Journal
CLINICAL MEDICINE & RESEARCH
Volume 4, Issue 2, Pages 106-113Publisher
MARSHFIELD CLINIC
DOI: 10.3121/cmr.4.2.106
Keywords
Amoebicidal; Apo-lactoferrin; Entamoeba histolytica; Lysozyme; Milk; sIgA
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Funding
- CONACyT, Mexico [144223]
- El Colegio de Sinaloa
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Objectives: To identify amoebicidal components in human milk and the effect of iron on the amoebicidal activity. Design: Investigation in axenic cultures of Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. Methods: Amoebas were treated with 5%-20% of human, bovine and swine milk, with 10% of human milk fractions (i.e., casein, proteins except casein and fat) or with 1 mg/ml of human milk apo-lactoferrin, human secretory immunoglobulin type A (sIgA) and chicken egg-white lysozyme (i.e., purified proteins). Milk proteins were detected using immunoblot. Confocal microscopy was used to define the interaction of milk proteins (100 mu M each) and amoebas. Experiments were done at least three times in triplicate, and mean and standard deviations were calculated. Results: Human and bovine milk were amoebicidal showing a concentration-dependent effect. The amoebicidal effect was increased in the absence of iron. Milk protein fractions, with the exception of casein, were the components responsible for the amoebicidal activity found. Apo-lactoferrin, sIgA and lysozyme were identified in the amoebicidal milk protein fraction. Apo-lactoferrin showed the major amoebicidal effect. These proteins, either alone or in combination, showed a killing effect on the trophozoites. They bound to the amoebic membrane causing cell rounding, lipid disruption and damage. Conclusions: Milk proteins such as apo-lactoferrin, sIgA and lysozyme are able to kill Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites. This study confirms the importance of feeding breast milk to newborns.
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