201
|
Youssef M, Hitti C, Puppin Chaves Fulber J, Kamen AA. Enabling mRNA Therapeutics: Current Landscape and Challenges in Manufacturing. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1497. [PMID: 37892179 PMCID: PMC10604719 DOI: 10.3390/biom13101497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent advances and discoveries in the structure and role of mRNA as well as novel lipid-based delivery modalities have enabled the advancement of mRNA therapeutics into the clinical trial space. The manufacturing of these products is relatively simple and eliminates many of the challenges associated with cell culture production of viral delivery systems for gene and cell therapy applications, allowing rapid production of mRNA for personalized treatments, cancer therapies, protein replacement and gene editing. The success of mRNA vaccines during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the immense potential of this technology as a vaccination platform, but there are still particular challenges to establish mRNA as a widespread therapeutic tool. Immunostimulatory byproducts can pose a barrier for chronic treatments and different production scales may need to be considered for these applications. Moreover, long-term storage of mRNA products is notoriously difficult. This review provides a detailed overview of the manufacturing steps for mRNA therapeutics, including sequence design, DNA template preparation, mRNA production and formulation, while identifying the challenges remaining in the dose requirements, long-term storage and immunotolerance of the product.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Amine A. Kamen
- Department of Bioengineering, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 0G4, Canada; (M.Y.); (C.H.); (J.P.C.F.)
| |
Collapse
|
202
|
Wang YS, Kumari M, Chen GH, Hong MH, Yuan JPY, Tsai JL, Wu HC. mRNA-based vaccines and therapeutics: an in-depth survey of current and upcoming clinical applications. J Biomed Sci 2023; 30:84. [PMID: 37805495 PMCID: PMC10559634 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-023-00977-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 09/29/2023] [Indexed: 10/09/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA-based drugs have tremendous potential as clinical treatments, however, a major challenge in realizing this drug class will promise to develop methods for safely delivering the bioactive agents with high efficiency and without activating the immune system. With regard to mRNA vaccines, researchers have modified the mRNA structure to enhance its stability and promote systemic tolerance of antigenic presentation in non-inflammatory contexts. Still, delivery of naked modified mRNAs is inefficient and results in low levels of antigen protein production. As such, lipid nanoparticles have been utilized to improve delivery and protect the mRNA cargo from extracellular degradation. This advance was a major milestone in the development of mRNA vaccines and dispelled skepticism about the potential of this technology to yield clinically approved medicines. Following the resounding success of mRNA vaccines for COVID-19, many other mRNA-based drugs have been proposed for the treatment of a variety of diseases. This review begins with a discussion of mRNA modifications and delivery vehicles, as well as the factors that influence administration routes. Then, we summarize the potential applications of mRNA-based drugs and discuss further key points pertaining to preclinical and clinical development of mRNA drugs targeting a wide range of diseases. Finally, we discuss the latest market trends and future applications of mRNA-based drugs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Shiuan Wang
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Monika Kumari
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Guan-Hong Chen
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11571, Taiwan
| | - Ming-Hsiang Hong
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11571, Taiwan
| | - Joyce Pei-Yi Yuan
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11571, Taiwan
| | - Jui-Ling Tsai
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Han-Chung Wu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Academia Road, Section 2, Nankang, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan.
- Biomedical Translation Research Center (BioTReC), Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11571, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
203
|
Zhao Y, Gan L, Ke D, Chen Q, Fu Y. Mechanisms and research advances in mRNA antibody drug-mediated passive immunotherapy. J Transl Med 2023; 21:693. [PMID: 37794448 PMCID: PMC10552228 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-023-04553-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Antibody technology is widely used in the fields of biomedical and clinical therapies. Nonetheless, the complex in vitro expression of recombinant proteins, long production cycles, and harsh storage conditions have limited their applications in medicine, especially in clinical therapies. Recently, this dilemma has been overcome to a certain extent by the development of mRNA delivery systems, in which antibody-encoding mRNAs are enclosed in nanomaterials and delivered to the body. On entering the cytoplasm, the mRNAs immediately bind to ribosomes and undergo translation and post-translational modifications. This process produces monoclonal or bispecific antibodies that act directly on the patient. Additionally, it eliminates the cumbersome process of in vitro protein expression and extends the half-life of short-lived proteins, which significantly reduces the cost and duration of antibody production. This review focuses on the benefits and drawbacks of mRNA antibodies compared with the traditional in vitro expressed antibodies. In addition, it elucidates the progress of mRNA antibodies in the prevention of infectious diseases and oncology therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuxiang Zhao
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Linchuan Gan
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Dangjin Ke
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China.
| | - Yajuan Fu
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Innate Immune Biology, Biomedical Research Center of South China, College of Life Science, Fujian Normal University Qishan Campus, College Town, Fuzhou, Fujian, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
204
|
Wang Y, Zhang Z, He H, Song J, Cui Y, Chen Y, Zhuang Y, Zhang X, Li M, Zhang X, Zhang MQ, Shi M, Yi C, Wang J. Aging-induced pseudouridine synthase 10 impairs hematopoietic stem cells. Haematologica 2023; 108:2677-2689. [PMID: 37165848 PMCID: PMC10542847 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2022.282211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Aged hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) exhibit compromised reconstitution capacity and differentiation-bias towards myeloid lineage, however, the molecular mechanism behind it remains not fully understood. In this study, we observed that the expression of pseudouridine (Ψ) synthase 10 is increased in aged hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPC) and enforced protein of Ψ synthase 10 (PUS10) recapitulates the phenotype of aged HSC, which is not achieved by its Ψ synthase activity. Consistently, we observed no difference of transcribed RNA pseudouridylation profile between young and aged HSPC. No significant alteration of hematopoietic homeostasis and HSC function is observed in young Pus10-/- mice, while aged Pus10-/- mice exhibit mild alteration of hematopoietic homeostasis and HSC function. Moreover, we observed that PUS10 is ubiquitinated by E3 ubiquitin ligase CRL4DCAF1 complex and the increase of PUS10 in aged HSPC is due to aging-declined CRL4DCAF1- mediated ubiquitination degradation signaling. Taken together, this study for the first time evaluated the role of PUS10 in HSC aging and function, and provided a novel insight into HSC rejuvenation and its clinical application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuqian Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084
| | | | - Hanqing He
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084
| | - Jinghui Song
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093
| | - Yang Cui
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084
| | - Yunan Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing
| | - Yuan Zhuang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing
| | - Xiaoting Zhang
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing
| | - Mo Li
- Center for Reproductive Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, 100191
| | - Xinxiang Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry and Molecular Engineering of Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing
| | - Michael Q Zhang
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; MOE Key Laboratory of Bioinformatics; Bioinformatics Division and Center for Synthetic and Systems Biology, BNRist; Department of Automation, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, the University of Texas, Richardson, TX 75080-3021.
| | - Minglei Shi
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084.
| | - Chengqi Yi
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Institute for Immunology, Beijing Key Lab for Immunological Research on Chronic Diseases, THU-PKU Center for Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing.
| | - Jianwei Wang
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084.
| |
Collapse
|
205
|
Abstract
RNA modification is manifested as chemically altered nucleotides, widely exists in diverse natural RNAs, and is closely related to RNA structure and function. Currently, mRNA-based vaccines have received great attention and rapid development as novel and mighty fighters against various diseases including cancer. The achievement of RNA vaccines in clinical application is largely attributed to some methodological innovations including the incorporation of modified nucleotides into the synthetic RNA. The selection of optimal RNA modifications aimed at reducing the instability and immunogenicity of RNA molecules is a very critical task to improve the efficacy and safety of mRNA vaccines. This review summarizes the functions of RNA modifications and their application in mRNA vaccines, highlights recent advances of mRNA vaccines in cancer immunotherapy, and provides perspectives for future development of mRNA vaccines in the context of personalized tumor therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yingxue Mei
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiang Wang
- Institute of Cancer Stem Cell, Cancer Center, Dalian Medical University, Dalian, 116044, Liaoning, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
206
|
Lee Y, Jeong M, Park J, Jung H, Lee H. Immunogenicity of lipid nanoparticles and its impact on the efficacy of mRNA vaccines and therapeutics. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:2085-2096. [PMID: 37779140 PMCID: PMC10618257 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-01086-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2023] [Revised: 07/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Several studies have utilized a lipid nanoparticle delivery system to enhance the effectiveness of mRNA therapeutics and vaccines. However, these nanoparticles are recognized as foreign materials by the body and stimulate innate immunity, which in turn impacts adaptive immunity. Therefore, it is crucial to understand the specific type of innate immune response triggered by lipid nanoparticles. This article provides an overview of the immunological response in the body, explores how lipid nanoparticles activate the innate immune system, and examines the adverse effects and immunogenicity-related development pathways associated with these nanoparticles. Finally, we highlight and explore strategies for regulating the immunogenicity of lipid nanoparticles.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yeji Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, South Korea
| | - Michaela Jeong
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, South Korea
| | - Jeongeun Park
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, South Korea
| | - Hyein Jung
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, South Korea
| | - Hyukjin Lee
- College of Pharmacy, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ewha Womans University, Seoul, 03760, South Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
207
|
Sun H, Li K, Liu C, Yi C. Regulation and functions of non-m 6A mRNA modifications. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:714-731. [PMID: 37369853 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-023-00622-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 39.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
Nucleobase modifications are prevalent in eukaryotic mRNA and their discovery has resulted in the emergence of epitranscriptomics as a research field. The most abundant internal (non-cap) mRNA modification is N6-methyladenosine (m6A), the study of which has revolutionized our understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation. In addition, numerous other mRNA modifications are gaining great attention because of their major roles in RNA metabolism, immunity, development and disease. In this Review, we focus on the regulation and function of non-m6A modifications in eukaryotic mRNA, including pseudouridine (Ψ), N6,2'-O-dimethyladenosine (m6Am), N1-methyladenosine (m1A), inosine, 5-methylcytidine (m5C), N4-acetylcytidine (ac4C), 2'-O-methylated nucleotide (Nm) and internal N7-methylguanosine (m7G). We highlight their regulation, distribution, stoichiometry and known roles in mRNA metabolism, such as mRNA stability, translation, splicing and export. We also discuss their biological consequences in physiological and pathological processes. In addition, we cover research techniques to further study the non-m6A mRNA modifications and discuss their potential future applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hanxiao Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Kai Li
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Peking University, Beijing, China
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Cong Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China
| | - Chengqi Yi
- State Key Laboratory of Protein and Plant Gene Research, School of Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Peking-Tsinghua Center for Life Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Department of Chemical Biology, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
- Synthetic and Functional Biomolecules Center, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing, China.
