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Bovine lactoferrin inhibits Plasmodium berghei growth by binding to heme.

Authors :
Obayashi M
Kimura M
Haraguchi A
Gotanda M
Kitagawa T
Matsuno M
Sakao K
Hamanaka D
Kusakisako K
Kameda T
Ibrahim HR
Ikadai H
Miyata T
Source :
Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Sep 02; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 20344. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Sep 02.
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Bovine lactoferrin (bLF) is a 77 kDa glycoprotein that is abundant in bovine breast milk and exerts various bioactive functions, including antibacterial and antiviral functions. Few studies have explored bLF activity against parasites. We found that bLF affects hemozoin synthesis by binding to heme, inhibiting heme iron polymerization necessary for Plasmodium berghei ANKA survival in infected erythrocytes, and also binds to hemozoin, causing it to disassemble. In a challenge test, bLF administration inhibited the growth of murine malaria parasites compared to untreated group growth. To determine whether the iron content of bLF affects the inhibition of malaria growth, we tested bLFs containing different amounts of iron (apo-bLF, native-bLF, and holo-bLF), but found no significant difference in their effects. This indicated that the active sites were located within the bLFs themselves. Further studies showed that the C-lobe domain of bLF can inhibit hemozoin formation and the growth of P. berghei ANKA. Evaluation of pepsin degradation products of the C-lobe identified a 47-amino-acid section, C-1, as the smallest effective region that could inhibit hemozoin formation. This study highlights bLF's potential as a novel therapeutic agent against malaria, underscoring the importance of its non-iron-dependent bioactive sites in combating parasite growth.<br /> (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
2045-2322
Volume :
14
Issue :
1
Database :
MEDLINE
Journal :
Scientific reports
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
39223194
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-70840-6