WO2009030481A1 - Complexes of rna and cationic peptides for transfection and for immunostimulation - Google Patents

Complexes of rna and cationic peptides for transfection and for immunostimulation Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2009030481A1
WO2009030481A1 PCT/EP2008/007244 EP2008007244W WO2009030481A1 WO 2009030481 A1 WO2009030481 A1 WO 2009030481A1 EP 2008007244 W EP2008007244 W EP 2008007244W WO 2009030481 A1 WO2009030481 A1 WO 2009030481A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
rna
arg
lys
complexed
complexed rna
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/EP2008/007244
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Mariola Fotin-Mleczek
Patrick Baumhof
Original Assignee
Curevac Gmbh
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority to PL08785826T priority Critical patent/PL2188379T3/en
Priority to MX2010002460A priority patent/MX2010002460A/en
Application filed by Curevac Gmbh filed Critical Curevac Gmbh
Priority to BRPI0816405A priority patent/BRPI0816405B8/en
Priority to US12/676,015 priority patent/US20100203076A1/en
Priority to CN200880105611.5A priority patent/CN101796191B/en
Priority to CA2696752A priority patent/CA2696752C/en
Priority to EP08785826A priority patent/EP2188379B1/en
Priority to KR1020107007226A priority patent/KR101513254B1/en
Priority to ES08785826T priority patent/ES2403196T3/en
Priority to DK08785826.2T priority patent/DK2188379T3/en
Priority to RU2010112935/10A priority patent/RU2493256C2/en
Priority to KR1020137032966A priority patent/KR20140004803A/en
Priority to JP2010523324A priority patent/JP2010537651A/en
Priority to AU2008295071A priority patent/AU2008295071B2/en
Publication of WO2009030481A1 publication Critical patent/WO2009030481A1/en
Priority to US13/904,868 priority patent/US10111967B2/en
Priority to US15/065,741 priority patent/US20160184406A1/en
Priority to US15/228,932 priority patent/US20160367704A1/en
Priority to US15/272,522 priority patent/US20170000858A1/en
Priority to US15/350,560 priority patent/US20170065727A1/en
Priority to US15/408,320 priority patent/US20170128549A1/en
Priority to US15/825,372 priority patent/US20180117179A1/en
Priority to US15/850,845 priority patent/US20180126005A1/en
Priority to US15/884,971 priority patent/US20180161452A1/en
Priority to US15/884,695 priority patent/US20180161451A1/en
Priority to US15/885,750 priority patent/US20180161454A1/en
Priority to US15/884,618 priority patent/US20180169266A1/en
Priority to US15/885,550 priority patent/US20180161453A1/en
Priority to US15/885,783 priority patent/US20180169267A1/en
Priority to US15/885,104 priority patent/US20180236102A1/en
Priority to US16/036,279 priority patent/US20180311379A1/en
Priority to US16/278,545 priority patent/US20190167808A1/en
Priority to US16/278,666 priority patent/US20190167809A1/en
Priority to US16/281,050 priority patent/US20190175758A1/en
Priority to US16/280,731 priority patent/US20190175757A1/en
Priority to US16/281,081 priority patent/US20190175760A1/en
Priority to US16/281,065 priority patent/US20190175759A1/en
Priority to US16/280,643 priority patent/US20190175756A1/en
Priority to US17/090,885 priority patent/US20210060175A1/en

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Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a complexed RNA, comprising at least one RNA (molecule) complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide has a length of 8 to
  • 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.
  • Transfection of nucleic acids into cells or tissues of patients by methods of gene transfer is a central method of molecular medicine and plays a critical role in therapy and prevention of numerous diseases.
  • Methods for transfection of nucleic acids may lead to immune stimulation of the tissue or organism.
  • transfection of nucleic acids may be followed by processing of the information coded by the nucleic acids introduced, i.e. translation of desired polypeptides or proteins.
  • DNA or RNA as nucleic acids form alternative approaches to gene therapy.
  • Transfection of nucleic acids may also lead to modulation, e.g. suppression or enhancement of gene expression, dependent on the type of nucleic acid transfected. Transfection of these nucleic acids is typically carried out by using methods of gene transfer.
  • Biolistic gene transfer also known as biolistic particle bombardment
  • Biolistic gene transfer is a method developed at Cornell University, that allows introducing genetic material into tissues or culture cells. Biolistic gene transfer is typically accomplished by surface coating metal particles, such as gold or silver particles, and shooting these metal particles, comprising the adsorbed DNA, into cells by using a gene gun.
  • biolistic gene transfer methods have not yet been shown to work with RNA, probably due to its fast degradation. Furthermore, these methods are not suitable for in vivo applications, a matter which represents a severe practical limitation.
  • An alternative physical or physico-chemical method includes the method of in vitro electroporation.
  • In vitro electroporation is based on the use of high-voltage current to make cell membranes permeable to allow the introduction of new DNA or RNA into the cell. Therefore, cell walls are typically weakened prior to transfection either by using chemicals or by a careful process of freezing to make them "electrocompetent”. If electrocompetent bacteria or cells (e.g. eukaryotic cells) and DNA (or RNA) are mixed together, the plasmid can be transferred into the cell by using an electric discharge to carry the DNA (or RNA) into cells in the path of the spark crossing the reaction chamber.
  • Nanoplexes nanoparticular systems
  • lipoplexes liposomal systems
  • polyplexes or cationic polymers Such nanoplexes (nanoparticular systems) involve use of polyacrylates, polyamides, polystyrene, cyanoacrylates, polylactat (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethyl, etc., as carrier systems for the transport of nucleic acids into cells or tissues.
  • lipoplexes or liposomal systems typically involve use of cationic lipids, which are capable to mimick a cell membrane.
  • Lipoplexes or liposomal systems include e.g. DOTMA, DOPE, DOSPA, DOTAP, DC-Choi, EDMPC, etc.
  • Polyplexes cationic polymers typically form a complex with negatively charged nucleic acids leading to a condensation of nucleic acids and protecting these nucleic acids against degradation. Transport into cells using polyplexes (cationic polymers) typically occurs via receptor mediated endocytosis. Thereby, the DNA is coupled to a distinct molecule, such as Transferrin, via e.g.
  • Polyplex poly-L-lysine which binds to a surface receptor and triggers endocytosis.
  • Polyplexes cationic polymers
  • PLL poly-L-lysine
  • chitosan polyethylenimine
  • PEI polyethylenimine
  • PD-MAEMA polydimethylaminoethylmethacrylate
  • PAMAM polyamidoamine
  • Other well known physical or physico-chemical methods of gene transfer into cells or organisms include methods such as virus based transfection methods.
  • DNA viruses may be used as DNA vehicles. Because of their infection properties, such viruses have a very high transfection rate.
  • viruses typically used are genetically modified in a way, that no functional infectious particles are formed in the transfected cell.
  • a risk of uncontrolled propagation of the therapeutically active genes introduced and the viral genes cannot be ruled out e.g. because of possible recombination events.
  • Translocatory proteins are considered as a group of peptides capable of effecting transport of macromolecules between cells (translocatory proteins), such as HIV tat (HIV), antennapedia (Drosophila antennapedia), HSV VP22 ⁇ Herpes simple ⁇ , FGF or lactoferrin, etc.
  • PTDs protein transduction domains
  • PTDs protein transduction domains
  • a basic region which is regarded as mainly responsible for transport of the fusion peptides since it is capable of binding polyanions such as nucleic acids.
  • PTDs may act similar to cationic transfection reagents using receptor dependent non-saturatable adsorptive endocytosis.
  • PTDs are typically coupled to proteins or peptides in order to effect or enhance a CTL response when administering a peptide based vaccine (see review: Melikov and Chernomordik, Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: from endosomal uptake to nuclear delivery, Cell. MoI. Life Sci. 2005).
  • Protein transduction domains are sometimes also termed "cell penetrating peptides” (CPPs) due to their capability of penetrating the cell membrane and thus to effect the transport of (macro-) molecules into cells.
  • CPPs are small peptides and typically comprise a high content of basic amino acids and exhibit a length of 7 to 30 amino acids.
  • Macromolecules which have been shown to be transported into cells via CPPs, include peptides as well as DNA, siRNA or PNAs (peptide nucleic acids), wherein the CPPs are typically bonded to these macromolecules via a covalent bond and transfected into the cells.
  • CPPs cell penetrating peptides
  • the group of CPPs is highly diverse and consists of amphipathic, helical peptides such as transportan, penetratin, hydrophobic peptides such as MTS, VP22, MAP, KALA, PpTG20, prolin-rich peptides, MPG-peptides, Pep-1, L-oligomers, calcitonin-peptides, or cationic, hydrophilic arginine-rich peptides, including arginine-rich CPPs, which mediate cellular uptake of (covalently) conjugated molecules via binding to proteoglycanes of the cell, such as the transduction domain of the HIV-1 Tat protein (Review: Deshayes et al.
  • arginine-rich CPPs are described as vehicles for proteins or DNA, e.g. plasmid DNA, etc. into cells.
  • Poly-argi nines may also be used for the transport of (macro-) molecules into cells, which typically comprises a length of at least 60 to 80 amino acids (in particular arginines), more typically from 1000 to 15000 amino acids, and thus represents a high molecular mass compound.
  • endocytosis is suggested as an uptake mechanism for poly- arginine.
  • Endocytosis is a cellular process by which macromolecules may enter a cell without passing through the cell membrane, wherein three different endocytotic mechanisms have been suggested (chlathrin-dependent endocytosis, caveol in-dependent endocytosis and/or F actin-dependent endocytosis, see e.g. review: Melikov and Chernomordik, Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: from endosomal uptake to nuclear delivery, Cell. MoI. Life Sci. 2005).
  • GAGs negatively charged cell surface glycosaminoglycans
  • HS heparans
  • the CPP-bound macromolecule enters cell by chlathrin-dependent endocytosis, caveol in-dependent endocytosis and/or F actin-dependent endocytosis, e.g. by folding of the membrane around the CPP-bound macromolecule outside the cell.
  • Trafficking of the CPP- bound macromolecule through late endosomes and/or Golgi and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) delivers the CPP-bound macromolecule into the cytoplasm, wherein this stage may involve CPP-induced opening of the transient pores in the lipid bilayer.
  • the CPP-complexed macromolecule may be transported to other locations in the cell, e.g. into the endosom, dependent on the mode of action required for the specific purpose.
  • TLR-7 and TLR-8 receptors are located in the endosome.
  • TLRs Toll-like receptors
  • TLR1 - TLR13 Toll-like receptors: TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLRI 2 or TLR13
  • TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLRI 2 or TLR13 may lead to transport to the endosomes and (depeding on the specific interaction and the interaction partners) to e.g. immunostimulation by the RNA ligand.
  • CPPs Cell penetrating peptides
  • Futaki et al. disclose the use of carrier oligopeptides (Arg) n having a length of 4-16 amino acids for in vitro transfer of cargo peptides, wherein the carrier peptides are covalently linked to the cargo peptides.
  • a translocation optimum was demonstrated for (Arg) n having a length of 6 or 8 arginines, respectively.
  • high molecular weight polypeptides such as poly-L-argi nines (e.g. typically having a MW of about 5000 Da to 15 kDa) or poly-L-lysines (e.g. typically having a MW of about 54 kDa) as well as high molecular weight PEI (polyethyleneimin) (e.g. typically having a MW of about 25 kDa) were used according to the art (see also Bettinger et al., Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 29 No. 18 (2001 )). However, high molecular weight poly-L-lysine and PEI appeared to be ineffective as carrier molecules.
  • low molecular weight transfection agents such as, e.g., low molecular weight poly-arginines.
  • low molecular weight poly-arginines typically exhibit a low stability of the carrier-cargo- complex, i.e. the complex formed of, e.g., a poly-arginine as carrier and a DNA molecule as a cargo.
  • McKenzie et al. (McKenzie eta/. A potent new class of reductively activated peptide gene delivery agents; The Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 274 No.
  • low-molecular weight PEI e.g. typically having a MW of about 2000 Da
  • low-molecular weight poly-L-lysines e.g. typically having a MW of about 3400 Da
  • expression was not detectable due to formation of extremely stable complexes of these carrier molecules with the DNA.
  • these carrier molecules do not appear to exhibit dissociation of their complexed DNA, a necessary step for translation and expression of the encoded protein (see Bettinger et al., (2001 ), supra).
  • Niidome et al. The Journal of Biological Chemistry, VoI 272., No. 24, pp. 15307-15312, 1997.
  • Niidome et al. (1997, supra) disclose the use of CPPs, particularly of cationic alpha-helical peptides with a defined arginine content of 25% and a length of 12 or 24 amino acids, respectively, for the transport of plasmid DNA as cargo moiety.
  • CPPs particularly of cationic alpha-helical peptides with a defined arginine content of 25% and a length of 12 or 24 amino acids, respectively, for the transport of plasmid DNA as cargo moiety.
  • long and/or hydrophobic peptides can strongly bind to the DNA and effect transport of DNA into cells.
  • Niidome et al. Bioconjugate Chem.
  • Futaki et a/. used stearylated oligopeptides (Arg) n having a length of 4-16 amino acids. These oligopeptides were used in transfection experiments in comparison to non-stearylated oligopeptides (Arg) n having a length of 4-16 amino acids and poly-arginine (MW 5000-15000) for in vitro transfer of plasmid DNA coding for luciferase. Accordingly, carrier peptides used for transfection were mixed with plasmid DNA and formed a carrier/cargo complex.
  • short arginine carrier peptides such as (Arg) 9 to (Arg) 15 may be used for complexation and cellular transfection of DNA, encoding green fluorescent protein PEGFP-N3.
  • arginines (Arg) 9 to (Arg) 5
  • optimum results were obtained with (Arg) 15 showing increasing cellular transfection efficiency from (Arg) 9 to (Arg) 15 .
  • RNA double stranded RNAs
  • T ⁇ nges et al. RNA (2006), 12:1431-1438
  • Arg stearylated octa-arginine
  • the stearyl component of the carrier peptides seems to be indispensible for the transport of siRNA or the transport of other RNA molecules.
  • Veldhoen et al. (2006) also published the use of specific CPPs in a non-covalent complex for cellular transfection of double stranded short siRNA sequences (Veldhoen et al., Cellular delivery of small interfering RNA by a non-covalently attached cell penetrating peptide: quantitative analysis of uptake and biological effect. Nucleic Acids Research 2006).
  • Peptides used by Veldhoen et al. (2006) were MPGalpha (Ac- GALFLAFLAAALSLMGLWSQPKKKRKV-Cya) and MPGalpha-mNLS (Ac-
  • GALFLAFLAAALSLMGLWSQPKSKRKV-Cya These specific peptides were additionally modified with an acetyl moiety (Ac) at the N-terminus and a cysteamide moiety at the C- terminus.
  • Adhoen et al. (2006) were able to show transfer of double-stranded siRNA, having a length of about 18 to 40 nucleotides, into cells by using the afore-mentioned carrier peptides.
  • RNA transfer represents an important tool in modern molecular medicine and exhibits superior properties over DNA cell transfection, since DNA molecules may lead to serious problems.
  • application of DNA molecules bears the risk that the DNA integrates into the host genome. Integration of foreign DNA into the host genome can have an influence on expression of the host genes and possibly triggers expression of an oncogene or destruction of a tumor suppressor gene.
  • a gene - and therefore the gene product - which is essential to the host may also be inactivated by integration of the foreign DNA into the coding region of this gene.
  • integration of the DNA takes place into a gene which is involved in regulation of cell growth. In this case, the host cell may enter into a degenerated state and lead to cancer or tumor formation.
  • Such undesired integration into the DNA may be even more problematic, if the DNA transfected into the cell comprises a potent promoter, such as the viral CMV promoter. Integration of such promoters into the genome of the treated cell can lead to undesirable changes in the regulation of gene expression in the cell.
  • a further disadvantage is that the DNA molecules remain in the cell nucleus for a long time, either as an episome or, as mentioned, integrated into the host genome. This phenomenon leads both to production of transgenic protein which is not limited or cannot be limited in time and to danger of associated tolerance towards this transgenic protein.
  • the development of anti-DNA antibodies (Gilkeson et a/., J Clin Invest 95, 1398-1402 (1995)) and the induction of autoimmune diseases can furthermore be triggered by injection of DNA.
  • RNA particularly mRNA
  • mRNA does not integrate into the host genome, no viral sequences, such as promoters etc., are required for effective transcription etc.
  • a disadvantage resulting from the use of RNA may be due to its instability as compared to DNA (RNA-degrading enzymes, so- called RNases (ribonucleases), in particular, but also numerous other processes which destabilize RNA are responsible for the instability of RNA).
  • RNA stabilizing RNA has meanwhile been disclosed in the art, such as, for example, in WO 03/051401 , WO 02/098443, WO 99/14346, EP-A-1083232, US 5,580,859 and US 6,214,804.
  • Methods have also been developed for protecting RNA against degradation by ribonucleases, either using liposomes (Martinon et al., Eur J Immunol 23, 1 719-1 722 (1993)) or an intra-cytosolic in vivo administration of the nucleic acid with a ballistic device (gene gun) (Vassilev et al., Vaccine 19, 2012-2019 (2001 )).
  • RNA molecules as such provide advantageous properties over DNA as discussed above, it is the object of the present invention to provide a suitable and efficient carrier for the transport of RNA into cells. Accordingly, the present invention provides a solution which allows RNA to transfect cells in an efficient manner.
  • RNA molecule
  • RNA molecule
  • oligopeptide complexed RNA
  • the at least one oligopeptide has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids
  • the at least one oligopeptide contains I Arg residues, m Lys residues, n His residues, o Orn residues and x Xaa residues positioned in any order within the at least one oligopeptide having the following empirical formula:
  • I, m, n or o independently of each other may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15, provided that the overall content of Arg, Lys, His and Orn represents at least 50%, e.g. at least 60% or 70 %, of all amino acids of the oligopeptide; and
  • x may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, provided, that the overall content of Xaa does not exceed 50 %, e.g. not more than 40% or 30%, of all amino acids of the oligopeptide.
  • a complexed RNA is to be understood as an RNA (molecule) as defined herein, preferably an mRNA, which is complexed to the one or more oligopeptides according to empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x by forming a non-covalent complex between RNA and oligopeptide(s).
  • non-covalent means that a reversible association of RNA and oligopeptide is formed by non-covalent interactions of these molecules, wherein the molecules are associated together by any type of interaction of electrons, other than a covalent bond, e.g.
  • RNA and at least one oligopeptide are in equilibrium with dissociation of that complex. Intracellularly, without being bound to theory, the equilibrium appears to be shifted towards dissociated RNA and oligopeptide(s).
  • the at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids, preferably a length of 8 to 14, 8 to 13, 8 to 12, or 9 to 12 or 9 to 1 1 amino acids, and more preferably a length of 8 to 10, 9 to 1 1 , 10 to 12, 1 1 to 13, 12 to 14 or 13 to 15 amino acids, or even more preferably may be selected from a peptide of the above formula having a length of 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15 amino acids.
  • amino acids Arg, Lys, His and Orn are to be understood as the amino acids arginine, lysine, histidine and ornithine, respectively.
  • ornithine is an amino acid whose structure is NH 2 -CH 2 -CH 2 -CH 2 -CHNH 2 -COOH.
  • Ornithine was artificially incorporated as the 21 st amino acid and does not belong to the "natively occurring" 20 amino acids in the sense that ornithine is not an amino acid coded for by DNA, and, accordingly, is not involved in primary protein synthesis.
  • ornithine is provided by enzymatic reaction starting from L-arginine. It is believed not to be a part of the genetic code because polypeptides containing unprotected ornithines undergo spontaneous lactamization.
  • Ornithine is to be regarded as a basic amino acid since it is one of the products of the reaction of the enzyme Arginase on L-arginine, creating urea.
  • the (single) amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg)
  • the content of the basic amino acid Arg in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula.
  • the content of the basic amino acid Lys in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula.
  • the content of the basic amino acid His in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula.
  • the content of the basic amino acid Orn in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula.
  • any of the above defined contents, values or ranges of basic amino acids Arg, Lys, His and/or Orn as defined above may also be combined with each other, preferably leading to an overall content of all basic amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention of at least 50% (at least 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, or 59%) at least 60% (at least 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, or 69%), at least 70% (at least 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, or 79%), at least 80% (at least 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, or 89%) at least 90% (at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99%), or even 100%, as defined initially.
  • any known derivative of these amino acids may be used, which has been chemically modified, provided these derivatives are not toxic for cells or organisms, when provided with the above oligopeptide. (Such derivatives of amino acids are distributed by different companies; see e.g. Sigma Aldrich (see http://www.sigmaaldrich.com).
  • Xaa may be selected, without being limited thereto, from naturally occurring neutral (and hydrophobic) amino acids, i.e.
  • amino acids which have neutral (and hydrophobic) side chains, such as alanine (Ala), valine (VaI), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Me), proline (Pro), tryptophane (T rp), phenylalanine (Phe), or methionine (Met), and/or from naturally occurring neutral (and polar) amino acids, i.e. amino acids, which have neutral (and polar) side chains, such as glycine (GIy), serine (ser), threonine (Thr), tyrosine (Tyr), cysteine (Cys), asparagine (Asn), or glutamine (GIu), and/or from naturally occurring acidic amino acids, i.e.
  • the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may contain an amino acid Xaa in the above empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x , which is selected from amino acids having no acidic side chain.
  • Xaa in empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x is selected from amino acids having a neutral side chain, i.e.
  • any known derivative of amino acids may be used for Xaa in the above empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x , i.e. amino acids, which have been chemically modified, provided these derivatives are not toxic for cells or organisms, when provided with the above oligopeptide.
  • Ser derivatives of amino acids are distributed by different companies, see e.g. Sigma Aldrich (see http://www.sigmaaldrich.com).
  • Xaa is typically present in the above formula in a content of 0-30%, 0-40% or 0-50% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence, i.e. the overall content of Xaa may not exceed 30%, 40% or 50% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence, preferably it may not exceed 20%, even more preferably not 10%, and most preferably not 5% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence.
  • x in the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Om) 0 ;(Xaa) x as shown above may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, provided, that the content of Xaa does not exceed the above indicated value of 30% (or less), 40% or 50% of all entire amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA.
  • the amino acids Arg, Lys, His, Orn and Xaa of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as indicated above, may be positioned at any position of the oligopeptide sequence.
  • empirical formula (I) does not determine any specific order of amino acids, but is rather intended to reflect the type of amino acids and their frequency of occurrence in the peptide, indicating that the peptide chain contains a number of I Arg residues, m Lys residues, n His residues , o Om residues and x Xaa residues, without specifying any order of these residues within the peptide chain.
  • the above oligopeptide comprises amino acids at one or, preferably, both terminal ends, which do not comprise an acidic side chain. More preferably, the above oligopeptide sequence comprises neutral or basic amino acids at one or, preferably, both terminal ends, even more preferably basic amino acids at one or both terminal ends.
  • the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above contains at least two, more preferably at least three, at least four or even at least five terminal basic residues, in particular Arg, Orn or Lys, at either terminus.
  • the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above preferably comprises no cationic amino acids (i.e.
  • one, or more preferably both, terminal ends of the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above may comprise any non-cationic amino acid as defined herein, provided that such non-cationic amino acid is selected from an amino acid except Arg, Orn or Lys or any variant or derivative of these cationic amino acids.
  • the terminal ends may comprise e.g. one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five or even more basic non-cationic residues as defined above starting from the N- and/or C-terminal end of the particular sequence.
