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Abstract Lactoferrin is an iron-binding glycoprotein that is synthesized by glandular epithelial cells and is present in most of the secretions that bathe human mucosal surfaces (Masson~ al., 1966) and in neutrophilic secondary granules (Briggs~ ~., 1981). It consists of a single polypeptide chain, with a molecular weight of approximately 79,000 daltons, which reversibly binds two ferric and two bicarbonate ions per molecule (Alsen and Listowsky, 1980). It is implicated as a participant in the servoregulation of granulocyte mass (Steinman li al_., 1982) by feedback inhibition of granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor production (Broxmeyer ll u., 1980). In addition, it has microbiostatic properties when not fully saturated with iron (Arnold ll tl·, 1977) and it has a direct bactericidal activity on variety of microorganisms (Arnold ~ ~., 1980). By this cidal action, lactoferrin has a potent role in mucosal secretions and neutrophils (Arnold et U., 1981). It is also implicated as an agent required for optimal neutrophil function during phagocytosis, by regulation of neutrophil aggregation (Boxer et ~., 1982) a acting as a promoter of neutrophil adhesiveness (Oseas ~ ~., 1981) and enhancing hydroxyl radical production by neutrophils, neutrophil particulate fractions and an enzymatic generating system (Ambruso and Johnston, 1981). from the clinical point of view it has a potential usefulness in the diagnosis and monitoring of macrophage/- monocyte and neutrophil turnover and activity in various leukemias and other leucocyte-involved disorders (Malmquist, 1972; Olofsson a ~ a1., 1977 and Olsson~~., 1979) and it might be useful in future schemes to control the progression of acute and chronic leukemias (Broxmeyer ~at., 1983). Measurement of lactoferrin in pure pancreatic juice may be useful in the differential diagnosis between cancer and pancreatitis which is still difficult, despite the recent advances made in pancreatic investigations {Fedail ~ ~., 1978). Moreover, it might be considered as a potential marker of benign lesions of breast tumours (Rosiello ~ al-, 1984). |