Effect of Lactoferrin on Oral Biofilm Formation
Abstract
Lactoferrin (Lf), an iron-binding salivary glycoprotein, plays an important role in human innate defense against local mucosal infection. We hypothesized that Lf interferes with initial oral bacterial attachment to surfaces by iron sequestration, so inhibiting subsequent biofilm formation. The objective was to investigate the effect of Lf on the early stages of single-species and multispecies oral biofilm development. Streptococcus gordonii (Sg), Streptococcus mutans, Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn) and Porphyromonas gingivalis (Pg) were used in this study. Glass disks of a two-track flow cell coated with flowing artificial saliva with and without Lf were used for studying bacterial attachment (3 h, 37C). The effects of Beta-lactoglobulin, 2,2'-dipyridyl, an iron chelator, and FeCl3 on attachment were also examined. Results: Lf inhibited the initial attachment of Sg (50.3%, P < 0.05) but not that of Fn and Pg. The attachment of biofilm containing Sg/Fn or Sg/Pg was significantly reduced by 48.7% and 62.1%, P < 0.05) in the presence of Lf. Beta-Lactoglobulin did not affect the attachment of Sg. 2,2'-dipyridyl reduced attachment of Sg by 53.87%. No reduction in attachment was noted in Sg pretreated with Lf (100 microgram/megaliter and FeCl(3) (20-200 micrometer. In conclusion, Lf suppresses initial attachment of Sg and Sg coaggregates by iron sequestration, which may lead to subsequent inhibition of oral biofilm development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2009
- Accession Number
- ADA523197
Entities
People
- Christine D. Wu
Organizations
- University of Chicago