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Hochmann S, Mittermeir M, Santic R, Koszik F, Griessner L, Sonderegger AS, Hoffmann T, Russe E, Scheiblhofer S, Weiss R, Mandler M, Schneeberger A, Strunk D. Evaluation of modified Interferon alpha mRNA constructs for the treatment of non-melanoma skin cancer. Sci Rep 2018; 8:12954. [PMID: 30154486 PMCID: PMC6113332 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-31061-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Application of in vitro transcribed (IVT) messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is an increasingly popular strategy to transiently produce proteins as therapeutics in a tissue or organ of choice. Here, we focused on the skin and aimed to test if whole human skin tissue explant technology can be used to evaluate the expression efficacy of different IVT Interferon alpha (IFN-α) mRNA constructs in situ, after biolistic delivery. Skin explants were viable and intact for at least five days based on histologic analysis and TUNEL staining. Using GFP reporter mRNA formulations, we found mostly epidermal expression after biolistic delivery. Two out of five sequence-optimized IFN-α mRNA variants resulted in significantly improved IFN-α protein expression in human skin compared to native IFN-α mRNA transfection. IFN-α secretion analysis of the surrounding culture media confirmed these results. We provide a proof-of-concept that IFN-α mRNA delivery into intact human full thickness skin explants can be utilized to test mRNA sequence modifications ex vivo. This approach could be used to develop novel mRNA-based treatments of common epidermal skin conditions including non-melanoma skin cancer, where IFN-α protein therapy has previously shown a strong therapeutic effect.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hochmann
- Cell Therapy Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (Sci-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Michaela Mittermeir
- Cell Therapy Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (Sci-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Radmila Santic
- Accanis Biotech F&E GmbH & Co KG, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | - Frieder Koszik
- Accanis Biotech F&E GmbH & Co KG, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | | | - Alina Sarah Sonderegger
- Cell Therapy Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (Sci-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Elisabeth Russe
- Department of Plastic, Aesthetic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital Barmherzige Brueder, Salzburg, Austria
| | | | - Richard Weiss
- Department of Molecular Biology, Paris Lodron University, Salzburg, Austria
| | - Markus Mandler
- Accanis Biotech F&E GmbH & Co KG, Vienna Biocenter, Austria
| | | | - Dirk Strunk
- Cell Therapy Institute, Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria. .,Spinal Cord Injury and Tissue Regeneration Center Salzburg (Sci-TReCS), Paracelsus Medical University, Salzburg, Austria.
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