American Society of Hirudotherapy

Identification of lactoferrin as a human dedifferentiation factor through the studies of reptile tissue regeneration mechanisms

Research article published in Journal of microbiology and biotechnology (2014)

Last Updated: June 18, 2026Reviewed by: ASH Editorial Board
Research article — evidence reviewArticle reference
Evidence: Research reportDrug DevelopmentBae KS et al. · Journal of microbiology and biotechnology, 2014

Abstract

In this study, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis with protein extracts from lizard tails, and analyzed the protein expression profiles during the tissue regeneration to identify the dedifferentiation factor. As a result, we identified 18 protein spots among total of 292 spots, of which proteins were specifically expressed during blastema formation. We selected lactoferrin as a candidate because it is the mammalian homolog of leech-derived tryptase inhibitor, which showed the highest frequency among the 18 proteins. Lactoferrin was specifically expressed in various stem cell lines, and enhanced the efficiency of iPSC generation upto approximately 7-fold relative to the control. Furthermore, lactoferrin increased the efficiency by 2-fold without enforced expression of Klf4. These results suggest that lactoferrin may induce dedifferentiation, at least partly by increasing the expression of Klf4.

Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.

Publication typeJournal ArticleResearch Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Indexed MeSH termsAnimalsCell DedifferentiationCell LineElectrophoresis, Gel, Two-DimensionalHumansKruppel-Like Factor 4LactoferrinLizardsMaleMiceMolecular Sequence DataRegeneration

Summary

In this study, we performed two-dimensional electrophoresis with protein extracts from lizard tails, and analyzed the protein expression profiles during the tissue regeneration to identify the dedifferentiation factor.

Why This Matters for Hirudotherapy

This study analyzed protein expression profiles during lizard tail regeneration to identify dedifferentiation factors, selecting lactoferrin as a candidate because it is described as the mammalian homolog of leech-derived tryptase inhibitor. The study tested lactoferrin, not the leech-derived compound itself, demonstrating that it enhanced induced pluripotent stem cell generation approximately 7-fold and may induce dedifferentiation partly by increasing Klf4 expression. The research does not involve hirudotherapy or direct application of leech-derived compounds. Its relevance to the American Society of Hirudotherapy is strictly indirect, noting only that a leech-derived protein was referenced as a homolog of the study's candidate molecule.

Citation

Identification of lactoferrin as a human dedifferentiation factor through the studies of reptile tissue regeneration mechanisms

Bae KS et al. · Journal of microbiology and biotechnology, 2014

DOI

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