| |
Collapse
|
208
|
Föhse K, Geckin B, Zoodsma M, Kilic G, Liu Z, Röring RJ, Overheul GJ, van de Maat J, Bulut O, Hoogerwerf JJ, Ten Oever J, Simonetti E, Schaal H, Adams O, Müller L, Ostermann PN, van de Veerdonk FL, Joosten LAB, Haagmans BL, van Crevel R, van Rij RP, GeurtsvanKessel C, de Jonge MI, Li Y, Domínguez-Andrés J, Netea MG. The impact of BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine on adaptive and innate immune responses. Clin Immunol 2023; 255:109762. [PMID: 37673225 DOI: 10.1016/j.clim.2023.109762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The mRNA-based BNT162b2 protects against severe disease and mortality caused by SARS-CoV-2 via induction of specific antibody and T-cell responses. Much less is known about its broad effects on immune responses against other pathogens. Here, we investigated the adaptive immune responses induced by BNT162b2 vaccination against various SARS-CoV-2 variants and its effects on the responsiveness of immune cells upon stimulation with heterologous stimuli. BNT162b2 vaccination induced effective humoral and cellular immunity against SARS-CoV-2 that started to wane after six months. We also observed long-term transcriptional changes in immune cells after vaccination. Additionally, vaccination with BNT162b2 modulated innate immune responses as measured by inflammatory cytokine production after stimulation - higher IL-1/IL-6 release and decreased IFN-α production. Altogether, these data expand our knowledge regarding the overall immunological effects of this new class of vaccines and underline the need for additional studies to elucidate their effects on both innate and adaptive immune responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Föhse
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Büsra Geckin
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Martijn Zoodsma
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Gizem Kilic
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Zhaoli Liu
- Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Rutger J Röring
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Gijs J Overheul
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Josephine van de Maat
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ozlem Bulut
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jacobien J Hoogerwerf
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Jaap Ten Oever
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Elles Simonetti
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Heiner Schaal
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Ortwin Adams
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Lisa Müller
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Philipp Niklas Ostermann
- Institute of Virology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Frank L van de Veerdonk
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Leo A B Joosten
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Medical Genetics, Iuliu Hatieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Bart L Haagmans
- Department of Viroscience, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Reinout van Crevel
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Ronald P van Rij
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | | | - Marien I de Jonge
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Laboratory of Medical Immunology, Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboudumc, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Yang Li
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Department of Computational Biology for Individualised Medicine, Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM), A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany; TWINCORE, A Joint Venture Between the Helmholtz-Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Hannover Medical School (MHH), Hannover, Germany
| | - Jorge Domínguez-Andrés
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Mihai G Netea
- Department of Internal Medicine and Radboud Center for Infectious Diseases, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands.
| |
Collapse
|
209
|
Benčić P, Keppler M, Kuge M, Qiu D, Schütte LM, Häner M, Strack K, Jessen HJ, Andexer JN, Loenarz C. Non-canonical nucleosides: Biomimetic triphosphorylation, incorporation into mRNA and effects on translation and structure. FEBS J 2023; 290:4899-4920. [PMID: 37329249 DOI: 10.1111/febs.16889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 06/14/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Recent advances in mRNA therapeutics demand efficient toolkits for the incorporation of nucleoside analogues into mRNA suitable for downstream applications. Herein, we report the application of a versatile enzyme cascade for the triphosphorylation of a broad range of nucleoside analogues, including unprotected nucleobases containing chemically labile moieties. Our biomimetic system was suitable for the preparation of nucleoside triphosphates containing adenosine, cytidine, guanosine, uridine and non-canonical core structures, as determined by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. This enabled us to establish an efficient workflow for transcribing and purifying functional mRNA containing these nucleoside analogues, combined with mass spectrometric verification of analogue incorporation. Our combined methodology allows for analyses of how incorporation of nucleoside analogues that are commercially unavailable as triphosphates affect mRNA properties: The translational fidelity of the produced mRNA was demonstrated in analyses of how incorporated adenosine analogues impact translational recoding. For the SARS-CoV-2 frameshifting site, analyses of the mRNA pseudoknot structure using circular dichroism spectroscopy allowed insight into how the pharmacologically active 7-deazaadenosine destabilises RNA secondary structure, consistent with observed changes in recoding efficiency.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Benčić
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Michael Keppler
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Marco Kuge
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Danye Qiu
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lena M Schütte
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Markus Häner
- Institute of Organic Chemistry, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katharina Strack
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Christoph Loenarz
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Freiburg, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
210
|
Magnani CF, Myburgh R, Brunn S, Chambovey M, Ponzo M, Volta L, Manfredi F, Pellegrino C, Pascolo S, Miskey C, Ivics Z, Shizuru JA, Neri D, Manz MG. Anti-CD117 CAR T cells incorporating a safety switch eradicate human acute myeloid leukemia and hematopoietic stem cells. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2023; 30:56-71. [PMID: 37583386 PMCID: PMC10424000 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2023.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Discrimination between hematopoietic stem cells and leukemic stem cells remains a major challenge for acute myeloid leukemia immunotherapy. CAR T cells specific for the CD117 antigen can deplete malignant and healthy hematopoietic stem cells before consolidation with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in absence of cytotoxic conditioning. Here we exploit non-viral technology to achieve early termination of CAR T cell activity to prevent incoming graft rejection. Transient expression of an anti-CD117 CAR by mRNA conferred T cells the ability to eliminate CD117+ targets in vitro and in vivo. As an alternative approach, we used a Sleeping Beauty transposon vector for the generation of CAR T cells incorporating an inducible Caspase 9 safety switch. Stable CAR expression was associated with high proportion of T memory stem cells, low levels of exhaustion markers, and potent cellular cytotoxicity. Anti-CD117 CAR T cells mediated depletion of leukemic cells and healthy hematopoietic stem cells in NSG mice reconstituted with human leukemia or CD34+ cord blood cells, respectively, and could be terminated in vivo. The use of a non-viral technology to control CAR T cell pharmacokinetic properties is attractive for a first-in-human study in patients with acute myeloid leukemia prior to hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara F. Magnani
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Renier Myburgh
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Silvan Brunn
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Morgane Chambovey
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Marianna Ponzo
- Tettamanti Center, Fondazione IRCCS San Gerardo Dei Tintori, 20900 Monza, Italy
| | - Laura Volta
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Francesco Manfredi
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Christian Pellegrino
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Steve Pascolo
- Department of Dermatology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Csaba Miskey
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Zoltán Ivics
- Division of Medical Biotechnology, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Judith A. Shizuru
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Dario Neri
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, 8093 ETH Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Markus G. Manz
- Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Comprehensive Cancer Center Zurich (CCCZ), 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
211
|
Zhang G, Tang T, Chen Y, Huang X, Liang T. mRNA vaccines in disease prevention and treatment. Signal Transduct Target Ther 2023; 8:365. [PMID: 37726283 PMCID: PMC10509165 DOI: 10.1038/s41392-023-01579-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/30/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
mRNA vaccines have emerged as highly effective strategies in the prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, thanks largely although not totally to their extraordinary performance in recent years against the worldwide plague COVID-19. The huge superiority of mRNA vaccines regarding their efficacy, safety, and large-scale manufacture encourages pharmaceutical industries and biotechnology companies to expand their application to a diverse array of diseases, despite the nonnegligible problems in design, fabrication, and mode of administration. This review delves into the technical underpinnings of mRNA vaccines, covering mRNA design, synthesis, delivery, and adjuvant technologies. Moreover, this review presents a systematic retrospective analysis in a logical and well-organized manner, shedding light on representative mRNA vaccines employed in various diseases. The scope extends across infectious diseases, cancers, immunological diseases, tissue damages, and rare diseases, showcasing the versatility and potential of mRNA vaccines in diverse therapeutic areas. Furthermore, this review engages in a prospective discussion regarding the current challenge and potential direction for the advancement and utilization of mRNA vaccines. Overall, this comprehensive review serves as a valuable resource for researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals, providing a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects, historical context, and future prospects of mRNA vaccines in the fight against various diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gang Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Tianyu Tang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yinfeng Chen
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- The Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Xing Huang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- The Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Tingbo Liang
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Pancreatic Disease, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Zhejiang Clinical Research Center of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Diseases, 310003, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- The Innovation Center for the Study of Pancreatic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, 310009, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, 310058, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| |
Collapse
|
212
|
Chen Y, Li K, Lv W, Xie J, Qian Y, Cui C, Deng B. What Is the Impact of the Novel Coronavirus and the Vaccination on Guillain-Barre Syndrome? Mol Neurobiol 2023:10.1007/s12035-023-03638-8. [PMID: 37728848 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-023-03638-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has resulted in devastating medical and economic consequences worldwide over the past 3 years. As the pandemic enters a new stage, it is essential to consider the potential impact on rare diseases such as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS), which has been intimately associated with COVID-19 since the first COVID-19-related GBS case was reported in January 2020. There are notable differences between COVID-19-related GBS and GBS without COVID-19 in terms of diagnostic types and clinical manifestations. Furthermore, with the widespread administration of COVID-19 vaccines, there have been reports of GBS occurring shortly after vaccination, which requires close attention despite its rarity. This review also explores the vaccines associated with heightened GBS risks, offering insights that may guide vaccination policies and clinical practice. To provide a visual summary of these findings, we have included a graphical abstract. This article will discuss the characteristic manifestations of GBS patients after being positive for the novel coronavirus and the safety of several COVID-19 vaccines. Firstly, this article comprehensively expounds and discusses the epidemiological aspects of novel coronavirus-related GBS. For example, from the perspective of the same population, the expected incidence of GBS in the COVID-19-positive population (persons/100,000 persons/ year) is about 43 times that of the COVID-19-negative population, and the incidence of GBS is significantly increased. Secondly, the clinical characteristics of COVID-19-negative GBS patients and SARS-CoV-2-GBS (SC2-GBS) patients were summarized and compared. Thirdly, this article reviews GBS cases in the current adverse events after COVID-19 vaccination and analyzes and discusses from multiple perspectives, such as the incidence of GBS events, the age proportion of patients, and the interval of onset.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yinuo Chen
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- First Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Kezheng Li
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
- First Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Wenjing Lv
- Department of Geriatrics, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Jiali Xie
- Department of Neurology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuqin Qian
- Department of Neurology, Institute of Neurology, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Can Cui
- Department of Clinical Sciences Malmö, Lund University, Skåne, Sweden
| | - Binbin Deng
- Department of Neurology, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
- First Clinical College of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
213
|
McGee JE, Kirsch JR, Kenney D, Chavez E, Shih TY, Douam F, Wong WW, Grinstaff MW. Complete substitution with modified nucleotides suppresses the early interferon response and increases the potency of self-amplifying RNA. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.15.557994. [PMID: 37745375 PMCID: PMC10516017 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.15.557994] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/26/2023]
Abstract
Self-amplifying RNA (saRNA) will revolutionize vaccines and in situ therapeutics by enabling protein expression for longer duration at lower doses. However, a major barrier to saRNA efficacy is the potent early interferon response triggered upon cellular entry, resulting in saRNA degradation and translational inhibition. Substitution of mRNA with modified nucleotides (modNTPs), such as N1-methylpseudouridine (N1mΨ), reduce the interferon response and enhance expression levels. Multiple attempts to use modNTPs in saRNA have been unsuccessful, leading to the conclusion that modNTPs are incompatible with saRNA, thus hindering further development. Here, contrary to the common dogma in the field, we identify multiple modNTPs that when incorporated into saRNA at 100% substitution confer immune evasion and enhance expression potency. Transfection efficiency enhances by roughly an order of magnitude in difficult to transfect cell types compared to unmodified saRNA, and interferon production reduces by >8 fold compared to unmodified saRNA in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Furthermore, we demonstrate expression of viral antigens in vitro and observe significant protection against lethal challenge with a mouse-adapted SARS-CoV-2 strain in vivo . A modified saRNA vaccine, at 100-fold lower dose than a modified mRNA vaccine, results in a statistically improved performance to unmodified saRNA and statistically equivalent performance to modified mRNA. This discovery considerably broadens the potential scope of self-amplifying RNA, enabling entry into previously impossible cell types, as well as the potential to apply saRNA technology to non-vaccine modalities such as cell therapy and protein replacement.
