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Lactoferrin as Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Management: Preliminary Evidence

Author

Listed:
  • Elena Campione

    (Dermatology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Caterina Lanna

    (Dermatology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Terenzio Cosio

    (Dermatology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Luigi Rosa

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Maria Pia Conte

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy)

  • Federico Iacovelli

    (Structural Bioinformatics Group, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Alice Romeo

    (Structural Bioinformatics Group, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Mattia Falconi

    (Structural Bioinformatics Group, Department of Biology, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Claudia Del Vecchio

    (Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Elisa Franchin

    (Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Padova, 35122 Padova, Italy)

  • Maria Stella Lia

    (Department of Experimental Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Marilena Minieri

    (Department of Experimental Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Carlo Chiaramonte

    (Department of Statistics, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Marco Ciotti

    (Virology Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Marzia Nuccetelli

    (Laboratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandro Terrinoni

    (Department of Experimental Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Ilaria Iannuzzi

    (Occupational Medicine Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Luca Coppeta

    (Occupational Medicine Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Andrea Magrini

    (Occupational Medicine Department, University of Rome “Tor Vergata”, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Sergio Bernardini

    (Laboratory Medicine, Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Stefano Sabatini

    (Villa dei Pini Hospital, 00042 Anzio, Italy)

  • Felice Rosapepe

    (Pineta Grande Hospital, 81030 Caserta, Italy)

  • Pier Luigi Bartoletti

    (Fimmg Provincial, 00144 Rome, Italy)

  • Nicola Moricca

    (Villa dei Pini Hospital, 00042 Anzio, Italy)

  • Andrea Di Lorenzo

    (Infectious Disease Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Massimo Andreoni

    (Infectious Disease Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Loredana Sarmati

    (Infectious Disease Unit, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Alessandro Miani

    (Department of Environmental Sciences and Policy, University of Milan, 20133 Milan, Italy)

  • Prisco Piscitelli

    (UNESCO Chair on Health Education and Sustainable Development, University of Naples Federico II, 80131 Naples, Italy)

  • Ettore Squillaci

    (Department of Diagnostic and Molecular Imaging, Radiation Therapy and Interventional Radiology, University Hospital Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Piera Valenti

    (Department of Public Health and Infectious Diseases, University of Rome “La Sapienza”, 00185 Rome, Italy
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share senior authorship.)

  • Luca Bianchi

    (Dermatology Unit, Department of Systems Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital, 00133 Rome, Italy
    These authors have contributed equally to this work and share senior authorship.)

Abstract

Lactoferrin (Lf), a multifunctional cationic glycoprotein synthesized by exocrine glands and neutrophils, possesses an in vitro antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. Thus, we conducted an in vivo preliminary study to investigate the antiviral effect of oral and intranasal liposomal bovine Lf (bLf) in asymptomatic and mild-to-moderate COVID-19 patients. From April 2020 to June 2020, a total of 92 mild-to-moderate (67/92) and asymptomatic (25/92) COVID-19 patients were recruited and divided into three groups. Thirty-two patients (14 hospitalized and 18 in home-based isolation) received only oral and intranasal liposomal bLf; 32 hospitalized patients were treated only with standard of care (SOC) treatment; and 28, in home-based isolation, did not take any medication. Furthermore, 32 COVID-19 negative, untreated, healthy subjects were added for ancillary analysis. Liposomal bLf-treated COVID-19 patients obtained an earlier and significant ( p < 0.0001) SARS-CoV-2 RNA negative conversion compared to the SOC-treated and untreated COVID-19 patients (14.25 vs. 27.13 vs. 32.61 days, respectively). Liposomal bLf-treated COVID-19 patients showed fast clinical symptoms recovery compared to the SOC-treated COVID-19 patients. In bLf-treated patients, a significant decrease in serum ferritin, IL-6, and D-dimers levels was observed. No adverse events were reported. These observations led us to speculate a potential role of bLf in the management of mild-to-moderate and asymptomatic COVID-19 patients.

Suggested Citation

  • Elena Campione & Caterina Lanna & Terenzio Cosio & Luigi Rosa & Maria Pia Conte & Federico Iacovelli & Alice Romeo & Mattia Falconi & Claudia Del Vecchio & Elisa Franchin & Maria Stella Lia & Marilena, 2021. "Lactoferrin as Antiviral Treatment in COVID-19 Management: Preliminary Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-15, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:20:p:10985-:d:659809
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Min Seo Kim & Min Ho An & Won Jun Kim & Tae-Ho Hwang, 2020. "Comparative efficacy and safety of pharmacological interventions for the treatment of COVID-19: A systematic review and network meta-analysis," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 17(12), pages 1-28, December.
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    Cited by:

    1. Federico Iacovelli & Gaetana Costanza & Alice Romeo & Terenzio Cosio & Caterina Lanna & Antonino Bagnulo & Umberto Di Maio & Alice Sbardella & Roberta Gaziano & Sandro Grelli & Ettore Squillaci & Ales, 2022. "Interaction of Pelargonium sidoides Compounds with Lactoferrin and SARS-CoV-2: Insights from Molecular Simulations," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-22, April.

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