Lactoferrin and Neonates: Role in Prevention of Neonatal Sepsis and Necrotizing Enterocolitis

Lactoferrin (LF) is a member of the transferring family with a molecular weight of 78-kDa and is present in numerous external secretions including human milk, saliva, tears, airway mucus, and the secondary granules of neutrophils [1]. It is an iron-binding glycoprotein found in abundance in premature milk with its concentration decreasing as the term age [2]. This protein has been establish to cause a number of biological roles, including antimicrobial (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Haemophilus influenzae, Helicobacter pylori, Clostridium difficile, Shigella Flexnieria) anti-fungal (Candida albicans), anti-cancer (head and neck squamous cell carcinoma), anti-viral (HCV, HIV) antioxidant, and immunomodulatory effects [3]. Partial degradation of LF by pepsin enzyme give rise to peptides termed lactoferricin (LFcin) with most potent antimicrobial action [4].