Lactoferrin-like Immunoreactivity in Distinct Neuronal Populations in the Mouse Central Nervous System

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding glycoprotein mainly found in exocrine secretions and the secondary granules of neutrophils. In the central nervous system (CNS), expression of the Lf protein has been reported in the lesions of some neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, as well as in the aged brain. Lf is primarily considered an iron chelator, protecting cells from potentially toxic iron or iron-requiring microorganisms. Other biological functions of Lf include immunomodulation and transcriptional regulation. However, the roles of Lf in the CNS have yet to be fully clarified. In this study, we raised an antiserum against mouse Lf and investigated the immunohistochemical localization of Lf-like immunoreactivity (Lf-LI) throughout the CNS of adult mice. Lf-LI was found in some neuronal populations throughout the CNS. Intense labeling was found in neurons in the olfactory systems, hypothalamic nuclei, entorhinal cortex, and a variety of brainstem nuclei. This study provides detailed information on the Lf-LI distribution in the CNS, and the findings should promote further understanding of both the physiological and pathological significance of Lf in the CNS.