  • one or both terminal ends of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may comprise at least one histidine residues at one or both of its terminal ends, e.g. the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may comprise one, two, three or more histidine residues in consecutive order at one or both terminal ends, provided that the overall length of the oligopeptide is limited to 8 to 15 amino acids as defined above.
  • Xaa residues of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention are typically separated from each other by at least one Arg, Lys, His or Orn. Such a separation of Xaa residues preferably avoids clusters of non-basic amino acids in the oligopeptide, as such non-basic clusters may reduce the advantageous properties of the oligopeptide as a carrier peptide for the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
  • basic amino acid residues of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the formula given above are selected from Arg, Lys His or Orn as defined above and typically occur in a cluster of at least 2, preferably at least 3, 4, 5, or even 6 or more basic amino acids as defined herein. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, such clusters may also comprise 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or even 15 amino acids.
  • Such a cluster of basic amino acids, preferably a cluster of at least 3, 4, 5, or even 6 or more basic amino acids preferably creates a basic surface or binding region within the oligopeptide, which provides advantageous properties to the oligopeptide as a carrier peptide for the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
  • the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) 0 ;(Xaa) x (formula I) as shown above, may be, without being restricted thereto, selected from the following subgroup of formulae:
  • the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x (formula I) as shown above, may be, without being restricted thereto, selected from following subgroup.
  • This subgroup exemplarily defines specific inventive oligopeptides, which fall under empirical formula I as defined above, wherein the following formulae (as with empirical formula (I)) do not specify any amino acid order, but are intended to reflect empirical formulae by exclusively specifying the (number of) amino acids as components of the respective peptide. Accordingly, empirical formula Arg (7 .
  • Lys is intended to mean that peptides falling under this formula contain 7 to 14 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue of whatsoever order. If the peptides contain 7 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue, all variants having 7 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue are encompassed.
  • the Lys residue may therefore be positioned anywhere in the e.g. 8 amino acid long sequence composed of 7 Arg and 1 Lys residues.
  • the subgroup preferably comprises: Lys (7 . 14) His,, His (7 . 14) Orn,,; Arg (6O31 Lys 2 , Arg (6O31 His 2 , Arg (6o31 Om 2 , Lys (6 . 13) His 2 , Lys (6 .
  • APg 1502 LyS ) HiS 1 Om 1 , APg 1 LyS (S02) HiS 1 Om 1 , APg 1 LyS 1 HiS (S02) Om 1 , APg 1 LyS 1 HiS 1 Om 1502 ,; m 1 , m 1 ,
  • the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, is selected from the subgroup consisting of: Arg 8 , Arg 9 , Arg, 0 , Arg,,, Arg 12 , Arg, 3 ,
  • Arg, 4 , Arg 15 (SEQ ID NOs: 1 -8); Lys 8 , LyS 9 , Lys 10 , LyS 1 1 , LyS 12 , Lys 13 , LyS 14 , LyS 15 , (SEQ ID NOs: 9-16); His 8 , His 9 , His, 0 , His,,, His, 2 , His, 3 , His, 4 , HiS 15 , (SEQ ID NOs: 17-24); or Om 8 , Om 9 , Om 10 , Om 11 , Om 12 , Om 13 , Om 14 , Om 15 , (SEQ ID NOs: 25-32).
  • the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, is selected from the subgroup consisting of general formulas Arg 9 (also termed R9),
  • Arg 9 Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 2)
  • H is 3 Arg 9 H is 3 : H is-H is-H is-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-H is-H is-H is
  • H is 3 Arg 9 SerSerTyr: H is-H is-H is-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr (SEQ ID NO: 42)
  • the at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, may be additionally modified. Modifications in the context of the present invention typically comprise any modification suitable for peptides, provided that these modifications do not interfere with the transfection capabilities of the resulting complexed RNA.
  • Typical modifications may thus include e.g. the use of modified amino acids as defined above.
  • the terminal amino acid residues of the oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg)
  • acid-addition salts of the oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, may be used.
  • Common acid addition salts are hydrohalic acid salts, i.e., HBr, HI, or more preferably, HCl.
  • PEGylation of terminal or side chain carboxyl groups or the epsilon-amino group of lysine occurring in the oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg)
  • the at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the present invention having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, may furthermore be modified to bind to or be coupled to at least one specific ligand, wherein the at least one specific ligand may be bound to or coupled to one or both terminal ends of the at least one oligopeptide.
  • the at least one specific ligand bound to or coupled to one or both terminal ends of the oligopeptide may be identical or different and may be selected from any compound capable to bind to or interact with a receptor or a protein or a protein/receptor complex, e.g. at the cell surface, e, e.g., without being limited thereto,
  • RGD-peptide transferrin or mannose, etc.
  • oligopeptide may be coupled to a functionally different peptide or protein moiety, which may also stabilize the oligopeptide and/or may serve to improve the transport properties of oligopeptide in body fluids, in particular blood.
  • Suitable peptides or proteins may e.g. be selected from albumin, transferrin etc., which may be directly coupled to the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) 0 ;(Xaa) x as shown above, or via a peptide or organic linker sequence.
  • these peptides or proteins are linked to one of the termini of the oligopeptide.
  • a modification of the oligopeptide with lipids having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) 0 ;(Xaa) x as shown above, does typically not include the use of (saturated or non-saturated) fatty acids, particularly not the use of long chain (saturated or non-saturated) fatty acids (in particular with a chain length of > C 12 , > C 14 or > C 16 ).
  • modification of the oligopeptide with fatty acids having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Om) o ;(Xaa) x as shown above, does not form an integral part of the present invention.
  • thex may be selected, without being limited thereto, from the group comprising e.g.
  • butanoic fatty acid butyric fatty acid
  • pentanoic fatty acid valeric fatty acid
  • hexanoic fatty acid caproic fatty acid
  • octanoic fatty acid caprylic fatty acid
  • nonanoic fatty acid pelargonic fatty acid
  • decanoic fatty acid capric fatty acid
  • dodecanoic fatty acid lauric fatty acid
  • tetradecanoic fatty acid myristic fatty acid
  • hexadecanoic fatty acid palmitic fatty acid
  • heptadecanoic fatty acid margaric (daturic) fatty acid
  • octadecanoic fatty acid stearic fatty acid
  • eicosanoic fatty acid arachidic fatty acid
  • docosanoic fatty acid behenic fatty acid
  • tetracosanoic fatty acid lignoceric fatty acid
  • the present invention does typically not include the use of octadecanoic fatty acid (stearic fatty acid) or its non-saturated analogs for modification of the carrier peptides of formula I, i.e. typically no stearylated oligopeptides of formula I may be used herein for complexation of the RNA component of the inventive complex.
  • octadecanoic fatty acid stearic fatty acid
  • its non-saturated analogs for modification of the carrier peptides of formula I, i.e. typically no stearylated oligopeptides of formula I may be used herein for complexation of the RNA component of the inventive complex.
  • a retro-inverso isomer of the above oligopeptide composed of D amino acids or at least partially composed of D amino acids may be used.
  • retro- inverso isomer refers to an isomer of a linear peptide in which the direction of the sequence is reversed and the chirality of each amino acid residue is inverted (see, e.g., Jameson et a/., Nature, 368, 744-746 (1994); Brady et a/., Nature, 368, 692-693 (1994)).
  • the retro-inverso peptide is assembled in reverse order of amino acids, typically with F-moc amino acid derivatives.
  • the crude peptides may be purified by reversed phase HPLC.
  • modifications of the oligopeptide backbone relate to modifications of the peptide backbone.
  • the modified oligopeptides are scaffold mimetics. Their backbone is different from the natural occurring backbone, while their side-chain structures are identical with the oligopeptides or their fragments, variants or derivatives.
  • scaffold mimetics exhibit a modification of one or more of the backbone chain members (NH, CH, CO), either as substitution (preferably) or as an insertion. Substituents are e.g.
  • a peptide mimetic of an oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) 0 ;(Xaa) x , as defined herein, may be a combination of each of these modifications.
  • each backbone chain member may be modified or, alternatively, only a certain number of chain members may be exchanged for a non-natural Iy occurring moiety.
  • all backbone chain members of an oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) 0 ;(Xaa) x , as defined herein, of either -NH-, -CHR- or CO are exchanged for another non-naturally occurring group.
  • backbone chain elongation by insertions may occur in a scaffold mimetic of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as defined herein, e.g. by moieties flanking the C-alpha atom.
  • a scaffold mimetic of the oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x as defined herein, e.g. by moieties flanking the C-alpha atom.
  • On either side of the C-alpha atom e.g. -O-, -S-, -CH-, -NH- may be inserted.
  • oligocarbamate peptide backbone structure of the oligopeptide having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x , as defined herein.
  • amide bond may be replaced by a carbamate moiety.
  • the monomeric N-protected amino alkyl carbonates are accessible via the corresponding amino acids or amino alcohols. They are converted into active esters, e.g. p-nitro phenyl ester by using the F-moc moiety or a photo sensitive nitroatryloxycarbonyl group by solid phase synthesis.
  • the complexed RNA of the present invention further comprises at least one RNA (molecule) suitable for transfection purposes, wherein this at least one RNA (molecule) is complexed with one or more oligopeptides, as disclosed above with empirical formula I
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may have any length (preferably dependent on the type of RNA to be applied as a complexed RNA according to the present invention). Without being restricted thereto, the at least one RNA
  • (molecule) may have a length of 5 to 20000 nucleotides, more preferably a length of 5 to
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA, preferably, without being limited thereto, a short RNA oligonucleotide (preferable length 5 to 80 or, more preferably 20 to 80 nucleotides), a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA (which may also be regarded as an RNA (molecule) due to non-covalent association of two single-stranded RNA (molecules)) or a partially double-stranded RNA (which is typically formed by a longer and a shorter single-stranded RNA molecule or by two single stranded RNA-molecules, which are about equal in length, wherein one single-stranded RNA molecule is partially complementary to the other single-stranded RNA molecule and both thus form a double- stranded RNA molecule in this region).
  • a single- or a double-stranded RNA which may also be regarded as an RNA (molecule) due to non-covalent association of two single-stranded RNA (molecules)
  • a partially double-stranded RNA which is typically formed by a longer and a shorter single-stranded RNA molecule
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a single-stranded RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also be a circular or linear RNA, preferably a linear RNA. More preferably, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a ribosomal RNA (rRNA), a transfer RNA (tRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), or a viral RNA (vRNA), preferably a mRNA.
  • an mRNA is typically an RNA, which is composed of several structural elements, e.g. an optional 5'-UTR region, an upstream positioned ribosomal binding site followed by a coding region, an optional 3'-UTR region, which may be followed by a poly-A tail (and/or a poly-C-tail).
  • An mRNA may occur as a mono-, di-, or even multicistronic RNA, i.e. an RNA which carries the coding sequences of one, two or more proteins.
  • Such coding sequences in di-, or even multicistronic mRNA may be separated by at least one IRES sequence, e.g. as defined herein.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a short RNA oligonucleotide.
  • Short RNA oligonucleotides in the context of the present invention may comprise any RNA as defined above.
  • the short RNA oligonucleotide may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA oligonuclotide, more preferably a single-stranded RNA oligonucleotide.
  • the short RNA oligonucleotide may be a linear single-stranded RNA oligonucleotide.
  • the short RNA oligonucleotides as used herein comprise a length as defined above in general for RNA molecules, more preferably a length of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50, or of 5 of 30, or, alternatively, a length of 20 to 100, of 20 to 80, or, even more preferably, of 20 of 60 nucleotides.
  • Short RNA oligonucleotides may be used for various purposes, e.g. for (unspecific) immune stimulation, or reducing/suppressing transcription/translation of genes.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a coding RNA.
  • the coding RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA as defined above.
  • the coding RNA may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA, more preferably a single-stranded RNA, and/or a circular or linear RNA, more preferably a linear RNA.
  • the coding RNA may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA.
  • the coding RNA may be a ((linear) single-stranded) messenger RNA (mRNA).
  • the coding RNA may further encode a protein or a peptide, which may be selected, without being restricted thereto, e.g. from therapeutically active proteins or peptides, tumor antigens, antibodies, immunostimulating proteins or peptides, etc., or from any other protein or peptide suitable for a specific (therapeutic) application, wherein the at least one RNA (molecule) encoding the protein is to be transported into a cell, a tissue or an organism and the protein is expressed subsequently in this cell, tissue or organism.
  • therapeutically active proteins may be selected from any recombinant or isolated proteins known to a skilled person from the prior art.
  • therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may be selected from apoptotic factors or apoptosis related proteins including AIF, Apaf e.g. Apaf-1 , Apaf-2, Apaf-3, oder APO-2 (L), APO-3 (L),
  • Apopain Bad, Bak, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x L , Bcl-x s , bik, CAD, Calpain, Caspase e.g. Caspase-1 , Caspase-2, Caspase-3, Caspase-4, Caspase-5, Caspase-6, Caspase-7, Caspase-8, Caspase-9,
  • Caspase-10 Caspase-1 1 , ced-3, ced-9, c-Jun, c-Myc, crm A, cytochrom C, CdR1 , DcRI ,
  • CD95/fas (receptor) CD95/fas (receptor)
  • FLICE/MACH FLIP
  • fodrin fos
  • G-Actin gas-2
  • gelsolin granzyme
  • RAIDD Ras, RIP, sphingomyelinase, thymidinkinase from herpes simplex, TRADD, TRAF2,
  • TRAIL-R1 TRAIL-R1 , TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, transglutaminase, etc.
  • Therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from recombinant proteins, including proteins selected from the group consisting of 0ATL3, 0FC3, 0PA3, 0PD2, 4- 1 BBL, 5T4, 6Ckine, 707-AP, 9D7, A2M, AA, AAAS, AACT, AASS, ABAT, ABCAI , ABCA4, ABCB1 , ABCB1 1 , ABCB2, ABCB4, ABCB7, ABCC2, ABCC6, ABCC8, ABCD1 , ABCD3, ABCG5, ABCG8, ABL1 , ABO, ABR ACAA1 , ACACA, ACADL, ACADM, ACADS, ACADVL, ACAT1 , ACCPN, ACE, ACHE, ACHM3, ACHM1 , ACLS, ACPI, ACTA1 , ACTC, ACTN4, ACVRL1 , AD2, ADA, ADAMT
  • therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from growth hormones or growth factors, for example for promoting growth in a (transgenic) living being, such as, for example, TGF ⁇ and the IGFs (insulin- like growth factors), proteins that influence the metabolism and/or haematopoiesis, such as, for example, ⁇ -anti-trypsin, LDL receptor, erythropoietin (EPO), insulin, GAT A-1 , etc., or proteins such as, for example, factors VIII and Xl of the blood coagulation system, etc.
  • growth hormones or growth factors for example for promoting growth in a (transgenic) living being, such as, for example, TGF ⁇ and the IGFs (insulin- like growth factors), proteins that influence the metabolism and/or haematopoiesis, such as, for example, ⁇ -anti-trypsin, LDL receptor, erythropoiet
  • Such proteins further include enzymes, such as, for example, ⁇ -galactosidase (lacZ), DNA restriction enzymes (e.g. EcoRI, Hindlll, etc.), lysozymes, etc., or proteases, such as, for example, papain, bromelain, keratinases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, renin (chymosin), suizyme, nortase, etc.
  • enzymes such as, for example, ⁇ -galactosidase (lacZ), DNA restriction enzymes (e.g. EcoRI, Hindlll, etc.), lysozymes, etc.
  • proteases such as, for example, papain, bromelain, keratinases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, renin (chymosin), suizyme, nortase, etc.
  • proteins may be encoded by the at least one RNA
  • therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from proteases etc. which allow to cure a specific disease due to e.g. (over)expression of a dysfunctional or exogenous proteins causing disorders or diseases.
  • the invention may be used to therapeutically introduce the complexed RNA into the organism, which attacks a pathogenic organism (virus, bacteria etc).
  • RNA encoding therapeutic proteases may be used to cleave viral proteins which are essential to the viral assembly or other essential steps of virus production.
  • Therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from proteins which modulate various intracellular pathways by e.g. signal transmission modulation (inhibition or stimulation) which may influence pivotal intracellular processes like apoptosis, cell growth etc, in particular with respect to the organism's immune system.
  • signal transmission modulation inhibition or stimulation
  • immune modulators e.g. cytokines, lymphokines, monokines, interferones etc. may be expressed efficiently by the complexed RNA as defined herein.
  • these proteins therefore also include, for example, cytokines of class I of the cytokine family that contain 4 position-specific conserved cysteine residues (CCCC) and a conserved sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp- Ser (WSXWS), wherein X represents an unconserved amino acid.
  • cytokines of class I of the cytokine family that contain 4 position- specific conserved cysteine residues (CCCC) and a conserved sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp- Ser (WSXWS), wherein X represents an unconserved amino acid.
  • Cytokines of class I of the cytokine family include the GM-CSF sub-family, for example IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, the IL-6 sub-family, for example IL-6, IL-1 1 , IL-12, or the IL-2 sub-family, for example IL-2, IL-4, IL- 7, IL-9, IL-15, etc., or the cytokines IL-1 ⁇ , IL-I ⁇ , IL-10 etc.
  • such proteins can also include cytokines of class Il of the cytokine family (interferon receptor family), which likewise contain 4 position-specific conserved cysteine residues (CCCC) but no conserved sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS).
  • Cytokines of class Il of the cytokine family include, for example, IFN- ⁇ , IFN- ⁇ , IFN- ⁇ , etc.
  • Proteins coded for by the at least one modified (m)RNA (of the inventive immunosuppressive composition) used according to the invention can further include also cytokines of the tumour necrosis family, for example TNF- ⁇ , TNF- ⁇ , TNF-RI, TNF-RII, CD40, Fas, etc., or cytokines of the chemokine family, which contain 7 transmembrane helices and interact with G-protein, for example IL-8, MIP- 1 , RANTES, CCR5, CXR4, etc.
  • cytokines of the tumour necrosis family for example TNF- ⁇ , TNF- ⁇ , TNF-RI, TNF-RII, CD40, Fas, etc.
  • cytokines of the chemokine family which contain 7 transmembrane helices and interact with G-protein, for example IL-8, MIP- 1 , RANTES, CCR5, CXR4, etc.
  • Such proteins can also be selected from apoptosis factors or apoptosis-related or -linked proteins, including AIF, Apaf, for example Apaf-1 , Apaf-2, Apaf-3, or APO-2 (L), APO-3 (L), apopain, Bad, Bak, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-x L , Bcl-x s , bik, CAD, calpain, caspases, for example caspase-1 , caspase-2, caspase-3, caspase-4, caspase-5, caspase-6, caspase-7, caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-10, caspase-1 1 , ced-3, ced-9, c-Jun, c- Myc, crm A, cytochrome C, CdR1 , DcR1 , DD, DED, DISC, DNA-PKc 5 , DR3, DR4, DR5, FADD/MORT-1
  • therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also code for antigen specific T cell receptors.
  • the T cell receptor or TCR is a molecule found on the surface of T lymphocytes (or T cells) that is generally responsible for recognizing antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. It is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha and beta chain in 95% of T cells, while 5% of T cells have TCRs consisting of gamma and delta chains. Engagement of the TCR with antigen and MHC results in activation of its T lymphocyte through a series of biochemical events mediated by associated enzymes, co-receptors and specialized accessory molecules.
  • MHC major histocompatibility complex
  • these proteins allow to specifically target specific antigen and may support the functionality of the immune system due to their targeting properties. Accordingly, transfection of cells in vivo by administering the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein coding for these receptors or, preferably, an ex vivo cell transfection approach (e.g. by transfecting specifically certain immune cells), may be pursued.
  • the T cell receptor molecules introduced recognize specific antigens on MHC molecule and may thereby support the immune system's awareness of antigens to be attacked.
  • the therapeutically active proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may furthermore comprise an adjuvant protein.
  • an adjuvant protein is preferably to be understood as any protein, which is capable to elicit an innate immune response as defined herein.
  • an innate immune response comprises an activation of a pattern recognition receptor, such as e.g. a receptor selected from the Toll-like receptor (TLR) familiy, including e.g. a Toll like receptor selected from human TLR1 to TLR10 or from murine Toll like receptors TLR1 to TLR13.
  • TLR Toll-like receptor
  • an innate immune response is elicited in a mammal, more preferably in a human.
  • the adjuvant protein is selected from human adjuvant proteins or from pathogenic adjuvant proteins, in particular from bacterial adjuvant proteins.
  • mRNA encoding human proteins involved in adjuvant effects may be used as well.
  • Human adjuvant proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, typically comprise any human protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (in a mammal), e.g. as a reaction of the binding of an exogenous TLR ligand to a TLR.
  • human adjuvant proteins which may be encoded by the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, cytokines which induce or enhance an innate immune response, including IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, IL-21 CCL21 , GM-CSF and TNF-alpha; cytokines which are released from macrophages, including IL-I , IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF- alpha; from components of the complement system including C1 q, MBL, C1 r, C1 s, C2b, Bb, D, MASP-1 , MASP-2, C4b, C3b, C5a, C3a, C4a, C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9, CRI , CR2, CR3, CR4, C1 qR, CI INH, C4bp, MCP, DAF, H, I, P and CD59; from proteins which are components
  • NF- ⁇ B, c-Fos, c-Jun, c-Myc e.g. IL-I alpha, I L- 1 beta, Beta-Defensin, IL-6, IFN gamma, IFN alpha and IFN beta; from costimulatory molecules, including CD28 or CD40-ligand or PD1 ; protein domains, including LAMP; cell surface proteins; or human adjuvant proteins including CD80, CD81 , CD86, trif, flt-3 ligand, thymopentin, Gp96 or fibronectin, etc., or any species homolog of any of the above human adjuvant proteins.
  • Pathogenic adjuvant proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, typically comprise any pathogenic (adjuvant) protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (in a mammal), more preferably selected from pathogenic (adjuvant) proteins derived from bacteria, protozoa, viruses, or fungi, animals, etc., and even more preferably from pathogenic adjuvant proteins selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, bacterial proteins, protozoan proteins (e.g. profilin - like protein of Toxoplasma gondii), viral proteins, or fungal proteins, animal proteins, etc.
  • pathogenic (adjuvant) protein which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (in a mammal)
  • pathogenic (adjuvant) proteins derived from bacteria, protozoa, viruses, or fungi, animals, etc. and even more preferably from pathogenic adjuvant proteins selected from the group consist
  • bacterial (adjuvant) proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may comprise any bacterial protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (preferably in a mammal).
  • bacterial (adjuvant) proteins which may be encoded by the complexed RNA, may comprise bacterial adjuvant proteins selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, bacterial flagellins, including flagellins from organisms including Agrobacterium, Aquifex, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Bartonella, Bordetella, Borrelia, Burkholderia, Campylobacter, Caulobacte, Clostridium, Escherichia, Helicobacter, Lachnospiraceae, Legionella, Listeria, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Rhodobacter, Roseburia, Salmonella, Serpulina, Serratia, Shigella, Treponema, Vibrio, Wolinella, Yersinia, more preferably flagellins from the species, without being limited thereto, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Aquifex pyrophilus, Azos
  • Bacterial flagellins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, are particularly preferred and may be selected from any bacterial flagellin showing adjuvant character, more preferably from bacterial flagellins selected from the group consisting of bacterial heat shock proteins or chaperons, including Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90, Hsp100; OmpA (Outer membrane protein) from gram-negative bacteria; bacterial porins, including OmpF; bacterial toxins, including pertussis toxin (PT) from Bordetella pertussis, pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin CyaA and CyaC from Bordetella pertussis, PT-9K/129G mutant from pertussis toxin, pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin CyaA and CyaC from Bordetella pertussis, tetanus toxin, cholera
  • Bacterial flagellins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, even more preferably comprise a sequence selected from the group comprising any of the following sequences as referred to their accession numbers:
  • Protozoan proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any protozoan protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Tc52 from Trypanosoma cruzi, PFTG from Trypanosoma gondii, Protozoan heat shock proteins, LeIF from Leishmania spp, profilin— like protein from Toxoplasma gondii, etc.
