Complexes of rna and cationic peptides for transfection and for immunostimulation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a complexed RNA, comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide, which has the function of cell-penetrating peptide (CPP), has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and has the empirical formula (Arg) l ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Om) o ;(Xaa) x with the majority of residues being selected from Arg, Lys, His, Om. The invention further relates to a method for transfecting a cell or an organism, thereby applying the inventive complexed RNA. Additionally, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising the inventive complexed RNA, as well as the use of the inventive complexed RNA for transfecting a cell, tissue or an organism and/or for modulating, preferably inducing or enhancing, an immune response are disclosed herein.

1 . An isolated mRNA comprising a polypeptide coding sequence at least 80% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45, wherein the sequence encodes the human PAP polypeptide. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide coding sequence is at least 85% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 2 , wherein the polypeptide coding sequence is at least 90% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 3 , wherein the polypeptide coding sequence is at least 95% identical to the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 4 , wherein the polypeptide coding sequence comprises the sequence of SEQ ID NO: 45. 
     
     
         6 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA is complexed with lipid. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA is complexed with as least one polycationic agent. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 7 , wherein the polycationic agent is chosen from the group consisting of a polycationic lipid, protamine, poly-L-lysine, poly-L-arginine and histones. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 8 , wherein the mRNA is complexed with protamine. 
     
     
         10 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA comprises a 5′ cap structure. 
     
     
         11 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA additionally comprises a poly-A tail of 10 to 200 adenosine nucleotides. 
     
     
         12 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA additionally comprises a poly-C tail of 10 to 200 cytosine nucleotides. 
     
     
         13 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA further comprises a 5′ and/or a 3′ untranslated region (UTR.). 
     
     
         14 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA is modified by introduction of a non-native nucleotide compared with a native mRNA sequence and/or by covalent coupling of the mRNA with a further chemical moiety. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA comprises a chemical modification relative to a naturally occurring mRNA. 
     
     
         16 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 15 , wherein the mRNA comprises at least one nucleotide that is substituted with a nucleotide analog selected from the group consisting of: 2′-deoxy-2′-fluoro-oligoribonucleotide (2′-fluoro-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphate, 2′-fluoro-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate), 2′-deoxy-2′-deamine oligoribonucleotide (2′-amino-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphate, 2′-amino-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate), 2′-O-alkyl oligoribonucleotide; 2′-deoxy-2′-C-alkyl oligoribonucleotide (2′-O-methylcytidine-5′-triphosphate, 2′-methyluridine-5′-triphosphate), 2′-C-alkyl oligoribonucleotide, and isomers thereof (2′-aracytidine-5′-triphosphate, 2′-arauridine-5′-triphosphate), or azidotriphosphate (2′-azido-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-triphosphate; 2′-azido-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-triphosphate)4-thio-uridine-5′-(mono)phosphate; 2-Aminopurine-riboside-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Aminoallylcytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Aminoallyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Bromocytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Bromo-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Bromouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Bromo-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Iodocytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Iodo-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Iodouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Iodo-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Propynyl-2′-deoxycytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-Propynyl-2′-deoxyuridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-formylcytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5,2′-O-dimethylcytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-hydroxymethylcytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-formyl-2′-O-methylcytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5,2′-O-dimethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-hydroxyuridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methoxyuridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, uridine 5-oxyacetic acid-5′-(mono)phosphate, uridine 5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl)uridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl)uridine methyl ester-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2′-O-methyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-aminomethyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methylaminomethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methylaminomethyl-2-selenouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carbamoylmethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carbamoylmethyl-2′-O-methyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl -2′-O-methyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-carboxymethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-methyldihydrouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-taurinomethyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-(isopentenylaminomethyl)uridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-(isopentenylaminomethyl)-2-thiouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 5-(isopentenylaminomethyl)-2′-O-methyluridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 6-Azacytidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 7-Deazaadenosine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 7-Deazaguanosine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 8-Azaadenosine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 8-Azidoadenosine-5′-(mono)phosphate, Pseudouridine-5′-(mono)phosphate, 2′-Amino-2′-deoxycytidine-(mono)phosphate, 2′-Fluorothymidine-5′-(mono)phosphate, inosine-5′-(mono)phosphate, and 2′-O-Methyl-inosine-5′-(mono)phosphate. 
     
     
         17 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 16 , wherein the mRNA comprises at least one nucleotide that is substituted with a nucleotide analog selected from the group consisting of: 2-amino-6-chloropurineriboside-5′-triphosphate, 2-aminoadenosine-5′-triphosphate, 2-thiocytidine-5′-triphosphate, 2-thiouridine-5′-triphosphate, 4-thiouridine-5′-triphosphate, 5-aminoallylcytidine-5′-triphosphate, 5-aminoallyluridine-5′-triphosphate, 5-bromocytidine-5′-triphosphate, 5-bromouridine-5′-triphosphate, 5-iodocytidine-5′-triphosphate, 5-iodouridine-5′-triphosphate, 5-methylcytidine-5′-triphosphate, 5-methyluridine-5′-triphosphate, 6-azacytidine-5′-triphosphate, 6-azauridine-5′-triphosphate, 6-chloropurineriboside-5′-triphosphate, 7-deazaadenosine-5′-triphosphate, 7-deazaguanosine-5′-triphosphate, 8-azaadenosine-5′-triphosphate, 8-azidoadenosine-5′-triphosphate, benzimidazole-riboside-5′-triphosphate, N1-methyladenosine-5′-triphosphate, N1-methylguanosine-5′-triphosphate, N6-methyladenosine-5′-triphosphate, O6-methylguanosine-5′-triphosphate, pseudouridine-5′-triphosphate, or puromycin-5′-triphosphate, xanthosine-5′-triphosphate. 
     
     
         18 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 17 , wherein the nucleotide analog is chosen from the group consisting of: 5-methylcytidine 5′-triphosphate and pseudouridine 5′-triphosphate. 
     
     
         19 . A method of treating a subject comprising administering an effective amount an mRNA according to  claim 1  to the subject. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the subject has a prostate cancer.