment, while the concentration of vitamin C decreased by 42.6% and 50.2%, and the activity of α-A by 6.0 and 7.2% when using MHTST and CHTST, respectively. LF content changed significantly only when CHTST was used (42.3% reduction). There were no negative effects of microwave heating under controlled conditions on the HM components. Satisfactory results regarding the impact of MHTST on HM composition and potential economic benefits suggest that this technology can be applied in HM banks to ensure adequate safety and quality.

This study investigated the effects of fortifying infant formulas (IFs) with casein phosphopeptide (CPP), lactoferrin (LTF), and 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoyl glycerol (OPO) on protein and fat digestion, using an in vitro infant dynamic digestion model with human milk (HM) as the standard. Four formulas were examined: an unfortified control (CC) and three fortified variants (F1, F2, and F3), each containing the same fortifying components at varying concentrations. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) showed that most proteins were completely hydrolyzed during gastrointestinal digestion, except β-lactoglobulin (β-Lg). After 180 min, protein digestibility ranged from 97.6% to 99.08%, with F2 reaching the highest value (99.08%), comparable to HM (98.92%). Amino acid fit analysis indicated strong similarity to HM in F2 (96.67%) and F3 (94.87%). Protein hydrolysis and free amino acid (FAA) release were significantly greater (P < 0.05) in F2 and F3 than in CC and F1. The fortified IFs showed peptide profiles and lipolysis degrees (LDs) closer to HM than the control, although HM had the greatest peptide release. In total, 145 bioactive peptides were identified, 77 of which were common to all IFs. These findings suggest that fortification with CPP, LTF, and OPO can modulate the protein and fat digestion patterns in IF, increasing its similarity to HM. © 2025 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study compared the whey proteome of sow colostrum (SC) and goat colostrum (GC) using shotgun proteomics combined with protein equalization techniques (CPLL or ProteoMiner™) to enhance the detection of low-abundance proteins. Colostrum samples were pooled from 11 hand-milked sows (20 mL each, collected at 0 h postpartum), while GC samples (2 liters total) were collected from 50 goats during morning milking on day 1 postpartum. A total of 86 low-abundance proteins (&lt;30 kDa) were identified: 26 unique to SC, 32 to GC, and 14 shared. Major whey proteins, including α-S1, α-S2, β-casein, κ-casein, and lactotransferrin (LTF), were present in both colostra. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment showed that SC proteins were mainly linked to biological regulation (49.04%) and immune response (11.49%), whereas GC proteins were associated with metabolic processes (26.98%) and biological regulation (26.43%), likely reflecting species-specific physiological differences. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) analysis identified highly connected proteins such as LTF, α-lactalbumin, β-casein, Apolipoprotein, and Clusterin in both networks, with additional interactions involving serum albumin in SC. GC displayed unique interactions with Glycam-1, a glycosylated adhesion molecule related to the milk mucin complex, though its immune role remains unclear. These findings provide novel insight into the functional whey proteome of SC and GC, particularly regarding low-abundance proteins, and highlight the value of shotgun proteomics with protein equalization. Surplus goat colostrum emerges as a sustainable heterologous source to enhance piglet survival in hyperprolific systems. The study also underscores the need for parallel gel replicates to minimize technical variability in future proteomic analyses.

IntroductionDysregulation of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) formation is implicated in cancer progression, coagulation, and metastasis; however, the association with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) prognosis and the immune microenvironment remains poorly understood due to the inherent heterogeneity of NETs. This study aimed to elucidate the role of NETs-related genes in AML pathogenesis, risk stratification, and immune modulation.MethodsWe employed comprehensive bioinformatics approaches to analyze NETs-related gene expression profiles from cBioPortal, UCSC Xena, and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. A prognostic model was constructed using 16 NETs-related gene signatures, with rigorous validation performed in both internal and external cohorts. Multivariate Cox regression analyses assessed the model’s independence as a prognostic indicator for overall survival (OS), and a clinical nomogram was developed for practical application. Additionally, immune cell infiltration and microenvironment characteristics were evaluated through enrichment analyses to correlate NETs activity with immunological features.ResultsThe NETs-based prognostic model demonstrated robust predictive value for OS in AML patients across validation cohorts and was identified as an independent prognostic factor via multivariate Cox regression. This model enhanced existing risk stratification systems, with high NETs scores significantly associated with neutrophil enrichment and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Lactotransferrin (LTF) emerged as a pivotal NETs-related gene: its overexpression correlated strongly with adverse prognosis, poor chemotherapy response, and extensive remodeling of the immune landscape, including heightened neutrophil infiltration and immunosuppressive signatures.DiscussionOur comprehensive analysis of NETs in AML suggests that NETs have a role in the tumor microenvironment and prognosis. LTF is a promising candidate biomarker of therapy response and prognostic prediction, which may contribute to individualized clinical decision-making. Further functional validation and prospective clinical studies are warranted to translate our observations into targeted interventions and refine risk-adapted treatment protocols.

Mastitis remains a prevalent and economically detrimental disease within the dairy industry, profoundly affecting animal welfare, milk quality, and overall production output. Nowadays, Somatic Cell Count (SCC) is widely recognized as the gold-standard indicator for the detection of mastitis; however, its limitations in pathogens discrimination and the lack of early-stage characterization of mastitis highlight the need for complementary diagnostic approaches. This review synthesizes recent research into the development and validation of novel biomarkers for the early and accurate identification of mastitis in dairy cows. The investigation encompasses a range of biological molecules for improving mastitis diagnosis. Biomarkers such as lactoferrin (LTF), β-defensin 4 (DEFB4), vitronectin, paraoxonase 1 (PON1), and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAGase) show promise in distinguishing between cows not susceptible and cows susceptible to mastitis. Concurrently, nucleic acid-based biomarkers are emerging as a particularly promising frontier. While mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has demonstrated insufficient specificity, microRNAs (miRNAs) are gaining attention as highly stable and sensitive indicators of intramammary inflammation, potentially enabling the detection of subclinical infections before they become clinically apparent. Despite these advances, significant challenges related to specificity, reliability, and cost-effectiveness currently hinder the widespread practical application of any single biomarker. Therefore, future research should be directed towards the validation of a synergistic panel of multiple biomarkers to improve mastitis management in dairy cow farms.