C1 Esterase Inhibitor Protein

The protease inhibitor C1-INH prevents the spontaneous activation of complement and limits consumption of C2 and C4 by rapidly inactivating C1r, C1s and MASP2. It is the only plasma serine protease inhibitor (Serpin) capable of interacting with and inhibiting activated C1. C1-INH interacts with the catalytic sites of both C1r and C1s. The interaction with activated C1r and C1s is covalent resulting in complexes which are stable to SDS. The binding of C1-INH to activated C1 releases both C1r and C1s from the complex leaving C1q bound to the immune complex. The released complexes contain four molecules: C1-INH-C1r-C1s-C1-INH. The reaction of C1 esterase inhibitor with activated C1 is very fast with the estimated half-life of C1r and C1s being approximately 15 seconds in serum.