inter-alpha-inhibitor proteins

Inter-alpha-inhibitor proteins (IAIPs) are a family of endogenous human plasma-derived serine protease inhibitors currently being developed as a therapeutic biologic for acute inflammatory conditions. These proteins are complex structures consisting of heavy-chain and light-chain (bikunin) polypeptide subunits covalently linked by a glycosaminoglycan chain. The bikunin subunit contains the active site responsible for the broad-spectrum inhibition of serine proteases, including neutrophil elastase, granzymes, complement components, thrombin, and plasmin. IAIPs also function by inhibiting furin-mediated assembly of certain bacterial and viral toxins. Developed primarily by ProThera Biologics in collaboration with Takeda, IAIP therapy acts as a replenishment strategy to restore levels of these proteins, which typically decline rapidly during severe systemic inflammation. The drug is being investigated for the treatment of life-threatening conditions such as sepsis, neonatal sepsis, anthrax infection, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), and hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Other names

inter-alpha-trypsin inhibitorITIbikunin-containing proteins