Enhanced Th1 response to Staphylococcus aureus infection in human lactoferrin-transgenic mice.

Lactoferrin (Lf) is an iron-binding protein of external secretions and neutrophil secondary granules with antimicrobial and immunomodulatory activities. To further define these properties of Lf, we have investigated the response to Staphylococcus aureus infection in transgenic mice carrying a functional human Lf gene. The transgenic mice cleared bacteria significantly better than congenic littermates, associated with a trend to reduced incidence of arthritis, septicemia, and mortality.