The combination of lactoferrin and linolenic acid inhibits colorectal tumor growth through activating AMPK/JNK-related apoptosis pathway

Lactoferrin in cancer: Focus on mechanisms and translational medicine

Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein that provides natural protective effects to the human body. Its biological properties, including antibacterial, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, immune-regulatory, and iron metabolism-regulating functions, have been extensively studied. With further research, lactoferrin's impact on tumorigenesis and tumor microenvironment has become increasingly evident, as it inhibits tumor proliferation, invasion, and metastasis through multiple pathways. This article summarizes the molecular mechanisms underlying lactoferrin's anticancer effects, explores its association with the malignant progression of various cancers, and highlights its clinical translational potential as a potential cancer biomarker and drug delivery carrier to enhance anticancer therapy efficiency. Due to the high safety profile of lactoferrin, its widespread application in the field of cancer treatment is highly anticipated.

Nutrition, production, and processing of virgin omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids in dairy: An integrative review

With improving living standards, functional and healthy foods are accounting for an increased share in human food. The development of dairy products that are rich in virgin omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFAs) has become a topic of interest. Virgin n-3 PUFA milk can provide high-quality protein and calcium, as well as provide n-3 PUFAs to improve human health. This review aims to investigate the effect of virgin n-3 PUFAs in milk on human health and discuss the content of virgin n-3 PUFAs in milk regulated by dairy animal diet and the effect of food processing on the content of virgin n-3 PUFAs in dairy production. The interaction between n-3 PUFAs and proteins in milk is the key to improving the nutritional value of n-3 PUFAs in milk. n-3 PUFA supplementation in the diet of dairy animals is the key method to improve n-3 PUFAs in raw milk, as well as to adjust the types of virgin n-3 PUFAs. Compared with a common source, virgin n-3 PUFAs in milk show higher antioxidant activity, but elevated temperatures and long-term thermal processing should be avoided.

Regulation of the colon-targeted release rate of lactoferrin by constructing hydrophobic ethyl cellulose/pectin composite nanofibrous carrier and its effect on anti-colon cancer activity

In order to modify colonic release behavior of lactoferrin (Lf), a hydrophobic composite nanofibrous carrier (CNC) was constructed by emulsion coaxial electrospinning. Ethylcellulose/pectin based water-in-oil emulsion and Lf-contained polyvinyl alcohol solution were used as shell and core fluids, respectively. An electrospinning diagram was first constructed to screen out suitable viscosity (51-82 cP) and conductivity (960-1300 μS/cm) of the dispersed phase of pectin solution for successful electrospinning of shell emulsion. Varying mass fraction of pectin solution (5 %-20 %) of shell emulsion during emulsion coaxial electrospinning obtained CNCs with different micro-structures, labeled as 5&95 CNC, 10&90 CNC, 15&85 CNC, 20&80 CNC. These CNCs all achieved colonic delivery of Lf (>95 %), and the time for complete release of Lf in simulated colon fermentation process were 10, 7, 5 and 3 h, respectively. That is, the greater the pectin content in CNC, the faster the release rate of stabilized Lf in colon. Lf release in simulated colon fermentation fluid involved complex mechanisms, in which diffusion release of Lf was dominant. Increasing colonic release rate of Lf enhanced its regulation effect on the expression levels of cell cycle arrest and apoptosis-related protein and promote its effective inhibition on the proliferation of HCT116 cell.

Rutin Linoleate Triggers Oxidative Stress-Mediated Cytoplasmic Vacuolation in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells

Lung cancer (LC) represents one of the most prevalent health issues globally and is a leading cause of tumor-related mortality. Despite being one the most attractive compounds of plant origin due to its numerous biological properties, the therapeutic applications of rutin (RUT) are limited by its disadvantageous pharmacokinetics. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate in vitro the application of two RUT fatty acids bioconjugates, rutin oleate (RUT-O) and rutin linoleate (RUT-L), as potential improved RUT-based chemotherapeutics in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment. The results indicate that both compounds lacked cytotoxic potential in EpiAirway™ tissues at concentrations up to 125 µM. However, only RUT-L exerted anti-tumorigenic activity in NCI-H23 NSCLC cells after 24 h of treatment by reducing cell viability (up to 47%), proliferation, and neutral red uptake, causing cell membrane damage and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage, affecting cytoskeletal distribution, inducing cytoplasmic vacuolation, and increasing oxidative stress. The cytopathic effects triggered by RUT-L at 100 and 125 µM are indicators of a non-apoptotic cell death pathway that resembles the characteristics of paraptosis. The novel findings of this study stand as a basis for further investigations on the anti-cancer properties of RUT-L and their underlying mechanisms.