Collapse
|
214
|
Hınçer A, Ahan RE, Aras E, Şeker UÖŞ. Making the Next Generation of Therapeutics: mRNA Meets Synthetic Biology. ACS Synth Biol 2023; 12:2505-2515. [PMID: 37672348 PMCID: PMC10510722 DOI: 10.1021/acssynbio.3c00253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
The development of mRNA-based therapeutics centers around the natural functioning of mRNA molecules to provide the genetic information required for protein translation. To improve the efficacy of these therapeutics and minimize side effects, researchers can focus on the features of mRNA itself or the properties of the delivery agent to achieve the desired response. The tools considered for mRNA manipulation can be improved in terms of targetability, tunability, and translatability to medicine. While ongoing studies are dedicated to improving conventional approaches, innovative approaches can also be considered to unleash the full potential of mRNA-based therapeutics. Here, we discuss the opportunities that emerged from introducing synthetic biology to mRNA therapeutics. It includes a discussion of modular self-assembled mRNA nanoparticles, logic gates on a single mRNA molecule, and other possibilities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ahmet Hınçer
- UNAM
− Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National
Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent
University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Recep Erdem Ahan
- UNAM
− Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National
Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent
University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Ebru Aras
- UNAM
− Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National
Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent
University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| | - Urartu Özgür Şafak Şeker
- UNAM
− Institute of Materials Science and Nanotechnology, National
Nanotechnology Research Center, Bilkent
University, Ankara 06800, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
215
|
Ronk AJ, Lloyd NM, Zhang M, Atyeo C, Perrett HR, Mire CE, Hastie KM, Sanders RW, Brouwer PJM, Saphire EO, Ward AB, Ksiazek TG, Alvarez Moreno JC, Thaker HM, Alter G, Himansu S, Carfi A, Bukreyev A. A Lassa virus mRNA vaccine confers protection but does not require neutralizing antibody in a guinea pig model of infection. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5603. [PMID: 37699929 PMCID: PMC10497546 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41376-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2023] [Indexed: 09/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Lassa virus is a member of the Arenaviridae family, which causes human infections ranging from asymptomatic to severe hemorrhagic disease with a high case fatality rate. We have designed and generated lipid nanoparticle encapsulated, modified mRNA vaccines that encode for the wild-type Lassa virus strain Josiah glycoprotein complex or the prefusion stabilized conformation of the Lassa virus glycoprotein complex. Hartley guinea pigs were vaccinated with two 10 µg doses, 28 days apart, of either construct. Vaccination induced strong binding antibody responses, specific to the prefusion conformation of glycoprotein complex, which were significantly higher in the prefusion stabilized glycoprotein complex construct group and displayed strong Fc-mediated effects. However, Lassa virus-neutralizing antibody activity was detected in some but not all animals. Following the challenge with a lethal dose of the Lassa virus, all vaccinated animals were protected from death and severe disease. Although the definitive mechanism of protection is still unknown, and assessment of the cell-mediated immune response was not investigated in this study, these data demonstrate the promise of mRNA as a vaccine platform against the Lassa virus and that protection against Lassa virus can be achieved in the absence of virus-neutralizing antibodies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adam J Ronk
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Nicole M Lloyd
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Min Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Caroline Atyeo
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, 02139, US
| | - Hailee R Perrett
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology California Campus, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Chad E Mire
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Kathryn M Hastie
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Rogier W Sanders
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Philip J M Brouwer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Academic Medical Center, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Erica Olmann Saphire
- Center for Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Andrew B Ward
- Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology California Campus, Scripps Research, La Jolla, CA, 92037, US
| | - Thomas G Ksiazek
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | | | - Harshwardhan M Thaker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US
| | - Galit Alter
- Department of Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Cambridge, MA, 02139, US
| | | | | | - Alexander Bukreyev
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
- Galveston National Laboratory, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
- Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, US.
| |
Collapse
|
216
|
Li B, Jiang AY, Raji I, Atyeo C, Raimondo TM, Gordon AGR, Rhym LH, Samad T, MacIsaac C, Witten J, Mughal H, Chicz TM, Xu Y, McNamara RP, Bhatia S, Alter G, Langer R, Anderson DG. Enhancing the immunogenicity of lipid-nanoparticle mRNA vaccines by adjuvanting the ionizable lipid and the mRNA. Nat Biomed Eng 2023:10.1038/s41551-023-01082-6. [PMID: 37679571 DOI: 10.1038/s41551-023-01082-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023]
Abstract
To elicit optimal immune responses, messenger RNA vaccines require intracellular delivery of the mRNA and the careful use of adjuvants. Here we report a multiply adjuvanted mRNA vaccine consisting of lipid nanoparticles encapsulating an mRNA-encoded antigen, optimized for efficient mRNA delivery and for the enhanced activation of innate and adaptive responses. We optimized the vaccine by screening a library of 480 biodegradable ionizable lipids with headgroups adjuvanted with cyclic amines and by adjuvanting the mRNA-encoded antigen by fusing it with a natural adjuvant derived from the C3 complement protein. In mice, intramuscular or intranasal administration of nanoparticles with the lead ionizable lipid and with mRNA encoding for the fusion protein (either the spike protein or the receptor-binding domain of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)) increased the titres of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 tenfold with respect to the vaccine encoding for the unadjuvanted antigen. Multiply adjuvanted mRNA vaccines may improve the efficacy, safety and ease of administration of mRNA-based immunization.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bowen Li
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Allen Yujie Jiang
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Idris Raji
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Caroline Atyeo
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Division of Medical Sciences, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Theresa M Raimondo
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Akiva G R Gordon
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Luke H Rhym
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Tahoura Samad
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Corina MacIsaac
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jacob Witten
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Haseeb Mughal
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Taras M Chicz
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yue Xu
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ryan P McNamara
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Sangeeta Bhatia
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Wyss Institute at Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Galit Alter
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Robert Langer
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daniel G Anderson
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT, and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Institute for Medical Engineering and Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
- Harvard-MIT Division of Health Science and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
217
|
Gomi M, Nakayama Y, Sakurai Y, Oyama R, Iwasaki K, Doi M, Liu Y, Hori M, Watanabe H, Hashimoto K, Tanaka H, Tange K, Nakai Y, Akita H. Tolerogenic Lipid Nanoparticles for Delivering Self-Antigen mRNA for the Treatment of Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:1270. [PMID: 37765078 PMCID: PMC10537621 DOI: 10.3390/ph16091270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple sclerosis is a disease caused by autoantigen-responsive immune cells that disrupt the myelin in the central nervous system (CNS). Although immunosuppressive drugs are used to suppress symptoms, no definitive therapy exists. As in the experimental autoimmune encephalitis (EAE) model of multiple sclerosis, a partial sequence of the myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG35-55) was identified as a causative autoantigen. This suggests that the induction of immune tolerance that is specific to MOG35-55 would be a fundamental treatment for EAE. We previously reported that lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) containing an anionic phospholipid, phosphatidylserine (PS), in their lipid composition, can be used to deliver mRNA and that this leads to proteins of interest to be expressed in the spleen. In addition to the targeting capability of PS, PS molecules avoid activating the immune system. Physiologically, the recognition of PS on apoptotic cells suppresses immune activation against these cells by releasing cytokines, such as interleukin-10 (IL-10) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β that negatively regulate immunity. In this study, we tested whether mRNA delivery of autoantigens to the spleen by PS-LNPs causes the expression of MOG35-55 antigens with minimal immune stimulation and whether this could be used to treat an EAE model by inducing immune tolerance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Gomi
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yuka Nakayama
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yu Sakurai
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Ryotaro Oyama
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Koki Iwasaki
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
| | - Mizuki Doi
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Yi Liu
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Mizuho Hori
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Himeka Watanabe
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Kohei Hashimoto
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Hiroki Tanaka
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-8-1, Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
| | - Kota Tange
- Life Science Research Laboratory, NOF CORPORATION, 3-3, Chidoricho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0865, Japan
| | - Yuta Nakai
- Life Science Research Laboratory, NOF CORPORATION, 3-3, Chidoricho, Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki 210-0865, Japan
| | - Hidetaka Akita
- Laboratory of DDS Design and Drug Disposition, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, 6-3, Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
218
|
Sun H, Zhang Y, Wang J, Su J, Zhou D, Yu X, Xu Y, Yang W. Application of Lung-Targeted Lipid Nanoparticle-delivered mRNA of soluble PD-L1 via SORT Technology in Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Theranostics 2023; 13:4974-4992. [PMID: 37771784 PMCID: PMC10526659 DOI: 10.7150/thno.86466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a life-threatening condition characterized by excessive immune response usually due to lung inflammation. Local immunosuppression is crucial for effective ARDS treatment. However, current methods are limited in their ability to target the lungs specifically. Methods: This study utilized lung-targeted lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) with 1,2-dioleoyl-3-trimethylammonium-propane (termed DOTAP-LNPs) to encapsulate chemically modified soluble programmed death ligand-1 (sPD-L1) mRNA and examined its physiological characteristics and therapeutic efficacy. A comparative analysis was performed between sPD-L1 mRNA delivered by DOTAP-LNPs, sPD-L1 mRNA delivered by regular LNPs (MC3-LNPs), and PD-L1-Fc recombinant protein administered systemically. Additionally, the survival rate of ARDS mice treated with different drugs was assessed. Results: Administration of sPD-L1 mRNA-LNPs to ARDS model mice significantly reduced leukocyte chemotaxis and protein accumulation in lung tissue, along with a decrease in pulmonary edema. Notably, in situ intervention using sPD-L1 mRNA-DOTAP-LNPs exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to PD-L1-Fc recombinant protein and sPD-L1 mRNA encapsulated in MC3-LNPs. Importantly, treatment with sPD-L1 mRNA-DOTAP-LNPs improved the survival rate of ARDS model mice. Conclusion: This study demonstrates the feasibility of utilizing stable and reliable mRNA to express the immunosuppressive molecule sPD-L1 specifically in the lungs. The findings provide proof of concept for localized nanoparticle delivery and offer a novel therapeutic strategy for treating acute inflammation in ARDS.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Han Sun
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Jiahui Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Juncheng Su
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Renji Hospital Affiliated, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Dejian Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
| | - Xiang Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Yingjie Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Key Laboratory of Cell Differentiation and Apoptosis of Chinese Ministry of Education, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
- Shanghai RNACure Biopharma Co., Ltd. Shanghai, 200438, China
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of Cellular Homeostasis and Human Diseases. Shanghai, 200025, China
| | - Wen Yang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory for Tumor Microenvironment and Inflammation, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200025, China
| |
Collapse
|
219
|
Forenzo C, Larsen J. Complex Coacervates as a Promising Vehicle for mRNA Delivery: A Comprehensive Review of Recent Advances and Challenges. Mol Pharm 2023; 20:4387-4403. [PMID: 37561647 DOI: 10.1021/acs.molpharmaceut.3c00439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA)-based therapies have gained significant attention, following the successful deployment of mRNA-based COVID-19 vaccines. Compared with traditional methods of genetic modification, mRNA-based therapies offer several advantages, including a lower risk of genetic mutations, temporary and controlled therapeutic gene expression, and a shorter production time, which facilitates rapid responses to emerging health challenges. Moreover, mRNA-based therapies have shown immense potential in treating a wide range of diseases including cancers, immune diseases, and neurological disorders. However, the current limitations of non-viral vectors for efficient and safe delivery of mRNA therapies, such as low encapsulation efficiency, potential toxicity, and limited stability, necessitate the exploration of novel strategies to overcome these challenges and fully realize the potential of mRNA-based therapeutics. Coacervate-based delivery systems have recently emerged as promising strategies for enhancing mRNA delivery. Coacervates, which are formed by the aggregation of two or more macromolecules, have shown great potential in delivering a wide range of therapeutics due to their ability to form a separated macromolecular-rich fluid phase in an aqueous environment. This phase separation enables the entrapment and protection of therapeutic agents from degradation as well as efficient cellular uptake and controlled release. Additionally, the natural affinity of coacervates for mRNA molecules presents an excellent opportunity for enhancing mRNA delivery to targeted cells and tissues, making coacervate-based delivery systems an attractive option for mRNA-based therapies. This review highlights the limitations of current strategies for mRNA delivery and the advantages of coacervate-based delivery systems to enable mRNA therapeutics. Coacervates protect mRNA from enzymatic degradation and enhance cellular uptake, leading to sustained and controlled gene expression. Despite their promising properties, the specific use of coacervates as mRNA delivery vehicles remains underexplored. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of coacervate-mediated delivery of mRNA, exploring the properties and applications of different coacervating agents as well as the challenges and optimization strategies involved in mRNA encapsulation, release, stability, and translation via coacervate-mediated delivery. Through a comprehensive analysis of recent advancements and recommended future directions, our review sheds light on the promising role of coacervate-mediated delivery for RNA therapeutics, highlighting its potential to enable groundbreaking applications in drug delivery and gene therapy.
