Neural Regeneration Research ›› 2023, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (12): 2691-2692.doi: 10.4103/1673-5374.373712

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Implication of salivary lactoferrin and periodontal-mediated infections in Alzheimer’s disease

Cristina Municio*, Eva Carro*   

  1. Group of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Hospital Universitario 12 de Octubre Research Institute (imas12), Madrid, Spain; Network Center for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain (Municio C)
    Neurobiology of Alzheimer’s disease Unit, Functional Unit for Research into Chronic Diseases, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain; Network Centre for Biomedical Research in Neurodegenerative Diseases (CIBERNED), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain (Carro E)
  • Online:2023-12-15 Published:2023-06-15
  • Contact: Eva Carro, PhD, eva.carro@isciii.es; Cristina Municio, PhD, cmunicio.imas12@h12o.es.

Abstract: Lactoferrin is an antimicrobial protein characterized by the exertion of many protective functions, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, and antiparasitic properties, as well as anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities (Kruzel et al., 2017). Lactoferrin is one of the major proteins present in exocrine secretions, including saliva, and is therefore associated with host defense against oral pathogens and control of the oral microbiome. In recent years, it has become clear that alterations in the oral microbiome may contribute to opportunistic pathogen infections in the brains of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients and thus participate in or contribute to the development of this neurodegenerative disease (Sureda et al., 2020). Pathogenic oral microbes can affect neurological processes by entering brain tissue through various pathways and directly damaging the central nervous system. In the central nervous system, oral microbes may trigger an immune response that increases amyloid β (Aβ) production and may even trigger the Aβ cascade to promote the onset of AD, as we discuss in our previous study supporting the “infectious hypothesis” in AD (González-Sánchez et al., 2020).