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic investigation of the genes and metabolites involved in swine follicular cyst formation

Follicular cysts are a common reproductive disorder in mammals that is usually caused by stress. However, the pathogenesis of follicular cysts in sows remains unclear. To provide new insights into the mechanisms of follicular cyst formation in pigs, we conducted a combined transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis on theca interna and mural granulosa cells of follicular cysts and mature follicles. We identified 2,533 up-regulated and 1,355 down-regulated genes in follicular cysts, compared with mature follicles. These differentially expressed genes were mainly found in signaling pathways related to tumor formation and cortisol synthesis and secretion as shown by Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, which predicted 4,362 upstream regulatory factors. The combined gene expression and pathway analysis identified the following genes as potential biomarkers for porcine follicular cysts: cytochrome P450 family 2 subfamily C polypeptide 18, L-lactate dehydrogenase, carbamoyl-phosphate synthase, fibroblast growth factor 7, integrin binding sialoprotein, interleukin 23 receptor, prolactin receptor, epiregulin, interleukin 1 receptor type II, arginine vasopressin receptor 1A, fibroblast growth factor 10, claudin 7, G Protein Subunit Gamma 3, cholecystokinin B receptor and cytosolic phospholipase A2. Metabolomics analysis found significant differences in 87 metabolites, which were enriched in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis, and sphingolipid signaling pathways. These results provide valuable information on the molecular mechanisms of follicular cyst formation, which may facilitate the development of new therapeutics to prevent and treat follicular cysts.

Ceruloplasmin Reduces the Lactoferrin/Oleic Acid Antitumor Complex-Mediated Release of Heme-Containing Proteins from Blood Cells

Our previous study showed that not only bovine lactoferrin (LF), the protein of milk and neutrophils, but also the human species forms complexes with oleic acid (OA) that inhibit tumor growth. Repeated injections of human LF in complex with OA (LF/8OA) to hepatoma-carrying mice decelerated tumor growth and increased animals' longevity. However, whether the effect of the LF/8OA complex is directed exclusively against malignant cells was not studied. Hence, its effect on normal blood cells was assayed, along with its possible modulation of ceruloplasmin (CP), the preferred partner of LF among plasma proteins. The complex LF/8OA (6 μM) caused hemolysis, unlike LF alone or BSA/8OA (250 μM). The activation of neutrophils with exocytosis of myeloperoxidase (MPO), a potent oxidant, was induced by 1 μM LF/8OA, whereas BSA/8OA had a similar effect at a concentration increased by an order. The egress of heme-containing proteins, i.e., MPO and hemoglobin, from blood cells affected by LF/8OA was followed by a pronounced oxidative/halogenating stress. CP, which is the natural inhibitor of MPO, added at a concentration of 2 mol per 1 mol of LF/8OA abrogated its cytotoxic effect. It seems likely that CP can be used effectively in regulating the LF/8OA complex's antitumor activity.

Effect of whey protein derivatives on cell viability, cell migration and cell cycle phases in MCF-7 cells

Objective: This study aimed to obtain protein derivatives after treatment of whey proteins with hazelnut oil and olive oil and determined their effects on MCF-7 cells. Materials and Methods: Whey proteins obtained from 6% whey powder were treated with hazelnut oil (HO) and olive oil (OO) at a protein to lipid ratio of 1:10 at 60 ̊C for 120 minutes. The protein derivatives formed with whey protein and HO or OO were applied to MCF-7 cancer cells and healthy fibroblasts. The effects of protein derivatives on cell viability, apoptosis, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, wound healing, cell cycle phase distribution and cell cycle related proteins Akt and p21(Waf1/Cip1) expressions were investigated. Results: Cell viability decreased significantly after 24 h of incubation with WP:OO. The percentage of apoptotic or necrotic cells varied between 5-10% and no statistically significant effect was observed. There was no statistically significant difference in ROS production and colony formation between controls and WP:HO or WP:OO groups. Treatment of cells with WP:OO for 24 h significantly decreased cell migration compared to the control group. G2/M phase was significantly suppressed in WP:OO group compared to the control group. WP:OO also increased the expression of p21(Waf1/Cip1) significantly when compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our results showed that whey protein derivatives applied to MCF-7 cells are cytotoxic and may be useful in breast cancer treatment.

