Colostrum Proteins in Protection against Therapy-Induced Injuries in Cancer Chemo- and Radiotherapy: A Comprehensive Review

In this article, we review the benefits of application of colostrum and colostrum-derived proteins in animal models and clinical trials that include chemotherapy with antimetabolic drugs, radiotherapy and surgical interventions. A majority of the reported investigations was performed with bovine colostrum (BC) and native bovine or recombinant human lactoferrin (LF), applied alone, in nutraceutics or in combination with probiotics. Apart from reducing side effects of the applied therapeutics, radiation and surgical procedures, BC and LF augmented their efficacy and improved the wellness of patients. In conclusion, colostrum and colostrum proteins, preferably administered with probiotic bacteria, are highly recommended for inclusion to therapeutic protocols in cancer chemo- and radiotherapy as well as during the surgical treatment of cancer patients.

Lactoferrin as a Human Genome “Guardian”—An Overall Point of View

Structural abnormalities causing DNA modifications of the ethene and propanoadducts can lead to mutations and permanent damage to human genetic material. Such changes may cause premature aging and cell degeneration and death as well as severe impairment of tissue and organ function. This may lead to the development of various diseases, including cancer. In response to a damage, cells have developed defense mechanisms aimed at preventing disease and repairing damaged genetic material or diverting it into apoptosis. All of the mechanisms described above are part of the repertoire of action of Lactoferrin—an endogenous protein that contains iron in its structure, which gives it numerous antibacterial, antiviral, antifungal and anticancer properties. The aim of the article is to synthetically present the new and innovative role of lactoferrin in the protection of human genetic material against internal and external damage, described by the modulation mechanisms of the cell cycle at all its levels and the mechanisms of its repair.

Dairy Consumption and Liver Cancer Risk: A Systematic Review and Dose-Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies

The relationship of dairy consumption and liver cancer risk is still controversial. We conducted a meta-analysis of published cohort and case-control studies to summarize the epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between dairy products consumption and the risk of liver cancer. The literatures were screened from PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library before May 2020. A total of seven cohort studies and eight case-control studies (5,121 cases) were included. The summary relative risks (RRs) were 1.17 (95% CI: 0.87‒1.57) and 1.08 (95% CI: 0.78‒1.51) for milk and total dairy, respectively. 0.50 (95% CI: 0.27-0.91) and 1.16 (95% CI: 0.83-1.52) were yogurt, cheese, and curd. Subgroup analysis revealed that study duration, alcohol, and design were associated the RRs. Dose-response analysis showed that the liver cancer risk was decreased by 5.4% (P for linear trend = 0.002) with a 40 g/day increment of yogurt intake. These results suggested that total dairy, milk, cheese, and curd were positive associations with the liver cancer risk although they were not statistically significant, however higher yogurt intake would reduce the risk. Further studies are necessary to verify the relationship of dairy foods with cancer.

Dairy foods and positive impact on the consumer's health

The objective of the present chapter was to demonstrate the state of the art in the recent advances in nutritional and functional components of dairy products research. In this chapter, the main mechanisms responsible and essential for a better understanding of nutritional and functional values of the components of milk and dairy products are highlighted. It also includes a discussion about the positive impacts of fermented milk, cheese, butter, ice cream, and dairy desserts components on the consumer's health.

Effect of Heat Treatment on the Antitumor Activity of Lactoferrin in Human Colon Tumor (HT29) Model

To investigate the effect of heat treatment on the antitumor activity of lactoferrin in colon cancer cells and colon tumors, the HT-29 (human intestinal epithelial tumor cell) cell line was exposed to lactoferrin and various heat treatments. The impacts on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration were observed in vitro, and nude mice bearing HT29 tumors were administered lactoferrin and underwent various heat treatments in vivo. In the HT29 cell proliferation test using transwell and scratch analyses, lactoferrin (20 mg/mL) without or with heat treatment (50 and 70 °C) significantly inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion (compared with the control, p < 0.05), while lactoferrin with heat treatment (100 °C) did not affect these parameters. In vivo, HT29 tumor weight was significantly reduced in the lactoferrin (without heat treatment and with 50 and 70 °C treatment) groups (1.59 ± 0.20, 1.67 ± 0.25, and 2.41 ± 0.42 g, compared with the control, p < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between the control (3.73 ± 0.33 g) and the 100 °C treatment group (3.58 ± 0.29 g). Moreover, 100 °C heat treatment reduced inhibition of the VEGFR2/VEGFA/PI3K/Akt/Erk1/2 angiogenesis pathway by lactoferrin. In summary, HT29 tumors were effectively suppressed by lactoferrin via inhibition of VEGFR2/VEGFA/PI3K/Akt/Erk1/2 pathway, and heat treatment affected the antitumor activity of lactoferrin in a temperature-dependent manner.

Lactoferrin, a Pleiotropic Protein in Health and Disease

SIGNIFICANCE

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a nonheme iron-binding glycoprotein strongly expressed in human and bovine milk and it plays many functions during infancy such as iron homeostasis and defense against microorganisms. In humans, Lf is mainly expressed in mucosal epithelial and immune cells. Growing evidence suggests multiple physiological roles for Lf after weaning.

RECENT ADVANCES

The aim of this review is to highlight the recent advances concerning multifunctional Lf activities.

