Lactoferrin reduces methotrexate-induced small intestinal damage, possibly through inhibition of GLP-2-mediated epithelial cell proliferation.

A strategy protecting the small intestine against deleterious side effects associated with anti-cancer therapy is arresting epithelial cell cycling temporally. Since endogenous glucagon-like peptide-2 (GLP-2) is a trophic factor specific for intestinal epithelia, the possibility of inhibiting GLP-2-mediated cell proliferation by lactoferrin, thereby protecting the small intestine against deleterious side effects of anticancer therapy, was investigated. In Caco-2 cells, GLP-2-mediated proliferation was reduced in a dose-dependent manner using lactoferrin.