Ornithodoros moubata complement inhibitor is an equally effective C5 inhibitor in pigs and humans

J Immunol. 2011 Nov 1;187(9):4913-9. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1101000. Epub 2011 Sep 30.

Abstract

Experimental evidence suggests that C inhibition and more particularly combined inhibition of C and the TLR coreceptor CD14 may be of therapeutic benefit in sepsis and other inflammatory conditions. A barrier to the testing and further development of many inhibitors is that their activity is species specific. Pig is a relevant species for experimental models of human disease, and this study undertakes a comprehensive comparison of the inhibitory efficacy of the C5 inhibitor Ornithodoros moubata C inhibitor (OmCI) in human and porcine whole blood ex vivo models of Escherichia coli-induced sepsis. The effect of OmCI on complement activity in pigs undergoing E. coli sepsis was also examined. Porcine and human serum, and whole blood anticoagulated with lepirudin, was incubated with E. coli and the effect of OmCI investigated. The ex vivo results were virtually identical in pig and human. OmCI completely ablated the activity of all three C pathways at 0.64 μM. E. coli-induced C activation and expression of CD11b (wCD11R3 in the pig), was abolished ex vivo at 0.32 μM OmCI. Combining anti-CD14 and OmCI reduced the formation of IL-8 and TNF-α more potently than the single inhibitors. OmCI also efficiently bound E. coli-induced leukotriene B(4) in pig and human plasma. In support of our ex vivo findings, in vivo the activity of all C pathways was inhibited at 0.6 mg OmCI/kg pig. In conclusion, OmCI efficiently inhibited pig and human C activation, has accompanying anti-inflammatory effects and is a promising candidate inhibitor for further in vivo studies of sepsis.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Complement C5a / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Complement C5a / metabolism
  • Complement Inactivator Proteins / physiology*
  • Complement Inactivator Proteins / therapeutic use
  • Complement Pathway, Alternative / immunology
  • Complement Pathway, Classical / immunology
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Escherichia coli Infections / immunology
  • Escherichia coli Infections / prevention & control
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Ornithodoros / immunology*
  • Pilot Projects
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / physiology
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides / therapeutic use
  • Sepsis / immunology
  • Sepsis / prevention & control
  • Swine

Substances

  • Complement Inactivator Proteins
  • Salivary Proteins and Peptides
  • Complement C5a