  • Viral proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any viral protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Respiratory Syncytial Virus fusion glycoprotein (F-protein), envelope protein from MMT virus, mouse leukemia virus protein, Hemagglutinin protein of wild-type measles virus, etc.
  • F-protein Respiratory Syncytial Virus fusion glycoprotein
  • Fungal proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any fungal protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP; LZ-8), etc.
  • FIP fungal immunomodulatory protein
  • pathogenic adjuvant proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may finally be selected from any further pathogenic protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), OspA, etc.
  • KLH Keyhole limpet hemocyanin
  • OspA OspA
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may alternatively encode an antigen.
  • the term "antigen" refers to a substance which is recognized by the immune system and is capable of triggering an antigen-specific immune response, e.g. by formation of antibodies. Antigens can be classified according to their origin.
  • Exogenous antigens are antigens that enter the cell or the body from outside (the cell or the body), for example by inhalation, ingestion or injection, etc. These antigens are internalized by antigen-presenting cells ("APCs", such as dendritic cells or macrophages) and processed into fragments. APCs then present the fragments to T helper cells (e.g. CD4 + ) by the use of MHC Il molecules on their surface. Recognition of these antigen fragments by T cells leads to activation of the T cells and secretion of cytokines.
  • APCs antigen-presenting cells
  • T helper cells e.g. CD4 +
  • Cytokines are substances that can activate proliferation of immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells, B cells or macrophages.
  • endogenous antigens are antigens which have been generated within the cell, e.g. as a result of normal cell metabolism. Fragments of these antigens are presented on MHC I molecules on the surface of APCs. These antigens are recognized by activated antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8 + T cells. After recognition, those T cells react in secretion of different toxins that cause lysis or apoptosis of the antigen-presenting cell.
  • Endogenous antigens comprise antigens, e.g.
  • TSAs tumor-specific antigens
  • TAAs tumor-associated-antigens
  • TAAs tumor-associated-antigens
  • Antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may include e.g. proteins, peptides or fragments thereof.
  • antigens are proteins and peptides or fragments thereof, such as epitopes of those proteins or peptides.
  • Epitopes also called "antigen determinants"
  • B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes are typically presented on MHC molecules, wherein e.g.
  • antigens encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complex according to the invention may also comprise any other biomolecule, e.g., lipids, carbohydrates, etc., which may be covalently or non-covalently attached to the RNA (molecule).
  • antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be exogenous or endogenous antigens.
  • Endogenous antigens comprise antigens generated in the cell, especially in degenerate cells such as tumor cells. These antigens are referred to as "tumor antigens”. Preferably, without being restricted thereto, they are located on the surface of the cell.
  • tumor antigens means also antigens expressed in cells which are (were) not by themselves (or originally not by themselves) degenerate but are associated with the supposed tumor.
  • Antigens which are connected with tumor-supplying vessels or (re)formation thereof in particular those antigens which are associated with neovascularization, e.g. growth factors, such as VEGF, bFGF etc., are also included herein.
  • Antigens connected with a tumor furthermore include antigens from cells or tissues, typically embedding the tumor. Further, some substances (usually proteins or peptides) are expressed in patients suffering (knowingly or not-knowingly) from a cancer disease and they occur in increased concentrations in the body fluids of said patients, e.g. proteins, which are associated with tumor cell invasion and migration. These substances are also referred to as "tumor antigens", however they are not antigens in the stringent meaning of an immune response inducing substance. Use thereof is also encompassed by the scope of the present invention.
  • Antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be exemplarily selected, without being restricted thereto, e.g. from any antigen suitable for the specific purpose, e.g. from antigens, which are relevant (or causal) for specific infection diseases, such as defined herein, from cancer antigens such as tumor specific surface antigens, from antigens expressed in cancer diseases, from mutant antigens expressed in cancer diseases, or from protein antigens involved in the etiology of further diseases, e.g. autoimmune diseases, allergies, etc. E.g. these antigens may be used to desensitize a patient by administering an antigen causing the patient's allergic or autoimmune status.
  • tumour antigens are inter alia tumour-specific surface antigens (TSSAs), for example 5T4, alpha5beta1 -integrin, 707-AP, AFP, ART-4, B7H4, BAGE, Bcr-abl, MN/C IX antigen, CA125, CAMEL, CAP-1 , CASP-8, beta-eaten in/m, CD4, CDI 9, CD20, CD22, CD25, CDC27/m, CD 30, CD33, CD52, CD56, CD80, CDK4/m, CEA, CT, Cyp-B, DAM, EGFR, ErbB3, ELF2M, EMMPRIN, EpCam, ETV6-AML1 , G250, GAGE, GnT-V, Gp100, HAGE
  • TSSAs tumour-specific surface antigens
  • tumor antigens Any class of tumor antigens is suitable for the purpose of the present invention, e.g. tumor antigens known to be involved in neovascularization, influencing the extracellular matrix structure etc. Fragments and analogues of the above antigens are also encompassed.
  • tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. These tables illustrate specific (protein) antigens (i.e. "tumor antigens") with respect to the cancer disease, they are associated with. According to the invention, the terms “cancer diseases” and “tumor diseases” are used synonymously herein.
  • examples of tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of 5T4, 707-AP, 9D7, AFP, AlbZIP HPGI , 5 1 -integrin, 5 6-integrin, -actinin-4/m, methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, ART-4, ARTC1/m, B7H4, BAGE-1 , BCL-2, bcr/abl, catenin/m, BING-4, BRCAl/m, BRCA2/m, CA 15-3/CA 27-29, CA 19-9, CA72-4, CA125, calreticulin, CAMEL, CASP-8/m, cathepsin B, cathepsin L, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD25, CDE30, CD33, CD4, CD52, CD55, CD56, CD80, CDC27/m, CDK4/m, CDK
  • examples of tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of MAGE-A1 [accession number M77481 ], MAGE-A6 [accession number NM_005363], melan-A [accession number NM_00551 1 ], GP100 [accession number M77348], tyrosinase [accession number NM_000372], survivin [accession number AF077350], CEA [accession number NM_004363], Her-2/neu [accession number M1 1 730], WT1 [accession number NM_000378], PRAME [accession number NM_0061 15], EGFRI (epidermal growth factor receptor 1 ) [accession number AF288738], mucin-1 [accession number NM_002456] and SEC61 G [accession number M77481 ], M
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode an antibody.
  • an antibody may be selected from any antibody, e.g. any recombinantly produced or naturally occurring antibodies, known in the art, in particular antibodies suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic or scientific purposes, or antibodies which have been identified in relation to specific cancer diseases.
  • the term “antibody” is used in its broadest sense and specifically covers monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (including agonist, antagonist, and blocking or neutralizing antibodies) and antibody species with polyepitopic specificity.
  • antibody typically comprises any antibody known in the art (e.g.
  • IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA and IgE antibodies such as naturally occurring antibodies, antibodies generated by immunization in a host organism, antibodies which were isolated and identified from naturally occurring antibodies or antibodies generated by immunization in a host organism and recombinantly produced by biomolecular methods known in the art, as well as chimeric antibodies, human antibodies, humanized antibodies, bispecific antibodies, intrabodies, i.e. antibodies expressed in cells and optionally localized in specific cell compartments, and fragments and variants of the aforementioned antibodies.
  • an antibody consists of a light chain and a heavy chain both having variable and constant domains.
  • the light chain consists of an N-terminal variable domain, V L , and a C-terminal constant domain, Q.
  • the heavy chain of the IgG antibody for example, is comprised of an N-terminal variable domain, V H , and three constant domains, C H 1 , C H 2 und C H 3.
  • Single chain antibodies may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein as well, preferably by a single-stranded RNA, more preferably by an mRNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode a polyclonal antibody.
  • polyclonal antibody typically means mixtures of antibodies directed to specific antigens or immunogens or epitopes of a protein which were generated by immunization of a host organism, such as a mammal, e.g. including goat, cattle, swine, dog, cat, donkey, monkey, ape, a rodent such as a mouse, hamster and rabbit.
  • Polyclonal antibodies are generally not identical, and thus usually recognize different epitopes or regions from the same antigen.
  • RNA molecules complexed as claimed by the present invention typically a mixture (a composition) of different RNA molecules complexed as claimed by the present invention will be applied, each encoding a specific (monoclonal) antibody being directed to specific antigens or immunogens or epitopes of a protein.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode a monoclonal antibody.
  • the term "monoclonal antibody” herein typically refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed to a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations which typically include different antibodies directed to different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed to a single determinant on the antigen.
  • monoclonal antibodies as defined above may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA methods, e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567.
  • “Monoclonal antibodies” may also be isolated from phage libraries generated using the techniques described in McCafferty et ai, Nature, 348:552-554 (1990), for example.
  • an immunogen (antigen) of interest is injected into a host such as a mouse and B- cell lymphocytes produced in response to the immunogen are harvested after a period of time.
  • the B-cells are combined with myeloma cells obtained from mouse and introduced into a medium which permits the B-cells to fuse with the myeloma cells, producing hybridomas. These fused cells (hybridomas) are then placed in separate wells in microtiter plates and grown to produce monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies are tested to determine which of them are suitable for detecting the antigen of interest. After being selected, the monoclonal antibodies can be grown in cell cultures or by injecting the hybridomas into mice. However, for the purposes of the present invention, the peptide sequences of these monoclonal antibodies have to be sequenced and RNA sequences encoding these antibodies may be prepared according to procedures well known in the art.
  • non-human monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies such as murine antibodies may also be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention.
  • RNA molecule
  • such antibodies are typically only of limited use, since they generally induce an immune response by production of human antibodies directed to the said non-human antibodies, in the human body. Therefore, a particular non-human antibody can only be administered once to the human.
  • chimeric, humanized non-human and human antibodies can be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention.
  • “Chimeric” antibodies which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, are preferably antibodies in which the constant domains of an antibody described above are replaced by sequences of antibodies from other organisms, preferably human sequences.
  • “Humanized” (non-human) antibodies which may be also encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, are antibodies in which the constant and variable domains (except for the hypervariable domains) described above of an antibody are replaced by human sequences.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode human antibodies, i.e. antibodies having only human sequences.
  • human antibodies can be isolated from human tissues or from immunized non-human host organisms which are transgene for the human IgG gene locus, sequenced RNA sequences may be prepared according to procedures well known in the art. Additionally, human antibodies can be provided by the use of a phage display.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode bispecific antibodies.
  • Bispecific antibodies in context of the invention are preferably antibodies which act as an adaptor between an effector and a respective target, e.g. for the purposes of recruiting effector molecules such as toxins, drugs, cytokines etc., targeting effector cells such as CTL, NK cells, makrophages, granulocytes, etc. (see for review: Kontermann R. E., Acta Pharmacol. Sin, 2005, 26(1 ): 1 -9).
  • Bispecific antibodies as described herein are, in general, configured to recognize, e.g.
  • bispecificity means herewith that the antigen-binding regions of the antibodies are specific for two different epitopes.
  • different antigens, immunogens or epitopes, etc. can be brought close together, what, optionally, allows a direct interaction of the two components.
  • different cells such as effector cells and target cells can be connected via a bispecific antibody.
  • antibodies or fragments thereof which bind, on the one hand, a soluble antigen as described herein, and, on the other hand, an antigen or receptor on the surface of a tumor cell.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also encode antibodies as defined above. Since these antibodies are intracellularly expressed antibodies, i.e. antibodies which are encoded by nucleic acids localized in specific compartments of the cell and also expressed there, such antibodies may also be termed intrabodies.
  • Antibodies as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may preferably comprise full-length antibodies, i.e. antibodies composed of the full heavy and full light chains, as described above. However, derivatives of antibodies such as antibody fragments, variants or adducts may be encoded by the above at least one RNA of the complexed RNA in accordance with the present invention.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also encode antibody fragments selected from Fab, Fab', F(ab') 2 , Fc, Facb, pFc', Fd and Fv fragments of the aforementioned antibodies. In general, antibody fragments are known in the art.
  • a Fab fragment, antigen binding
  • a scFv single chain variable fragment
  • the domains are linked by an artificial linkage, in general a polypeptide linkage such as a peptide composed of 15-25 glycine, proline and/or serine residues.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode fragments and/or variants of the aforementioned therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies, wherein the fragments and/or variants may have a sequence identity to one of the aforementioned therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies of at least 70%, 80% or 85%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% over the whole length of the coding nucleic acid or amino acid sequences encoding these therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies.
  • the fragments and/or variants have the same biological function or specific activity compared to the full-length native therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies, e.g.
  • biological function of antibodies described herein also comprises neutralization of antigens, complement activation or opsonization.
  • antibodies typically recognize either native epitopes on the cell surface or free antigens.
  • Antibodies as defined above can interact with the cell-presenting antigens and initiate different defense mechanisms. On the one hand, the antibody can initiate signaling mechanisms in the targeted cell that leads to the cell's self-destruction (apoptosis). On the other hand, it can mark the cell in such a way that other components or effector cells of the body's immune system can recognize and attack.
  • CMC antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity
  • ADCC antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity
  • the antibody can bind only one antigen, or, in case of a bispecific antibody, two antigens.
  • scFv antibody fragments are useful for neutralization reactions because they don't contain the functionalities of the constant domain of an antibody.
  • the complex system of complement proteins can be activated via binding of an antibody which is independent of the Fc part of an antibody. End products of the complement cascade result in lysis of the cell and generation of an inflammatory milieu.
  • pathogens or other non-cellular particles are made accessible to phagocytes via binding the constant domain of an antibody.
  • cells recognized as foreign can be lysed via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC).
  • NK-cells can display lysis functions by activating Fc receptors.
  • RNA sequences nucleic or amino acid
  • the sequences can be aligned in order to be subsequently compared to one another. Therefore, e.g. gaps can be inserted into the sequence of the first sequence and the component at the corresponding position of the second sequence can be compared. If a position in the first sequence is occupied by the same component as is the case at a position in the second sequence, the two sequences are identical at this position.
  • the percentage to which two sequences are identical is a function of the number of identical positions divided by the total number of positions.
  • the percentage to which two sequences are identical can be determined using a mathematical algorithm.
  • a preferred, but not limiting, example of a mathematical algorithm which can be used is the algorithm of Karlin et al. (1993), PNAS USA, 90:5873-5877 or Altschul et a/. (1997), Nucleic Acids Res, 25:3389-3402. Such an algorithm is integrated in the BLAST program. Sequences which are identical to the sequences of the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention to a certain extent can be identified by this program. Those at least one RNA molecules (of the complexed RNA of the present invention) encoding amino acid sequences which have (a) conservative substitution(s) compared to the physiological sequence in particular fall under the term variants.
  • Substitutions in which encoded amino acids which originate from the same class are exchanged for one another are called conservative substitutions.
  • these are encoded amino acids encoded aliphatic side chains, positively or negatively charged side chains, aromatic groups in the side chains or encoded amino acids, the side chains of which can enter into hydrogen bridges, e.g. side chains which have a hydroxyl function.
  • an amino acid having a polar side chain is replaced by another amino acid having a likewise polar side chain, or, for example, an amino acid characterized by a hydrophobic side chain is substituted by another amino acid having a likewise hydrophobic side chain (e.g.
  • Insertions and substitutions are possible, in particular, at those sequence positions which cause no modification to the three-dimensional structure or do not affect the binding region. Modifications to a three-dimensional structure by insertion(s) or deletion(s) can easily be determined e.g. using CD spectra (circular dichroism spectra) (Urry, 1985, Absorption, Circular Dichroism and ORD of Polypeptides, in: Modern Physical Methods in Biochemistry, Neuberger eta/, (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam).
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be an immunostimulatory RNA.
  • the immunostimulatory RNA may exhibit an immunostimulatory effect already prior to complexation of the RNA with the inventive oligopeptide according to formula (I) as defined above, or, more preferably, an immunostimulatory effect of the RNA as used herein can be enhanced or even induced by complexation of the RNA with the inventive oligopeptide according to formula (I) as defined above.
  • the immunostimulatory RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA, e.g. a coding RNA, as defined above.
  • the immunostimulatory RNA may be a single-stranded, a double-stranded or a partially double-stranded RNA, more preferably a single-stranded RNA, and/or a circular or linear RNA, more preferably a linear RNA. More preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA. Even more preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA may be a ((linear) single-stranded) messenger RNA (mRNA). An immunostimulatory RNA may also occur as a short RNA oligonucleotide as defined above.
  • An immunostimulatory RNA as used herein may furthermore be selected from any class of RNA molecules, found in nature or being prepared synthetically, and which can induce an immune response.
  • an immune response may occur in various ways.
  • a substantial factor for a suitable immune response is the stimulation of different T-cell sub- populations.
  • T-lymphocytes are typically divided into two sub-populations, the T-helper 1 (Th1 ) cells and the T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, with which the immune system is capable of destroying intracellular (Th1 ) and extracellular (Th2) pathogens (e.g. antigens).
  • the two Th cell populations differ in the pattern of the effector proteins (cytokines) produced by them.
  • ThI cells assist the cellular immune response by activation of macrophages and cytotoxic T-cells.
  • Th2 cells promote the humoral immune response by stimulation of the B-cells for conversion into plasma cells and by formation of antibodies (e.g. against antigens).
  • the Th1/Th2 ratio is therefore of great importance in the immune response.
  • the Th1/Th2 ratio of the immune response is preferably shifted in the direction towards the cellular response (Th1 response) and a cellular immune response is thereby induced.
  • the immune system may be activated by ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs).
  • TLRs are a family of highly conserved pattern recognition receptor (PRR) polypeptides that recognize pathogen- associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and play a critical role in innate immunity in mammals.
  • PRR pattern recognition receptor
  • TLR1 - TLR13 Toll-like receptors: TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLR12 or TLR13
  • TLR1 - TLR13 Toll-like receptors: TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLR12 or TLR13
  • CpG DNA unmethylated bacterial DNA and synthetic analogs thereof
  • ligands for certain TLRs include certain nucleic acid molecules and that certain types of RNA are immunostimulatory in a sequence- independent or sequence-dependent manner, wherein these various immunostimulatory RNAs may e.g. stimulate TLR3, TLR7, or TLR8, or intracellular receptors such as RIG-I, MDA-5, etc.
  • these various immunostimulatory RNAs may e.g. stimulate TLR3, TLR7, or TLR8, or intracellular receptors such as RIG-I, MDA-5, etc.
  • Lipford et a/ determined certain G, U-containing oligoribonucleotides as immunostimulatory by acting via TLR7 and TLR8 (see WO 03/086280).
  • the immunostimulatory G, U-containing oligoribonucleotides described by Lipford et a/ were believed to be derivable from RNA sources including ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, messenger RNA, and viral RNA.
  • any RNA (molecule) as e.g. defined above (irrespective of its specific length, strandedness, modification and/or nucleotide sequence) complexed with a carrier peptide according to empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x (formula I) may have immunostimulatory properties, i.e. enhance the immune response.
  • RNA as defined above complexed with a carrier peptide according to empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x (formula I) may thus be used to enhance (unspecific) immunostimulation, if suitable and desired for a specific treatment. Accordingly, it can be an intrinsic property of the complexed RNA of the invention to provide immunestimulatory effects by complexation of any RNA with a peptide according to formula (I).
  • the at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may thus comprise any RNA sequence known to be immunostimulatory, including, without being limited thereto, RNA sequences representing and/or encoding ligands of TLRs, preferably selected from family members TLR1 - TLR13, more preferably from TLR7 and TLR8, ligands for intracellular receptors for RNA (such as RIG-I or MAD-5, etc.) (see e.g. Meylan, E., Tschopp, J. (2006). Toll-like receptors and RNA helicases: two parallel ways to trigger antiviral responses. MoI.
  • RNA molecules which may be used as immunostimulatory RNA may include any other RNA capable of eliciting an immune response.
  • immunostimulatory RNA may include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and viral RNA (vRNA).
  • RNA molecules which may be used as the at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may comprise, without being limited thereto, e.g. an RNA molecule of formula (Ma):
  • G is guanosine, uracil or an analogue of guanosine or uracil;
  • C is cytosine, uracil or an analogue of cytosine or uracil
  • X is guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine, cytosine or an analogue of the above- mentioned nucleotides
  • the immunostimulatory RNA molecules as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention comprise a length as defined above in general for RNA molecules of the complexed RNA of the present invention, more preferably a length of 5 to 5000, of 500 to 5000 or, more preferably, of 1000 to 5000 or, alternatively, of 5 to 1000, 5 to 500, 5 to 250, of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50 or, more preferably, of 5 to 30 nucleotides.
  • the at least one immunostimulatory RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be furthermore modified, preferably "chemically modified” in order to enhance the immunostimulatory properties of said DNA.
  • chemical modification means that the RNA used as immuostimulatory RNA according to the invention is modified by replacement, insertion or removal of individual or several atoms or atomic groups compared with naturally occurring RNA species.
  • the chemical modification of the RNA comprises at least one analogue of naturally occurring nucleotides.
  • examples which may be mentioned for nucleotide analogues which can be used according to the invention are analogues of guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine, cytosine.
  • the modifications may refer to modifications of the base, the ribose moiety and/or the phosphate backbone moiety.
  • analogues of guanosine, uracil, adenosine, and cytosine include, without implying any limitation, any naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine or cytosine that has been altered chemically, for example by acetylation, methylation, hydroxylation, etc., including 1 -methyl-adenosine, 1 -methyl- guanosine, 1 -methyl-inosine, 2,2-dimethyl-guanosine, 2,6-diaminopurine, 2'-Amino-2'- deoxyadenosine, 2'-Amino-2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-Amino-2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-Amino-2'- deoxyuridine, 2-Amino-6-chloropurineriboside, 2-Aminopurine-riboside, 2'-Araa
  • analogue as described above, particular preference is given according to the invention to those analogues that increase the immunogenicity of the immunostimulatory RNA sequence as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention and/or do not interfere with a further modification that has been introduced into said immunostimulatory RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be in the form of siRNA.
  • a siRNA is of interest particularly in connection with the phenomenon of RNA interference. Attention was drawn to the phenomenon of RNA interference in the course of immunological research. In recent years, a RNA-based defence mechanism has been discovered, which occurs both in the kingdom of the fungi and in the plant and animal kingdom and acts as an "immune system of the genome". The system was originally described in various species independently of one another, first in C.
  • RNA-mediated virus resistance in plants RNA-mediated virus resistance in plants
  • PTGS posttranscriptional gene silencing
  • RNA interference in eukaryotes are accordingly based on a common procedure.
  • the in vitro technique of RNA interference (RNAi) is based on double-stranded RNA molecules (dsRNA), which trigger the sequence- specific suppression of gene expression (Zamore (2001 ) Nat. Struct. Biol. 9: 746-750; Sharp (2001 ) Genes Dev. 5:485-490: Hannon (2002) Nature 41 : 244-251 ).
