Lactoferrin discovered for osteoporosis treatment

www.chinaview.cn 2004-11-25 14:44:25

   WELLINGTON, Nov. 25 (Xinhuanet) -- New Zealand researchers have
discovered remarkable bone-building properties in the milk protein
lactoferrin, which could lead to new treatments for osteoporosis.

   Auckland's Osteoporosis Research Group has found that the milk
protein, already produced commercially by New Zealand dairy giant
Fonterra and the Tatua dairy company, not only inhibits bone breakdown
but boosts bone growth four times faster than normal when injected
directly into bone cells, New Zealand Press Association reported
Thursday.

   Research leader Jill Cornish unveiled the findings at the
WorldDairy Summit in Melbourne Wednesday.

   The injection of lactoferrin had resulted in such "phenomenal bone
growth" and it could be applied directly to fractures to promote faster
healing, Cornish said.

   The research is part of the LactoPharma project - a joint venture
between Fonterra and Auckland UniServices - set up to discover and
commercialize new bioactive components in milk and colostrum.

   There was still a lot of work to be done, Cornish said. But there
was every reason to hope that these findings could result innew drugs
and nutraceuticals for the prevention and cure of osteoporosis.

   The dairy industry has touted the wider benefits of lactoferrin for
about a decade.

   "It's a goody molecule," Cornish said. "It is good for the immune
system. It's anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-fungal. When white
blood cells respond to infection, they spurt out lactoferrin
naturally."

   LactoPharma has already filed patent applications for lactoferrin
as a bone-growth promoter.

   It also plans to patent two new receptors that the team has
uncovered on bone-forming cells.

   Receptors and molecules like lactoferrin had a lock and key
relationship, which together could activate the process that makes new
bone, Cornish said.

   Once Lacto Pharma has established the patents and put together
aportfolio of intellectual property it will be in a position to
commercially license the technology.

   Fonterra will be well-positioned to develop it further but is
likely to be most interested in developing lactoferrin as a
nutraceutical to be consumed in dairy drinks and foods as a
preventative to osteoporosis.

   Osteoporosis is estimated to affect 200 million people worldwide,
and costs New Zealand about 200 million NZ dollars (about 140 million
US dollars) in health care and related costs.

   So far there is only one osteoporosis drug on the market that can
enhance the process of bone formation, Cornish said.

   New Zealand dairy companies already commercially produce
lactoferrin. It sells for 500 NZ dollars (about 350 US dollars) a
kilogram in Japan and Korea.

   About 10,000 tons of milk are used to produce one tonne of
lactoferrin. Enditem

<<snip>>
To counteract potential iron damage, hosts employ the iron chelators,
transferrin and lactoferrin.
<<snip>>

Therapeutic potential of iron chelators in diseases associated with
iron mismanagement.
Weinberg ED
J Pharm Pharmacol. 2006 May ; 58(5): 575-84

A considerable array of diseases are now recognized to be associated
with misplacement of iron. Excessive deposits of the metal in sensitive
tissue sites can result in formation of destructive hydroxyl radicals
as well as in stimulation of growth of neoplastic and microbial cell
invaders. To counteract potential iron damage, hosts employ the iron
chelators, transferrin and lactoferrin. These proteins have been
recently developed into pharmaceutical products. Additionally, a
variety of low molecular mass iron chelators are being used/tested to
treat whole body iron loading, and specific diseases for which the
metal is a known or suspected risk factor

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Tom

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