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The lactoferrin receptor is differentially expressed across several human epithelial cell types
Author(s) -
Lopez Sydney Alissa,
necke Eric B,
Lönnerdal Bo L
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.26.1_supplement.644.5
Subject(s) - lactoferrin , biology , internalization , receptor , cell culture , microbiology and biotechnology , cell type , cell , epithelium , receptor expression , immunology , biochemistry , genetics
The cationic glycoprotein lactoferrin (Lf) exhibits an array of biological activities that contribute to host development and immunity. The lactoferrin receptor (LfR) has been detected in multiple tissues and cell types including intestinal epithelial cells and lymphocytes. The internalization and subsequent cellular activities of Lf are likely dependent upon the tissue‐specific expression patterns of the LfR and physiologic state, as suggested by dynamic fluctuations of Lf concentrations in the materno‐fetal compartment across gestation, and postnatally in the neonatal small intestine of the breastfed infant. In the present study, the effect of culture period on LfR protein expression patterns was investigated using various epithelial cell models. Human intestinal (Caco‐2), placental (BeWo), hepatocellular (HepG2), and mammary (T47D) cells were seeded at a density of 1.5×10 5 cells per 10 cm dish in triplicate. Cellular lysates were harvested daily beginning at day 4 and thereafter for 24 days. LfR protein expression was strongly detected in BeWo, Caco‐2, and HepG2 cells, and to a lesser extent in T47D cells. Cellular LfR expression patterns varied across time, reaching maximal levels between day 7 and 20 of culture in each cell line. However, the LfR expression profile within this range was cell type specific. These results suggest that LfR expression depends on cell type as well as degree of maturation.