  • a siRNA as used for the complexed RNA according to the present invention typically comprises a (single- or) double stranded, preferably a double-stranded, RNA sequence with about 8 to 30 nucleotides, preferably 1 7 to 25 nucleotides, even more preferably from 20 to 25 and most preferably from 21 to 23 nucleotides.
  • siRNAs can also be directed against nucleotide sequences of a (therapeutically relevant) protein or antigen described hereinbefore that do not lie in the coding region, in particular in the 5' non-coding region of the RNA, for example, therefore, against non-coding regions of the RNA having a regulatory function.
  • the target sequence of the siRNA can therefore lie in the translated and/or untranslated region of the RNA and/or in the region of the control elements.
  • the target sequence of a siRNA can also lie in the overlapping region of untranslated and translated sequence; in particular, the target sequence can comprise at least one nucleotide upstream of the start triplet of the coding region of the RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be an antisense RNA.
  • an antisense RNA is preferably a (single-stranded) RNA molecule transcribed on the basis of the coding, rather than the template, strand of DNA, so that it is complementary to the sense (messenger) RNA.
  • An antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention typically forms a duplex between the sense and antisense RNA molecules and is thus capable to block translation of the mRNA.
  • an antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention can be directed against (may be complementary to) any portion of the mRNA sequence, which may encode a (therapeutically relevant) protein or antigen (e.g. as described hereinbefore), if thereby translation of the encoded protein is reduced/suppressed.
  • the target sequence of the antisense RNA on the targeted mRNA may be located in the translated and/or untranslated region of the mRNA, e.g. in the region of the mRNA control elements, in particular in the 5' non-coding region of the RNA exerting a regulatory function.
  • the target sequence of an antisense RNA on the targeted mRNA may also be constructed such that the antisense RNA binds to the mRNA by covering with its sequence a region which is partially complementary to the untranslated and to translated (coding) sequence of the targeted mRNA; in particular, the antisense RNA may be complementary to the target mRNA sequence by at least one nucleotide upstream of the start triplet of the coding region of the targeted mRNA.
  • the antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention comprises a length as generally defined above for RNA molecules (of the complexed RNA of the present invention).
  • the antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention will be a fragment of the targeted mRNA.
  • the antisense RNA may have more preferably a length of of 5 to 5000, of 500 to 5000, and, more preferably, of 1000 to 5000 or, alternatively, of 5 to 1000, 5 to 500, 5 to 250, of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50 or of 5 to 30 nucleotides, or, alternatively, and even more preferably a length of 20 to 100, of 20 to 80, or of 20 to 60 nucleotides.
  • the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may provided as a modified RNA, wherein any modification, in particular a modification disclosed in the following) may be introduced (in any combination or as such) into the RNA (molecules) as defined above.
  • modifications may, however, be more suitable for specific RNA types (e.g.
  • modifications of the RNA may be introduced in order to achieve specific or complex effects which may desired for the use of the subject-matter of the invention. Accordingly, modifications may be designed to e.g. stabilize the RNA against degradation, to enhance their transfection efficacy, to improve its translation efficacy, to increase their immunogenic potential and/or to enhance their therapeutic potential (e.g. enhance their silencing or antisense properties). It is particularly preferred, if the modified RNA as component of the inventive complexed RNA allows to combine improvement of at least one, more preferably of at least two functional properties, e.g. to stabilized the RNA and to improve the therapeutic or immunogenic potential.
  • the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention which allows to extend their half-life time in vivo.
  • the half-life time of a modified RNA under in vivo conditions is extended (as compared to the unmodified RNA) by at least 20, more preferably at least 40, more preferably at least 50 and even more preferably at least 70, 80, 90, 100,
  • the stabilization achieved by the modification may extend the half-life time of the modified mRNA by at least 5, 10, 15, 30 or more preferably at least 60 min as compared to the unmodified RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be stabilized by modifying the G/C content of e.g. the coding region of the RNA.
  • the G/C content of the coding region of the RNA (of the complexed RNA of the present invention) is altered, particularly increased, compared to the G/C content of the coding region of its corresponding wild-type RNA, i.e. the unmodified RNA.
  • the encoded amino acid sequence of the modified RNA is preferably not altered as compared to the amino acid sequence encoded by the corresponding wild-type RNA.
  • This modification of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on the fact that the coding sequence of any RNA to be translated is important for efficient translation of that RNA.
  • sequences having an increased G (guanosine)/C (cytosine) content are more stable than sequences having an increased A (adenosine)/U (uracil) content.
  • the codons of the RNA are therefore altered compared to the wild-type RNA, while retaining the translated amino acid sequence, such that they include an increased amount of G/C nucleotides.
  • the most favorable codons for the stability can be determined (so-called alternative codon usage).
  • the RNA sequence Depending on the amino acid to be encoded by the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, there are various possibilities for modification of the RNA sequence, compared to its wild-type sequence. In the case of amino acids which are encoded by codons which contain exclusively G or C nucleotides, no modification of the codon is necessary. Thus, the codons for Pro (CCC or CCG), Arg (CGC or CGG), Ala (GCC or GCG) and GIy (GGC or GGG) require no modification, since no A or U is present.
  • codons which contain A and/or U nucleotides can be modified by substitution of other codons which code for the same amino acids but contain no A and/or U. Examples of these are:
  • the codons for Pro can be modified from CCU or CCA to CCC or CCG; the codons for Arg can be modified from CGU or CGA or AGA or AGG to CGC or CGG; the codons for Ala can be modified from GCU or GCA to GCC or GCG; the codons for GIy can be modified from GGU or GGA to GGC or GGG.
  • the codons for Phe can be modified from UUU to UUC; the codons for Leu can be modified from UUA, UUG, CUU or CUA to CUC or CUG; the codons for Ser can be modified from UCU or UCA or AGU to UCC, UCG or AGC; the codon for Tyr can be modified from UAU to UAC; the codon for Cys can be modified from UGU to UGC; the codon for His can be modified from CAU to CAC; the codon for GIn can be modified from CAA to CAG; the codons for lie can be modified from AUU or AUA to AUC; the codons for Thr can be modified from ACU or ACA to ACC or ACG; the codon for Asn can be modified from AAU to AAC; the codon for Lys can be modified from AAA to AAG; the codons for VaI can be modified from GUU or GUA to GUC or GUG; the codon for Asp can be modified from GAU to GAC; the cod
  • substitutions listed above can be used either individually or in all possible combinations to increase the G/C content of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention compared to its particular wild- type RNA (i.e. the original sequence).
  • all codons for Thr occurring in the wild-type sequence can be modified to ACC (or ACG).
  • combinations of the above substitution possibilities are used:
  • the G/C content of the coding region of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is increased by at least
  • At least 60%, more preferably at least 70 %, even more preferably at least 80% and most preferably at least 90%, 95% or even 100% of the substitutable codons in the region coding for a protein or the whole sequence of the wild type RNA sequence are substituted, thereby increasing or even maximizing the GC/content of said sequence.
  • RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention it is particularly preferable to increase the G/C content of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention to the maximum (i.e. 100% of the substitutable codons), in particular in the region coding for a protein, compared to the wild-type sequence.
  • a further preferred modification of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on the finding that the translation efficiency is also determined by a different frequency in the occurrence of tRNAs in cells. Thus, if so-called "rare codons" are present in an RNA sequence to an increased extent, the corresponding modified RNA sequence is translated to a significantly poorer degree than in the case where codons coding for relatively "frequent" tRNAs are present.
  • the region which codes for the protein is modified compared to the corresponding region of the wild-type RNA such that at least one codon of the wild-type sequence which codes for a tRNA which is relatively rare in the cell is exchanged for a codon which codes for a tRNA which is relatively frequent in the cell and carries the same amino acid as the relatively rare tRNA.
  • the RNA sequences are modified such that codons for which frequently occurring tRNAs are available are inserted.
  • RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention
  • This preferred embodiment allows provision of a particularly efficiently translated and stabilized (modified) RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
  • the determination of the G/C content of an RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention can be carried out using the computer program explained in WO 02/098443 - the disclosure content of which is included in its full scope in the present invention.
  • the nucleotide sequence of any desired RNA can be modified with the aid of the genetic code or the degenerative nature thereof such that a maximum G/C content results, in combination with the use of codons which code for tRNAs occurring as frequently as possible in the cell, the amino acid sequence coded by the RNA (molecule) preferably not being modified compared to the non-modified sequence.
  • the A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is increased compared to the A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of its particular wild-type RNA.
  • This modification (an increased A/U content around the ribosome binding site) increases the efficiency of ribosome binding to the modified RNA.
  • An effective binding of the ribosomes to the ribosome binding site (Kozak sequence: GCCGCCACCAUGG (SEQ ID NO: 33), the AUG forms the start codon) in turn has the effect of an efficient translation of the modified RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be modified with respect to potentially destabilizing sequence elements.
  • the coding region and/or the 5' and/or 3' untranslated region of this RNA may be modified compared to the particular wild-type RNA such that is contains no destabilizing sequence elements, the coded amino acid sequence of the RNA (molecule) preferably not being modified compared to its particular wild-type RNA.
  • DSE destabilizing sequence elements
  • RNA for further stabilization of the RNA (molecule), optionally in the region which encodes for a protein, one or more such modifications compared to the corresponding region of the wild-type RNA can therefore be carried out, so that no or substantially no destabilizing sequence elements are contained there.
  • DSE present in the untranslated regions (3'- and/or 5'-UTR) can also be eliminated from the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention by such modifications.
  • Such destabilizing sequences are e.g. AU-rich sequences (AURES), which occur in 3'-UTR sections of numerous unstable RNAs (Caput et a/., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1986, 83: 1670 to 1674).
  • the RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention is therefore preferably modified compared to the wild-type RNA such that the RNA contains no such destabilizing sequences.
  • sequence motifs which are recognized by possible endonucleases, e.g. the sequence GAACAAG, which is contained in the 3'-UTR segment of the gene which codes for the transferrin receptor (Binder et a/., EMBO J. 1994, 13: 1969 to 1980).
  • sequence motifs are also preferably removed according to the invention in the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention can have a 5' cap structure.
  • cap structures which can be used according to the invention are m7G(5')ppp, (5'(A,G(5')ppp(5')A and G(5')ppp(5')G.
  • Another modification enhancing the stability of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on 5'- or 3' elongations of the RNA, typically homonucleotide elongations of a length of 10 to 200 nucleotides.
  • These elongations may contain, particularly if the RNA is provided as mRNA, a poly-A tail at the 3' terminus of typically about 10 to 200 adenosine nucleotides, preferably about 10 to 100 adenosine nucleotides, more preferably about 20 to 70 adenosine nucleotides or even more preferably about 20 to 60 adenosine nucleotides.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain, particularly if the RNA is provided as mRNA, a poly-C tail at the 3' terminus of typically about 10 to 200 cytosine nucleotides, preferably about 10 to 100 cytosine nucleotides, more preferably about 20 to 70 cytosine nucleotides or even more preferably about 20 to 60 or even 10 to 40 cytosine nucleotides.
  • RNA molecule
  • IRES internal ribosomal entry site
  • An IRES can thus function as the sole ribosome binding site, but it can also serve to provide a RNA which codes several proteins which are to be translated by the ribosomes independently of one another (multicistronic RNA).
  • IRES sequences which can be used according to the invention are those from picornaviruses (e.g.
  • FMDV pestiviruses
  • CFFV pestiviruses
  • PV polioviruses
  • ECMV encephalomyocarditis viruses
  • FMDV foot and mouth disease viruses
  • HCV hepatitis C viruses
  • CSFV classical swine fever viruses
  • MLV mouse leukoma virus
  • SIV simian immunodeficiency viruses
  • CrPV cricket paralysis viruses
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may exhibit at least one 5' and/or 3' stabilizing sequence as known from the art.
  • These stabilizing sequences in the 5' and/or 3' untranslated regions have the effect of increasing the half-life of the RNA in the cytosol.
  • These stabilizing sequences can have 100% sequence homology to naturally occurring sequences which occur in viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes, but can also be partly or completely synthetic.
  • the untranslated sequences (UTR) of the globin gene e.g. from Homo sapiens or Xenopus laevis may be mentioned as an example of stabilizing sequences which can be used in the present invention for a stabilized RNA.
  • stabilizing sequence has the general formula (C/U)CCAN x CCC(U/A)Py x UC(C/U)CC (SEQ ID NO: 34), which is contained in the 3'UTR of the very stable RNA which codes for globin, (l)-collagen, 15-lipoxygenase or for tyrosine hydroxylase (cf. Holcik et a/., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94: 2410 to 2414).
  • Such stabilizing sequences can of course be used individually or in combination with one another and also in combination with other stabilizing sequences known to a person skilled in the art.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is therefore preferably present as globin UTR (untranslated regions)-stabilized RNA, in particular as globin UTR-stabilized RNA.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain backbone modifications.
  • a backbone modification in connection with the present invention is a modification in which phosphates of the backbone of the nucleotides contained in the RNA are chemically modified.
  • backbone modifications typically include, without implying any limitation, modifications from the group consisting of methylphosphonates, phosphoramidates and phosphorothioates (e.g. cytidine-5'-O-(1 - thiophosphate)).
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain sugar modifications.
  • a sugar modification in connection with the present invention is a chemical modification of the sugar of the nucleotides present and typically includes, without implying any limitation, sugar modifications selected from the group consisting of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-oligoribonucleotide (2'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate, 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate), T- deoxy-2'-deamine oligoribonucleotide (2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate, T- amino-2'-deoxyuridine-5 '-triphosphate), 2'-O-alkyl oligoribonucleotide, 2'-deoxy-2'-C-alkyl oligoribonucleotide (2 '-O-methylcytidine-5 '-triphosphat
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain at least one base modification, which is preferably suitable for increasing the expression of the protein coded for by the at least one RNA (molecule) significantly as compared with the unaltered, i.e. natural (- native), RNA sequence.
  • Significant in this case means an increase in the expression of the protein compared with the expression of the native RNA sequence by at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50% or 60%, more preferably by at least 70%, 80%, 90% or even 100% and most preferably by at least 150%, 200% or even 300%.
  • a nucleotide having a base modification is preferably selected from the group of the base-modified nucleotides 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-chlor
  • nucleotides for base modifications selected from the group of base- modified nucleotides consisting of 5-methylcytidine-5 '-triphosphate, 7-deazaguanosine-5'- triphosphate, 5-bromocytidine-5'-triphosphate, and pseudouridine-5'-triphosphate.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain at least one modification of a nucleoside of a nucleotide as contained in the at least one RNA (molecule), which acts immunosuppressive, i.e. is preferably suitable for preventing or decreasing an immune response, when administered to a patient in need thereof.
  • Such at least one modification is preferably selected from nucleoside modifications selected from: a) a chemical modification at the 4-, 5-or 6-position of the pyrimidine base of the nucleosides of cytidine and/or uridine; b) a chemical modification at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides of adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine; and/or c) a chemical modification at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides of adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine.
  • nucleoside modifications selected from: a) a chemical modification at the 4-, 5-or 6-position of the pyrimidine base of the nucleosides of cytidine and/or uridine; b) a chemical modification at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides of
  • an (m)RNA is a nucleic acid chain formed by a number of nucleotides typically selected from adenosine-5'-monophosphate, guanosine-5'-monophosphate, inosine-5'-monophosphate, cytidine-5'-monophosphate and/or uridine-5'-monophosphate. Those nucleotides are linked to each other via their monophosphate. Nucleotides comprise nucleosides and a 5'-monophosphate as a structural component, wherein the nucleosides are typically formed by a nucleobase, i.e.
  • a modification of a nucleoside of at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is always intended to mean a modification in the nucleoside structure of the respective nucleotide of said at least one RNA (molecule).
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be modified with a chemical modification at the 5- or 6-position of the pyrimidine base of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine.
  • such chemical modifications at the 4-, 5- or 6-position of the base pyrimidine of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine may be selected from the group consisting of: 4-thio, 5-iodo- / (5-I-), 5-bromo- / (5-Br-), 5- aminoallyl-, 5-fluoro- / (5-F-), 5-hydroxy-, 5-hydro- / (5-H-), 5-nitro-, 5-propynyl- / (5-(C ⁇ C- CH 3 )-), 5-methyl-, 5-methyl-2-thio-, 5-formyl-, 5-hydroxymethyl-, 5-methoxy-, 5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester-, 5-oxyacetic acid-, 5-carboxyhydroxymethyl-, 5- (carboxyhydroxymethyl)pyrimidine methyl ester-, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-, 5- methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thio, 5-aminomethyl-, 5-aminomethyl-2-thio-, 5-
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be alternatively modified with a chemical modification at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine.
  • such chemical modifications at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine may be selected from the group consisting of 2-Amino-, 7-Deaza-, 8-Aza-, or 8-Azido-.
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be modified with at least one chemical modification at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine, when incorporated in the RNA sequence.
  • such chemical modifications at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine may be selected from the group consisting of: 2'-deoxy-, 2'-amino-2'-deoxy-, 2'-amino-, 2'-fluoro- 2'-deoxy-, 2'-fluoro-, 2'-O-methyl-2'-deoxy- or 2'-O-methyk
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified at the 4,- 5- or 6-position of the base pyrimidine of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine and at the 2'-position of the ribose sugar according to modifications a) and c) as defined above.
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine and at the 2'-position of the ribose sugar according to modifications b) and c) as defined above, more preferably as defined above.
  • At least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified leading to chemically modified nucleotides (of the (m)RNA) selected from the following group: 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-lodocytidine-5'-(mono)phosphate, 5-lodo-2'-deoxycytidine-5'- (mono)phosphate, 5-lodocy
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain substitutions, additions or deletions of nucleotides, which are preferably introduced to achieve functional effects. These various types of nucleotide modifications may be introduced, if the RNA, e.g the mRNA, is derived from a WT sequence.
  • a DNA matrix is used for preparation of the RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention by techniques of the well known site directed mutagenesis (see e.g. Maniatis et a/., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 2001 ).
  • RNA for preparation of the RNA, a corresponding DNA molecule may be transcribed in vitro.
  • This DNA matrix has a suitable promoter, e.g. a T7 or SP6 promoter, for in vitro transcription, which is followed by the desired nucleotide sequence for the RNA to be prepared and a termination signal for in vitro transcription.
  • the DNA molecule which forms the matrix of a RNA of interest may be prepared by fermentative proliferation and subsequent isolation as part of a plasmid which can be replicated in bacteria. Plasmids which may be mentioned as suitable for the present invention are e.g.
  • pT7Ts GenBank accession number U26404; Lai et a/., Development 1995, 121 : 2349 to 2360
  • pGEM® series e.g. pGEM®-1 (GenBank accession number X65300; from Promega) and pSP64 (GenBank accession number X65327)
  • pSP64 GeneBank accession number X65327
  • Mezei and Storts Purification of PCR Products, in: Griffin and Griffin (ed.), PCR Technology: Current Innovation, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2001 .
  • the mass or molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention which means the mass or molar ratio of the RNA (be it single- or double- stranded) to the one or more oligopeptides typically is by no way restricted and is chosen as suitable for the particular application.
  • the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may be less than 1 :1 , 1 :2, 1 :3, 1 :4, 1 :5, 1 :6, 1 :7, 1 :8, 1 :9, 1 :10, 1 :1 1 , 1 :12, 1 :13, 1 :14, 1 :15, 1 :16, 1 :17, 1 :18, or less than 1 :20.
  • the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may higher than 1 :1 , 2:1 , 3:1 , 4:1 , 5:1 , 6:1 , 7:1 , 8:1, 9:1 , 10:1 , 1 1 :1 , 12:1 , 13:1 , 14:1 , 15:1 , 16:1 , 1 7:1 , 18:1 , 19:1 , 20:1.
  • the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may not be less than 1 :5 with respect to the content of the one or more oligopeptides. More preferably, the (molar or) mass ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA is from 1 :5 to 20:1 , more preferably from 1 :3 to 15:1.
  • the mass ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention is preferably in a range of about 1 :100 to about 1 :0,5, more preferably has a value of about 1 :50 to about 1 :1 , or even more preferably about 1 :100, about 1 :90, about 1 :80, about 1 :70, about 1 :60, about 1 :50, about 1 : 45, about 1 :40, about 1 :35, about 1 :30, about 1 :25, about 1 :20, about 1 :15, about 1 :10, about 1 :5, about 1 :4, about 1 :3, about 1 :2, about 1 :1 or even about 1 :0,5 regarding the ratio of RNArpeptide in the complex, wherein any range may be formed by combining two of the above specifically indicated values.
  • the molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention is preferably, according to a particular preferred embodiment, in a range of about 1 :20000 to about 1 :500 or even 1 :250, more preferably in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :1000, or even more preferably has a value of about 1 :9500, about 1 :9000, about 1 :8500, about 1 :8000, about 1 :7500, about 1 :7000, about 1 :6500, about 1 :6000, about 1 :5500, about 1 :5000, about 1 :4500, about 1 :4000, about 1 :3500, about 1 :3000, about 1 :2500, about 1 :2000, about 1 :1500, about 1 :1000, about 1 :500, about 1 :450,
  • the molar ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides may be in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :1000.
  • the molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention may be in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :100 or even in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :500.
  • the molar ratio and the mass ratio are typically dependent on each other, wherein each of these ratios may be influenced by factors such as RNA length or peptide length.
  • the mass ratio and the molar ratio may be calculated for an average complex size, wherein a mass ratio of about 1 :50 - 1 :1 approximately corresponds to a molar ratio of about 1 :10000 - 1 :1000.
  • An exemplary schedule of molar and mass ratios is given in the Examples, which may be used for calculation additionally.
  • the ratio of the RNA complex components according to the present invention may also be calculated on the basis of the nitrogen/phosphate ratio (N/P-ratio) of the entire RNA complex.
  • N/P-ratio nitrogen/phosphate ratio
  • 1 ⁇ g RNA typically contains about 3 nmol phosphate residues, provided the RNA exhibits a statistical distribution of bases.
  • 1 ⁇ g peptide typically contains about x nmol nitrogen residues, dependent on the molecular weight and the number of basic amino acids.
  • protamine molecular weight about 4250 g/mol, 21 nitrogen atoms, when protamine from salmon is used
  • N/P ratio of about 0.81 can be calculated.
  • mass ratio of about 8:1 RNA/protamine an N/P ratio of about 0.2 can be calculated.
  • an N/P-ratio is preferably in the range of about 0,2-50, preferably in a range of about 0.5-50 and most preferably in a range of about 0.75-25 or 1 -25 regarding the ratio of RNA:peptide in the complex, even more preferably in the range of about 10-50 and most preferably in the range of about 25-50).
  • compositions preferably a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a complexed RNA according to the present invention and optionally a (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier and/or further auxiliary substances and additives.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition employed according to the present invention typically comprises a safe and effective amount of a complexed RNA according to the present invention.
  • a "safe and effective amount” means an amount of a complexed RNA according to the present invention such as to provide an effect in cells or tissues in vitro or in vivo, e.g.
  • an encoded protein as described above such as a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above, to induce a positive change of a state to be treated ⁇ in vivo) in a cell, a tissue or an organism, e.g. a tumour disease or cancer disease, a cardiovascular disease, an infectious disease, an autoimmune disease, (mono-)genetic diseases, etc. as described herein, and/or to induce or enhance an immue response.
