乳铁蛋白是一种具有多种生理功能的铁结合性糖蛋白,是铁在机体内代谢及转运关键载体。目前,有关乳铁蛋白对神经退行性疾病的防治作用及应用研究已成为该领域的新热点。本文主要介绍了铁在机体内的代谢;铁转运蛋白-乳铁蛋白转运系统:铁转运主要是由转铁蛋白受体和乳铁蛋白受体介导的,铁转运入脑的途径主要是转铁蛋白-转铁蛋白受体途径,还有乳铁蛋白-乳铁蛋白受体途径及其他途径;铁对脑损伤的作用机制,其中铁参与的氧化应激反应以及铁代谢和铁转运相关基因的突变或缺失可能都是引起脑损伤的原因;最后简述乳铁蛋白在防治神经退行性疾病中最新的进展,乳铁蛋白修饰的纳米粒子可能是目前最有效治疗神经退行性疾病的方法之一。
Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding glycoprotein with various physiological functions, plays an key roles in iron metabolism and transfer. Recently, more and more attentions have been paid to Lf in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.This review mainly addressed the iron metabolism in human; iron transport protein-lactoferrin transport system;iron transport is mediated by the transferrin receptor and lactoferrin receptor.The major route of iron transport into brain is transfer-transferrin receptor pathway,the lactoferrin-lactoferrin receptor pathway and other routes are also important for iron transport; the mechanism of iron in cerebral injury, the reason of cerebral injury probably caused by the oxidative stress which iron participate in and the gene of iron metabolism and iron transport mutation or deletion.Finally,the latest advances of Lf in the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases were summarized.Lactoferrin-modified nanoparticles may be one of the most effective treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.