In vivo anti-HIV activity of the heparin-activated serine protease inhibitor antithrombin III encapsulated in lymph-targeting immunoliposomes.

ABSTRACT: Endogenous serine protease inhibitors (serpins) are anti-inflammatory mediators with multiple biologic functions. Several serpins have been reported to modulate HIV pathogenesis, or exhibit potent anti-HIV activity in vitro, but the efficacy of serpins as therapeutic agents for HIV in vivo has not yet been demonstrated. In the present study, we show that heparin-activated antithrombin III (hep-ATIII), a member of the serpin family, significantly inhibits lentiviral replication in a non-human primate model. We further demonstrate greater than one log(10) reduction in plasma viremia in the nonhuman primate system by loading of hep-ATIII into anti-HLA-DR immunoliposomes, which target tissue reservoirs of viral replication. We also demonstrate the utility of hep-ATIIII as a potential salvage a

SUBMITTER: Asmal M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3487854 | biostudies-literature | 2012

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature