Combination effects of complement regulatory proteins and anti-complement polymer.

We previously reported the development of a "cytomedicine" that consists of cells trapped in alginate-poly-L-lysine-alginate (APA) microcapsules and agarose microbeads. The functional cells that are entrapped in semipermeable polymer are completely isolated from cellular immune system. However, the ability of cytomedicine to isolate cells from the humoral immune system, which plays an essential role in xenograft rejection, is low. Therefore, the goal of the present study was to develop a novel cytomedicine that could protect the entrapped cells from injury of the complement system. We investigated the applicability of the complement regulatory protein (CRP), Crry, to cytomedicine. Crry-transfected cells entrapped within agarose microbeads resisted injury by complement to a degree, while entrapment of Crry transfected cells within agarose microbeads containing polyvinyl sulfate (PVS), a novel cytomedical device with anti-complement activity, clearly protected against complement attack. These data indicate that the combination of a CRP and a cytomedical device with anti-complement activity is a superior device for cytomedical therapy.