The protective effect of lactoferrin on ventral mesencephalon neurons against MPP(+) is not connected with its iron binding ability

Lactoferrin (Lf) can bind to lactoferrin receptor (LfR), leading to iron transport through the plasma membrane. Besides iron transportation, Lf also has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In the brain, Lf is only synthesized by activated microglia. LfR is present in blood vessels and nigral dopaminergic neurons. Both nigral iron accumulation and microglia activation is believed to be involved in Parkinson’s disease (PD), moreover, increased Lf and LfR in dopaminergic neurons were found in PD cases and MPTP-intoxicated mice. How iron influences microglia to release Lf? Does Lf tend to transport iron to dopaminergic neurons leading to cell death or to protect dopaminergic neuron from neurotoxin? In this study, we observed that iron increased Lf synthesis in activated microglia. In ventral mesencephalon neurons, both iron-free Lf (apo-Lf) and iron-saturated Lf (holo-Lf) exerted neuroprotective effects against MPP(+) by mechanisms, believed to enhance the mitochondrial transmembrane potential, improve Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase activity, increase Bcl-2 expression. Although apo-Lf but not holo-Lf chelated cellular iron, there was no difference between the two types of Lf in the neuroprotection. Our data indicate that iron overload increases the activated microglia releasing Lf. Lf plays protective role on ventral mesencephalon neurons against MPP(+), which is iron-chelating independent.