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COVID-19 during Pregnancy and Postpartum : Antiviral Spectrum of Maternal Lactoferrin in Fetal and Neonatal Defense

Naidu, Sreus A G ; Clemens, Roger A ; Pressman, Peter ; Zaigham, Mehreen LU orcid ; Davies, Kelvin J A and Naidu, A Satyanarayan (2020) In Journal of dietary supplements p.1-37
Abstract

As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the global health crisis, the containment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancies, and the inherent risk of vertical transmission of virus from mother-to-fetus (or neonate) poses a major concern. Most COVID-19-Pregnancy patients showed mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia with no pregnancy loss and no congenital transmission of the virus; however, an increase in hypoxia-induced preterm deliveries was apparent. Also, the breastmilk of several mothers with COVID-19 tested negative for the virus. Taken together, the natural barrier function during pregnancy and postpartum seems to deter the SARS-CoV-2 transmission from mother-to-child. This clinical observation warrants to explore the maternal-fetal... (More)

As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the global health crisis, the containment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancies, and the inherent risk of vertical transmission of virus from mother-to-fetus (or neonate) poses a major concern. Most COVID-19-Pregnancy patients showed mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia with no pregnancy loss and no congenital transmission of the virus; however, an increase in hypoxia-induced preterm deliveries was apparent. Also, the breastmilk of several mothers with COVID-19 tested negative for the virus. Taken together, the natural barrier function during pregnancy and postpartum seems to deter the SARS-CoV-2 transmission from mother-to-child. This clinical observation warrants to explore the maternal-fetal interface and identify the innate defense factors for prevention and control of COVID-19-Pregnancy. Lactoferrin (LF) is a potent antiviral iron-binding protein present in the maternal-fetal interface. In concert with immune co-factors, maternal-LF modulates chemokine release and lymphocyte migration and amplify host defense during pregnancy. LF levels during pregnancy may resolve hypertension via down-regulation of ACE2; consequently, may limit the membrane receptor access to SARS-CoV-2 for cellular entry. Furthermore, an LF-derived peptide (LRPVAA) has been shown to block ACE receptor activity in vitro. LF may also reduce viral docking and entry into host cells and limit the early phase of COVID-19 infection. An in-depth understanding of LF and other soluble mammalian milk-derived innate antiviral factors may provide insights to reduce co-morbidities and vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may lead to the development of effective nutraceutical supplements.

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author
; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of dietary supplements
pages
1 - 37
publisher
Informa Healthcare
external identifiers
  • pmid:33164606
  • scopus:85095796263
ISSN
1939-0211
DOI
10.1080/19390211.2020.1834047
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
10e9f7fe-88ea-44c5-a92e-f9f680c2c1e7
date added to LUP
2020-11-13 22:11:43
date last changed
2024-08-08 04:52:06
@article{10e9f7fe-88ea-44c5-a92e-f9f680c2c1e7,
  abstract     = {{<p>As the COVID-19 pandemic intensified the global health crisis, the containment of SARS-CoV-2 infection in pregnancies, and the inherent risk of vertical transmission of virus from mother-to-fetus (or neonate) poses a major concern. Most COVID-19-Pregnancy patients showed mild to moderate COVID-19 pneumonia with no pregnancy loss and no congenital transmission of the virus; however, an increase in hypoxia-induced preterm deliveries was apparent. Also, the breastmilk of several mothers with COVID-19 tested negative for the virus. Taken together, the natural barrier function during pregnancy and postpartum seems to deter the SARS-CoV-2 transmission from mother-to-child. This clinical observation warrants to explore the maternal-fetal interface and identify the innate defense factors for prevention and control of COVID-19-Pregnancy. Lactoferrin (LF) is a potent antiviral iron-binding protein present in the maternal-fetal interface. In concert with immune co-factors, maternal-LF modulates chemokine release and lymphocyte migration and amplify host defense during pregnancy. LF levels during pregnancy may resolve hypertension via down-regulation of ACE2; consequently, may limit the membrane receptor access to SARS-CoV-2 for cellular entry. Furthermore, an LF-derived peptide (LRPVAA) has been shown to block ACE receptor activity in vitro. LF may also reduce viral docking and entry into host cells and limit the early phase of COVID-19 infection. An in-depth understanding of LF and other soluble mammalian milk-derived innate antiviral factors may provide insights to reduce co-morbidities and vertical transmission of SARS-CoV-2 infection and may lead to the development of effective nutraceutical supplements.</p>}},
  author       = {{Naidu, Sreus A G and Clemens, Roger A and Pressman, Peter and Zaigham, Mehreen and Davies, Kelvin J A and Naidu, A Satyanarayan}},
  issn         = {{1939-0211}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  pages        = {{1--37}},
  publisher    = {{Informa Healthcare}},
  series       = {{Journal of dietary supplements}},
  title        = {{COVID-19 during Pregnancy and Postpartum : Antiviral Spectrum of Maternal Lactoferrin in Fetal and Neonatal Defense}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/19390211.2020.1834047}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/19390211.2020.1834047}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}