Methods and reagents for inhibiting furin endoprotease

摘要

This invention relates to methods and reagents for inhibiting furin endoprotease activity and specifically for inhibiting furin endoprotease-mediated maturation of bioactive proteins in vivo and in vitro. The invention specifically provides proteins capable of inhibiting furin endoprotease activity. Particularly provided are alpha 1-antitrypsin variants that specifically inhibit furin endoprotease activity. Methods for using furin endoprotease inhibition to attenuate or prevent viral protein maturation, and thereby alleviate viral infections, are provided. Also provided are methods for using furin endoprotease inhibition to attenuate or prevent proteolytic processing of bacterial toxins, thereby alleviating bacterial infections. Methods are also provided to inhibit proteolytic processing of biologically active proteins and peptides. The invention also provides pharmaceutically acceptable compositions of therapeutically effective amounts of furin endoprotease inhibitors.