|
General Comment |
NCBI Summary:
This gene is a member of the transferrin family of genes and its protein product is found in the secondary granules of neutrophils. The protein is a major iron-binding protein in milk and body secretions with an antimicrobial activity, making it an important component of the non-specific immune system. The protein demonstrates a broad spectrum of properties, including regulation of iron homeostasis, host defense against a broad range of microbial infections, anti-inflammatory activity, regulation of cellular growth and differentiation and protection against cancer development and metastasis. [provided by RefSeq]
|
|
Comment |
Lactoferrin is associated with a decrease in oocyte depletion in mice receiving cyclophosphamide. Horiuchi Y et al. OBJECTIVE: To investigate new important molecules involved in the regulation of chemotherapy-induced ovarian damage and, based on those results, to examine the effect of lactoferrin on cyclophosphamide (CPM)-induced ovarian failure. DESIGN: Complementary DNA microarray and the administration of lactoferrin. SETTING: Experimental animal study. ANIMAL(S): Female imprinting control region mice. INTERVENTION(S): Administration of CPM to mice, isolation of ovaries, isolation of RNA, microarray hybridization, and statistical analysis. According to the results of the microarray assay, administration of lactoferrin to CPM-treated mice, isolation of ovaries, isolation of RNA, and evaluation using quantitative polymerase chain reaction and histomorphometric analyses. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE(S): A list of nine down-regulated and two up-regulated genes with reliable hybridization signals was obtained. Several target molecules were then investigated. RESULT(S): Among the listed genes, we focused on the mouse lactoferrin gene, because of its CPM-induced expression pattern and its multiple novel functions. Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin prevented down-regulation of the ovulation-related,Adamts1 and partial recovery of follicle depletion induced by CPM treatment. CONCLUSION(S): The present report suggests that lactoferrin helps to rescue the ability to ovulate and partially to prevent oocyte depletion in mouse ovaries.
|