Open AccessInter-α Inhibitor Proteins
Author(s) -
Steven M. Opal,
YowPin Lim,
Patricia Cristofaro,
Andrew W. Artenstein,
Noubar Kessimian,
David Delsesto,
Nicolas A. Parejo,
John E. Palardy,
Edward Siryaporn
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
shock
Language(s) - Uncategorized
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.095
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1540-0514
pISSN - 1073-2322
DOI - 10.1097/shk.0b013e3181e83204
Subject(s) - bacillus anthracis , anthrax toxin , proteases , serine protease , microbiology and biotechnology , toxin , protease inhibitor (pharmacology) , serine , chemistry , protease , biology , virology , enzyme , biochemistry , bacteria , fusion protein , virus , recombinant dna , genetics , gene , antiretroviral therapy , viral load
Human inter-α inhibitor proteins are endogenous human plasma proteins that function as serine protease inhibitors. Inter-α inhibitor proteins can block the systemic release of proteases in sepsis and block furin-mediated assembly of protective antigen, an essential stop in the intracellular delivery of the anthrax exotoxins, lethal toxin and edema toxin. Inter-α inhibitor proteins administered on hour or up to 24 h after spore challenge with Bacillus anthracis Sterne strain protected mice from lethality if administered with antimicrobial therapy (P < 0.001). These human plasma proteins possess combined actions against anthrax as general inhibitors of excess serine proteases in sepsis and specific inhibitors of anthrax toxin assembly. Inter-α inhibitor proteins could represent a novel adjuvant therapy for the treatment of established anthrax infection.