Collapse
|
220
|
Zhang H, Zhang L, Lin A, Xu C, Li Z, Liu K, Liu B, Ma X, Zhao F, Jiang H, Chen C, Shen H, Li H, Mathews DH, Zhang Y, Huang L. Algorithm for optimized mRNA design improves stability and immunogenicity. Nature 2023; 621:396-403. [PMID: 37130545 PMCID: PMC10499610 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06127-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines are being used to combat the spread of COVID-19 (refs. 1-3), but they still exhibit critical limitations caused by mRNA instability and degradation, which are major obstacles for the storage, distribution and efficacy of the vaccine products4. Increasing secondary structure lengthens mRNA half-life, which, together with optimal codons, improves protein expression5. Therefore, a principled mRNA design algorithm must optimize both structural stability and codon usage. However, owing to synonymous codons, the mRNA design space is prohibitively large-for example, there are around 2.4 × 10632 candidate mRNA sequences for the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. This poses insurmountable computational challenges. Here we provide a simple and unexpected solution using the classical concept of lattice parsing in computational linguistics, where finding the optimal mRNA sequence is analogous to identifying the most likely sentence among similar-sounding alternatives6. Our algorithm LinearDesign finds an optimal mRNA design for the spike protein in just 11 minutes, and can concurrently optimize stability and codon usage. LinearDesign substantially improves mRNA half-life and protein expression, and profoundly increases antibody titre by up to 128 times in mice compared to the codon-optimization benchmark on mRNA vaccines for COVID-19 and varicella-zoster virus. This result reveals the great potential of principled mRNA design and enables the exploration of previously unreachable but highly stable and efficient designs. Our work is a timely tool for vaccines and other mRNA-based medicines encoding therapeutic proteins such as monoclonal antibodies and anti-cancer drugs7,8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- He Zhang
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
- School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Liang Zhang
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
- School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
- Vaccine Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ang Lin
- StemiRNA Therapeutics, Shanghai, China
- Vaccine Center, School of Basic Medicine and Clinical Pharmacy, China Pharmaceutical University, Nanjing, China
| | | | - Ziyu Li
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
| | - Kaibo Liu
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
- School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Boxiang Liu
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmacy, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David H Mathews
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Center for RNA Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, NY, USA.
- Coderna.ai, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
| | - Yujian Zhang
- StemiRNA Therapeutics, Shanghai, China.
- , Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
| | - Liang Huang
- Baidu Research USA, Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
- School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, USA.
- Coderna.ai, Inc., Sunnyvale, CA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
221
|
Yu MZ, Wang NN, Zhu JQ, Lin YX. The clinical progress and challenges of mRNA vaccines. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. NANOMEDICINE AND NANOBIOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 15:e1894. [PMID: 37096256 DOI: 10.1002/wnan.1894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023]
Abstract
Owing to the breakthroughs in the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, messenger RNA (mRNA)-based vaccines have emerged as promising alternatives to conventional vaccine approaches for infectious disease prevention and anticancer treatments. Advantages of mRNA vaccines include flexibility in designing and manipulating antigens of interest, scalability in rapid response to new variants, ability to induce both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses, and ease of industrialization. This review article presents the latest advances and innovations in mRNA-based vaccines and their clinical translations in the prevention and treatment of infectious diseases or cancers. We also highlight various nanoparticle delivery platforms that contribute to their success in clinical translation. Current challenges related to mRNA immunogenicity, stability, and in vivo delivery and the strategies for addressing them are also discussed. Finally, we provide our perspectives on future considerations and opportunities for applying mRNA vaccines to fight against major infectious diseases and cancers. This article is categorized under: Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Emerging Technologies Therapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Infectious Disease Biology-Inspired Nanomaterials > Lipid-Based Structures.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Meng-Zhen Yu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), Beijing, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Nan-Nan Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), Beijing, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia-Qing Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yao-Xin Lin
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology (NCNST), Beijing, People's Republic of China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (UCAS), Beijing, People's Republic of China
| |
Collapse
|
222
|
Han X, Alameh MG, Butowska K, Knox JJ, Lundgreen K, Ghattas M, Gong N, Xue L, Xu Y, Lavertu M, Bates P, Xu J, Nie G, Zhong Y, Weissman D, Mitchell MJ. Adjuvant lipidoid-substituted lipid nanoparticles augment the immunogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. NATURE NANOTECHNOLOGY 2023; 18:1105-1114. [PMID: 37365276 DOI: 10.1038/s41565-023-01404-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-formulated messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccineare a promising platform to prevent infectious diseases as demonstrated by the recent success of SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccines. To avoid immune recognition and uncontrolled inflammation, nucleoside-modified mRNA is used. However, such modification largely abrogates the innate immune responses that are critical to orchestrating robust adaptive immunity. Here we develop an LNP component-an adjuvant lipidoid-that can enhance the adjuvanticity of mRNA-LNP vaccines. Our results show that partial substitution of ionizable lipidoid with adjuvant lipidoid not only enhanced mRNA delivery, but also endowed LNPs with Toll-like receptor 7/8-agonistic activity, which significantly increased the innate immunity of the SARS-CoV-2 mRNA-LNP vaccine with good tolerability in mice. Our optimized vaccine elicits potent neutralizing antibodies against multiple SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus variants, strong Th1-biased cellular immunity, and robust B cell and long-lived plasma cell responses. Importantly, this adjuvant lipidoid substitution strategy works successfully in a clinically relevant mRNA-LNP vaccine, demonstrating its translational potential.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuexiang Han
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Mohamad-Gabriel Alameh
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Kamila Butowska
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Intercollegiate Faculty of Biotechnology, University of Gdańsk & Medical University of Gdańsk, Gdańsk, Poland
| | - James J Knox
- Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kendall Lundgreen
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Majed Ghattas
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Ningqiang Gong
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Lulu Xue
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Ying Xu
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Marc Lavertu
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Polytechnique Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Paul Bates
- Department of Microbiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Junchao Xu
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Guangjun Nie
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety, CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, People's Republic of China
| | - Drew Weissman
- Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Michael J Mitchell
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Institute for RNA Innovation, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Cancer Center, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Immunology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Cardiovascular Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
223
|
McDermott SM, Pham V, Lewis I, Tracy M, Stuart K. mt-LAF3 is a pseudouridine synthase ortholog required for mitochondrial rRNA and mRNA gene expression in Trypanosoma brucei. Int J Parasitol 2023; 53:573-583. [PMID: 37268169 PMCID: PMC10527287 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2023.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 04/05/2023] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Trypanosoma brucei and related kinetoplastid parasites possess unique RNA processing pathways, including in their mitochondria, that regulate metabolism and development. Altering RNA composition or conformation through nucleotide modifications is one such pathway, and modifications including pseudouridine regulate RNA fate and function in many organisms. We surveyed pseudouridine synthase (PUS) orthologs in trypanosomatids, with a particular interest in mitochondrial enzymes due to their potential importance for mitochondrial function and metabolism. Trypanosoma brucei mitochondrial (mt)-LAF3 is an ortholog of human and yeast mitochondrial PUS enzymes, and a mitoribosome assembly factor, but structural studies differ in their conclusion as to whether it has PUS catalytic activity. Here, we generated T. brucei cells that are conditionally null (CN) for mt-LAF3 expression and showed that mt-LAF3 loss is lethal and disrupts mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm). Addition of a mutant gamma ATP synthase allele to the CN cells permitted ΔΨm maintenance and cell survival, allowing us to assess primary effects on mitochondrial RNAs. As expected, these studies showed that loss of mt-LAF3 dramatically decreases levels of mitochondrial 12S and 9S rRNAs. Notably, we also observed decreases in mitochondrial mRNA levels, including differential effects on edited vs. pre-edited mRNAs, indicating that mt-LAF3 is required for mitochondrial rRNA and mRNA processing, including of edited transcripts. To assess the importance of PUS catalytic activity in mt-LAF3 we mutated a conserved aspartate that is necessary for catalysis in other PUS enzymes and showed it is not essential for cell growth, or maintenance of ΔΨm and mitochondrial RNA levels. Together, these results indicate that mt-LAF3 is required for normal expression of mitochondrial mRNAs in addition to rRNAs, but that PUS catalytic activity is not required for these functions. Instead, our work, combined with previous structural studies, suggests that T. brucei mt-LAF3 acts as a mitochondrial RNA-stabilizing scaffold.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suzanne M McDermott
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - Vy Pham
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Isaac Lewis
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maxwell Tracy
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Kenneth Stuart
- Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
224
|
Wei HH, Zheng L, Wang Z. mRNA therapeutics: New vaccination and beyond. FUNDAMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 3:749-759. [PMID: 38933291 PMCID: PMC10017382 DOI: 10.1016/j.fmre.2023.02.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The idea of mRNA therapy had been conceived for decades before it came into reality during the Covid-19 pandemic. The mRNA vaccine emerges as a powerful and general tool against new viral infections, largely due to its versatility and rapid development. In addition to prophylactic vaccines, mRNA technology also offers great promise for new applications as a versatile drug modality. However, realizing the conceptual potential faces considerable challenges, such as minimal immune stimulation, high and long-term expression, and efficient delivery to target cells and tissues. Here we review the applications of mRNA-based therapeutics, with emphasis on the innovative design and future challenges/solutions. In addition, we also discuss the next generation of mRNA therapy, including circular mRNA and self-amplifying RNAs. We aim to provide a conceptual overview and outlook on mRNA therapeutics beyond prophylactic vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Huan Wei
- Bio-med Big Data Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai 200032, China
| | | | - Zefeng Wang
- Bio-med Big Data Center, CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai 200032, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing 100049, China
| |
Collapse
|
225
|
|
226
|
Elamin MY, Maslamani YA, Muaddi MA, Alameer AA, Alqassim AY, Doweri AA, Zaylaee MM, Rayani HY, Darraj AY, Hejri YM, Dahlan AA, Gosadi IM. Real-world effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines: A retrospective cohort study of vaccinated individuals in Jazan, Saudi Arabia. J Infect Public Health 2023; 16:1512-1517. [PMID: 37349242 PMCID: PMC10268947 DOI: 10.1016/j.jiph.2023.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019) vaccinations are a critical control measure for the coronavirus pandemic that began in 2019. Several COVID-19 vaccines have been developed, and their effectiveness will almost certainly vary. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess how effective two doses of the Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccines were in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection six months after administration. METHODS This is a retrospective cohort study of adult individuals from the Jazan Region of Saudi Arabia who received their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine [Pfizer and Oxford-AstraZeneca (ASZ)] between April and June 2021. The monitoring and follow-up period continued until the end of January 2022. Data were retrieved from the Health Electronic Surveillance Network and National Vaccination Records. Logistic regression was performed to assess the risk of COVID-19 infection among the vaccinated subjects. RESULTS This study included randomly enrolled 4458 participants in Jazan who received two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine during the research period. The majority of them received the Pfizer vaccine (3136/4458; 70.3%), while the remaining received the ASZ vaccine (1322/4458; 29.7%). The study participants' mean age was 59.7 years, with a male-to-female ratio of 1.9:1.0 (2920:1538). The results showed that the Pfizer and ASZ vaccines' protection against infection decreased from 93.2% and 90.2%, respectively, during the first three months, to 68.5% and 68.1% after a six-month interval. In the current study population, being Saudi Arabian, younger as well as having longer intervals between vaccines or crossing a 6-month period after the second vaccine dose were factors linked to higher rates of breakthrough infections. CONCLUSION Our findings revealed variations in the efficacy of different COVID-19 vaccine types against COVID-19 breakthrough infections. The Pfizer (mRNA-based) vaccine was found to be relatively more effective than the ASZ (DNA-based) vaccine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed Y Elamin
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yahya A Maslamani
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A Muaddi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Anwar A Alameer
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmad Y Alqassim
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abrar A Doweri
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mutaz M Zaylaee
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hussain Y Rayani
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz Y Darraj
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Yehya M Hejri
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdu A Dahlan
- Public Health Administration; Jazan Health Directorate, Jazan, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ibrahim M Gosadi
- Department of Family and Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Jazan University, Jazan, Saudi Arabia.
| |
Collapse
|
227
|
Zhou Z, Li X. Research progress in mRNA drug modification and delivery systems. Zhejiang Da Xue Xue Bao Yi Xue Ban 2023; 52:439-450. [PMID: 37643978 PMCID: PMC10495253 DOI: 10.3724/zdxbyxb-2023-0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) has shown tremendous potential in disease prevention and therapy. The clinical application requires mRNA with enhanced stability and high translation efficiency, ensuring it not to be degraded by nucleases and targeting to specific tissues and cells. mRNA immunogenicity can be reduced by nucleotide modification, and translation efficiency can be enhanced by codon optimization. The 5´ capping structure and 3´ poly A increase mRNA stability, and the addition of 5' and 3' non-translational regions regulate mRNA translation initiation and protein production. Nanoparticle delivery system protects mRNA from degradation by ubiquitous nucleases, enhances mRNA concentration in circulation and assists it cytoplasmic entrance for the purpose of treatment and prevention. Here, we review the recent advances of mRNA technology, discuss the methods and principles to enhance mRNA stability and translation efficiency; summarize the requirements involved in designing mRNA delivery systems with the potential for industrial translation and biomedical application. Furthermore, we provide insights into future directions of mRNA therapeutics to meet the needs for personalized precision medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhengjie Zhou
- Department of Medicine, Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering, The University of Chicago, Chicago 60637, USA.
| | - Xin Li
- The Fourth Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Center for RNA Medicine, International Institutes of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Jinhua 322000, Zhejiang Province, China
| |
Collapse
|
228
|
Ye Z, Harmon J, Ni W, Li Y, Wich D, Xu Q. The mRNA Vaccine Revolution: COVID-19 Has Launched the Future of Vaccinology. ACS NANO 2023; 17:15231-15253. [PMID: 37535899 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c12584] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/05/2023]
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, mRNA (mRNA) vaccines emerged as leading vaccine candidates in a record time. Nonreplicating mRNA (NRM) and self-amplifying mRNA (SAM) technologies have been developed into high-performing and clinically viable vaccines against a range of infectious agents, notably SARS-CoV-2. mRNA vaccines demonstrate efficient in vivo delivery, long-lasting stability, and nonexistent risk of infection. The stability and translational efficiency of in vitro transcription (IVT)-mRNA can be further increased by modulating its structural elements. In this review, we present a comprehensive overview of the recent advances, key applications, and future challenges in the field of mRNA-based vaccinology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Zhongfeng Ye
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Joseph Harmon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Wei Ni
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute at Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, United States
| | - Yamin Li
- Department of Pharmacology, State University of New York Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York 13210, United States
| | - Douglas Wich
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| | - Qiaobing Xu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Tufts University, Medford, Massachusetts 02155, United States
| |
Collapse
|
229
|
Żak MM, Kaur K, Yoo J, Kurian AA, Adjmi M, Mainkar G, Yoon S, Zangi L. Modified mRNA Formulation and Stability for Cardiac and Skeletal Muscle Delivery. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2176. [PMID: 37765147 PMCID: PMC10535735 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15092176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Directly injecting naked or lipid nanoparticle (LNP)-encapsulated modified mRNA (modRNA) allows rapid and efficient protein expression. This non-viral technology has been used successfully in modRNA vaccines against SARS-CoV-2. The main challenges in using modRNA vaccines were the initial requirement for an ultra-cold storage to preserve their integrity and concerns regarding unwanted side effects from this new technology. Here, we showed that naked modRNA maintains its integrity when stored up to 7 days at 4 °C, and LNP-encapsulated modRNA for up to 7 days at room temperature. Naked modRNA is predominantly expressed at the site of injection when delivered into cardiac or skeletal muscle. In comparison, LNP-encapsulated modRNA granted superior protein expression but also additional protein expression beyond the cardiac or skeletal muscle injection site. To overcome this challenge, we developed a skeletal-muscle-specific modRNA translation system (skeletal muscle SMRTs) for LNP-encapsulated modRNA. This system allows controlled protein translation predominantly at the site of injection to prevent potentially detrimental leakage and expression in major organs. Our study revealed the potential of the SMRTs platform for controlled expression of mRNA payload delivered intramuscularly. To conclude, our SMRTs platform for LNP-encapsulated modRNA can provide safe, stable, efficient and targeted gene expression at the site of injection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena M Żak
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Keerat Kaur
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Jimeen Yoo
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Ann Anu Kurian
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Matthew Adjmi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Gayatri Mainkar
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Seonghun Yoon
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Lior Zangi
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Black Family Stem Cell Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| |
Collapse
|
230
|
Mbatha LS, Akinyelu J, Maiyo F, Kudanga T. Future prospects in mRNA vaccine development. Biomed Mater 2023; 18:052006. [PMID: 37589309 DOI: 10.1088/1748-605x/aceceb] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The recent advancements in messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine development have vastly enhanced their use as alternatives to conventional vaccines in the prevention of various infectious diseases and treatment of several types of cancers. This is mainly due to their remarkable ability to stimulate specific immune responses with minimal clinical side effects. This review gives a detailed overview of mRNA vaccines currently in use or at various stages of development, the recent advancements in mRNA vaccine development, and the challenges encountered in their development. Future perspectives on this technology are also discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Londiwe Simphiwe Mbatha
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Jude Akinyelu
- Department of Biochemistry, Federal University Oye-Ekiti, Ekiti state, Nigeria
| | - Fiona Maiyo
- Department of Medical Sciences, Kabarak University, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Tukayi Kudanga
- Department of Biotechnology and Food Science, Durban University of Technology, PO Box 1334, Durban 4000, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
231
|
Parry PI, Lefringhausen A, Turni C, Neil CJ, Cosford R, Hudson NJ, Gillespie J. 'Spikeopathy': COVID-19 Spike Protein Is Pathogenic, from Both Virus and Vaccine mRNA. Biomedicines 2023; 11:2287. [PMID: 37626783 PMCID: PMC10452662 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11082287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Revised: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic caused much illness, many deaths, and profound disruption to society. The production of 'safe and effective' vaccines was a key public health target. Sadly, unprecedented high rates of adverse events have overshadowed the benefits. This two-part narrative review presents evidence for the widespread harms of novel product COVID-19 mRNA and adenovectorDNA vaccines and is novel in attempting to provide a thorough overview of harms arising from the new technology in vaccines that relied on human cells producing a foreign antigen that has evidence of pathogenicity. This first paper explores peer-reviewed data counter to the 'safe and effective' narrative attached to these new technologies. Spike protein pathogenicity, termed 'spikeopathy', whether from the SARS-CoV-2 virus or produced by vaccine gene codes, akin to a 'synthetic virus', is increasingly understood in terms of molecular biology and pathophysiology. Pharmacokinetic transfection through body tissues distant from the injection site by lipid-nanoparticles or viral-vector carriers means that 'spikeopathy' can affect many organs. The inflammatory properties of the nanoparticles used to ferry mRNA; N1-methylpseudouridine employed to prolong synthetic mRNA function; the widespread biodistribution of the mRNA and DNA codes and translated spike proteins, and autoimmunity via human production of foreign proteins, contribute to harmful effects. This paper reviews autoimmune, cardiovascular, neurological, potential oncological effects, and autopsy evidence for spikeopathy. With many gene-based therapeutic technologies planned, a re-evaluation is necessary and timely.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peter I. Parry
- Children’s Health Research Clinical Unit, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, South Brisbane, QLD 4101, Australia
- Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Astrid Lefringhausen
- Children’s Health Defence (Australia Chapter), Huskisson, NSW 2540, Australia; (A.L.); (R.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Conny Turni
- Microbiology Research, QAAFI (Queensland Alliance for Agriculture and Food Innovation), The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Christopher J. Neil
- Department of Medicine, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC 3010, Australia;
| | - Robyn Cosford
- Children’s Health Defence (Australia Chapter), Huskisson, NSW 2540, Australia; (A.L.); (R.C.); (J.G.)
| | - Nicholas J. Hudson
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia;
| | - Julian Gillespie
- Children’s Health Defence (Australia Chapter), Huskisson, NSW 2540, Australia; (A.L.); (R.C.); (J.G.)
| |
Collapse
|
232
|
Giacca M. Fulfilling the Promise of RNA Therapies for Cardiac Repair and Regeneration. Stem Cells Transl Med 2023; 12:527-535. [PMID: 37440203 PMCID: PMC10427962 DOI: 10.1093/stcltm/szad038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023] Open
Abstract
The progressive appreciation that multiple types of RNAs regulate virtually all aspects of tissue function and the availability of effective tools to deliver RNAs in vivo now offers unprecedented possibilities for obtaining RNA-based therapeutics. For the heart, RNA therapies can be developed that stimulate endogenous repair after cardiac damage. Applications in this area include acute cardioprotection after ischemia or cancer chemotherapy, therapeutic angiogenesis to promote new blood vessel formation, regeneration to form new cardiac mass, and editing of mutations to cure inherited cardiac disease. While the potential of RNA therapeutics for all these conditions is exciting, the field is still in its infancy. A number of roadblocks need to be overcome for RNA therapies to become effective, in particular, related to the problem of delivering RNA medicines into the cells and targeting them specifically to the heart.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mauro Giacca
- School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences and British Heart Foundation Centre of Research Excellence, King’s College London, London, UK
- Department of Medical Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
233
|
Kiszel P, Sík P, Miklós J, Kajdácsi E, Sinkovits G, Cervenak L, Prohászka Z. Class switch towards spike protein-specific IgG4 antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination depends on prior infection history. Sci Rep 2023; 13:13166. [PMID: 37574522 PMCID: PMC10423719 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-40103-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Vaccinations against SARS-CoV-2 reduce the risk of developing serious COVID-19 disease. Monitoring spike-specific IgG subclass levels after vaccinations may provide additional information on SARS-CoV-2 specific humoral immune response. Here, we examined the presence and levels of spike-specific IgG antibody subclasses in health-care coworkers vaccinated with vector- (Sputnik, AstraZeneca) or mRNA-based (Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna) vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 and in unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. We found that vector-based vaccines elicited lower total spike-specific IgG levels than mRNA vaccines. The pattern of spike-specific IgG subclasses in individuals infected before mRNA vaccinations resembled that of vector-vaccinated subjects or unvaccinated COVID-19 patients. However, the pattern of mRNA-vaccinated individuals without SARS-CoV-2 preinfection showed a markedly different pattern. In addition to IgG1 and IgG3 subclasses presented in all groups, a switch towards distal IgG subclasses (spike-specific IgG4 and IgG2) appeared almost exclusively in individuals who received only mRNA vaccines or were infected after mRNA vaccinations. In these subjects, the magnitude of the spike-specific IgG4 response was comparable to that of the spike-specific IgG1 response. These data suggest that the priming of the immune system either by natural SARS-CoV-2 infection or by vector- or mRNA-based vaccinations has an important impact on the characteristics of the developed specific humoral immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Petra Kiszel
- Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University-Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, 1085, Hungary.
| | - Pál Sík
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - János Miklós
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Erika Kajdácsi
- Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University-Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - György Sinkovits
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - László Cervenak
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| | - Zoltán Prohászka
- Research Group for Immunology and Hematology, Semmelweis University-Eötvös Loránd Research Network (Office for Supported Research Groups), Budapest, 1085, Hungary
- Department of Internal Medicine and Hematology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, 1088, Hungary
| |
Collapse
|
234
|
Gouzouasis V, Tastsoglou S, Giannakakis A, Hatzigeorgiou AG. Virus-Derived Small RNAs and microRNAs in Health and Disease. Annu Rev Biomed Data Sci 2023; 6:275-298. [PMID: 37159873 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-biodatasci-122220-111429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short noncoding RNAs that can regulate all steps of gene expression (induction, transcription, and translation). Several virus families, primarily double-stranded DNA viruses, encode small RNAs (sRNAs), including miRNAs. These virus-derived miRNAs (v-miRNAs) help the virus evade the host's innate and adaptive immune system and maintain an environment of chronic latent infection. In this review, the functions of the sRNA-mediated virus-host interactions are highlighted, delineating their implication in chronic stress, inflammation, immunopathology, and disease. We provide insights into the latest viral RNA-based research-in silico approaches for functional characterization of v-miRNAs and other RNA types. The latest research can assist toward the identification of therapeutic targets to combat viral infections.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vasileios Gouzouasis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, Department of Immunology, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece;
- DIANA-Lab, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Spyros Tastsoglou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece;
- DIANA-Lab, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| | - Antonis Giannakakis
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece
- University Research Institute of Maternal and Child Health and Precision Medicine, UNESCO Chair on Adolescent Health Care, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Artemis G Hatzigeorgiou
- DIANA-Lab, Department of Computer Science and Biomedical Informatics, University of Thessaly, Lamia, Greece;
- DIANA-Lab, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
235
|
Qabrati X, Kim I, Ghosh A, Bundschuh N, Noé F, Palmer AS, Bar-Nur O. Transgene-free direct conversion of murine fibroblasts into functional muscle stem cells. NPJ Regen Med 2023; 8:43. [PMID: 37553383 PMCID: PMC10409758 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-023-00317-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor-based cellular reprogramming provides an attractive approach to produce desired cell types for regenerative medicine purposes. Such cellular conversions are widely dependent on viral vectors to efficiently deliver and express defined factors in target cells. However, use of viral vectors is associated with unfavorable genomic integrations that can trigger deleterious molecular consequences, rendering this method a potential impediment to clinical applications. Here, we report on a highly efficient transgene-free approach to directly convert mouse fibroblasts into induced myogenic progenitor cells (iMPCs) by overexpression of synthetic MyoD-mRNA in concert with an enhanced small molecule cocktail. First, we performed a candidate compound screen and identified two molecules that enhance fibroblast reprogramming into iMPCs by suppression of the JNK and JAK/STAT pathways. Simultaneously, we developed an optimal transfection protocol to transiently overexpress synthetic MyoD-mRNA in fibroblasts. Combining these two techniques enabled robust and rapid reprogramming of fibroblasts into Pax7 positive iMPCs in as little as 10 days. Nascent transgene-free iMPCs proliferated extensively in vitro, expressed a suite of myogenic stem cell markers, and could differentiate into highly multinucleated and contractile myotubes. Furthermore, using global and single-cell transcriptome assays, we delineated gene expression changes associated with JNK and JAK/STAT pathway inhibition during reprogramming, and identified in iMPCs a Pax7+ stem cell subpopulation resembling satellite cells. Last, transgene-free iMPCs robustly engrafted skeletal muscles of a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model, restoring dystrophin expression in hundreds of myofibers. In summary, this study reports on an improved and clinically safer approach to convert fibroblasts into myogenic stem cells that can efficiently contribute to muscle regeneration in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xhem Qabrati
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Inseon Kim
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Adhideb Ghosh
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Nicola Bundschuh
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
| | - Falko Noé
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Functional Genomics Center Zurich, ETH Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andrew S Palmer
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland
- Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - Ori Bar-Nur
- Laboratory of Regenerative and Movement Biology, Department of Health Sciences and Technology, ETH Zurich, Schwerzenbach, Switzerland.
| |
Collapse
|
236
|
Azarias Da Silva M, Nioche P, Soudaramourty C, Bull-Maurer A, Tiouajni M, Kong D, Zghidi-Abouzid O, Picard M, Mendes-Frias A, Santa-Cruz A, Carvalho A, Capela C, Pedrosa J, Castro AG, Loubet P, Sotto A, Muller L, Lefrant JY, Roger C, Claret PG, Duvnjak S, Tran TA, Tokunaga K, Silvestre R, Corbeau P, Mammano F, Estaquier J. Repetitive mRNA vaccination is required to improve the quality of broad-spectrum anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in the absence of CXCL13. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg2122. [PMID: 37540749 PMCID: PMC10403221 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg2122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
Since the initial spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, several viral variants have emerged and represent a major challenge for immune control, particularly in the context of vaccination. We evaluated the quantity, quality, and persistence of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA in individuals who received two or three doses of messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccines, compared with previously infected vaccinated individuals. We show that three doses of mRNA vaccine were required to match the humoral responses of preinfected vaccinees. Given the importance of antibody-dependent cell-mediated immunity against viral infections, we also measured the capacity of IgG to recognize spike variants expressed on the cell surface and found that cross-reactivity was also strongly improved by repeated vaccination. Last, we report low levels of CXCL13, a surrogate marker of germinal center activation and formation, in vaccinees both after two and three doses compared with preinfected individuals, providing a potential explanation for the short duration and low quality of Ig induced.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Pierre Nioche
- INSERM-U1124, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Structural and Molecular Analysis Platform, BioMedTech Facilities INSERM US36-CNRS UMS2009, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | | | | | - Mounira Tiouajni
- INSERM-U1124, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Structural and Molecular Analysis Platform, BioMedTech Facilities INSERM US36-CNRS UMS2009, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
| | - Dechuan Kong
- Joint Research Center for Human Retrovirus Infection, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | | | | | - Ana Mendes-Frias
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - André Santa-Cruz
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Carvalho
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Carlos Capela
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
- Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital of Braga, Braga, Portugal
| | - Jorge Pedrosa
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - António Gil Castro
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Paul Loubet
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Albert Sotto
- Service des Maladies Infectieuses et Tropicales, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Laurent Muller
- Service de Réanimation Chirugicale, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | | | - Claire Roger
- Service de Réanimation Chirugicale, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | | | - Sandra Duvnjak
- Service de Gérontologie et Prévention du Vieillissement, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Tu-Anh Tran
- Service de Pédiatrie, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Kenzo Tokunaga
- Department of Pathology, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ricardo Silvestre
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal
- ICVS/3B’s-PT Government Associate Laboratory, Braga/Guimarães, Portugal
| | - Pierre Corbeau
- Institut de Génétique Humaine, UMR9002 CNRS-Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
- Laboratoire d’Immunologie, CHU de Nîmes, Nîmes, France
| | - Fabrizio Mammano
- INSERM-U1124, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- Université de Tours, INSERM, UMR1259 MAVIVH, Tours, France
| | - Jérôme Estaquier
- INSERM-U1124, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
- CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec City, Québec, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
237
|
