Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
29
pubmed:dateCreated
2007-7-16
pubmed:abstractText
Pathogens or their toxins, including influenza virus, Pseudomonas, and anthrax toxins, require processing by host proprotein convertases (PCs) to enter host cells and to cause disease. Conversely, inhibiting PCs is likely to protect host cells from multiple furin-dependent, but otherwise unrelated, pathogens. To determine if this concept is correct, we designed specific nanomolar inhibitors of PCs modeled from the extended cleavage motif TPQRERRRKKR downward arrowGL of the avian influenza H5N1 hemagglutinin. We then confirmed the efficacy of the inhibitory peptides in vitro against the fluorescent peptide, anthrax protective antigen (PA83), and influenza hemagglutinin substrates and also in mice in vivo against two unrelated toxins, anthrax and Pseudomonas exotoxin. Peptides with Phe/Tyr at P1' were more selective for furin. Peptides with P1' Thr were potent against multiple PCs. Our strategy of basing the peptide sequence on a furin cleavage motif known for an avian flu virus shows the power of starting inhibitor design with a known substrate. Our results confirm that inhibiting furin-like PCs protects the host from the distinct furin-dependent infections and lay a foundation for novel, host cell-focused therapies against acute diseases.
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Jul
pubmed:issn
0021-9258
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:day
20
pubmed:volume
282
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
20847-53
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-12-3
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2007
pubmed:articleTitle
Targeting host cell furin proprotein convertases as a therapeutic strategy against bacterial toxins and viral pathogens.
pubmed:affiliation
Burnham Institute for Medical Research, La Jolla, California 92037, USA.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural