A soluble receptor decoy protects rats against anthrax lethal toxin challenge

J Infect Dis. 2005 Sep 15;192(6):1047-51. doi: 10.1086/432731. Epub 2005 Aug 10.

Abstract

Successful postexposure treatment for inhalation anthrax is thought to include neutralization of anthrax toxin. The soluble anthrax toxin receptor/tumor endothelial marker 8 and capillary morphogenesis protein 2 (sATR/TEM8 and sCMG2, respectively) receptor decoys bind to anthrax toxin protective antigen (PA) and compete with cellular receptors for binding. Here, we show that, in a tissue-culture model of intoxication, sCMG2 is a 11.4-fold more potent antitoxin than sATR/TEM8 and that this increased activity corresponds to an approximately 1000-fold higher PA-binding affinity. Stoichiometric concentrations of sCMG2 protect rats against lethal toxin challenge, making sCMG2 one of the most effective anthrax antitoxins described to date.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antigens, Bacterial / metabolism*
  • Antigens, Bacterial / toxicity
  • Bacterial Toxins / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Bacterial Toxins / metabolism*
  • Bacterial Toxins / toxicity
  • CHO Cells
  • Cricetinae
  • Male
  • Membrane Proteins / metabolism*
  • Membrane Proteins / pharmacology*
  • Protein Binding
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred F344
  • Receptors, Peptide / metabolism*
  • Survival Analysis
  • Time Factors

Substances

  • ANTXR2 protein, human
  • Antigens, Bacterial
  • Bacterial Toxins
  • Membrane Proteins
  • Receptors, Peptide
  • anthrax toxin
  • anthrax toxin receptors