Description
We developed two novel bovine lactoferrin (bLF) peptides to prevent alveolar bone destruction associated with periodontitis; one is bLF-2 targeting bLF-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) binding site and the other peptide is bLF-3 binding to the TRAF6 dimerization area, competitively.
The topical application of these novel peptides markedly inhibited TNF-αexpression in gingival tissue (Fig.6-1～8 and significantly reduced the cathepsin-positive osteoclast number (Fig.7) by downregulating RANKL and upregulating OPG in the periodontal ligament in LPS-induced alveolar bone destruction model of rat. It is indicated that novel bLF peptides can be used to treat periodontitis-associated bone destruction.