  • an encoded protein as described above such as a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above, to induce a positive change of a state to be treated ⁇ in vivo) in a cell, a tissue or an organism, e.g. a tumour disease or cancer disease, a cardiovascular disease, an infectious disease, an autoimmune disease, (mono-)genetic diseases, etc. as described herein, and/or to induce or enhance an immue response.
  • a "safe and effective amount” is low enough to avoid serious side effects, particularly in the therapy of diseases as mentioned herein, that is to say to render possible a reasonable ratio of advantage and risk. Determination of these limits typically lies within the range of reasonable medical judgement.
  • the concentration of the complexed RNA according to the invention in such (pharmaceutical) compositions can therefore vary, for example, without being limited thereto, within a wide range of from e.g. 0.1 ng to 1 ,000 mg/ml or even more.
  • Such a "safe and effective amount" of a complexed RNA according to the invention can vary in connection with the particular state to be treated and the age and the physical state of the patient to be treated, the severity of the state, the duration of the treatment, the nature of the concomitant therapy, of the particular (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier used and similar factors within the knowledge and experience of the treating doctor.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition described here can be employed for human and also for veterinary medicine purposes.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention described here can optionally comprise a suitable carrier, preferably a pharmaceutically suitable carrier.
  • suitable carrier preferably includes one or more compatible solid or liquid fillers, or diluents or encapsulating compounds which are suitable for administration to a person.
  • compatible means that the constituents of the composition are capable of being mixed together with the complexed RNA according to the invention and the auxiliary substance optionally contained in the composition, as such and with one another in a manner such that no interaction which would substantially reduce the (pharmaceutical) effectiveness of the composition under usual condition of use occurs, such as e.g.
  • Suitable carrier must of course have a sufficiently high purity and a sufficiently low toxicity to render them suitable for administration to a person to be treated.
  • Carriers are chosen dependent on the way of administration, be it in solid or liquid form. Accordingly, the choice of a (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier as described above is determined in particular by the mode in which the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention is administered.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can be administered, for example, systemically.
  • Administration routes include e.g. intra- or transdermal, oral, parenteral, including subcutaneous, intramuscular, i.a. or intravenous injections, topical and/or intranasal routes.
  • the suitable amount of the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention which is to be used can be determined by routine experiments using animal models. Such models include, but without being limited thereto, models of the rabbit, sheep, mouse, rat, dog and non-human primate models.
  • the carrier may be selected from pyrogen- free water; isotonic saline solution and buffered solutions, e.g. phosphate buffered solutions.
  • Preferred unit dose forms for injection include sterile solutions of water, physiological saline solution or mixtures thereof, e.g. Ringer-Lactat solution. The pH of such solutions should be adjusted to about 7. 0 to about 7.6, preferably about 7.4.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition contains the inventive complexed RNA in water.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention may contain an injection buffer as carrier for liquid preparation, which preferably improves transfection and, if the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention codes for a protein, also the translation of the encoded protein, in cells, tissues or an organism.
  • the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can comprise, for example, an aqueous injection buffer or water which contains, with respect to the total (pharmaceutical) composition, if this is in liquid form, a sodium salt, preferably at least 50 mM sodium salt, a calcium salt, preferably at least 0.01 mM calcium and/or magnesium salt, and optionally a potassium salt, preferably at least 3 mM potassium salt.
  • a sodium salt preferably at least 50 mM sodium salt
  • a calcium salt preferably at least 0.01 mM calcium and/or magnesium salt
  • optionally a potassium salt preferably at least 3 mM potassium salt.
  • the sodium salts, calcium and/or magnesium salts and optionally potassium salts contained in such an injection buffer are in the form of halides, e.g. chlorides, iodides or bromides, or in the form of their hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates or sulfates.
  • Examples which are to be mentioned here are, for the sodium salt NaCI, NaI, NaBr, Na 2 CO 3 , NaHCO 3 , and/or Na 2 SO 4 , for the potassium salt optionally present KCl, Kl, KBr, K 2 CO 3 , KHCO 3 , and/or K 2 SO 4 , and for the calcium and/or magnesium salt CaCI 2 , CaI 2 , CaBr 2 , CaCO 3 , CaSO 4 , Ca(OH) 2, MgCI 2 , MgI 2 , MgBr 2 , MgCO 3 , MgSO 4 , and/or Mg(OH) 2 .
  • the injection buffer can also contain organic anions of the abovementioned cations.
  • such an injection buffer contains as salts sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCI 2 ) and optionally potassium chloride (KCl), it also being possible for other anions to be present in addition to the chlorides.
  • These salts are typically present in the injection buffer optionally used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention, with respect to the total (pharmaceutical) composition (if this is in liquid form), in a concentration of at least 50 mM sodium chloride (NaCI), at least 3 mM potassium chloride (KCI) and at least 0.01 mM calcium and/or magnesium chloride (CaCI 2 ).
  • the injection buffer can be in the form of both hypertonic and isotonic or hypotonic injection buffers.
  • the injection buffer is hypertonic, isotonic or hypotonic in each case with respect to the particular reference medium, i.e. the injection buffer has either a higher, the same or a lower salt content compared with the particular reference medium, such concentrations of the abovementioned salts which do not lead to damage to the cells caused by osmosis or other concentration effects preferably being employed.
  • Reference media are, for example, liquids which occur in "in vivo' methods, such as, for example, blood, lymph fluid, cytosol fluids or other fluids which occur in the body, or liquids or buffers conventionally employed in "in vitrd 1 methods. Such liquids and buffers are known to a person skilled in the art.
  • the injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can also contain further components, for example sugars (mono-, di-, tri- or polysaccharides), in particular glucose or mannitol. In a preferred embodiment, however, no sugars are present in the injection buffer used. It is also preferable for the injection buffer precisely to contain no non-charged components, such as, for example, sugars.
  • the injection buffer typically contains exclusively metal cations, in particular from the group consisting of the alkali or alkaline earth metals, and anions, in particular the anions described above.
  • the pH of the injection buffer used is preferably between 1 and 8.5, preferably between 3 and 5, more preferably between 5.5 and 7.5, in particular between 5.5 and 6.5.
  • the injection buffer can also contain a buffer system which fixes the injection buffer at a buffered pH. This can be, for example, a phosphate buffer system, HEPES or Na 2 HPOVNaH 2 PO 4 .
  • the injection buffer used very particularly preferably contains none of the abovementioned buffer systems or contains no buffer system at all.
  • the injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can contain, in addition to or as an alternative to the monovalent and divalent cations described, divalent cations, in particular from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, such as, for example, magnesium (Mg 2+ ), or also iron (Fe 2+ ), and monovalent cations, in particular from the groups consisting of alkali metals, such as, for example, lithium (Li + ).
  • These monovalent cations are preferably in the form of their salts, e.g. in the form of halides, e.g. chlorides, iodides or bromides, or in the form of their hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates or sulfates.
  • lithium salt LiCl, LiI, LiBr, Li 2 CO 3 , LiHCO 3 , Li 2 SO 4 for the magnesium salt MgCl 2 , MgI 2 , MgBr 2 , MgCO 3 , MgSO 4 , and Mg(OH) 2
  • iron salt FeCI 2 , FeBr 2 , FeI 2 , FeF 2 , Fe 2 O 3 , FeCO 3 , FeSO 4 , Fe(OH) 2 All the combinations of di- and/or monovalent cations, as described above, are likewise included.
  • Such injection buffers which contain only divalent, only monovalent or di- and monovalent cations can thus be used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention.
  • Such injection buffers which contain only one type of di- or monovalent cations, particularly preferably e.g. only Ca 2+ cations, or a salt thereof, e.g. CaCl 2 , can likewise be used.
  • the molarities given above for Ca 2+ (as a divalent cation) and Na 1+ (as a monovalent cation) (that is to say typically concentrations of at least 50 mM Na + , at least 0.01 mM Ca 2+ and optionally at least 3 mM K + ) in the injection buffer can also be taken into consideration if another di- or monovalent cation, in particular other cations from the group consisting of the alkaline earth metals and alkali metals, are employed instead of some or all the Ca 2+ or, respectively, Na 1+ in the injection buffer used according to the invention for the preparation of the injection solution.
  • All the Ca 2+ or Na 1+ can indeed be replaced by in each case other di- or, respectively, monovalent cations in the injection buffer used, for example also by a combination of other divalent cations (instead of Ca 2+ ) and/or a combination of other monovalent cations (instead of Na 1+ ) (in particular a combination of other divalent cations from the group consisting of the alkaline earth metals or, respectively, of other monovalent cations from the group consisting of the alkali metals), but it is preferable to replace at most some of the Ca 2+ or Na 1+ , i.e.
  • the injection buffer optionally contained in the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention contains exclusively Ca 2+ as a divalent cation and Na 1+ as a monovalent cation, that is to say, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, Ca 2+ represents 100 % of the total molarity of divalent cations, just as Na 1+ represents 100 % of the total molarity of monovalent cations.
  • the aqueous solution of the injection buffer can contain, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, up to 30 mol% of the salts contained in the solution, preferably up to 25 mol%, preferably up to 20 mol%, furthermore preferably up to 15 mol%, more preferably up to 10 mol%, even more preferably up to 5 mol%, likewise more preferably up to 2 mol% of insoluble or sparingly soluble salts.
  • Salts which are sparingly soluble in the context of the present invention are those of which the solubility product is ⁇ 10 "4 .
  • Salts which are readily soluble are those of which the solubility product is > 10 "4 .
  • the injection buffer optionally contained in the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is from 50 mM to 800 mM, preferably from 60 mM to 500 mM, more preferably from 70 mM to 250 mM, particularly preferably 60 mM to 1 10 mM in sodium chloride (NaCl), from 0.01 mM to 100 mM, preferably from 0.5 mM to 80 mM, more preferably from 1.5 mM to 40 mM in calcium chloride (CaCI 2 ) and optionally from 3 mM to 500 mM, preferably from 4 mM to 300 mM, more preferably from 5 mM to 200 mM in potassium chloride (KCI).
  • KCI potassium chloride
  • Organic anions can also occur as further anions in addition to the abovementioned inorganic anions, for example halides, sulfates or carbonates.
  • succinate, lactobionate, lactate, malate, maleate etc. which can also be present in combination.
  • An injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention preferably contains lactate. If it contains an organic anion, such an injection buffer particularly preferably contains exclusively lactate as the organic anion.
  • Lactate in the context of the invention can be any desired lactate, for example L-lactate and D-lactate.
  • Lactate salts which occur in connection with the present invention are typically sodium lactate and/or calcium lactate, especially if the injection buffer contains only Na + as a monovalent cation and Ca 2+ as a divalent cation.
  • An injection buffer optionally used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention and as described above preferably contains, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, from 15 mM to 500 mM, more preferably from 15 mM to 200 mM, and even more most preferably from 15 mM to 100 mM lactate.
  • the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be contain compounds which can serve as suitable carriers or constituents thereof, e.g.
  • sugars such as, for example, lactose, glucose and sucrose
  • starches such as, for example, corn starch or potato starch
  • cellulose and its derivatives such as, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate; pulverized tragacanth; malt; gelatine; tallow
  • solid lubricants such as, for example, stearic acid, magnesium stearate; calcium sulfate
  • plant oils such as, for example, groundnut oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and oil from Theobroma
  • polyols such as, for example, polypropylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol
  • alginic acid such as, for example, the above compounds may also be used for the provision of liquid compositions.
  • emulsifiers such as, for example, Tween ®
  • wetting agents such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate
  • colouring agents such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate
  • flavouring agents such as, for example, medicament carriers; tablet-forming agents; stabilizers; antioxidants; preservatives.
  • suitable carriers for injection include hydrogels, devices for controlled or delayed release, polylactic acid and collagen matrices.
  • Suitable carriers which can be used here include those which are suitable for use in lotions, creams, gels and the like. If the compound is to be administered perorally, tablets, capsules and the like are the preferred unit dose form.
  • the suitable carriers for the preparation of unit dose forms which can be used for oral administration are well-known in the prior art. Their choice will depend on secondary considerations, such as flavour, cost and storage stability, which are not critical for the purposes of the present invention and can be implemented without difficulties by a person skilled in the art.
  • the present invention also provides an (in vitro or in vivo) transfection method for transfecting cells or a tissue with the complexed RNA of the present invention as described above.
  • the inventive [in vitro or in vivo) transfection method preferably comprises the following steps: a) Optionally preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA according to the present invention, comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x ; b) Transfecting a cell, a (living) tissue or an organism (in vitro or in vivo) using the complexed RNA prepared and/or provided according to step a).
  • a complexed RNA as used herein comprises at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)
  • Preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA as defined above according to step a) may thus comprise the preparation and/or provision of the least one RNA and the one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x .
  • Preparing and/or providing the at least one RNA (molecule) as component of the inventive complex as defined above may comprise according to step a) a first sub-step a1 ), namely provision and/or preparation of a nucleic acid template, which typically comprises a sequence corresponding to the desired RNA.
  • the sequence of the nucleic acid template may be any nucleic acid, e.g. a single- or double-stranded DNA, cDNA, genomic DNA or fragments thereof, etc., which may code for a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above.
  • DNA sequences e.g. DNA plasmids, preferably in linearized form, may be employed for this purpose.
  • the sequence of the nucleic acid template may be an (expression) vector, more preferably an (expression)vector having an RNA polymerase binding site.
  • Any (expression) vectors known in the prior art e.g. commercially available (expression) vectors (see above), can be used for this.
  • Preferred (expression) vectors are, for example, those which have an SP6 or a T7 or T3 binding site upstream and/or downstream of the cloning site.
  • the vector may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigen, or any other protein or peptide as described above, which is typically cloned into the (expression) vector, e.g. via a multiple cloning site of the vector used.
  • the (expression) vector Prior to transcription the (expression) vector is typically cleaved with restriction enzymes at the site at which the future 3' end of the RNA is to be found, using a suitable restriction enzyme, and the fragment is purified. This prevents the transcribed RNA from containing vector sequences, and an RNA transcript of defined length may be obtained.
  • no restriction enzymes which generate overhanging ends such as, e.g., Aat ⁇ , Apa ⁇ , Bar ⁇ , BgA, #5/?1286, Bsm, Cfo ⁇ , Ha ⁇ , HgiN ⁇ , Hha ⁇ , Kpn ⁇ , PsA, PviA, Sad, Sa ⁇ , SfA, SpM, etc.
  • the overhanging 3' end preferably may be filled up, e.g. with Klenow or T4 DNA polymerase.
  • the nucleic acid template used for preparing and/or providing the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention may be prepared by employing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR).
  • PCR polymerase chain reaction
  • the nucleic acid template preferably and one of the primers used therefore, typically contains the sequence of an RNA polymerase binding site.
  • the 5' end of the primer used preferably contains an extension of about 10 - 50 further nucleotides, more preferably of from 15 to 30 further nucleotides and most preferably of about 20 nucleotides.
  • the nucleic acid e.g. the DNA or cDNA template, used as transcription template
  • the nucleic acid is typically purified and free from RNase in order to ensure a high yield.
  • purification of such template can be carried out with the aid of any method known in the prior art, for example using a caesium chloride gradient, ion exchange methods or by purification via agarose gel electrophoresis.
  • an in vitro transcription reaction according to a second sub-step a2) may be carried out for preparing the desired the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention using the nucleic acid template prepared according to first sub-step a1 ) as defined above.
  • the in vitro transcription reaction according to a second sub-step a2) is typically carried out in an in vitro transcription reaction.
  • a suitable in vitro transcription medium initially comprises the nucleic acid template as described above, for example about 0.1 - 10 ⁇ g, preferably about 1 - 5 ⁇ g, more preferably 2,5 ⁇ g and most preferably about 1 ⁇ g of such a nucleic acid.
  • a suitable in vitro transcription medium furthermore optionally comprises a reducing agent, e.g. DTT, more preferably about 1 -20 ⁇ l 50 mM DTT, even more preferably about 5 ⁇ l 50 mM DTT.
  • the in vitro transcription medium typically comprises nucleotides, e.g. a nucleotide mix, in the case of the present invention comprising a mixture of nucleotides of A, G, C or U, typically about 0.1 -10 mM per nucleotide, preferably 0.1 to 1 mM per nucleotide, preferably about 4 mM in total.
  • a suitable in vitro transcription medium likewise comprises an RNA polymerase, e.g.
  • RNA polymerase for example T7-Opti mRNA Kit, CureVac, Tubingen, Germany
  • T3 RNA polymerase or SP6 typically about 10 to 500 U, preferably about 25 to 250 U, more preferably about 50 to 150 U, and most preferably about 100 U of RNA polymerase.
  • the in vitro transcription medium is furthermore preferably kept free from RNase in order to avoid degradation of the transcribed the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention.
  • a suitable in vitro transcription medium therefore optionally additionally comprises an RNase inhibitor.
  • the nucleic acid template may be then incubated in the in vitro transcription medium and is transcribed to the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention, which may encode for a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above.
  • the incubation times are typically about 30 to 240 minutes, preferably about 40 to 120 minutes and most preferably about 90 minutes.
  • the incubation temperatures are typically about 30-45 0 C, preferably 37-42 0 C.
  • the incubation temperature depends on the RNA polymerase used, e.g. for T7 RNA polymerase it is about 37 0 C.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention obtained by the transcription is preferably an mRNA.
  • the yields obtained in the in vitro transcription are, for the stated starting amounts employed above, typically in the region of about 30 ⁇ g of RNA per ⁇ g of template DNA used.
  • the yields obtained in the in vitro transcription can be increased by linear up scaling.
  • the stated starting amounts employed above are preferably increased according to the yields required, e.g. by a multiplication factor of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1 ,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 etc.
  • RNA RNA
  • Any suitable method known in the prior art e.g. chromatographic purification methods, e.g. affinity chromatography, gel filtration etc., can be used for this.
  • chromatographic purification methods e.g. affinity chromatography, gel filtration etc.
  • non-incorporated, i.e. excess nucleotides and template DNA can be removed from the in vitro transcription medium and a clean RNA can be obtained.
  • the reaction mixture with the transcribed RNA can typically be digested with DNase in order to remove the DNA template still contained in the reaction mixture.
  • the transcribed at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention can be subsequently or alternatively precipitated with LiCI. Purification of the transcribed RNA can then take place via IP RP-HPLC. This renders in particular effective separation of longer and shorter fragments from one another possible.
  • purification of the RNA may take place via a method for purification of RNA on a preparative scale, which is distinguished in that the RNA is purified by means of HPLC using a porous reverse phase as the stationary phase (PURE Messenger).
  • a reverse phase can be employed as the stationary phase for the HPLC purification.
  • a non-polar compound typically serves as stationary phases
  • a polar solvent such as mixtures of water, which is usually employed in the form of buffers, with acetonitrile and/or methanol, serves as the mobile phase for the elution.
  • the porous reverse phase has a particle size of 8.0 ⁇ 2 ⁇ m, preferably +1 ⁇ m, more preferably +/- 0.5 ⁇ m.
  • the reverse phase material can be in the form of beads.
  • the purification can be carried out in a particularly favourable manner with a porous reverse phase having this particle size, optionally in the form of beads, particularly good separation results being obtained.
  • the reverse phase employed is preferably porous since with stationary reverse phases which are not porous, such as are described e.g. by Azarani A. and Hecker K.H., pressures which are too high are built up, so that preparative purification of the RNA is possible, if at all, only with great difficulty.
  • the reverse phase preferably has a pore size of from 200 to 5,000 , in particular a pore size of from 300 to 4,000. Particularly preferred pore sizes for the reverse phases are 200 - 400 , 800 - 1 ,200 and 3,500 - 4,500. With a reverse phase having these pore sizes, particularly good results are achieved in respect of the purification of the transcribed RNA.
  • the material for the reverse phase is preferably a polystyrene- divinylbenzene, and non-alkylated polystyrene-divinylbenzenes can be employed in particular. Stationary phases with polystyrene-divinylbenzene are known per se.
  • polystyrene-divinylbenzenes which are known per se and already employed for HPLC methods and are commercially obtainable can be used.
  • a non- alkylated porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene which in particular has a particle size of 8.0 ⁇ 0.5 ⁇ m and a pore size of 250 - 300, 900 - 1 ,100 or 3,500 - 4,500 is very particularly preferably used for the purification.
  • the advantages described above can be achieved in a particularly favourable manner with this material for the reverse phases.
  • the HPLC purification can be carried out by the ion pair method, an ion having a positive charge being added to the mobile phase as a counter-ion to the negatively charged RNA.
  • An ion pair having a lipophilic character which is slowed down by the non-polar stationary phase of the reverse phase system, is formed in this manner.
  • the precise conditions for the ion pair method must be worked out empirically for each specific separation problem. The size of the counter-ion, its concentration and the pH of the solution contribute greatly towards the result of the separation.
  • alkylammonium salts such as triethylammonium acetate and/or tetraalkylammonium compounds, such as tetrabutylammonium
  • 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate is added and the pH is adjusted to about 7.
  • the choice of mobile phase depends on the nature of the desired separation. This means that the mobile phase found for a specific separation, such as can be known, for example, from the prior art, cannot be transferred readily to another separation problem with adequate prospect of success.
  • the ideal elution conditions, in particular the mobile phase used must be determined for each separation problem by empirical experiments.
  • a mixture of an aqueous solvent and an organic solvent can be employed as the mobile phase for elution of the RNA by the HPLC method.
  • a buffer which has, in particular, a pH of about 7, for example 6.5 - 7.5, e.g. 7.0, is used as aqueous solvent; preferably, the buffer triethylammonium acetate is used, particularly preferably a 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate buffer which, as described above, also acts as a counter-ion to the RNA in the ion pair method.
  • the organic solvent employed in the mobile phase can be acetonitrile, methanol or a mixture of these two, very particularly preferably acetonitrile.
  • the purification of the RNA using an HPLC method as described is carried out in a particularly favourable manner with these organic solvents.
  • the mobile phase is particularly preferably a mixture of 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate, pH 7, and acetonitrile. It has emerged to be likewise particularly favourable if the mobile phase contains 5.0 vol.% to 20.0 vol.% of organic solvent, based on the mobile phase, and the remainder to make up 100 vol.% is the aqueous solvent. It is very particularly favourable for the method according to the invention if the mobile phase contains 9.5 vol.% to 14.5 vol.% of organic solvent, based on the mobile phase, and the remainder to make up 100 vol.% is the aqueous solvent.
  • Elution of the RNA can subsequently be carried out isocratically or by means of a gradient separation.
  • elution of the RNA is carried out with a single eluting agent or a mixture of several eluting agents which remains constant, it being possible for the solvents described above in detail to be employed as the eluting agent.
  • the at least one RNA (molecule) according to step a) of the inventive method of transfection may well be prepared by chemical synthesis.
  • various methods known in the art may be used.
  • the phosphoroamidite method is used most widely as a method of chemically synthesizing oligonucleotides, e.g. RNA fragments (Nucleic Acid Research, 1 7:7059-7071 , 1989).
  • this phosphoroamidite method makes use of a condensation reaction between a nucleoside phosphoroamidite and a nucleoside as a key reaction using tetrazole as an accelerator. Because this reaction usually occurs competitively on both the hydroxy!
  • Preparation of the complexed RNA according to step a) of the present invention typically occurs according to sub-step a3) by adding a specific amount of the at least one RNA (molecule) to a specific amount to the one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)
  • molar or mass ratios as indicated above of the at least one RNA (molecule) and the one or more oligopeptides having the herein defined empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x are typically envisaged.
