Highlights: This study uses a lepirudin based human whole blood model to investigate the coagulation potentials of alginate-based microspheres: alginate microbestemic administration (Ca/Ba Beads), alginate poly-l-lysine microcapsules (APA and AP microcapsules) and sodium alginate-sodium cellulose sulfate-poly(methylene-co-cyanoguanidine) microcapsules (PMCG microcapsules). Coagulation activation measured by prothrombin fragments 1+2 (PTF1.2) was rapidly and […]
Selected Publications
Iron oxide nanoparticles induce cytokine secretion in a complement-dependent manner in a human whole blood model
Highlights: The IONPs activated complement, as measured by C3a, C5a and sC5b-9, and induced the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in a particle-dose dependent manner, with the strongest response at 10 µg/mL IONPs. Complement inhibitors at C3 (compstatin analog Cp40) and C5 (eculizumab) levels completely inhibited complement activation and secretion of […]
Complement C3-targeted therapy: replacing long-held assertions with evidence-based discovery
Highlights: Complement dysregulation underlies several inflammatory disorders, and terminal complement inhibition has thus far afforded significant clinical gains. Emerging pathologies, fueled by complement imbalance and therapy-skewing genetic variance, underscore the need for more comprehensive, disease-tailored interventions. Modulation at the level of C3, a multifaceted orchestrator of the complement cascade, opens […]
Complement inhibition enables tumor delivery of LCMV glycoprotein pseudotyped viruses in the presence of antiviral antibodies
Highlights: This study provides experimental evidence that antibodies generated against the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein mediate robust complement-dependent viral neutralization via activation of the classical pathway. We show that this phenotype can be capitalized upon to deliver maraba virus pseudotyped with the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus glycoprotein in a Fischer rat […]
High-fat diet-induced complement activation mediates intestinal inflammation and neoplasia, independent of obesity
Highlights: Using a mouse model of intestinal neoplasia and strains that are susceptible or resistant to diet-induced obesity, this study demonstrates that high-fat diet-induced inflammation, rather than obesity or metabolic status, is associated with increased intestinal neoplasia. The complement fragment C5a acts as the trigger for inflammation and intestinal tumorigenesis. […]
From orphan drugs to adopted therapies: advancing C3-targeted intervention to the clinical stage
Highlights: This review highlights recent developments in the field of complement therapeutics, focusing on C3-directed inhibitors and alternative pathway (AP) regulator-based approaches. Translational perspectives and considerations are discussed, particularly with regard to the structure-guided drug optimization and clinical advancement of a new generation of C3-targeted peptidic inhibitors. Author and source […]
Complement inhibition in pre-clinical models of periodontitis and prospects for clinical application
Highlights: Consistently, subsequent genetic and pharmacological studies in rodents have implicated the central complement component C3 and downstream signaling pathways in periodontal host-microbe interactions that promote dysbiosis and inflammatory bone loss. This review discusses these mechanistic advances and moreover focuses on the compstatin family of C3 inhibitors as a novel […]
Inhibition of pre-existing natural periodontitis in non-human primates by a locally administered peptide inhibitor of complement C3
J Clin Periodontol. 2016 Jan 5. doi: 10.1111/jcpe.12507. [Epub ahead of print]
Using an in vitro xenoantibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity model to evaluate the complement inhibitory activity of the peptidic C3 inhibitor Cp40
Highlights:Simple and reliable methods for evaluating the inhibitory effects of drug candidates on complement activation are essential for preclinical development.Using an immortalized porcine aortic endothelial cell line (iPEC) as target, this study evaluated the feasibility and effectiveness of an in vitro xenoantibody-mediated complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) model for evaluating the complement inhibitory activity of Cp40, a potent analog of the peptidic C3 inhibitor compstatin. The binding of human xenoantibodies to iPECs led to serum dilution-dependent cell death.Pretreatment of the human serum with Cp40 almost completely inhibited the deposition of C3 fragments and C5b-9 on the cells, resulting in a dose-dependent inhibition of CDC against the iPECs.Using the same method to compare the effects of Cp40 on complement activation in humans, rhesus and cynomolgus monkeys, we found that the inhibitory patterns were similar overall.Thus, the in vitro xenoantibody-mediated CDC assay may have considerable potential for future clinical use.
Wang J, Wang L, Xiang Y, Ricklin D, Lambris JD, Chen G.
Clin Immunol. 2015 Nov 6;162:37-44. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2015.11.002. [Epub ahead of print]
Complement therapeutics in inflammatory diseases: promising drug candidates for C3-targeted intervention
Highlights: Using the clinically developed compstatin family of C3 inhibitors and periodontitis as illustrative examples, this review highlights emerging therapeutic concepts and developments in the design of C3-targeted drug candidates as novel immunotherapeutics for oral and systemic inflammatory diseases. Author and source information Authors: Mastellos DC, Ricklin D, Hajishengallis E, […]