Preclinical studies of a death receptor 5 fusion protein that ameliorates acute liver failure

sDR5-Fc binds with high affinity to TRAIL to effectively block TRAIL-induced apoptosis. sDR5-Fc ameliorates Con A-induced acute liver failure in mice by inhibiting hepatocyte death and inflammation. sDR5-Fc or TRAIL knockout attenuates the production of inflammatory cytokines by activated splenocytes in vitro. sDR5-Fc is safe and well tolerated in acute or long-term toxicity study.