  • Complex formation typically occurs upon mixing both components. Therby, the peptidic component is typically added o the RNA component, in some cases, however, vice versa.
  • a cell or a tissue may be transfected using the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a).
  • Transfection of the cells or tissues in vitro or in vivo is in general carried out by adding the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a) to the cells or tissue.
  • the complexed RNA then enters into the cells by using cellular mechanisms, e.g. endocytosis. Addition of the complexed RNA as such to the cells or tissues may occur according to the invention without addition of any further components due to the transfectional potential of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the invention.
  • addition of the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a) to the cells or tissue may occur in the form of a composition, e.g. as component of an aqueous solution, preferably a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, which may optionally contain additional components for further enhancement of the transfection activity.
  • Cells (or host cells) in this context for transfection of the complexed RNA (provided and/or prepared according to step a)) in vitro includes any cell, and preferably, with out being restricted thereto, cells, which shall be transfected by any RNA molecule (as defined above) by using the inventive complexed RNA.
  • RNA transfection may allow for expression of a protein encoded by the RNA of the complexed RNA according to the invention in the cell or may allow RNA (e.g. siRNA, anti-sense RNA) of the inventive complex to attenuate or suppress the expression of a cellular gene.
  • Cells in this context preferably include cultured eukaryotic cells (e.g. yeast cells, plant cells, animal cells and human cells) or prokaryotic cells (e.g. bacteria cells etc.) or induce an immune response.
  • Cells of multicellular organisms are preferably chosen if posttranslational modifications, e.g. glycosylation of the encoded protein, are necessary (N- and/or O-coupled).
  • eukaryotic cells render posttranslational modifications of the protein synthesized possible.
  • the person skilled in the art knows a large number of such higher eukaryotic cells or cell lines, e.g. 293T (embryonal kidney cell line), HeLa (human cervix carcinoma cells), CHO (cells from the ovaries of the Chinese hamster) and further cell lines, including such cells and cell lines developed for laboratory purposes, such as, for example, hTERT-MSC, HEK293, Sf9 or COS cells.
  • Suitable eukaryotic cells furthermore include cells or cell lines which are impaired by diseases or infections, e.g.
  • cancer cells in particular cancer cells of any of the types of cancer mentioned here in the description, cells impaired by HIV, and/or cells of the immune system or of the central nervous system (CNS).
  • Suitable cells can likewise be derived from eukaryotic microorganisms, such as yeast, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Stinchcomb et a/., Nature, 282:39, (1997)), Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida, Pichia, and filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, etc.
  • Suitable cells likewise include prokaryotic cells, such as e.g. bacteria cells, e.g.
  • E. coli Human cells or animal cells, e.g. of animals as mentioned herein, are particularly preferred as eukaryotic cells.
  • antigen presenting cells APCs
  • dendritic cells which may be used for ex vivo transfection of the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
  • blood cells and/or haemopoietic cells, or partial populations thereof, i.e. any type of cells, which may be isolated from (whole) blood and/or which may be derived from cultivated cell lines derived from those cells, may be transfected with a complexed RNA as defined herein using the above method of transfection, e.g. red blood cells (erythrocytes), granulocytes, mononuclear cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) and/or blood platelets (thrombocytes), APSs, DCs, etc.
  • blood cells are used, especially partial populations thereof, which are characterized in particular in that they contain a small proportion of well-differentiated professional APCs, such as DCs.
  • the transfected cells may contain preferably less than 5%, particularly preferably no more than 2%, of DCs when used for transfection.
  • blood cells are preferably understood as a mixture or an enriched to substantially pure population of red blood cells, granulocytes, mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and/or blood platelets from whole blood, blood serum or another source, e.g. from the spleen or lymph nodes, only a small proportion of professional APCs being present.
  • the blood cells as used according to the present invention are preferably fresh blood cells, i.e.
  • the period between collection of the blood cells (especially blood withdrawal) and transfection being only short, e.g. less than 12 h, preferably less than 6 h, particularly preferably less than 2 h and very particularly preferably less than 1 h.
  • the blood cells to be transfected using the above method for transfecting the complexed RNA according to the present invention preferably originate from the actual patient who will be treated with the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention.
  • the use of blood cells, haematopoietic cells or partial populations thereof as defined above is based on the surprising discovery that for vaccination of a patient to be treated against certain antigens encoded by an mRNA as defined herein, it is not necessary to differentiate blood cells, e.g. PBMCs, obtained e.g.
  • Transfection of a complexed RNA as defined herein into blood cells or cells derived therefrom (either isolated therefrom or from respective cultivated cell lines) is not limited to antigens and, of course, relates to any RNA as defined herein used for a complexed RNA, e.g. any further immunostimulating RNA as defined herein, any coding RNA, etc.
  • transfection of the complexed RNA may also occur in vivo according to step b), i.e. may be administered to living tissues and/or organisms. Therefore, the complexed RNA provided according to step a) of the inventive transfection method may be administered to a living tissue or an organism either as such or e.g.
  • an organism typically means mammals, selected from, without being restricted thereto, the group comprising humans, and animals, including e.g. pig, goat, cattle, swine, dog, cat, donkey, monkey, ape or rodents, including mouse, hamster and rabbit.
  • living tissues as mentioned above, are preferably derived from these organisms.
  • Administration of the complexed RNA to those living tissues and/or organisms may occur via any suitable administration route, e.g. systemically, and include e.g. intra- or transdermal, oral, parenteral, including subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections, topical and/or intranasal routes as defined above.
  • the method for transfection which may be used in vitro or ex vivo, may also be well suited for use in vivo, e.g. as method of treatment of various diseases as mentioned herein.
  • a further step may be included, which may contain administration of another pharmaceutically effective substance, e.g. an antibody, an antigen (in particular a pathogenic or a tumor antigen as disclosed herein) or the administration of at least one cytokine. Both may be administered separately from the complexed RNA as DNA or RNA coding for e.g. the cytokine or the antigen or the cytokine or antigen may be administered as such.
  • the method of treatment may also comprise the administration of an additional adjuvant (as disclosed herein), which may further activate the immune system.
  • the complexed RNA as defined above comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide shows a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and has the empirical formula (Arg) ⁇ ;(Lys) m ;(His) n ;(Orn) o ;(Xaa) x , may be used for treatment and/or prophylaxis of specific diseases as mentioned herein. Treatment and/or prophylaxis of specific diseases is typically dependent on selection of a suitable protein encoded by the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention. Treatment in this context may occur either by administering the complexed RNA according to the present invention (encoding this protein) as such or by administering the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the present invention as defined above.
  • cancer or tumour diseases chosen from melanomas, malignant melanomas, colon carcinomas, lymphomas, sarcomas, blastomas, kidney carcinomas, gastrointestinal tumours, gliomas, prostate tumours, bladder cancer, rectal tumours, stomach cancer, o
  • infectious diseases chosen from, e.g., viral infectious diseases chosen from, without being limited thereto, SARS, yellow fever, Lyme, anthrax, AIDS, condyloma acuminata, molluscum contagiosum, dengue fever, three- day fever, Ebola virus, colds, early summer meningoencephalitis (ESME), influenza, shingles, hepatitis, herpes simplex type I, herpes simplex type II, herpes zoster, influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Lassa fever, Marburg virus, measles, foot and mouth disease, mononucleosis, mumps, Norwalk virus infection, Pfeiffer's glandular fever, smallpox, polio (poliomyelitis), pseuodcroup, infectious erythema, rabies, warts, West Nile fever, chicken- pox, cytomegalovirus (CMV), bacterial infectious diseases, such
  • viral infectious diseases chosen from, without
  • Diseases in the context of the present invention likewise include, without being limited thereto, (infectious) virus diseases caused by viruses chosen from, without being limited thereto, HIV, orthopox variola virus, orthopox alastrim virus, parapox ovis virus, molluscum contagiosum virus, herpes simplex virus 1 , herpes simplex virus 2, herpes B virus, varicella zoster virus, pseudorabies virus, human cytomegaly virus, human herpes virus 6, human herpes virus 7, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus 8, hepatitis B virus, chikungunya virus, O'nyong'nyong virus, rubivirus, hepatitis C virus, GB virus C, West Nile virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, louping ill virus, St.
  • viruses chosen from, without being limited thereto, HIV, orthopox variola virus, orthopox alastrim virus, parapox ovis virus,
  • diseases or states may include cardiovascular diseases chosen from, without being limited thereto, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, apoplexy and hypertension, and neuronal diseases chosen from Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dystonia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease etc.
  • Allergy is a condition that typically involves an abnormal, acquired immunological hypersensitivity to certain foreign antigens or allergens. Allergies normally result in a local or systemic inflammatory response to these antigens or allergens and leading to an immunity in the body against these allergens. Allergens in this context include e.g. grasses, pollens, molds, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers, etc. Without being bound to any theory, several different disease mechanisms are supposed to be involved in the development of allergies. According to a classification scheme by P. GeII and R. Coombs the word "allergy" was restricted to type I hypersensitivities, which are caused by the classical IgE mechanism.
  • Type I hypersensitivity is characterised by excessive activation of mast cells and basophils by IgE, resulting in a systemic inflammatory response that can result in symptoms as benign as a runny nose, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock and death.
  • Well known types of allergies include, without being limited thereto, allergic asthma (leading to swelling of the nasal mucosa), allergic conjunctivitis (leading to redness and itching of the conjunctiva), allergic rhinitis ("hay fever”), anaphylaxis, angiodema, atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), eosinophilia, respiratory, allergies to insect stings, skin allergies (leading to and including various rashes, such as eczema, hives (urticaria) and (contact) dermatitis), food allergies, allergies to medicine, etc.
  • a pharmaceutical composition which contains e.g. an RNA coding for an allergen (e.g. from a cat allergen, a dust allergen, a mite antigen, a plant antigen (e.g. a birch antigen) etc.) as a complex of the invention.
  • an allergen e.g. from a cat allergen, a dust allergen, a mite antigen, a plant antigen (e.g. a birch antigen) etc.
  • the encoded allergen may desensitize the patient' immune response.
  • the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may shift the (exceeding) immune response to a stronger TH1 response, thereby suppressing or attenuating the undesired IgE response from the the patient suffers.
  • diseases or states as defined herin may include autoimmune diseases.
  • Autoimmune diseases can be broadly divided into systemic and organ-specific or localised autoimmune disorders, depending on the principal clinico-pathologic features of each disease.
  • Autoimmune disease may be divided into the categories of systemic syndromes, including SLE, Sj ⁇ rgen's syndrome, Scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and polyomyositis or local syndromes which may be endocrinologic (DM Type 1 , Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Addison's disease, etc.), dermatologic (pemphigus vulgaris), haematologic (autoimmune haemolytic anaemia), neural (multiple sclerosis) or can involve virtually any circumscribed mass of body tissue.
  • the autoimmune diseases to be treated may be selected from the group consisting of type I autoimmune diseases or type Il autoimmune diseases or type III autoimmune diseases or type IV autoimmune diseases, such as, for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, type I diabetes (Diabetes mellitus), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), chronic polyarthritis, Basedow's disease, autoimmune forms of chronic hepatitis, colitis ulcerosa, allergy type I diseases, allergy type Il diseases, allergy type III diseases, allergy type IV diseases, fibromyalgia, hair loss, Bechterew's disease, Crohn's disease, Myasthenia gravis, neurodermitis, Polymyalgia rheumatica, progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatic arthritis, psoriasis, vasculitis, etc, or type Il diabetes.
  • MS multiple sclerosis
  • the autoreaction may be due to a T-CeII Bypass.
  • a normal immune system requires the activation of B-cells by T-cells before the former can produce antibodies in large quantities.
  • This requirement of a T-cell can be by-passed in rare instances, such as infection by organisms producing super-antigens, which are capable of initiating polyclonal activation of B-cells, or even of T-cells, by directly binding to the -subunit of T-cell receptors in a non-specific fashion.
  • autoimmune diseases deduces autoimmune diseases from a molecular mimicry.
  • An exogenous antigen may share structural similarities with certain host antigens; thus, any antibody produced against this antigen (which mimics the self-antigens) can also, in theory, bind to the host antigens and amplify the immune response.
  • the most striking form of molecular mimicry is observed in Group A beta- haemolytic streptococci, which shares antigens with human myocardium, and is responsible for the cardiac manifestations of rheumatic fever.
  • the present invention allows therefore to provide an RNA coding for an autoantigen as component of the complexed RNA of the invention (or a (liquid) composition containing such a complexed RNA of the invention) or to provide a pharmaceutical composition containing an autoantigen (as protein, mRNA or DNA encoding for a autoantigen protein) and a complexed RNA of the invention all of which typically allow the immune system to be desensitized.
  • diseases to be treated in the context of the present invention likewise include monogenetic diseases, i.e. (hereditary) diseases, or genetic diseases in general.
  • Such genetic diseases are typically caused by genetic defects, e.g. due to gene mutations resulting in loss of protein activity or regulatory mutations which do not allow transcription or translation of the protein.
  • these diseases lead to metabolic disorders or other symptoms, e.g. muscle dystrophy.
  • the present invention allows to treat these diseases by providing the complexed RNA as defined herein.
  • 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency type II
  • 3-ketothiolase deficiency 6-mercaptopurine sensitivity
  • Aarskog-Scott syndrome Abetalipoproteinemia; Acatalasemia; Achondrogenesis; Achondrogenesis-hypochondrogenesis; Achondroplasia; Achromatopsia; Acromesomelic dysplasia (Hunter-Thompson type); ACTH deficiency; Acyl- CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (short-chain, medium chain, long chain); Adenomatous polyposis coli; Adenosin-deaminase deficiency; Adenylosuccinase deficiency; Adhalinopathy; Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital (due to 1 1 -beta-hydroxylase deficiency; due to 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency; due to 21
  • Pseudohypoparathyroidism Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias; Pseudovitamin D deficiency rickets; Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (autosomal dominant; autosomal recessive); Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Pulmonary hypertension; Purpura fulminans; Pycnodysostosis; Pyropoikilocytosis; Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency; Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency; Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome; Refsum disease; Renal cell carcinoma; Renal tubular acidosis; Renal tubular acidosis with deafness; Renal tubular acidosis-osteopetrosis syndrome; Reticulosis (familial histiocytic); Retinal degeneration; Retinal dystrophy; Retinitis pigmentosa; Retinit
  • Thanatophoric dysplasia types I or II); Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome; Thrombocythemia; Thrombophilia (dysplasminogenemic); Thrombophilia due to heparin cofactor Il deficiency; Thrombophilia due to protein C deficiency; Thrombophilia due to thrombomodulin defect; Thyroid adenoma; Thyroid hormone resistance; Thyroid iodine peroxidase deficiency; Tietz syndrome; Tolbutamide poor metabolizer; Townes-
  • Trichothiodystrophy Trifunctional protein deficiency (type I or type II); Trypsinogen deficiency; Tuberous sclerosis-1 ; Tuberous sclerosis-2; Turcot syndrome; Tyrosine phosphatase; Tyrosinemia; Ulnar-mammary syndrome; Urolithiasis (2,8-dihydroxyadenine);
  • Usher syndrome type 1 B or type 2A
  • Venous malformations Ventricular tachycardia;
  • Waardenburg-Shah syndrome Painschenburg-Shah syndrome; Wagner syndrome; Warfarin sensitivity; Watson syndrome;
  • Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome Wolcott-Rallison syndrome; Wolfram syndrome; Wolman disease; Xanthinuria (type I); Xeroderma pigmentosum; X-SCID; Iranite deaf-blind hypopigmentation syndrome; ypocalciuric hypercalcemia (type I); Zellweger syndrome;
  • Preferred diseases to be treated which have a genetic inherited background and which are typically caused by a single gene defect and are inherited according to Mendel's laws are preferably selected from the group consisting of autosomal-recessive inherited diseases, such as, for example, adenosine deaminase deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, Canavan's syndrome, Gaucher's disease, Fanconi anaemia, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, mucoviscidosis (cystic fibrosis), sickle cell anaemia, phenylketonuria, alcaptonuria, albinism, hypothyreosis, galactosaemia, alpha-1 -anti-trypsin deficiency, Xeroderma pigmentosum, Ribbing's syndrome, mucopolysaccharidoses, cleft lip, jaw, palate, Laurence Moon Biedl Bardet sydrome, short rib polydactylia syndrome,
  • X syndrome muscular dystrophy (Duchenne and Becker-Kiener type), haemophilia A and B, G6PD deficiency, Fabry's disease, mucopolysaccharidosis, Norrie's syndrome, Retinitis pigmentosa, septic granulomatosis, X-SCID, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, Lesch- Nyhan syndrome, or from autosomal-dominant inherited diseases, such as, for example, hereditary angiooedema, Marfan syndrome, neurofibromatosis, type I progeria, Osteogenesis imperfecta, Klippel-Trenaurnay syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Hippel- Lindau syndrome and tuberosis sclerosis.
  • hereditary angiooedema Marfan syndrome
  • neurofibromatosis type I progeria
  • Osteogenesis imperfecta Klippel-Trenaurnay syndrome
  • Sturge-Weber syndrome
  • the present invention also allows treatment of diseases, which have not been inherited, or which may not be summarized under the above categories.
  • Such dieseases may include e.g. the treatment of patients, which are in need of a specific protein factor, e.g. a specific therapeutically active protein as mentioned above.
  • This may e.g. include dialysis patients, e.g. patients which undergo a (regular) a kidney or renal dialysis, and which may be in need of specific therapeutically active proteins as defined above, e.g. erythropoietin (EPO), etc.
  • EPO erythropoietin
  • the present invention comprises the use of the at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention for transfecting a cell or an organism.
  • Transfection of the cell or the organism may preferably be carried out using the above (in vitro or in vivdj transfection method for transfecting cells or a tissue with the complexed RNA of the present invention.
  • the present invention comprises the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, disorders, conditions or pathological states.
  • An agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above or an injection buffer as defined herein, additionally containing the inventive complexed RNA, a vaccine, etc. If more than one complexed RNA molecule type is used, the complexed RNAs may be different by their RNA (molecules) thereby forming a mixture of at least two distinct complexed RNA (molecule) types.
  • RNA RNA
  • any of the above mentioned RNA (molecules) may be used for the inventive complexed RNA, e.g. a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc. More preferably a coding RNA (molecule), even more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and most preferably an mRNA may be used.
  • RNA preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and more preferably an mRNA is used for the complexed RNA
  • the RNA (molecule) typically encodes a protein or peptide suitable for the therapy of the specific disease, e.g. an antibody, which is cabable of binding to a specific cancer antigen, or a tumor antigen, when treating a (specific) cancer, etc.
  • suitable RNA (molecules) are known to a skilled person from the art and from the disclosure of the present invention.
  • an immune response may occur in various ways.
  • a substantial factor for a suitable immune response is the stimulation of different T-cell sub-populations.
  • T-lymphocytes are typically divided into two sub-populations, the T-helper 1 (Th1 ) cells and the T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, with which the immune system is capable of destroying intracellular (Th1 ) and extracellular (Th2) pathogens (e.g. antigens).
  • the two Th cell populations differ in the pattern of the effector proteins (cytokines) produced by them.
  • Th1 cells assist the cellular immune response by activation of macrophages and cytotoxic T-cells.
  • Th2 cells promote the humoral immune response by stimulation of the B-cells for conversion into plasma cells and by formation of antibodies (e.g. against antigens).
  • the Th1/Th2 ratio is therefore of major importance for the immune response.
  • the Th1/Th2 ratio of the immune response is preferably shifted in the direction towards the cellular response (Th1 response) and a cellular immune response is thereby induced. Accordingly, the present invention may also be used to revert this immune response shift.
  • the present invention encompasses also the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, wherein the agent (and/or the complexed RNA) may be capable to elicit, e.g. induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above.
  • an agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, or an injection buffer as defined herein, which contains the inventive complexed RNA, etc.
  • the complexed RNA types may be different with respect to their RNA (molecules) and may form a mixture of distinct RNA types.
  • RNAs induces or enhances the immune response during therapy, while other complexed RNA(s) need not to induce or enhance the immune response or may be used to prevent an imune response.
  • any of the above mentioned RNA (molecules) may be used for the inventive complexed RNA, e.g. a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc.
  • a coding RNA molecule
  • even more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and most preferably an mRNA may be used for the complexed RNA.
  • the RNA (molecule) is a coding RNA (molecule), more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and more preferably an mRNA, it typically encodes a protein or peptide suitable for the therapy of the specific disease, e.g. an antibody, which is cabable of binding to a specific cancer antigen, when treating a (specific) cancer, etc.
  • a protein or peptide suitable for the therapy of the specific disease e.g. an antibody, which is cabable of binding to a specific cancer antigen, when treating a (specific) cancer, etc.
  • more than one complexed RNA is contained in the agent, different combinations of proteins or peptides may be selected.
  • RNA molecules
  • suitable RNA molecules
  • RNAs encoding therapeutically effective proteins, etc., as defined in the disclosure of the present invention.
  • Induction or enhancement of the immune response concurrent to the treatment of a specific disease using one pharmaceutical composition or agent as defined above may be particularly advantageous in cases where an induced or enhanced immune response supports the treatment of a specific disease as mentioned above.
  • treatment of the disease and induction or enhancement of the immune response may be carried out by using different pharmaceutical compositions or agents as defined above in a time staggered manner.
  • one may induce or enhance the immune response by administering a pharmaceutical composition or an agent as defined herein, containing an inventive complexed (immunostimulatory) RNA, prior to (or concurrent to) administering another pharmaceutical composition or an agent as defined herein which may contain an inventive complexed RNA, e.g.
  • RNA oligonucleotide a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc., which is suitable for the therapy of the specific disease.
  • the present invention furthermore comprises the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above, more preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein.
  • the inventive complexed RNA may be used to activate the immune system unspecifically, e.g. to trigger the production of certain cytokines.
  • the complexed RNA may therefore be used to support the specific immune response, which is elicited by e.g. an antigen derived from pathogens or tumors.
  • An agent in this context may be e.g.
  • the immune response may be modulated either by the at least one complexed RNA due to the one or more oligopeptides having a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and showing the empirical formula (Arg)
  • a complexed RNA as such or as a component of an inventive composition may by itself improve the transfection properties of the RNA as component of the inventive complex.
  • This underlying property of the inventive complexed RNA is beneficial to a wide variety of applications. Whenever it is intended to introduce an RNA into a cell, improved transfection efficacy is ensured by the present invention. This property as such may allow the present invention to be used for the treatment of a huge variety of diseases, e.g. the treatment of monogenetic or genetic diseases as defined above.
  • the present invention may be used whenever treatment of immune disorders, e.g. allergies or autoimmune diseases, is envisaged.
  • the present invention may activate the patients's immune system by enhancing its unspecific or specific immune response. Accordingly, it may elicit an unspecific immune response, whenever appropriate, to cure a disease. And, whenever required, it may elicit a specific immune response as such (e.g. by encoding an antigen by the RNA as component of the inventive complex) or by a combination of the inventive complexed RNA with an antigen, e.g. in the same composition.
  • the inventive complexed RNA may be preferably an antigen or an antibody, or any other protein or peptide as defined above, capable of modulating the immune response (preferably of inducing or enhancing same or, in case of allergies or autoimmune diseases by desensitizing the patient's immune system towards a specific allergen or autoantigen).
  • the complexed RNA may be administered to this tissue or organism as defined above either as such or as an agent as defined above.
