Antioxidant and migration-modulating effects of lactoferrin in human keratinocytes

Lactoferrin (Lf) is a multifunctional glycoprotein with antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antioxidant properties that have been proposed as a therapeutic adjunct in wound healing. As keratinocytes are key drivers of re-epithelialization, this study investigated the effects of Lf on human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) cells with a focus on viability, proliferation, migration, and oxidative stress. HaCaT cells were treated with Lf at concentrations of 5, 7.5, and 10 µg/mL, and outcomes were assessed using metabolic and proliferation assays, a scratch wound healing assay, and measurements of nitrite, thiols, and antioxidant enzyme activities. Lf preserved keratinocyte viability and did not induce uncontrolled proliferation, indicating good cellular tolerance. Migration was not affected at early time-points but showed modest enhancement at 48 h in the 5 and 7.5 µg/mL groups. At the redox level, Lf selectively increased catalase activity across all doses, while nitrite and superoxide dismutase remained unchanged and thiols and glutathione S-transferase decreased at higher concentrations. Together, these findings identify Lf as a redox-centric modulator that enhances hydrogen peroxide detoxification without compromising cell integrity, supporting its potential as a safe adjunctive agent to promote orderly wound repair.