Membrane-targeted complement inhibitors

Undesirable complement activation contributes to the pathology of many huma n diseases by damaging tissue and promoting inflammation. Because complemen t-mediated damage is caused by the deposition of complement components on t he cell surface, several strategies have been devised to target complement regulator proteins to cell membranes. These strategies have resulted in eng ineered proteins that have improved potency in vitro and enhanced therapeut ic benefit in animal models of disease. One membrane-targeted complement in hibitor has now entered clinical development and this class of second-gener ation agents may provide effective therapies for the treatment of a variety of disease states. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.