  • the administration modes, which may be used, may be the same as described above for pharmaceutical compositions. Administration of the agent may occur prior, concurrent and/or subsequent to a therapy of diseases or states as mentioned herein, e.g. by administration of the agent prior, concurrent and/or subsequent to a therapy or an administration of a therapeutic suitable for these diseases or states.
  • the present invention also encompasses the use of the peptide (Arg) 7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg) 7 alone (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to elicit, e.g. to induce or enhance, an immune response, preferably an unspecific immune response by e.g. triggering the production of cytokines, in a tissue or an organism as defined above, and preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein.
  • RNA (molecule) may be any RNA (molecule) as defined herein, preferably, without being limited thereto, a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers.
  • an agent in this context may be e.g.
  • the present invention also encompasses the use of the peptide (Arg) 7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg) 7 alone (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases or states.
  • the kit may separately further comprise one or more of the following group of components: at least one antigen or at least one antibody or a composition containing an antigen or an antibody, an additional adjuvant or a composition containing at least one adjuvant and/or at least one cytokine or a composition containing at least one cytokine.
  • the antigen, antibody and/or the cytokine may be provided as such (proteins) or may be provided as DNA or RNA coding for the antigen, antibody or cytokine.
  • kits may applied e.g. for any of the above mentioned applications or uses, preferably for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases.
  • kits may also be applied for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, wherein the agent (and/or the complexed RNA) may be capable to induce or enhance an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above.
  • Such kits may further be applied for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to elicit, e.g. to induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above, and preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein.
  • Figure 1 depicts the sequence of a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence, wherein the native luciferase encoding mRNA is modified with a poly-A/poly-C-tag (A70-
  • This first construct construct CAP-Ppluc(wt)-muag-A70-C30, SEQ ID NO: 1
  • sequence elements contained following sequence elements: stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene, 70 x Adenosin at the 3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail),
  • Figure 2 shows the sequence of a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence, wherein the construct according to SEQ ID NO: 35 (see Figure 1 ) is further modified with a GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage.
  • the final construct shows the sequence of a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence, wherein the construct according to SEQ ID NO: 35 (see Figure 1 ) is further modified with a GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage.
  • Figure 4 shows the GC-optimized coding sequence of the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (see Figure 2).
  • the GC-optimized codons are underlined.
  • Figure 5 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine
  • hPBMC cells show a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ).
  • Figure 6 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine
  • hPBMC cells show a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ).
  • Figure 7 shows in an comparative example the comparison of immunostimulatory effects of RNA complexed with either nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ) or poly-L- arginine, respectively, in hPBMCs.
  • Advantagously a significant immunostimulatory effect can be observed for mass ratios lower than 1 :5 (RNA:nona-arginine) (1 :10; 1 :8; 1 :5; 1 :2; 1 :1 ; 2:1 ).
  • mass ratios of RNA:nona-arginine (5:1 ) no significant TNFalpha production can be observed.
  • Figure 8 shows luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ) in HeLa cells.
  • RNA:nona-arginine a mass ratio of less than 2:1
  • complexation with (high molecular mass) poly-L-arginine does not lead to a significant luciferase-activity.
  • (high molecular mass) poly-L- arginine does not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA.
  • Figure 9 depicts in a comparative example the luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) in HeLa cells.
  • transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta-arginine (Arg) 7 ) in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 10 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) in hPBMC cells by measuring IL-6 production.
  • hPBMC cells show a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ).
  • Figure 1 1 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine
  • hPBMC cells show a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine
  • Figure 12 shows the effect of RNA complexed with R9 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 13 shows the effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 14 shows the effect of RNA complexed with H3R9H3 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 15 shows the effect of RNA complexed with YYYR9SSY peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 16 shows the effect of RNA complexed with H3R9SSY peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 17 shows the effect of RNA complexed with (RKH)4 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 18 shows the effect of RNA complexed with Y(RKH)2R peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
  • Figure 19 shows the effect of Histidin in terminal positions on the transfection efficiacy.
  • Figure 20 shows the effect of neutral amino acids in terminal positions on the transfection efficiacy.
  • Figure 21 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 on secretion of TNFalpha in hPBMCs.
  • Figure 22 shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 on secretion of IL-6 in hPBMCs.
  • luciferase mRNA sequence was prepared and used for transfection experiments, wherein the native luciferase encoding mRNA was modified with a poly-A/poly-C-tag (A70-C30) and was GC-optimized for a better codon-usage and further stabilized.
  • a first construct (construct CAP-Ppluc(wt)-muag-A70-C30, SEQ ID NO: 35) contained following sequence elements: stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene 70 ( Adenosin at the 3 '-terminal end
  • Example 2 In vitro transcription of stabilized luciferase mRNA
  • the stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36 (Luc-RNActive) was transcribed in vitro using T7-Polymerase (T7-Opti mRNA Kit, CureVac, Tubingen, Germany) following the manufactures instructions. All mRNA-transkripts contained a 70 bases poly-A-tail and a 5 '-Cap-structure. The 5'-Cap- structure was obtained by adding an excess of N7-Methyl-Guanosin-5'-Triphosphat-5'- Guanosin.
  • Example 3 Forming a complex of RNA with nona-arginine ((Arg)o). poly-L-arginine or further peptides based on (Arg) g . respectively
  • RNA stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 36 were mixed in different mass ratios with nona-arginine (Arg 9 ) or poly-L-arginine (Sigma-Aldrich; P4663; 5000-15000 g/mol), thereby forming a complex. Following mass ratios were used as shown exemplarily for ((Arg) 9 ). Poly-L-arginine was used for comparative examples following the same instructions.
  • H3R9H3 His-His-His-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-His-His-His YSSR9SSY: Tyr-Ser-Ser-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr
  • H3R9SSY His-His-His-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr
  • Y(RKH)2R Tyr-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg
  • 4 ⁇ g stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (Luc- RNActive) were mixed in molar ratios with the respectively peptide (according to formula I), thereby forming a complex. Afterwards the resulting solution was adjusted with water to a final volume of 50 ⁇ l und incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The used ratios are indicated in the tables given below. HeLa-cells (150x10 3 /well) were then seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out.
  • Example 4 Nona-arginine((Arg) g )-mediated transfection and expression of stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36 (Luc-RNActive) in HeLa- cells
  • Hela-cells (150x10 3 /well) were seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out.
  • For transfection 40 ⁇ l 50 ⁇ l of the RNA/(peptide)-solution as disclosed in Example 3 were mixed with 250 ⁇ l serum free medium and added to the cells (final RNA concentration: 13 ⁇ g/ml).
  • the HeLa-cells Prior to addition of the transfection solution the HeLa-cells were washed gently and carefully 2 times with 1 ml Optimen (Invitrogen) per well. Then, the transfection solution (300 ⁇ l per well) was added to the cells and the cells were incubated for 4 h at 37°C.
  • HPBMC cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors were isolated using a Ficoll gradient and washed subsequently with I xPBS (phophate-buffered saline). The cells were then seeded on 96-well microtiter plates (200x103/well). The hPBMC cells were incubated for 24 h, as described under Example 4, supra, with 10 ⁇ l of the RNA/peptide complex (RNA final concentration: 6 ⁇ g/ml; the same amounts of RNA were used) in X-VIVO 15 Medium (BioWhittaker) (final RNA Concentration: 10 ⁇ g/ml).
  • the immunostimulatory effect upon the hPBMC cells was measured by detecting the cytokine production (lnterleukin-6 und Tumor necrose factor alpha). Therefore, ELISA microtiter plates (Nunc Maxisorb) were incubated over night (o/n) with binding buffer (0,02% NaN3, 15 mM Na2CO3, 15 mM NaHCO3, pH 9,7), additionally containing a specific cytokine antibody. Cells were then blocked with
  • I xPBS I xPBS, containing 1 % BSA (bovine serum albumin). The cell supernatant was added and incubated for 4 h at 37°C. Subsequently, the microtiter plate was washed with I xPBS, 0,05% Tween-20 and then incubated with a Biotin-labelled secondary antibody (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany). Streptavidin-coupled horseraddish peroxidase was added to the plate. Then, the plate was again washed with I xPBS, containing 0,05% Tween-20, and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl- benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was added as a substrate.
  • BSA bovine serum albumin
  • the amount of cytokine was determined by measuring the absorption at 405 nm (OD405) using a standard curve with recombinant Cytokines (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany) with the Sunrise ELISA-Reader from Tecan (Crailsheim, Germany).
  • HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with nona- arginine ((Arg) 9 ) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg) 9 was 1 :1. Then, IL-6 production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ) (see Figure 5).
  • HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with nona- arginine ((Arg) 9 ) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg) 9 was 1 :1. Then, THF-alpha production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ) (see Figure 6).
  • ii) Comparison of immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with either nona-arginine ((Arg) g ) or poly-L-arginine, respectively Comparative Example
  • hPBMCs were incubated in different mass ratios (RNA:nona-arginine 1 :10;
  • RNA:nona-arginine (1 :10; 1 :8; 1 :5; 1 :2; 1 :1 ; 2:1 )
  • mass ratios of RNA:nona-arginine 5:1
  • no significant TNFalpha production can be observed.
  • stimulation experiments using nona-arginine ((Arg) 9 ) or mRNA alone (see Figure 7, left).
  • Example 6 Luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona- arginine ((Arg) 3 ) or Poly-L-Arginine, respectively, in HeLa cells (Comparative
  • HeLa-CeIIs were transfected with RNActive encoding luciferase, which has been complexed with different ratios of nona-arginine or Poly-
  • HeLa-CeIIs were transfected with RNActive encoding luciferase, which has been complexed with different ratios of hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ). 24h later luciferase-activity was measured. Apparently, complexation with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) does not increase luciferase-activity at a significant level. Thus, hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) does not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA (see Figure 9).
  • HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg) 7 was 1 :1 . Then, IL-6 production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) (see Figure 10).
  • HPBMC cells were furthermore incubated with RNA complexed with hepta- arginine ((Arg) 7 ) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg) 7 was 1 :1 . Then, THF-alpha production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells also showed a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg) 7 ) (see Figure 1 1 ).
  • HeLa-cells (15Ox1 O 3 /well) were then seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out.
  • 50 ⁇ l of the RNA/(peptide)-solution were mixed with 250 ⁇ l serum free medium and added to the cells (final RNA concentration: 13 ⁇ g/ml).
  • the HeLa-cells Prior to addition of the transfection solution the HeLa-cells were washed gently and carefully 2 times with 1 ml Optimen (Invitrogen) per well. Then, the transfection solution (300 ⁇ l per well) was added to the cells and the cells were incubated for 4 h at 37°C.
  • luciferin buffer 25 mM Glycylglycin, 15 mM MgSO 4 , 5 mM ATP, 62,5 ⁇ M luciferin
  • luminiscence was detected using a luminometer (Lumat LB 9507 (Berthold Technologies, Bad Wildbad, Germany)).
  • Example 1 1 - lmmunostimulation using R9H3 in hPBMCs
  • RNA/peptide complex As shown above in Example 3 was prepared.
  • HPBMC cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors were isolated using a Ficoll gradient and washed subsequently with I xPBS (phophate-buffered saline). The cells were then seeded on 96- well microtiter plates (2OOx1 O 3 /well). The hPBMC cells were incubated for 24 h, as described under Example 4, supra, with 10 ⁇ l of the RNA/peptide complex (RNA final concentration: 6 ⁇ g/ml; the same amounts of RNA were used) in X-VIVO 15 Medium (BioWhittaker).
  • the immunostimulatory effect upon the hPBMC cells was measured by detecting the cytokine production (lnterleukin-6 und Tumor necrose factor alpha). Therefore, ELISA microtiter plates (Nunc Maxisorb) were incubated over night (o/n) with binding buffer (0,02% NaN3, 15 mM Na2CO3, 15 mM NaHCO3, pH 9,7), additionally containing a specific cytokine antibody. Cells were then blocked with 1 ⁇ PBS, containing 1 % BSA (bovine serum albumin). The cell supernatant was added and incubated for 4 h at 37°C.
  • binding buffer (0,02% NaN3, 15 mM Na2CO3, 15 mM NaHCO3, pH 9,7
  • microtiter plate was washed with I xPBS, 0,05% Tween-20 and then incubated with a Biotin-labelled secondary antibody (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany). Streptavidin-coupled horseraddish peroxidase was added to the plate. Then, the plate was again washed with I xPBS, containing 0,05% Tween-20, and ABTS (2,2'-azino- bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was added as a substrate.
  • ABTS 2,2'-azino- bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid
  • cytokine The amount of cytokine was determined by measuring the absorption at 405 nm (OD405) using a standard curve with recombinant Cytokines (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany) with the Sunrise ELISA-Reader from Tecan (Crailsheim, Germany). The results are seen in Figures 21 and 22. As can be seen, a significant immunostimulation was exhibited at a ratio of 1 :5000 RNA:R9H3.

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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)ι;(;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.

Description

COMPLEXES OF RNA AND CATIONIC PEPTIDES FOR TRANSFECTION AND FOR
IMMUNOSTIMULATION
The present invention relates to a complexed RNA, comprising at least one RNA (molecule) complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide has a length of 8 to
15 amino acids and has the formula (Arg)|(Lys)m(His)n(Orn)o(Xaa))(. 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.
Transfection of nucleic acids into cells or tissues of patients by methods of gene transfer is a central method of molecular medicine and plays a critical role in therapy and prevention of numerous diseases. Methods for transfection of nucleic acids may lead to immune stimulation of the tissue or organism. Alternatively or additionally, transfection of nucleic acids may be followed by processing of the information coded by the nucleic acids introduced, i.e. translation of desired polypeptides or proteins. DNA or RNA as nucleic acids form alternative approaches to gene therapy. Transfection of nucleic acids may also lead to modulation, e.g. suppression or enhancement of gene expression, dependent on the type of nucleic acid transfected. Transfection of these nucleic acids is typically carried out by using methods of gene transfer.
Methods of gene transfer into cells or tissues have been intensively studied in the last decades, however in part with limited success. Well known methods include physical or physico-chemical methods such as (direct) injection of (naked) nucleic acids or biolistic gene transfer. Biolistic gene transfer (also known as biolistic particle bombardment) is a method developed at Cornell University, that allows introducing genetic material into tissues or culture cells. Biolistic gene transfer is typically accomplished by surface coating metal particles, such as gold or silver particles, and shooting these metal particles, comprising the adsorbed DNA, into cells by using a gene gun. However, biolistic gene transfer methods have not yet been shown to work with RNA, probably due to its fast degradation. Furthermore, these methods are not suitable for in vivo applications, a matter which represents a severe practical limitation.
An alternative physical or physico-chemical method includes the method of in vitro electroporation. In vitro electroporation is based on the use of high-voltage current to make cell membranes permeable to allow the introduction of new DNA or RNA into the cell. Therefore, cell walls are typically weakened prior to transfection either by using chemicals or by a careful process of freezing to make them "electrocompetent". If electrocompetent bacteria or cells (e.g. eukaryotic cells) and DNA (or RNA) are mixed together, the plasmid can be transferred into the cell by using an electric discharge to carry the DNA (or RNA) into cells in the path of the spark crossing the reaction chamber.
Another alternative physical or physico-chemical method includes use of nanoplexes (nanoparticular systems), lipoplexes (liposomal systems), or the use of polyplexes or cationic polymers. Such nanoplexes (nanoparticular systems) involve use of polyacrylates, polyamides, polystyrene, cyanoacrylates, polylactat (PLA), poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), polyethyl, etc., as carrier systems for the transport of nucleic acids into cells or tissues. Lipoplexes or liposomal systems typically involve use of cationic lipids, which are capable to mimick a cell membrane. Thereby, the positively charged moiety of the lipids interacts with the negatively charged moiety of the nucleic acids and thus enables fusion with the cell membrane. Lipoplexes or liposomal systems include e.g. DOTMA, DOPE, DOSPA, DOTAP, DC-Choi, EDMPC, etc. Polyplexes (cationic polymers) typically form a complex with negatively charged nucleic acids leading to a condensation of nucleic acids and protecting these nucleic acids against degradation. Transport into cells using polyplexes (cationic polymers) typically occurs via receptor mediated endocytosis. Thereby, the DNA is coupled to a distinct molecule, such as Transferrin, via e.g. the polyplex poly-L-lysine (PLL), which binds to a surface receptor and triggers endocytosis. Polyplexes (cationic polymers) include e.g. poly-L-lysine (PLL), chitosan, polyethylenimine (PEI), polydimethylaminoethylmethacrylate (PD-MAEMA), polyamidoamine (PAMAM). Other well known physical or physico-chemical methods of gene transfer into cells or organisms include methods such as virus based transfection methods. As a particular example, DNA viruses may be used as DNA vehicles. Because of their infection properties, such viruses have a very high transfection rate. The viruses typically used are genetically modified in a way, that no functional infectious particles are formed in the transfected cell. In spite of this safety precaution, however, a risk of uncontrolled propagation of the therapeutically active genes introduced and the viral genes cannot be ruled out e.g. because of possible recombination events.
More advantageous in this context is the use of so called translocatory proteins or of protein transduction domains (PTDs) for the transport of macromolecules into cells or tissues. Translocatory proteins are considered as a group of peptides capable of effecting transport of macromolecules between cells (translocatory proteins), such as HIV tat (HIV), antennapedia (Drosophila antennapedia), HSV VP22 {Herpes simple^, FGF or lactoferrin, etc. In contrast, protein transduction domains (PTDs) are considered as a group of peptides capable of directing proteins and peptides covalently bound to these sequences into a cell via the cell membrane (Leifert and Whitton: Translocatory proteins and protein transduction domains: a critical analysis of their biological effects and the underlying mechanisms. Molecular Therapy Vol. 8 No.1 2003). Common to translocatory proteins as well as to PTDs is a basic region, which is regarded as mainly responsible for transport of the fusion peptides since it is capable of binding polyanions such as nucleic acids. Without being bound thereto, PTDs may act similar to cationic transfection reagents using receptor dependent non-saturatable adsorptive endocytosis. PTDs are typically coupled to proteins or peptides in order to effect or enhance a CTL response when administering a peptide based vaccine (see review: Melikov and Chernomordik, Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: from endosomal uptake to nuclear delivery, Cell. MoI. Life Sci. 2005).
Protein transduction domains (PTDs) are sometimes also termed "cell penetrating peptides" (CPPs) due to their capability of penetrating the cell membrane and thus to effect the transport of (macro-) molecules into cells. CPPs are small peptides and typically comprise a high content of basic amino acids and exhibit a length of 7 to 30 amino acids. Macromolecules, which have been shown to be transported into cells via CPPs, include peptides as well as DNA, siRNA or PNAs (peptide nucleic acids), wherein the CPPs are typically bonded to these macromolecules via a covalent bond and transfected into the cells. Although cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) have been successfully used to mediate intracellular delivery of a wide variety of molecules of pharmacological interest both in vitro and in vivo, the mechanisms by which cellular uptake occurs still remains unclear. The group of CPPs is highly diverse and consists of amphipathic, helical peptides such as transportan, penetratin, hydrophobic peptides such as MTS, VP22, MAP, KALA, PpTG20, prolin-rich peptides, MPG-peptides, Pep-1, L-oligomers, calcitonin-peptides, or cationic, hydrophilic arginine-rich peptides, including arginine-rich CPPs, which mediate cellular uptake of (covalently) conjugated molecules via binding to proteoglycanes of the cell, such as the transduction domain of the HIV-1 Tat protein (Review: Deshayes et al. Cell- penetrating peptides: tools for intracellular delivery of therapeutics. Cell. MoI. Life Sci. 2005). Particularly, arginine-rich CPPs are described as vehicles for proteins or DNA, e.g. plasmid DNA, etc. into cells. Poly-argi nines may also be used for the transport of (macro-) molecules into cells, which typically comprises a length of at least 60 to 80 amino acids (in particular arginines), more typically from 1000 to 15000 amino acids, and thus represents a high molecular mass compound. Even though the cellular uptake mechanism for CPPs in general remains unclear, endocytosis is suggested as an uptake mechanism for poly- arginine. Endocytosis is a cellular process by which macromolecules may enter a cell without passing through the cell membrane, wherein three different endocytotic mechanisms have been suggested (chlathrin-dependent endocytosis, caveol in-dependent endocytosis and/or F actin-dependent endocytosis, see e.g. review: Melikov and Chernomordik, Arginine-rich cell penetrating peptides: from endosomal uptake to nuclear delivery, Cell. MoI. Life Sci. 2005). Without being bound to any theory, during endocytosis the CPP-complexed macromolecule first binds to the negatively charged cell surface glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including heparans (HS). Then, the CPP-bound macromolecule enters cell by chlathrin-dependent endocytosis, caveol in-dependent endocytosis and/or F actin-dependent endocytosis, e.g. by folding of the membrane around the CPP-bound macromolecule outside the cell. This results in the formation of a saclike vesicle into which the CPP-bound macromolecule is incorporated. Trafficking of the CPP- bound macromolecule through late endosomes and/or Golgi and/or endoplasmic reticulum (ER) delivers the CPP-bound macromolecule into the cytoplasm, wherein this stage may involve CPP-induced opening of the transient pores in the lipid bilayer. Alternatively, the CPP-complexed macromolecule may be transported to other locations in the cell, e.g. into the endosom, dependent on the mode of action required for the specific purpose. As an example, TLR-7 and TLR-8 receptors are located in the endosome. Thus, transfection of cells with immunostimulatory RNA, which may e.g. be ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) selected from ligands of TLR1 - TLR13 (Toll-like receptors: TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLRI 2 or TLR13) may lead to transport to the endosomes and (depeding on the specific interaction and the interaction partners) to e.g. immunostimulation by the RNA ligand.
Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) as defined above are well known in the art and widely discussed. However, the use of these CPPs (as carriers) is established for the transport of peptides, proteins and DNA as cargo, wherein the CPPs are typically linked to cargo molecules in a covalent manner. In contrast, cellular transport of RNAs using CPPs was only shown for a very limited number of cases, particularly for short RNA sequences, e.g. double stranded si RNA sequences.
By way of example, Futaki et al. (The Journal of Biological Chemistry, VoI 276, No. 8, pp. 5836-5840, 2001 ) disclose the use of carrier oligopeptides (Arg)n having a length of 4-16 amino acids for in vitro transfer of cargo peptides, wherein the carrier peptides are covalently linked to the cargo peptides. A translocation optimum was demonstrated for (Arg)n having a length of 6 or 8 arginines, respectively.
Trans-membrane transport peptides or peptidomimetics by CPPs was also shown by Deshayes et al. (2005, supra). Deshayes et al. (2005, supra) disclose the use of oligopeptides Arg7 and Arg9 for in vitro transfer of cargo peptides and in vivo transfer of cargo proteins such as cyclosporin or catalase.