CRITICAL ISSUES

First, we will provide an overview of the mechanisms related to Lf intrinsic synthesis or intestinal absorption as well as its interaction with a wide spectrum of mammalian receptors and distribution in organs and cell types. Second, we will discuss the large variety of its physiological functions such as iron homeostasis, transportation, immune regulation, oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis while specifying the mechanisms of action. Third, we will focus on its recent physiopathology implication in metabolic disorders, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. Additional efforts are necessary before suggesting the potential use of Lf as a diagnostic marker or as a therapeutic tool.

FUTURE DIRECTIONS

The main sources of Lf in human cardiometabolic disorders should be clarified to identify new perspectives for future research and develop new strategies using Lf in therapeutics. Antioxid. Redox Signal. 24, 813-836.

Dairy Products and Health: Recent Insights

Milk, cheese, yogurt, and other dairy products have long been known to provide good nutrition. Major healthful contributors to the diets of many people include the protein, minerals, vitamins, and fatty acids present in milk. Recent studies have shown that consumption of dairy products appears to be beneficial in muscle building, lowering blood pressure and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and preventing tooth decay, diabetes, cancer, and obesity. Additional benefits might be provided by organic milk and by probiotic microorganisms using milk products as a vehicle. New research on dairy products and nutrition will improve our understanding of the connections between these products, the bioactive compounds in them, and their effects on the human body.

Milk proteins, peptides, and oligosaccharides: effects against the 21st century disorders

Milk is the most complete food for mammals, as it supplies all the energy and nutrients needed for the proper growth and development of the neonate. Milk is a source of many bioactive components, which not only help meeting the nutritional requirements of the consumers, but also play a relevant role in preventing various disorders. Milk-derived proteins and peptides have the potential to act as coadjuvants in conventional therapies, addressing cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, intestinal health, and chemopreventive properties. In addition to being a source of proteins and peptides, milk contains complex oligosaccharides that possess important functions related to the newborn's development and health. Some of the health benefits attributed to milk oligosaccharides include prebiotic probifidogenic effects, antiadherence of pathogenic bacteria, and immunomodulation. This review focuses on recent findings demonstrating the biological activities of milk peptides, proteins, and oligosaccharides towards the prevention of diseases of the 21st century. Processing challenges hindering large-scale production and commercialization of those bioactive compounds have been also addressed.

Increased breast cancer cell toxicity by palladination of the polyamine analogue N (1),N (11)-bis(ethyl)norspermine

Breast cancer is one of the most common malignant tumor forms among women and many women succumb to their disease. Thus, new anticancer agents that can efficiently improve patient survival are of the utmost importance. In this study, the effects of the polyamine analogues N (1),N (11)-bis(ethyl)norspermine (BENSpm) and N (1)-cyclo-propylmethyl-N (11)-ethylnorspermine (CPENSpm) and the synthesized dinuclear complexes Pd2BENSpm (Pd-BENSpm), Pt2CPENSpm (Pt-CPENSpm) and Pd2Spm (Pd-Spm) were investigated in normal-like breast epithelial MCF-10A cells and the breast cancer cell lines JIMT-1 and L56BR-C1. The overall data show that palladination of BENSpm resulted in enhanced cytotoxicity, in contrast to platination of CPENSpm that reduced cytotoxicity, which might be explained by differences in the cellular uptake of Pd-BENSpm and Pt-CPENSpm. BENSpm and Pd-BENSpm treatment reduced the CD44(+)CD24(-) putative cancer stem cell population, evaluated by flow cytometry. Furthermore, Pd-BENSpm was the most efficient compound regarding induction of DNA damage and decrease in colony formation in soft agar. Pt-CPENSpm and Pd-Spm, on the other hand, were shown to be the least toxic compounds of all tested. Pd-Spm efficiently reduced the cellular glutathione levels, which probably was a consequence of its metabolic inactivation by conjugation to this endogenous thiol. The normal-like cells were found to be less sensitive to the agents than the breast cancer cells. Our findings show that Pd-BENSpm exhibits promising anticancer effects which render it suitable for further optimization to develop a new metal-based chemotherapeutic drug for breast cancer treatment.

Oral administration of bovine lactoferrin attenuates ultraviolet B-induced skin photodamage in hairless mice

Lactoferrin (LF) is recognized as a host defensive glycoprotein, especially for newborn infants. The aim of this study was to investigate whether orally administered LF had protective activity against UV-induced skin damage in hairless mice. Transepidermal water loss and skin hydration were evaluated in nonirradiated mice, UVB-irradiated mice, and UVB-irradiated and LF-administered mice. Supplementation with LF (1,600 mg/kg per day) effectively suppressed the increase in transepidermal water loss, reduction in skin hydration, aberrant epidermal hyperplasia, and cell apoptosis induced by UV irradiation. Although no significant changes in superoxide dismutase-like activity or malondialdehyde levels were observed in the skin with both UV irradiation and LF administration, UV-stimulated IL-1β levels in the skin were significantly suppressed by the administration of LF. Oral supplementation with LF has the potential to reduce IL-1β levels and prevent UV-induced skin damage. Further studies are needed to elucidate the relationships between the antiinflammatory effects and skin protective function of LF.