الفهرس 
LACTOFERRIN AND INFECTIONOnly 14 pages are availabe for public view
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Abstract
Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein that is
synthesized by glandular epithelial cells and is present in
most of the secretions that bathe human mucosal surfaces
(Masson~ al., 1966) and in neutrophilic secondary granules
(Briggs~ ~., 1981). It consists of a single polypeptide
chain, with a molecular weight of approximately 79,000
daltons, which reversibly binds two ferric and two bicarbonate
ions per molecule (Alsen and Listowsky, 1980).
It is implicated as a participant in the servoregulation
of granulocyte mass (Steinman li al_., 1982) by feedback
inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating
factor production (Broxmeyer ll u., 1980). In addition, it
has microbiostatic properties when not fully saturated with
iron (Arnold ll tl·, 1977) and it has a direct bactericidal
activity on variety of microorganisms (Arnold ~ ~., 1980).
By this cidal action, lactoferrin has a potent role in
mucosal secretions and neutrophils (Arnold et U., 1981).
It is also implicated as an agent required for optimal
neutrophil function during phagocytosis, by regulation of
neutrophil aggregation (Boxer et ~., 1982) a acting as a
promoter of neutrophil adhesiveness (Oseas ~ ~., 1981) and
enhancing hydroxyl radical production by neutrophils,
neutrophil particulate fractions and an enzymatic generating
system (Ambruso and Johnston, 1981).
from the clinical point of view it has a potential
usefulness in the diagnosis and monitoring of macrophage/-
monocyte and neutrophil turnover and activity in various
leukemias and other leucocyte-involved disorders (Malmquist,
1972; Olofsson a ~ a1., 1977 and Olsson~~., 1979) and it
might be useful in future schemes to control the progression
of acute and chronic leukemias (Broxmeyer ~at., 1983).
Measurement of lactoferrin in pure pancreatic juice may
be useful in the differential diagnosis between cancer and
pancreatitis which is still difficult, despite the recent
advances made in pancreatic investigations {Fedail ~ ~.,
1978). Moreover, it might be considered as a potential
marker of benign lesions of breast tumours (Rosiello ~ al-,
1984).