Abstract
Lactoferrin (LF) is a protein that plays important roles in many diseases including diabetes mellitus (DM). DM is one of the most challenging health concerns of the 21st century. At least 30% of the diabetic population is undiagnosed at any one time, so effective and early diagnosis is of critical concern. Several of the body's chemicals, such as enzymes, electrolytes, and proteins, have been used as biomarkers in the diagnosis of diabetic diseases. Detection of LF is considered an important sign of type 2 diabetes (T2DM), due to its activity as an anti-inflammatory agent and in the down-regulation of pro-inflammation. LF is produced by glandular epithelial cells and neutrophils, and a decrease in its concentration is linked with the dysfunction of neutrophils in many diseases. Neutrophils are the first line of defence against pathogens that invade the human body during inflammation. Therefore, the health of neutrophils can be employed as a biomarker in the diagnosis of diseases such as diabetes. A decrease in LF concentrations in T2DM could result in increased levels of inflammatory markers that are associated with the inflammation activity. Increased understanding of the link between LF concentration and development of T2DM should improve early diagnosis and treatment outcomes.
LF is identified through use of various techniques such as immunoassay, proteomics, and spectrometry. The aim of this review is to summarise each pathway and some of the most relevant LF biomarkers that may be used to monitor the development or progression of diabetes and its complications, and the link between levels of LF and neutrophil dysfunction in T2DM. Moreover, the objective of this review is to show the most common LF analysis that may be useful in the clinical diagnosis of T2DM and discuss to what extent this analysis method can be a tool for prognostic and diagnostic work.