Fibrin inflammatory epitope

The fibrin inflammatory epitope is a specific cryptic sequence, primarily located within the gamma chain (residues 377-395) of the fibrin molecule (Nature Communications, 2018, 9:4344). This epitope is hidden in soluble fibrinogen but becomes exposed when fibrinogen is converted into fibrin or undergoes structural changes following vascular damage (Blood, 2004, 104:407-414). Once exposed, it serves as a ligand for the Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) integrin receptor on leukocytes, such as macrophages and microglia, triggering a pro-inflammatory response and oxidative stress (Nature Medicine, 2007, 13:1176-1184). This interaction is a key driver of pathology in various inflammatory and neurodegenerative conditions, including multiple sclerosis and Alzheimer's disease, where fibrin leaks into the central nervous system (Nature Reviews Immunology, 2019, 19:179-190). Therapeutic strategies targeting this epitope, such as the monoclonal antibody 5B8, aim to selectively block neuroinflammation and tissue damage without compromising the essential role of fibrin in blood clotting and hemostasis (Gladstone Institutes, 2023).

Other names

Fibrin gamma 377-395 epitopeMac-1 binding site on fibrinCryptic fibrin inflammatory epitopeFibrinogen gamma chain 377-395

Selective inhibition of the interaction between the fibrin inflammatory epitope and the Mac-1 (CD11b/CD18) receptor on immune cells, thereby suppressing inflammatory signaling without interfering with blood coagulation.