Acute Phase Protein α1-Antitrypsin Reduces the Bacterial Burden in Mice by Selective Modulation of Innate Cell Responses

Abstract

Background. Severe bacterial infection can cause sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), and death. Human 1 -antitrypsin (hAAT) is an antiinflammatory, immune-modulating, and tissue-protective circulating serine-protease inhibitor, with levels that increase during acute-phase responses. It is currently being evaluated as a therapeutic agent for individuals with diabetes and graft-versus-host disease. However, the concern of opportunistic bacterial infections has yet to be addressed. Therefore, we investigated host immune cell responses during acute bacterial infections under conditions of elevated hAAT levels.