Effects of human lactoferrin on the cytoplasmic membrane ofCandida albicanscells related with its candidacidal activity
Open Access
- 1 October 2004
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in FEMS Immunology & Medical Microbiology
- Vol. 42 (2), 181-185
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.femsim.2004.04.005
Abstract
Human lactoferrin is an innate host defence protein with antimicrobial activity that exerts a candidacidal effect in a cation concentration-dependent manner. We investigated the ability of this cationic protein (with an isoelectric point of 8.7) to permeabilize the cytoplasmic membrane of Candida albicans cells. Despite minor K+-release in lactoferrin-treated C. albicans cells, the killing effect was not related to an extensive membrane permeabilization, as indicated by: (a) the non-release of macromolecular cytosolic constituents; (b) the non-permeabilization for extracellular propidium iodide nor for intracellular accumulated calcein; and (c) the inability to disrupt the phospholipid bilayer of 8-aminonaphthalene-1,3,6, trisulfonic acid/p-xylene-bis-pyridiniumbromide-loaded liposomes. These results suggest that lactoferrin exerts its candidacidal effect through a mechanism different from membrane permeabilization described for other cationic peptides.Keywords
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