Yihunie W, Nibret G, Aschale Y. Recent Advances in Messenger Ribonucleic Acid (mRNA) Vaccines and Their Delivery Systems: A Review. Clin Pharmacol 2023; 15:77-98. [PMID: 37554660 PMCID: PMC10405914 DOI: 10.2147/cpaa.s418314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) was found as the intermediary that transfers genetic information from DNA to ribosomes for protein synthesis in 1961. The emergency use authorization of the two covid-19 mRNA vaccines, BNT162b2 and mRNA-1273, is a significant achievement in the history of vaccine development. Because they are generated in a cell-free environment using the in vitro transcription (IVT) process, mRNA vaccines are risk-free. Moreover, chemical modifications to the mRNA molecule, such as cap structures and changed nucleosides, have proved critical in overcoming immunogenicity concerns, achieving sustained stability, and achieving effective, accurate protein production in vivo. Several vaccine delivery strategies (including protamine, lipid nanoparticles (LNPs), polymers, nanoemulsions, and cell-based administration) were also optimized to load and transport RNA into the cytosol. LNPs, which are composed of a cationic or a pH-dependent ionizable lipid layer, a polyethylene glycol (PEG) component, phospholipids, and cholesterol, are the most advanced systems for delivering mRNA vaccines. Moreover, modifications of the four components that make up the LNPs showed to increase vaccine effectiveness and reduce side effects. Furthermore, the introduction of biodegradable lipids improved LNP biocompatibility. Furthermore, mRNA-based therapies are expected to be effective treatments for a variety of refractory conditions, including infectious diseases, metabolic genetic diseases, cancer, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Therefore, the present review aims to provide the scientific community with up-to-date information on mRNA vaccines and their delivery systems.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wubetu Yihunie
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Getinet Nibret
- Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| | - Yibeltal Aschale
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Debre Markos University, Debre Markos, Ethiopia
| |
Collapse
|
238
|
Tredinnick T, Kent T, Minakhin L, Li Z, Madzo J, Chen XS, Pomerantz RT. Promoter-independent synthesis of chemically modified RNA by human DNA polymerase θ variants. RNA (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2023; 29:1288-1300. [PMID: 37105714 PMCID: PMC10351887 DOI: 10.1261/rna.079396.122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 04/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic RNA oligonucleotides composed of canonical and modified ribonucleotides are highly effective for RNA antisense therapeutics and RNA-based genome engineering applications utilizing CRISPR-Cas9. Yet, synthesis of synthetic RNA using phosphoramidite chemistry is highly inefficient and expensive relative to DNA oligonucleotides, especially for relatively long RNA oligonucleotides. Thus, new biotechnologies are needed to significantly reduce costs, while increasing synthesis rates and yields of synthetic RNA. Here, we engineer human DNA polymerase theta (Polθ) variants and demonstrate their ability to synthesize long (95-200 nt) RNA oligonucleotides with canonical ribonucleotides and ribonucleotide analogs commonly used for stabilizing RNA for therapeutic and genome engineering applications. In contrast to natural promoter-dependent RNA polymerases, Polθ variants synthesize RNA by initiating from DNA or RNA primers, which enables the production of RNA without short abortive byproducts. Remarkably, Polθ variants show the lower capacity to misincorporate ribonucleotides compared to T7 RNA polymerase. Automation of this enzymatic RNA synthesis technology can potentially increase yields while reducing costs of synthetic RNA oligonucleotide production.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor Tredinnick
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
| | - Tatiana Kent
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
| | - Leonid Minakhin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
| | - Ziyuan Li
- Molecular and Computational Biology, USC Dornsife Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA
| | - Jozef Madzo
- Coriell Institute for Medical Research, Camden, New Jersey 08103, USA
| | - Xiaojiang S Chen
- Molecular and Computational Biology, USC Dornsife Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA
| | - Richard T Pomerantz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19107, USA
| |
Collapse
|
239
|
Kang DD, Li H, Dong Y. Advancements of in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT mRNA) to enable translation into the clinics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114961. [PMID: 37321375 PMCID: PMC10264168 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2023] [Revised: 06/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The accelerated progress and approval of two mRNA-based vaccines to address the SARS-CoV-2 virus were unprecedented. This record-setting feat was made possible through the solid foundation of research on in vitro transcribed mRNA (IVT mRNA) which could be utilized as a therapeutic modality. Through decades of thorough research to overcome barriers to implementation, mRNA-based vaccines or therapeutics offer many advantages to rapidly address a broad range of applications including infectious diseases, cancers, and gene editing. Here, we describe the advances that have supported the adoption of IVT mRNA in the clinics, including optimization of the IVT mRNA structural components, synthesis, and lastly concluding with different classes of IVT RNA. Continuing interest in driving IVT mRNA technology will enable a safer and more efficacious therapeutic modality to address emerging and existing diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Diana D Kang
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Genomics Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Haoyuan Li
- Genomics Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | - Yizhou Dong
- Division of Pharmaceutics & Pharmacology, College of Pharmacy, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Center for Clinical and Translational Science, The Comprehensive Cancer Center; Dorothy M. Davis Heart & Lung Research Institute, Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, United States; Genomics Institute, Precision Immunology Institute, Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Friedman Brain Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
240
|
Alexander S, Moghadam MG, Rothenbroker M, Y T Chou L. Addressing the in vivo delivery of nucleic-acid nanostructure therapeutics. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114898. [PMID: 37230305 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Revised: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
DNA and RNA nanostructures are being investigated as therapeutics, vaccines, and drug delivery systems. These nanostructures can be functionalized with guests ranging from small molecules to proteins with precise spatial and stoichiometric control. This has enabled new strategies to manipulate drug activity and to engineer devices with novel therapeutic functionalities. Although existing studies have offered encouraging in vitro or pre-clinical proof-of-concepts, establishing mechanisms of in vivo delivery is the new frontier for nucleic-acid nanotechnologies. In this review, we first provide a summary of existing literature on the in vivo uses of DNA and RNA nanostructures. Based on their application areas, we discuss current models of nanoparticle delivery, and thereby highlight knowledge gaps on the in vivo interactions of nucleic-acid nanostructures. Finally, we describe techniques and strategies for investigating and engineering these interactions. Together, we propose a framework to establish in vivo design principles and advance the in vivo translation of nucleic-acid nanotechnologies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shana Alexander
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | | | - Meghan Rothenbroker
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Leo Y T Chou
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
241
|
Han G, Noh D, Lee H, Lee S, Kim S, Yoon HY, Lee SH. Advances in mRNA therapeutics for cancer immunotherapy: From modification to delivery. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114973. [PMID: 37369262 PMCID: PMC10290897 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/13/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
RNA vaccines have demonstrated their ability to solve the issues posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. This success has led to the renaissance of research into mRNA and their nanoformulations as potential therapeutic modalities for various diseases. The potential of mRNA as a template for synthesizing proteins and protein fragments for cancer immunotherapy is now being explored. Despite the promise, the use of mRNA in cancer immunotherapy is limited by challenges, such as low stability against extracellular RNases, poor delivery efficiency to the target organs and cells, short circulatory half-life, variable expression levels and duration. This review highlights recent advances in chemical modification and advanced delivery systems that are helping to address these challenges and unlock the biological and pharmacological potential of mRNA therapeutics in cancer immunotherapy. The review concludes by discussing future perspectives for mRNA-based cancer immunotherapy, which holds great promise as a next-generation therapeutic modality.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Geonhee Han
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Dahye Noh
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science &Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Hwarang-ro14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 02792; Chemical and Biological Integrative Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea
| | - Hokyung Lee
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Sehoon Kim
- KU-KIST Graduate School of Converging Science and Technology, Korea University, 145 Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea; Department of Fundamental Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Kyung Hee University, 1 Hoegi-dong, Dongdaemun-gu, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea
| | - Hong Yeol Yoon
- Medicinal Materials Research Center, Biomedical Research Institute, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Hwarangno 14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul 02792, Republic of Korea; Division of Bio-Medical Science &Technology, KIST School, University of Science and Technology, Hwarang-ro14-gil 5, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, Republic of Korea 02792.
| | - Soo Hyeon Lee
- Molecular Surgery Laboratory, Byers Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
242
|
Kawamoto Y, Wu Y, Takahashi Y, Takakura Y. Development of nucleic acid medicines based on chemical technology. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114872. [PMID: 37244354 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114872] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Oligonucleotide-based therapeutics have attracted attention as an emerging modality that includes the modulation of genes and their binding proteins related to diseases, allowing us to take action on previously undruggable targets. Since the late 2010s, the number of oligonucleotide medicines approved for clinical uses has dramatically increased. Various chemistry-based technologies have been developed to improve the therapeutic properties of oligonucleotides, such as chemical modification, conjugation, and nanoparticle formation, which can increase nuclease resistance, enhance affinity and selectivity to target sites, suppress off-target effects, and improve pharmacokinetic properties. Similar strategies employing modified nucleobases and lipid nanoparticles have been used for developing coronavirus disease 2019 mRNA vaccines. In this review, we provide an overview of the development of chemistry-based technologies aimed at using nucleic acids for developing therapeutics over the past several decades, with a specific emphasis on the structural design and functionality of chemical modification strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Kawamoto
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| | - You Wu
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yuki Takahashi
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takakura
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Drug Metabolism, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyoto University, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
243
|
Kong B, Kim Y, Kim EH, Suk JS, Yang Y. mRNA: A promising platform for cancer immunotherapy. Adv Drug Deliv Rev 2023; 199:114993. [PMID: 37414361 DOI: 10.1016/j.addr.2023.114993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) is now in the limelight as a powerful tool for treating various human diseases, especially malignant tumors, thanks to the remarkable clinical outcomes of mRNA vaccines using lipid nanoparticle technology during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recent promising preclinical and clinical results that epitomize the advancement in mRNA and nanoformulation-based delivery technologies have highlighted the tremendous potential of mRNA in cancer immunotherapy. mRNAs can be harnessed for cancer immunotherapy in forms of various therapeutic modalities, including cancer vaccines, adoptive T-cell therapies, therapeutic antibodies, and immunomodulatory proteins. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state and prospects of mRNA-based therapeutics, including numerous delivery and therapeutic strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Byoungjae Kong
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA
| | - Yelee Kim
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Eun Hye Kim
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Soo Suk
- Center for Nanomedicine, Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21231, USA; Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21218, USA.
| | - Yoosoo Yang
- Biomedical Research Division, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul, Republic of Korea.