Effects of lactoferrin on intestinal flora of metabolic disorder mice

To study the mechanism of lactoferrin (LF) regulating metabolic disorders in nutritionally obese mice through intestinal microflora. Twenty-one male C57BL/6 mice were randomly divided into 3 groups: control group, model group and LF treatment group. The mice in control group were fed with maintenance diet and drank freely. The mice in model group were fed with high fat diet and drank freely. The mice in LF treatment group were fed with high fat diet and drinking water containing 2% LF freely. Body weight was recorded every week. Visceral fat ratio was measured at week 12. Blood glucose and serum lipid level were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer. The gut microbiota of mice was examined using 16 s rRNA sequencing method. LF treatment significantly reduced the levels of visceral adipose ratio, blood glucose, triglyceride, total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) in high-fat diet mice (p < 0.05). It can be seen that drinking water with 2% LF had a significant impact on metabolic disorders. At the same time, the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio(F/B) of LF treated mice was decreased. The abundance of Deferribacteres, Oscillibacter, Butyricicoccus, Acinetobacter and Mucispirillum in LF treatment group were significantly decreased, and the abundance of Dubosiella was significantly increased (p < 0.05). In the LF-treated group, the expression levels of glucose metabolism genes in gut microbiota were increased, and the expression levels of pyruvate metabolism genes were decreased. It can be seen that metabolic disorders were related to intestinal flora. In conclusion, LF regulates metabolic disorders by regulating intestinal flora.

Modulation of Disordered Bile Acid Homeostasis and Hepatic Tight Junctions Using Salidroside against Hepatocyte Apoptosis in Furan-Induced Mice

Furan, a processing-induced food contaminant, has attracted great attention due to its hepatotoxicity. To further investigate the underlying mechanism of salidroside (SAL) alleviating furan-induced liver damage, we divided Balb/c mice into the control group, the furan (8 mg/kg/day) group, and three groups of three different doses of SAL (10/20/40 mg/kg/day) in the current research. The shifted serum profile was observed through untargeted metabonomics, to which the bile acid metabolism was related, and the alleviating effect of SAL against furan-induced apoptosis was caused by the metabolism. Target bile acid quantification for the liver and serum showed that SAL positively regulated the homeostasis of bile acids disturbed by furan. Meanwhile, SAL significantly upregulated the synthesis genes of bile acids (Cyp7a1, Cyp7b1, Cyp8b1, and Cyp27a1) and the uptake transport genes (Ntcp and Oatps) and downregulated the efflux transport genes (Bsep, Ost-α, Ost-β, Mrp2, and Mrp4). Transmission electron microscopy of the bile canaliculi and tight junctions and the levels of tight junction marker proteins (ZO-1, occludin, and claudin-1) confirmed that the disruption of the hepatic tight junction was inhibited by SAL. The connection between the apoptosis- and tight junction-related proteins was observed through the construction of a protein-protein interaction network. SAL suppressed the furan-induced hepatocyte apoptosis evidenced by the detection of TUNEL and Bax, Bcl-2, and caspase-3 levels. Taken together, SAL alleviated furan-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via altering the disordered homeostasis of bile acids and hepatic tight junctions.

Lactoferrin Deficiency Impairs Proliferation of Satellite Cells via Downregulating the ERK1/2 Signaling Pathway

Lactoferrin (Ltf), a naturally active glycoprotein, possesses anti-inflammatory, anti-microbial, anti-tumor, and immunomodulatory activities. Many published studies have indicated that Ltf modulates the proliferation of stem cells. However, the role of Ltf in the proliferation of satellite cells, an important cell type in muscle regeneration, has not yet been reported. Here, by using Ltf systemic knockout mice, we illustrate the role of Ltf in skeletal muscle. Results shows that Ltf deficiency impaired proliferation of satellite cells (SCs) and the regenerative capability of skeletal muscle. Mechanistic studies showed that ERK1/2 phosphorylation was significantly downregulated after Ltf deletion in SCs. Simultaneously, the cell cycle-related proteins cyclin D and CDK4 were significantly downregulated. Intervention with exogenous recombinant lactoferrin (R-Ltf) at a concentration of 1000 μg/mL promoted proliferation of SCs. In addition, intraperitoneal injection of Ltf effectively ameliorated the skeletal muscle of mice injured by 1.2% BaCl₂ solution. Our results suggest a protective effect of Ltf in the repair of skeletal muscle damage. Ltf holds promise as a novel therapeutic agent for skeletal muscle injuries.