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Volume 21
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10.3390/ijms21186668
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Review

Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections

by
Aldo Vagge
1,*,
Carlotta Senni
2,
Federico Bernabei
2,
Marco Pellegrini
2,
Vincenzo Scorcia
3,
Carlo E Traverso
1 and
Giuseppe Giannaccare
3
1
University Eye Clinic of Genoa, DiNOGMI—University of Genoa IRCCS Ospedale, Policlinico San Martino, Viale Benedetto XV, 5, 16132 Genova (GE), Italy
2
Ophthalmology Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi University Hospital, University of Bologna, 40138 Bologna, Italy
3
Department of Ophthalmology, University Magna Græcia of Catanzaro, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21(18), 6668; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186668
Submission received: 21 August 2020 / Revised: 1 September 2020 / Accepted: 10 September 2020 / Published: 12 September 2020
(This article belongs to the Section Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics)
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Abstract

Lactoferrin is a naturally occurring iron-binding glycoprotein, produced and secreted by mucosal epithelial cells and neutrophils in various mammalian species, including humans. It is typically found in fluids like saliva, milk and tears, where it reaches the maximum concentration. Thanks to its unique anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, topical application of lactoferrin plays a crucial role in the maintenance of a healthy ocular surface system. The present review aims to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the clinical applications of lactoferrin in ocular diseases. Besides the well-known antibacterial effect, novel interest has been rising towards its potential application in the field of dry eye and viral infections. A growing body of evidence supports the antimicrobial efficacy of lactoferrin, which is not limited to its iron-chelating properties but also depends on its capability to directly interact with pathogen particles while playing immunomodulatory effects. Nowadays, lactoferrin antiviral activity is of special interest, since lactoferrin-based eye drops could be adopted to treat/prevent the new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, which has conjunctivitis among its possible clinical manifestations. In the future, further data from randomized controlled studies are desirable to confirm the efficacy of lactoferrin in the wide range of ocular conditions where it can be used.
Keywords: lactoferrin; antimicrobial peptides; ocular surface; dry eye; biofilm; viral infections; Sars-CoV-2 lactoferrin; antimicrobial peptides; ocular surface; dry eye; biofilm; viral infections; Sars-CoV-2

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MDPI and ACS Style

Vagge, A.; Senni, C.; Bernabei, F.; Pellegrini, M.; Scorcia, V.; Traverso, C.E.; Giannaccare, G. Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020, 21, 6668. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186668

AMA Style

Vagge A, Senni C, Bernabei F, Pellegrini M, Scorcia V, Traverso CE, Giannaccare G. Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2020; 21(18):6668. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186668

Chicago/Turabian Style

Vagge, Aldo, Carlotta Senni, Federico Bernabei, Marco Pellegrini, Vincenzo Scorcia, Carlo E Traverso, and Giuseppe Giannaccare. 2020. "Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections" International Journal of Molecular Sciences 21, no. 18: 6668. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186668

APA Style

Vagge, A., Senni, C., Bernabei, F., Pellegrini, M., Scorcia, V., Traverso, C. E., & Giannaccare, G. (2020). Therapeutic Effects of Lactoferrin in Ocular Diseases: From Dry Eye Disease to Infections. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(18), 6668. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21186668

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