lactoferrin and Herpes-Simplex

Although lactoferrin has many biological functions, the host-protective effects against pathogenic microorganisms including bacteria, fungi, and viruses are regarded as one of the most important. Here, we review research on the protective role of lactoferrin administration against common viral infections. Many studies have shown the in vitro antiviral activity of lactoferrin against viral pathogens that cause common infections such as the common cold, influenza, gastroenteritis, summer cold, and herpes, where lactoferrin inhibits mainly viral attachment to the target cells. Recently, studies indicating the in vivo protective effects of lactoferrin by oral administration against common viral infections have been increasing. For instance, norovirus is an extremely important emerging human pathogen that causes a majority of gastroenteritis outbreaks worldwide that may be a target candidate for lactoferrin. Lactoferrin consumption reduced the incidence of noroviral gastroenteritis in children and a similar effect was observed in a wide range of ages in a preliminary survey. A recent in vitro study reported that lactoferrin inhibits both cellular attachment of the murine norovirus, a virus closely-related to the human norovirus, and viral replication in the cells by inducing antiviral cytokines interferon (IFN)-α/β. Lactoferrin administration also enhances NK cell activity and Th1 cytokine responses, which lead to protection against viral infections. In conclusion, lactoferrin consumption may protect the host from viral infections through inhibiting the attachment of a virus to the cells, replication of the virus in the cells, and enhancement of systemic immune functions.

Topics: Anti-Infective Agents; Caliciviridae Infections; Common Cold; Gastroenteritis; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Influenza, Human; Lactoferrin; Norovirus; Rotavirus Infections; Seasons

The frequent oral shedding of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) in the absence of clinical disease suggests that symptomatic HSV-1 recurrences may be inhibited by the mucosal environment. Indeed, saliva has been shown to contain substances with anti-HSV activity. In the current study, we investigated the anti-HSV-1 activity of human lactoferrin (hLf) and lysozyme (hLz), two highly cationic polypeptides of the mucosal innate defence system. HLf blocked HSV-1 infection at multiple steps of the viral replication cycle, whereas lysozyme displayed no anti-HSV-1 activity. Preincubation of HSV-1 virions and presence of hLf during or after viral absorption period or for the entire HSV-1 infection cycle inhibited HSV-1 infection by reducing both the plaque count and plaque size in a dose- and virus strain-dependent manner. Cell-to-cell spread of wild-type HSV-1 and the strain gC-39, deleted of glycoprotein C, was dramatically reduced, but the cell-to-cell spread of HSV-1 Rid1, harboring a mutated gD and thus unable to react with the cellular HVEM receptor, remained unchanged. This suggests that the inhibition of cell-to-cell spread is mediated by effects on gD or its cellular counterparts. Our results show that the cationic nature is not a major determinant in the anti-HSV action of mucosal innate cationic polypeptides, since whereas hLf inhibited HSV-1 infection efficiently, hLz had no HSV-1 inhibiting activity. Our results show that in addition to inhibiting the adsorption and post-attachment events of HSV-1 infection, hLf is also able to neutralize HSV-1 and that the inhibition of cell-to-cell spread involves viral gD. These results suggest that Lf may have a significant role in the modulation of HSV-1 infection in the oral cavity as well as in the genital mucosa, the major sites of HSV-1 infection.

Topics: Animals; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides; Chlorocebus aethiops; Down-Regulation; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Humans; Lactoferrin; Muramidase; Saliva; Vero Cells; Virus Replication

The milk protein lactoferrin (Lf) has multiple functions, including immune stimulation and antiviral activity towards herpes simplex virus 1 and 2 (HSV-1 and HSV-2); antiviral activity has also been reported for the N-terminal pepsin-derived fragment lactoferricin (Lfcin). The anti-HSV mode of action of Lf and Lfcin is assumed to involve, in part, their interaction with the cell surface glycosaminoglycan heparan sulfate, thereby blocking of viral entry. In this study we investigated the ability of human and bovine Lf and Lfcin to inhibit viral cell-to-cell spread as well as the involvement of cell surface glycosaminoglycans during viral cell-to-cell spread. Lf and Lfcin from both human and bovine origin, inhibited cell-to-cell spread of both HSV-1 and HSV-2. Inhibition of cell-to-cell spread by bovine Lfcin involved cell surface chondroitin sulfate. Based on transmission electron microscopy studies, human Lfcin, like bovine Lfcin, was randomly distributed intracellularly, thus differences in their antiviral activity could not be explained by differences in their distribution. In contrast, the cellular localization of iron-saturated (holo)-Lf appeared to differ from that of apo-Lf, indicating that holo- and apo-Lf may exhibit different antiviral mechanisms.

Topics: Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cattle; Cell Line; Heparitin Sulfate; Herpes Simplex; Humans; Lactoferrin; Simplexvirus; Virus Internalization

Lactoferrin (LF), a multifunctional milk protein, is known to inhibit in vitro infection by viruses such as herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). We evaluated the influence of LF feeding on the HSV-1 cutaneous infection of mice. Bovine LF was administered to mice and, after 10 d, the mice were infected with HSV-1. LF administration did not affect the viral clearance in the skin, but inhibited the appearance of skin lesions. LF prevented body weight loss and the decrease of splenocyte number associated with HSV-1 infection. LF increased the serum interleukin (IL)-18 level and splenocyte production of interferon-gamma and IL-12. These results suggest that LF feeding was not effective for eradication of the virus, but may contribute to the maintenance of homeostasis and the concomitant increases of cytokine responses during HSV-1 infection.

Topics: Administration, Oral; Animals; Cell Count; Cell Culture Techniques; Cytokines; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; Female; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Lactoferrin; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Spleen; Thinness

Human lactoferrin (hLF) as well as bovine lactoferrin (bLF) inhibited infection of tissue culture cells with human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) and human herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1). The addition of lactoferrin (LF) inhibited both in vitro infection and replication of HCMV and HSV-1 in human embryo lung host cells. The maximum inhibition by more than six exponentials of TCID50 for HCMV and four exponentials for HSV-1 was obtained at a concentration in a range from 0.5 to 1 mg of LF per ml of medium. The antiviral activity of LF was associated with its protein moiety, but not with its iron molecule or sialic acid. None of other transferrin gene family members bound to ferrous ions or sialic acid possessed significant antiviral activity. Additionally, we found that LF prevented virus adsorption and/or penetration into host cells, indicating an effect on the early events of virus infection. Preincubation of host cells with LF for 5 to 10 min was sufficient to prevent HCMV infection, even when LF was removed after addition of virus. These results suggest that LF possesses a potent antiviral activity and may be useful in preventing HCMV and HSV-1 infection in humans.

Topics: Adsorption; Animals; Antiviral Agents; Cattle; Cell Line; Conalbumin; Cytomegalovirus; Cytomegalovirus Infections; Herpes Simplex; Herpesvirus 1, Human; Humans; Lactoferrin; Milk Proteins; Polymerase Chain Reaction; Transferrin; Trypsin; Virus Replication