Effect of bovine lactoferrin on extracellular matrix calcification by human osteoblast-like cells.

Osteoblast-mediated calcium deposition to the extracellular matrix (ECM) is a critical step in bone tissue generation. Bovine lactoferrin enhanced the calcium deposition by MG63 human osteoblast-like cells cultured on collagen-coated plates. Lactoferrin also promoted the alkaline phosphatase activity and osteocalcin production during the calcification process, whereas it had little effect on the growth of the cells on the collagen-coated plates.