Yoshiharu Takayama

2012

Lactoferrin (lactotransferrin) was first identified as an iron-binding protein abundantly found in milk. It is synthesized by glandular epithelial cells and secreted into body fluids such as saliva, tears and mucosal secretions. Lactoferrin has been considered to play important roles in host defense, since lactoferrin shows broad spectrum of antibacterial and anti-viral activities, arising from its iron-chelating property. However, some functions of lactoferrin are independent from its iron chelating ability.