Inter-α inhibitor proteins: a novel therapeutic strategy for experimental anthrax infection.

Human inter-alpha inhibitor proteins are endogenous human plasma proteins that function as serine protease inhibitors. Inter-alpha 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-alpha 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-alpha inhibitor proteins could represent a novel adjuvant therapy for the treatment of established anthrax infection.