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, wherein the mRNA comprises at least one U residue that is substituted with 5-methoxy-uridine. 
     
     
         2 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , the polypeptide coding sequence comprises an increased G/C content relative to a wild type sequence. 
     
     
         3 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , the polypeptide coding sequence comprises a G/C content that is increased by at 7% percentage points relative to the G/C content of the wild type sequence encoding the polypeptide. 
     
     
         4 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 2 , the polypeptide coding sequence comprises a G/C content that is increased by at 15% percentage points relative to the G/C content of the wild type sequence encoding the polypeptide. 
     
     
         5 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the polypeptide coding sequence encodes a therapeutic polypeptide or an antigen. 
     
     
         6 . The mRNA of  claim 5 , wherein the therapeutic polypeptide comprises an antibody. 
     
     
         7 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA comprises a 5′ cap structure. 
     
     
         8 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA additionally comprises a poly-A tail of 10 to 200 adenosine nucleotides. 
     
     
         9 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA additionally comprises a poly-C tail of 10 to 200 cytosine nucleotides. 
     
     
         10 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA further comprises a 5′ and/or a 3′ untranslated region (UTR). 
     
     
         11 . The isolated RNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA is modified by introduction at least a further non-native nucleotide compared with a native mRNA sequence and/or by covalent coupling of the mRNA with a further chemical moiety. 
     
     
         12 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 1 , wherein the mRNA comprises a further chemical modification relative to a naturally occurring mRNA. 
     
     
         13 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 12 , wherein the mRNA comprises at least one further 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′-triphosphat), 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-methoxy carbonylmethyl-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. 
     
     
         14 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 13 , 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′-tri phosphate, 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. 
     
     
         15 . The isolated mRNA of  claim 14 , wherein the nucleotide analog is chosen from the group consisting of: 5-methylcytidine 5′-triphosphate and pseudouridine 5′-triphosphate. 
     
     
         16 . A pharmaceutical composition comprising a mRNA of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         17 . A method of treating a subject comprising administering an effective amount a mRNA according to  claim 1  to the subject.