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Exogenous topical lactoferrin inhibits allergen-induced Langerhans cell migration and cutaneous inflammation in
C E Griffiths1, M Cumberbatch, S C Tucker
1Dermatology Centre, University of Manchester, and Department of Pathology, Hope Hospital, Salford, Manchester M6 8HD, UK. cgriffiths@fs1.ho.man.ac.uk
Background:
Lactoferrin (LF), an iron-binding protein found in exocrine secretions, is known to possess antibacterial properties. It has recently been proposed that LF may also influence inflammatory reactions.
Objectives:
To characterize in humans the ability of recombinant homologous LF to inhibit the induced migration of epidermal Langerhans cells (LCs) from the skin, a process known to be dependent upon the proinflammatory cytokines tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interleukin 1beta and to influence cutaneous inflammatory reactions.
Methods:
We investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of LF in human volunteers.
Results:
Topical exposure to LF 2 h prior to sensitization caused a significant reduction in contact allergen (diphenylcyclopropenone, DPC)-induced LC migration from the epidermis as judged by the altered frequency of cells expressing either HLA-DR or CD1a determinants. That this reduction was secondary to an inhibition of TNF-alpha production was indicated by the fact that LF failed to influence LC migration induced by intradermal injection of this cytokine. In approximately 50% of those volunteers who displayed local inflammation in response to DPC, LF was found to cause a discernible reduction in the clinical severity of the reaction, associated with reduced infiltration of inflammatory cells.
Conclusions:
These data demonstrate that LF is able to influence cutaneous immune and inflammatory responses, possibly because of an impaired production of local proinflammatory cytokines.