SARS-CoV-2 is a newly emerging virus that currently lacks curative treatments. Lactoferrin (LF) is a naturally occurring non-toxic glycoprotein with broad-spectrum antiviral, immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, we assessed the potential of LF in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. Antiviral immune response gene expression was analyzed by qRT-PCR in uninfected Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells treated with LF. An infection assay for SARS-CoV-2 was performed in Caco-2 cells treated or not with LF. SARS-CoV-2 titer was determined by qRT-PCR, plaque assay and immunostaining. Inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine production was determined by qRT-PCR. LF significantly induced the expression of IFNA1 , IFNB1 , TLR3 , TLR7 , IRF3 , IRF7 and MAVS genes. Furthermore, LF partially inhibited SARS-CoV-2 infection and replication in Caco-2 intestinal epithelial cells. Our in vitro data support LF as an immune modulator of the antiviral immune response with moderate effects against SARS-CoV-2 infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, lactoferrin, antiviral immunity, 【초록키워드】 Anti-inflammatory effects, immune response, Gene Expression, Antiviral, SARS-COV-2 infection, qRT-PCR, Infection, TLR7, cytokine, in vitro, virus, immune, Replication, immunomodulatory, IRF3, epithelial cells, glycoprotein, lactoferrin, expression, moderate, TLR3, Caco-2 cells, Plaque assay, MAVS, IRF7, Caco-2, immunostaining, determined by, immune response gene, Support, antiviral immune response, IFNA1, intestinal epithelial cells, IFNB1, in vitro data, anti-inflammatory cytokine, uninfected, Effect, Genes, non-toxic, analyzed, lack, significantly, inhibited, was performed, treated, was determined, intestinal epithelial cell, Caco-2 cell, curative, 【제목키워드】 Effect,