arginase-1

Arginase-1 is an enzyme that catalyzes the hydrolysis of L-arginine to ornithine and urea as part of the urea cycle. It plays a key role in regulating immune responses and metabolism. In cancer biology, overexpression of arginase-1 by tumor-associated macrophages leads to depletion of extracellular L-arginine, which suppresses T cell activation and promotes immune evasion by tumors. Therapeutic strategies targeting arginase-1 include enzyme replacement therapies (such as pegylated recombinant human arginase 1) for treating Arginase 1 Deficiency—a rare genetic disorder characterized by high levels of plasma arginine—and investigational approaches for cancer therapy through inhibition or immunization against cells expressing this enzyme. Pegylated forms like PEG-A1 (also called BCT-100) are under clinical investigation for both metabolic diseases and certain cancers.

Brand names

BCT-100BCT100BCT 100

Other names

arginase 1arginase1arginase-1ARG1ARG-1ARG 1pegylated arginase 1