| |
Collapse
|
244
|
Solodushko V, Fouty B. Terminal hairpins improve protein expression in IRES-initiated mRNA in the absence of a cap and polyadenylated tail. Gene Ther 2023; 30:620-627. [PMID: 36828937 PMCID: PMC9951143 DOI: 10.1038/s41434-023-00391-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Synthesizing mRNA in vitro is a standard and simple procedure. Adding the 5' cap and 3' polyadenylated (poly(A)) tail to make this mRNA functional for use as a vaccine or therapy increases the time and cost of production and usually decreases the yield, however. We designed mRNA that lacked a cap and poly(A) tail but included an internal ribosomal entry site (IRES) to initiate protein translation. To protect the 5' and 3' ends of mRNA from exonucleases, we added stable terminal hairpins. When compared against typical mRNA (i.e., mRNA that contained a cap and poly(A) tail but lacked hairpins), expression of the delivered reporter protein in HEK293 cells was similar. Using a triple instead of a single hairpin at each end increased protein expression even more. This method has the potential to simplify the production and reduce the cost of synthesizing exogenous mRNA for use as biologics or vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Victor Solodushko
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
- The Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
| | - Brian Fouty
- Department of Pharmacology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
- The Center for Lung Biology, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
- The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of South Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
245
|
Wilhelmy C, Keil IS, Uebbing L, Schroer MA, Franke D, Nawroth T, Barz M, Sahin U, Haas H, Diken M, Langguth P. Polysarcosine-Functionalized mRNA Lipid Nanoparticles Tailored for Immunotherapy. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:2068. [PMID: 37631282 PMCID: PMC10458461 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15082068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2023] [Revised: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) have gained great attention as carriers for mRNA-based therapeutics, finding applications in various indications, extending beyond their recent use in vaccines for infectious diseases. However, many aspects of LNP structure and their effects on efficacy are not well characterized. To further exploit the potential of mRNA therapeutics, better control of the relationship between LNP formulation composition with internal structure and transfection efficiency in vitro is necessary. We compared two well-established ionizable lipids, namely DODMA and MC3, in combination with two helper lipids, DOPE and DOPC, and two polymer-grafted lipids, either with polysarcosine (pSar) or polyethylene glycol (PEG). In addition to standard physicochemical characterization (size, zeta potential, RNA accessibility), small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) was used to analyze the structure of the LNPs. To assess biological activity, we performed transfection and cell-binding assays in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (hPBMCs) using Thy1.1 reporter mRNA and Cy5-labeled mRNA, respectively. With the SAXS measurements, we were able to clearly reveal the effects of substituting the ionizable and helper lipid on the internal structure of the LNPs. In contrast, pSar as stealth moieties affected the LNPs in a different manner, by changing the surface morphology towards higher roughness. pSar LNPs were generally more active, where the highest transfection efficiency was achieved with the LNP formulation composition of MC3/DOPE/pSar. Our study highlights the utility of pSar for improved mRNA LNP products and the importance of pSar as a novel stealth moiety enhancing efficiency in future LNP formulation development. SAXS can provide valuable information for the rational development of such novel formulations by elucidating structural features in different LNP compositions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christoph Wilhelmy
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Isabell Sofia Keil
- TRON—Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Lukas Uebbing
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Martin A. Schroer
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- Nanoparticle Process Technology (NPPT), Faculty of Engineering, University of Duisburg-Essen, 47057 Duisburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Franke
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) Hamburg Outstation, c/o DESY, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
- BIOSAXS GmbH, 22607 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Thomas Nawroth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| | - Matthias Barz
- LACDR—Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, 2333 Leiden, The Netherlands
- Department of Dermatology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Ugur Sahin
- Department of Immunology, University Medical Center, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Heinrich Haas
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
- BioNTech SE, 55131 Mainz, Germany
| | - Mustafa Diken
- TRON—Translational Oncology at the University Medical Center of Johannes Gutenberg University gGmbH, 55131 Mainz, Germany;
| | - Peter Langguth
- Department of Biopharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, 55128 Mainz, Germany; (C.W.)
| |
Collapse
|
246
|
Ferrari S, Naldini L. A step toward stem cell engineering in vivo. Science 2023; 381:378-379. [PMID: 37499013 DOI: 10.1126/science.adj0997] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
mRNA-based delivery may change the paradigm of hematopoietic stem cell gene therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Samuele Ferrari
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
| | - Luigi Naldini
- San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) San Raffaele, Milan, Italy
- Vita-Salute San Raffaele University, Milan, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
247
|
Pederiva C, Trevisan DM, Peirasmaki D, Chen S, Savage SA, Larsson O, Ule J, Baranello L, Agostini F, Farnebo M. Control of protein synthesis through mRNA pseudouridylation by dyskerin. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg1805. [PMID: 37506213 PMCID: PMC10381945 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg1805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023]
Abstract
Posttranscriptional modifications of mRNA have emerged as regulators of gene expression. Although pseudouridylation is the most abundant, its biological role remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the pseudouridine synthase dyskerin associates with RNA polymerase II, binds to thousands of mRNAs, and is responsible for their pseudouridylation, an action that occurs in chromatin and does not appear to require a guide RNA with full complementarity. In cells lacking dyskerin, mRNA pseudouridylation is reduced, while at the same time, de novo protein synthesis is enhanced, indicating that this modification interferes with translation. Accordingly, mRNAs with fewer pseudouridines due to knockdown of dyskerin are translated more efficiently. Moreover, mRNA pseudouridylation is severely reduced in patients with dyskeratosis congenita caused by inherited mutations in the gene encoding dyskerin (i.e., DKC1). Our findings demonstrate that pseudouridylation by dyskerin modulates mRNA translatability, with important implications for both normal development and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Pederiva
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
| | - Davide M. Trevisan
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
| | - Dimitra Peirasmaki
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
| | - Shan Chen
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Sharon A. Savage
- Clinical Genetics Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology & Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD 20852, USA
| | - Ola Larsson
- Department of Oncology and Pathology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
- Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
| | - Jernej Ule
- The Francis Crick Institute, London NW1 1AT, UK
- UK Dementia Research Institute, King’s College London, London W1T 7NF, UK
- National Institute of Chemistry, 1001 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Laura Baranello
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
| | - Federico Agostini
- Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm 17165, Sweden
- Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
| | - Marianne Farnebo
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna 17165, Sweden
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge 14152, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
248
|
Al Fayez N, Nassar MS, Alshehri AA, Alnefaie MK, Almughem FA, Alshehri BY, Alawad AO, Tawfik EA. Recent Advancement in mRNA Vaccine Development and Applications. Pharmaceutics 2023; 15:1972. [PMID: 37514158 PMCID: PMC10384963 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics15071972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2023] [Revised: 07/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Messenger RNA (mRNA) vaccine development for preventive and therapeutic applications has evolved rapidly over the last decade. The mRVNA vaccine has proven therapeutic efficacy in various applications, including infectious disease, immunotherapy, genetic disorders, regenerative medicine, and cancer. Many mRNA vaccines have made it to clinical trials, and a couple have obtained FDA approval. This emerging therapeutic approach has several advantages over conventional methods: safety; efficacy; adaptability; bulk production; and cost-effectiveness. However, it is worth mentioning that the delivery to the target site and in vivo degradation and thermal stability are boundaries that can alter their efficacy and outcomes. In this review, we shed light on different types of mRNA vaccines, their mode of action, and the process to optimize their development and overcome their limitations. We also have explored various delivery systems focusing on the nanoparticle-mediated delivery of the mRNA vaccine. Generally, the delivery system plays a vital role in enhancing mRNA vaccine stability, biocompatibility, and homing to the desired cells and tissues. In addition to their function as a delivery vehicle, they serve as a compartment that shields and protects the mRNA molecules against physical, chemical, and biological activities that can alter their efficiency. Finally, we focused on the future considerations that should be attained for safer and more efficient mRNA application underlining the advantages and disadvantages of the current mRNA vaccines.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nojoud Al Fayez
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed S Nassar
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah A Alshehri
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Meshal K Alnefaie
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Fahad A Almughem
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bayan Y Alshehri
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdullah O Alawad
- Healthy Aging Research Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| | - Essam A Tawfik
- Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics Institute, Health Sector, King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), Riyadh 11442, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
249
|
Machado RRG, Walker JL, Scharton D, Rafael GH, Mitchell BM, Reyna RA, de Souza WM, Liu J, Walker DH, Plante JA, Plante KS, Weaver SC. Immunogenicity and efficacy of vaccine boosters against SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 in male Syrian hamsters. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4260. [PMID: 37460536 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40033-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant BA.5 rapidly spread worldwide and replaced BA.1/BA.2 in many countries, becoming globally dominant. BA.5 has unique amino acid substitutions in the spike protein that both mediate immune escape from neutralizing antibodies produced by immunizations and increase ACE2 receptor binding affinity. In a comprehensive, long-term (up to 9 months post primary vaccination), experimental vaccination study using male Syrian hamsters, we evaluate neutralizing antibody responses and efficacy against BA.5 challenge after primary vaccination with Ad26.COV2.S (Janssen) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) followed by a homologous or heterologous booster with mRNA-1273 (Moderna) or NVX-CoV2373 (Novavax). Notably, one high or low dose of Ad26.COV2.S provides more durable immunity than two primary doses of BNT162b2, and the NVX-CoV2373 booster provides the strongest augmentation of immunity, reduction in BA.5 viral replication, and disease. Our data demonstrate the immunogenicity and efficacy of different prime/boost vaccine regimens against BA.5 infection in an immune-competent model and provide new insights regarding COVID-19 vaccine strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael R G Machado
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, 05508000, Brazil
| | - Jordyn L Walker
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Dionna Scharton
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Grace H Rafael
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Brooke M Mitchell
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Rachel A Reyna
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - William M de Souza
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jianying Liu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - David H Walker
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jessica A Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Kenneth S Plante
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
| | - Scott C Weaver
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- World Reference Center for Emerging Viruses and Arboviruses, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
250
|
Wickramage I, VanWye J, Max K, Lockhart JH, Hortu I, Mong EF, Canfield J, Lamabadu Warnakulasuriya Patabendige HM, Guzeloglu-Kayisli O, Inoue K, Ogura A, Lockwood CJ, Akat KM, Tuschl T, Kayisli UA, Totary-Jain H. SINE RNA of the imprinted miRNA clusters mediates constitutive type III interferon expression and antiviral protection in hemochorial placentas. Cell Host Microbe 2023; 31:1185-1199.e10. [PMID: 37315561 PMCID: PMC10524649 DOI: 10.1016/j.chom.2023.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 05/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Hemochorial placentas have evolved defense mechanisms to prevent the vertical transmission of viruses to the immunologically underdeveloped fetus. Unlike somatic cells that require pathogen-associated molecular patterns to stimulate interferon production, placental trophoblasts constitutively produce type III interferons (IFNL) through an unknown mechanism. We demonstrate that transcripts of short interspersed nuclear elements (SINEs) embedded in miRNA clusters within the placenta trigger a viral mimicry response that induces IFNL and confers antiviral protection. Alu SINEs within primate-specific chromosome 19 (C19MC) and B1 SINEs within rodent-specific microRNA cluster on chromosome 2 (C2MC) produce dsRNAs that activate RIG-I-like receptors (RLRs) and downstream IFNL production. Homozygous C2MC knockout mouse trophoblast stem (mTS) cells and placentas lose intrinsic IFN expression and antiviral protection, whereas B1 RNA overexpression restores C2MCΔ/Δ mTS cell viral resistance. Our results uncover a convergently evolved mechanism whereby SINE RNAs drive antiviral resistance in hemochorial placentas, placing SINEs as integral players in innate immunity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ishani Wickramage
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Jeffrey VanWye
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Klaas Max
- Laboratory for RNA Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - John H Lockhart
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Ismet Hortu
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - Ezinne F Mong
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - John Canfield
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | | | - Ozlem Guzeloglu-Kayisli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Kimiko Inoue
- Bioresource Engineering Division, BioResource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba 305-0074, Ibaraki, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Atsuo Ogura
- Bioresource Engineering Division, BioResource Research Center, RIKEN, Tsukuba 305-0074, Ibaraki, Japan; Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8572, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - Charles J Lockwood
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Kemal M Akat
- Laboratory for RNA Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA; Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Thomas Tuschl
- Laboratory for RNA Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Umit A Kayisli
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA
| | - Hana Totary-Jain
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology & Physiology, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33612, USA; USF Heart Institute, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33602, USA.
| |
Collapse
|