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Precision Nutrition/Nutrient-Gene (Poster Session)

(P29-027-24) Molecular Characterization of Different Iron Saturation and Sialylation in Lactoferrin on Neurodevelopment and Cognition

Monday, July 1, 2024
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM CT
Location: Poster Board 142

    Presenting Author(s)

  • BW

    Bing Wang, RegNutr

    Professor of Physiology and Nutrition
    Charles Sturt University
    Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

    • Co-Author(s)

  • SW

    Siqi Wang, PhD student

    Medical School of Xiamen University
    Xiamen, Fujian, China (People's Republic)

  • NZ

    Nai Zhang, MSc

    Medical School of Xiamen University
    Xiamen, Fujian, China (People's Republic)

  • ZZ

    Zhongkai Zhou, Ph.D

    Charles Sturt University
    Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia

Disclosure(s):
Bing Wang, RegNutr: No relevant financial relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.


Objectives: This study aimed to determine whether different sialylation or iron saturation in lactoferrin structure has a greater or equal effect on neurodevelopment and cognitive function.

Methods: Maternal dietary supplemented 0.6g/kg/day bovine Native lactoferrin (NLF, 15% iron and >11% Sia), Apo-LF (3% iron) or Desia-LF ( < 6% Sia) for 21 days during lactation. Pups’ growth was monitored, and global gene expression in the pup’s hippocampus was quantified using RNAseq, and pup behavior tests at postnatal day (PND) 44-59.

Results: Global gene transcription profiling showed that differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were highly enriched in pathways and functions significantly related to synaptic function. The weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified core modules and central genes associated with different structures of LF supplementation. Further verification showed that compared with Apo- and Native-LF, the expression of oligodendrocyte transcription factor 2 (Oligo2), postsynaptic protein 95 (PSD95) and 93 (PSD93) was significantly reduced in Desia-LF pups, while expression of polysialic-acid neural-cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM) was significantly increased in Apo-LF compared with Native-LF pups. In the water maze learning and memory tests, the Apo-LF pups performed the best learning and memory ability, followed by the Native-LF, and then Desia-LF pups. Apo-LF also reduced anxiety-like behavior compared to Native-LF and Desia LF, with no difference between Native-LF and Desia LF pups in the open field and the elevated plus maze tests.

Conclusions: Maternal Apo- and Native-LF supplementation have better improvement of neurodevelopment, learning, and memory ability of rat pups compared with Desia-LF pups. Different iron saturation and sialylation of LF are beneficial to neurodevelopment and cognition through different molecular mechanisms.

Funding Sources: Siqi Wang PhD scholarship was supported by the Medical School of Xiamen University, China