For transfection of cells with macromolecules, such as DNA, peptides or proteins, high molecular weight polypeptides such as poly-L-argi nines (e.g. typically having a MW of about 5000 Da to 15 kDa) or poly-L-lysines (e.g. typically having a MW of about 54 kDa) as well as high molecular weight PEI (polyethyleneimin) (e.g. typically having a MW of about 25 kDa) were used according to the art (see also Bettinger et al., Nucleic Acids Research, Vol. 29 No. 18 (2001 )). However, high molecular weight poly-L-lysine and PEI appeared to be ineffective as carrier molecules. Further, when using high molecular weight poly-L- arginines at high concentrations, toxic effects were observed which lead to activation of the complement system. Thus, efforts were undertaken to develop low molecular weight transfection agents, such as, e.g., low molecular weight poly-arginines. However, such low molecular weight poly-arginines typically exhibit a low stability of the carrier-cargo- complex, i.e. the complex formed of, e.g., a poly-arginine as carrier and a DNA molecule as a cargo. Thus, McKenzie et al. (McKenzie eta/. A potent new class of reductively activated peptide gene delivery agents; The Journal of Biological Chemistry Vol. 274 No. 14, 2000 ) tried to increase stability of peptide-DNA-complexes by crosslinking these peptides via glutaraldehyde to the DNA, thereby forming a Schiff's base. However, such crosslinking results in extremely slow dissociation of the complex in the cell and, consequently, expression of the encoded protein is extremely low over time. In order to circumvent this problem, McKenzie et al. (2000, supra) introduced cysteine residues into the CPP carrier, which stabilize the complex by forming disulfide bonds between CPP and DNA. Upon transfection, these disulfide bonds are cleaved in the cell due to the reducing conditions inside the cell, resulting in increased expression of the encoded peptides. However, such crosslinking is elaborative and may cause further undesired modifications of the DNA.
Furthermore, low-molecular weight PEI (e.g. typically having a MW of about 2000 Da) and low-molecular weight poly-L-lysines (e.g. typically having a MW of about 3400 Da) may be used for transfection of such macromolecules as mentioned above. However, even though an improved transfection was observed for low-molecular weight PEI or poly-L-lysines in these experiments, expression was not detectable due to formation of extremely stable complexes of these carrier molecules with the DNA. As a result, these carrier molecules do not appear to exhibit dissociation of their complexed DNA, a necessary step for translation and expression of the encoded protein (see Bettinger et al., (2001 ), supra).
Transport of DNA by CPPs was further shown by Niidome et al. (The Journal of Biological Chemistry, VoI 272., No. 24, pp. 15307-15312, 1997). Niidome et al. (1997, supra) disclose the use of CPPs, particularly of cationic alpha-helical peptides with a defined arginine content of 25% and a length of 12 or 24 amino acids, respectively, for the transport of plasmid DNA as cargo moiety. As a result, it was found that long and/or hydrophobic peptides can strongly bind to the DNA and effect transport of DNA into cells. Moreover, Niidome et al. (Bioconjugate Chem. 1999, 10, 773-780) showed that peptides having a length of 16 to 17 amino acids were most efficient for the transport of plasmid DNA. However, when using small peptides (e.g. of about 12 amino acids) as CPPs, transfection efficiency of DNA into cells turned out to decrease significantly.
In order to enhance cellular transfection efficiency of short arginine molecules, Futaki et a/. (Bioconjugate Chem. 2001 , 12, 1005-101 1 ) used stearylated oligopeptides (Arg)n having a length of 4-16 amino acids. These oligopeptides were used in transfection experiments in comparison to non-stearylated oligopeptides (Arg)n having a length of 4-16 amino acids and poly-arginine (MW 5000-15000) for in vitro transfer of plasmid DNA coding for luciferase. Accordingly, carrier peptides used for transfection were mixed with plasmid DNA and formed a carrier/cargo complex. A translocation optimum was demonstrated for stearylated (Arg)n having a length of 8 arginines, whereas arginines having a length of 6-7 and 9-15 arginines showed a significantly reduced cellular transport activity. Furthermore, transport activity of non-stearylated arginines and poly-arginine exhibited poor results, indicating loss of transport activity when using these carrier peptides. The observed difference of transfection efficiency shown by Futaki et a/. (2001 , supra) for stearylated and non- stearylated carrier peptides is thus due to the presence of lipid moieties, which significantly change the chemical properties of the CPPs used in these experiments.
According to Kim et a/. (Kim et a/., Basic peptide system for efficient delivery of foreign genes, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta 1640 (2003) 129-136), short arginine carrier peptides such as (Arg)9 to (Arg)15 may be used for complexation and cellular transfection of DNA, encoding green fluorescent protein PEGFP-N3. When using arginines (Arg)9 to (Arg),5, optimum results were obtained with (Arg)15 showing increasing cellular transfection efficiency from (Arg)9 to (Arg)15. These results indicate that optimum transport properties for transfecting cells with DNA may be achieved with an (Arg)n carrier peptide, wherein n is far beyond 15. However, applicability of short arginine peptides for transfection purposes was exclusively documented for DNA molecules as cargo moiety by Kim eta/. (2003, supra).
Cells may also be transfected by using CPPs in combination with RNA. However, only a small number of working examples were carried out for the cellular transport of RNA, probably due to its fast degradation and low stability in complexes. Thus, transfection of RNA using CPPs appears to be restricted to more stable double stranded RNAs, such as siRNA. By way of example, Tόnges et al. (RNA (2006), 12:1431-1438) used stearylated octa-arginine (Arg)8 for the in vitro transfer of double stranded short siRNA into neuronal hippocampus cells, wherein the stearylated octa-arginine (Arg)8 forms a complex with siRNA. Based on the results of Tόnges et al. (2006, supra) the stearyl component of the carrier peptides seems to be indispensible for the transport of siRNA or the transport of other RNA molecules.
Veldhoen et al. (2006) also published the use of specific CPPs in a non-covalent complex for cellular transfection of double stranded short siRNA sequences (Veldhoen et al., Cellular delivery of small interfering RNA by a non-covalently attached cell penetrating peptide: quantitative analysis of uptake and biological effect. Nucleic Acids Research 2006). Peptides used by Veldhoen et al. (2006) were MPGalpha (Ac- GALFLAFLAAALSLMGLWSQPKKKRKV-Cya) and MPGalpha-mNLS (Ac-
GALFLAFLAAALSLMGLWSQPKSKRKV-Cya). These specific peptides were additionally modified with an acetyl moiety (Ac) at the N-terminus and a cysteamide moiety at the C- terminus. Veldhoen et al. (2006) were able to show transfer of double-stranded siRNA, having a length of about 18 to 40 nucleotides, into cells by using the afore-mentioned carrier peptides.
Summarizing the above, use of CPPs or other carrier peptides for the cellular transport of macromolecules was basically shown for peptides and for DNA molecules. Few very specific publications disclose cell penetrating properties of double stranded siRNA.
RNA transfer represents an important tool in modern molecular medicine and exhibits superior properties over DNA cell transfection, since DNA molecules may lead to serious problems. E.g. application of DNA molecules bears the risk that the DNA integrates into the host genome. Integration of foreign DNA into the host genome can have an influence on expression of the host genes and possibly triggers expression of an oncogene or destruction of a tumor suppressor gene. A gene - and therefore the gene product - which is essential to the host may also be inactivated by integration of the foreign DNA into the coding region of this gene. There is a particular danger if integration of the DNA takes place into a gene which is involved in regulation of cell growth. In this case, the host cell may enter into a degenerated state and lead to cancer or tumor formation. Such undesired integration into the DNA may be even more problematic, if the DNA transfected into the cell comprises a potent promoter, such as the viral CMV promoter. Integration of such promoters into the genome of the treated cell can lead to undesirable changes in the regulation of gene expression in the cell. A further disadvantage is that the DNA molecules remain in the cell nucleus for a long time, either as an episome or, as mentioned, integrated into the host genome. This phenomenon leads both to production of transgenic protein which is not limited or cannot be limited in time and to danger of associated tolerance towards this transgenic protein. The development of anti-DNA antibodies (Gilkeson et a/., J Clin Invest 95, 1398-1402 (1995)) and the induction of autoimmune diseases can furthermore be triggered by injection of DNA. All these risks listed are associated with application of DNA. In contrast, they do not occur if RNA, particularly mRNA, is used instead of DNA. For example, mRNA does not integrate into the host genome, no viral sequences, such as promoters etc., are required for effective transcription etc. A disadvantage resulting from the use of RNA may be due to its instability as compared to DNA (RNA-degrading enzymes, so- called RNases (ribonucleases), in particular, but also numerous other processes which destabilize RNA are responsible for the instability of RNA). However, methods for stabilizing RNA have meanwhile been disclosed in the art, such as, for example, in WO 03/051401 , WO 02/098443, WO 99/14346, EP-A-1083232, US 5,580,859 and US 6,214,804. Methods have also been developed for protecting RNA against degradation by ribonucleases, either using liposomes (Martinon et al., Eur J Immunol 23, 1 719-1 722 (1993)) or an intra-cytosolic in vivo administration of the nucleic acid with a ballistic device (gene gun) (Vassilev et al., Vaccine 19, 2012-2019 (2001 )).
Since RNA molecules as such provide advantageous properties over DNA as discussed above, it is the object of the present invention to provide a suitable and efficient carrier for the transport of RNA into cells. Accordingly, the present invention provides a solution which allows RNA to transfect cells in an efficient manner.
This object of the present invention is achieved by the embodiments of the present invention as characterized by the claims. Particularly, the above object is solved by a complexed RNA (molecule), comprising at least one RNA (molecule), preferably an mRNA, complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the at least one oligopeptide has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids, and wherein the at least one oligopeptide contains I Arg residues, m Lys residues, n His residues, o Orn residues and x Xaa residues positioned in any order within the at least one oligopeptide having the following empirical formula:
(Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) wherein
• I + m + n +o + x = 8-15, and
I, m, n or o independently of each other may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15, provided that the overall content of Arg, Lys, His and Orn represents at least 50%, e.g. at least 60% or 70 %, of all amino acids of the oligopeptide; and
• Xaa may be any amino acid selected from native (= naturally occurring) or non-native amino acids except of Arg, Lys, His or Orn; and
• x may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, provided, that the overall content of Xaa does not exceed 50 %, e.g. not more than 40% or 30%, of all amino acids of the oligopeptide.
In the context of the present invention, a complexed RNA is to be understood as an RNA (molecule) as defined herein, preferably an mRNA, which is complexed to the one or more oligopeptides according to empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x by forming a non-covalent complex between RNA and oligopeptide(s). Herein, "non-covalent" means that a reversible association of RNA and oligopeptide is formed by non-covalent interactions of these molecules, wherein the molecules are associated together by any type of interaction of electrons, other than a covalent bond, e.g. by van der Waals-bonds, i.e. a weak electrostatic attraction arising from a nonspecific attractive force of the complexed molecules. Association of an RNA and at least one oligopeptide is in equilibrium with dissociation of that complex. Intracellularly, without being bound to theory, the equilibrium appears to be shifted towards dissociated RNA and oligopeptide(s).
The at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids, preferably a length of 8 to 14, 8 to 13, 8 to 12, or 9 to 12 or 9 to 1 1 amino acids, and more preferably a length of 8 to 10, 9 to 1 1 , 10 to 12, 1 1 to 13, 12 to 14 or 13 to 15 amino acids, or even more preferably may be selected from a peptide of the above formula having a length of 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15 amino acids. The oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention has the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x/ as defined above wherein I + m + n +o + x = 8-15, and I, m, n or o independently of each other may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15, or any range formed by two of these values, provided that the overall content of (the basic amino acids) Arg, Lys, His and/or Orn represents at least 50% (e.g. at least 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, or 59%) at least 60% (e.g. at least 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, or 69%), at least 70% (e.g. at least 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, or 79%), at least 80% (e.g. at least 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, or 89%) at least 90% (e.g. at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99%), or even 100% of all amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention. The amino acids Arg, Lys, His and Orn (three letter code) are to be understood as the amino acids arginine, lysine, histidine and ornithine, respectively. In this context, ornithine is an amino acid whose structure is NH2-CH2-CH2-CH2-CHNH2-COOH. Ornithine was artificially incorporated as the 21 st amino acid and does not belong to the "natively occurring" 20 amino acids in the sense that ornithine is not an amino acid coded for by DNA, and, accordingly, is not involved in primary protein synthesis. However, ornithine is provided by enzymatic reaction starting from L-arginine. It is believed not to be a part of the genetic code because polypeptides containing unprotected ornithines undergo spontaneous lactamization. Ornithine is to be regarded as a basic amino acid since it is one of the products of the reaction of the enzyme Arginase on L-arginine, creating urea.
According to a further preferred embodiment the (single) amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) as shown above, may occur in any frequency as defined above for the empirical formula, i.e. each basic amino acid (as well as Xaa) may occur in the above defined empirical formula within the above defined values or ranges, wherein any range may be formed from by two of the values as defined above. However, it is particularly preferred, if the content of the basic amino acid Arg in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula. According to another particularly preferred embodiment the content of the basic amino acid Lys in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula. According to a further particularly preferred embodiment the content of the basic amino acid His in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula. According to one other particularly preferred embodiment the content of the basic amino acid Orn in the above empricial formula is at least 10%, more preferably at least 20%, even more preferably at least 30%, 40% or even 50%, even more preferably at least 60%, 70%, 80% 90% or even 100% with respect to the entire empirical formula. Any of the above defined contents, values or ranges of basic amino acids Arg, Lys, His and/or Orn as defined above may also be combined with each other, preferably leading to an overall content of all basic amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention of at least 50% (at least 51 , 52, 53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, or 59%) at least 60% (at least 61 , 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, or 69%), at least 70% (at least 71 , 72, 73, 74, 75, 76, 77, 78, or 79%), at least 80% (at least 81 , 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, or 89%) at least 90% (at least 91 , 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, or 99%), or even 100%, as defined initially.
The amino acids in the above formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, i.e. Arg, Lys, His and/or Orn may be furthermore be selected from the native (= naturally occurring) amino acids Arg, Lys, His and Orn or from non-native (= not naturally occurring) amino acids derived from these amino acids. As a non-native (= not naturally occurring) amino acid derived from the amino acids Arg, Lys, His and Orn, any known derivative of these amino acids may be used, which has been chemically modified, provided these derivatives are not toxic for cells or organisms, when provided with the above oligopeptide. (Such derivatives of amino acids are distributed by different companies; see e.g. Sigma Aldrich (see http://www.sigmaaldrich.com).
Furthermore, the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may contain an amino acid Xaa in the above empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, which may be any amino acid selected from native (= naturally occurring) or non-native (= not naturally occurring) amino acids except of Arg, Lys, His or Orn. Preferably, Xaa may be selected, without being limited thereto, from naturally occurring neutral (and hydrophobic) amino acids, i.e. amino acids, which have neutral (and hydrophobic) side chains, such as alanine (Ala), valine (VaI), leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Me), proline (Pro), tryptophane (T rp), phenylalanine (Phe), or methionine (Met), and/or from naturally occurring neutral (and polar) amino acids, i.e. amino acids, which have neutral (and polar) side chains, such as glycine (GIy), serine (ser), threonine (Thr), tyrosine (Tyr), cysteine (Cys), asparagine (Asn), or glutamine (GIu), and/or from naturally occurring acidic amino acids, i.e. amino acids, which have acidic side chains, such as aspartic acid (Asp) or glutamic acid (GIu). Preferably the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may contain an amino acid Xaa in the above empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, which is selected from amino acids having no acidic side chain. Even more preferably, Xaa in empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x is selected from amino acids having a neutral side chain, i.e. from amino acids, which have a neutral (and hydrophobic) side chain and/or from amino acids, which have a neutral (and polar) side chain, as defined above. Additionally, any known derivative of amino acids may be used for Xaa in the above empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, i.e. amino acids, which have been chemically modified, provided these derivatives are not toxic for cells or organisms, when provided with the above oligopeptide. (Such derivatives of amino acids are distributed by different companies, see e.g. Sigma Aldrich (see http://www.sigmaaldrich.com). Xaa is typically present in the above formula in a content of 0-30%, 0-40% or 0-50% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence, i.e. the overall content of Xaa may not exceed 30%, 40% or 50% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence, preferably it may not exceed 20%, even more preferably not 10%, and most preferably not 5% of all amino acids of the entire oligopeptide sequence. Thus, x in the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Om)0;(Xaa)x as shown above may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8, provided, that the content of Xaa does not exceed the above indicated value of 30% (or less), 40% or 50% of all entire amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA.
Typically, the amino acids Arg, Lys, His, Orn and Xaa of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as indicated above, may be positioned at any position of the oligopeptide sequence. Accordingly, empirical formula (I) does not determine any specific order of amino acids, but is rather intended to reflect the type of amino acids and their frequency of occurrence in the peptide, indicating that the peptide chain contains a number of I Arg residues, m Lys residues, n His residues , o Om residues and x Xaa residues, without specifying any order of these residues within the peptide chain.
However, it is preferred, that the above oligopeptide comprises amino acids at one or, preferably, both terminal ends, which do not comprise an acidic side chain. More preferably, the above oligopeptide sequence comprises neutral or basic amino acids at one or, preferably, both terminal ends, even more preferably basic amino acids at one or both terminal ends. In a further preferred embodiment, the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above contains at least two, more preferably at least three, at least four or even at least five terminal basic residues, in particular Arg, Orn or Lys, at either terminus. According to just another preferred embodiment, the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above preferably comprises no cationic amino acids (i.e. no Arg, Orn or Lys) at one or, preferably, at both terminal ends, even more preferably no cationic amino acids (i.e. no Arg, Om or Lys) at both terminal ends. In other words, one, or more preferably both, terminal ends of the oligopeptide according to the general formula given above may comprise any non-cationic amino acid as defined herein, provided that such non-cationic amino acid is selected from an amino acid except Arg, Orn or Lys or any variant or derivative of these cationic amino acids. The terminal ends may comprise e.g. one, at least two, at least three, at least four, at least five or even more basic non-cationic residues as defined above starting from the N- and/or C-terminal end of the particular sequence.
According to a further preferred embodiment, one or both terminal ends of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may comprise at least one histidine residues at one or both of its terminal ends, e.g. the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention may comprise one, two, three or more histidine residues in consecutive order at one or both terminal ends, provided that the overall length of the oligopeptide is limited to 8 to 15 amino acids as defined above.
Additionally, Xaa residues of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the present invention are typically separated from each other by at least one Arg, Lys, His or Orn. Such a separation of Xaa residues preferably avoids clusters of non-basic amino acids in the oligopeptide, as such non-basic clusters may reduce the advantageous properties of the oligopeptide as a carrier peptide for the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
However, basic amino acid residues of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA according to the formula given above are selected from Arg, Lys His or Orn as defined above and typically occur in a cluster of at least 2, preferably at least 3, 4, 5, or even 6 or more basic amino acids as defined herein. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, such clusters may also comprise 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or even 15 amino acids. Such a cluster of basic amino acids, preferably a cluster of at least 3, 4, 5, or even 6 or more basic amino acids preferably creates a basic surface or binding region within the oligopeptide, which provides advantageous properties to the oligopeptide as a carrier peptide for the complexed RNA according to the present invention.
According to a further preferred embodiment the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x (formula I) as shown above, may be, without being restricted thereto, selected from the following subgroup of formulae:
Arg8, Arg9, Arg,0, Arg, ,, Arg,2, Arg13, Arg,4, Arg,5, (SEQ ID NOs: 1 -8); Lys8, Lys9, Lys,0, Lys,,, Lys,2, Lys,3, Lys14, LyS15, (SEQ ID NOs: 9-16);
HiS8, HiS9, His,0, His, ,, HiS12, HiS13, His,4, His,5, (SEQ ID NOs: 1 7-24); Om8, Om9, Om10, Omn, Om12, Om13, Orn,4, Orn,5, (SEQ ID NOs: 25-32);
According to a further preferred embodiment the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) as shown above, may be, without being restricted thereto, selected from following subgroup. This subgroup exemplarily defines specific inventive oligopeptides, which fall under empirical formula I as defined above, wherein the following formulae (as with empirical formula (I)) do not specify any amino acid order, but are intended to reflect empirical formulae by exclusively specifying the (number of) amino acids as components of the respective peptide. Accordingly, empirical formula Arg(7.M)Lys, is intended to mean that peptides falling under this formula contain 7 to 14 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue of whatsoever order. If the peptides contain 7 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue, all variants having 7 Arg residues and 1 Lys residue are encompassed. The Lys residue may therefore be positioned anywhere in the e.g. 8 amino acid long sequence composed of 7 Arg and 1 Lys residues. The subgroup preferably comprises:
Figure imgf000017_0001
Lys(7.14)His,,
Figure imgf000017_0002
His(7.14)Orn,,; Arg(6O31Lys2, Arg(6O31His2, Arg(6o31Om2, Lys(6.13)His2, Lys(6.13)Orn2, His(6O3,Orn2/; Arg(5O21Lys3, Arg(5o2)His3, Arg(5.12)Orn3, Lys(5.12)His3/ Lys(5O21Orn3, His(5O21Om3,; Arg(4-i i)Lys4, Arg(4O 1)His4, Arg(4O 11Orn4, Lys(4O 11His4, Lys(4O 11Om4, His(4O 11Orn4/; Arg(3-io)Lyss, Arg(300)His5, Arg(3.,0)Orn5, Lys(3o0,His5, Lys(3.,o)Orn5/ His(3.,0)Orn5/; Arg(2.9)Lys6, Arg(2.9,His6, Arg(2.9,Orn6, Lys(2.9,His6, Lys(2.9,Orn6, His(2.9)Orn6/; Arg(1^,Lys7, Arg(1^His7, Arg(1^Orn7/ Lyso^His7, Lys(1.8,Orn7/ HiS0^Om7,; LyS^13)Om1, Lys(6.
Figure imgf000017_0003
Ar^s021LyS2HiS1, Arg(5O2)Lys,His2, Ar^5021LyS2Om1, Arg(5O2,Lys,Orn2, Ar^502)HiS2Om1, Arg(5. ,2,HiS1Om2, Arg2Lys(5o2,His,, Arg,Lys(5O2,His2, Arg2Lys(502)Orn,, Arg,Lys(5O2)Orn2, Lys(5. 12,His2Orn,, LyS15021HiS1Om2, Arg^ys^is^^ Arg,Lys2His(5O2,, Arg2His(5O2)Orn,, Arg,His(5. I2)Om2, LyS2H is(5O2,Orn,, Lys,His(5O2,Orn2; Arg(4O,,Lys3His,, Arg(4O ,,LyS2Hi S2, Arg(4O,,Lys,His3, Arg(4O,,Lys3Orn,, Arg(4O,,Lys2Orn2, Arg(4. Arg3Lys(4O 1,His,, Arg2Lys(4. LyS1401)HiS3Om1, Arg, LyS3H is(4O,,, Lys2His(40 υOrn2,
Figure imgf000017_0004
Arg(3-io)Lys4His,, Arg(3O0)Lys3His2, Arg(3O0)Lys2His3, Arg(3O01Lys,His4, Arg(3O0)Lys4Orn,, Arg(3. ,0,LyS3Om2, Arg(3O0,Lys2Orn3, Arg(3O0,Lys,Orn4, Arg(3O0)Hi S4Om1, Arg(3o0,Hi S3Om2, Arg(3. ,0,HiS2Om3, Arg(3O0,His,Orn4, Arg4Lys(3O0,His,, Arg3Lys(3O0,His2, Arg2Lys(3O0)His3, Arg,Lys(3. ,O)HiS4, Arg4Lys(3O0)Orn1, Arg3Lys(3O0)Om2, Arg2Lys(3O0,Orn3, Arg,Lys(3O0,Orn4, Lys(3O0)His4Om,, Lys(3O0)His3Orn2, Lys(3O0,His2Orn3, Lys(3O0,His,Orn4, Arg4Lys,His(3O0), Arg3Lys2His(3O0), Arg2Lys3His(3O0), Arg,Lys4His(3O0), Ar^4H is(3O0)Orn,, Arg3His(3O0,Orn2, Arg2His(3O0,Orn3, Arg,His(300)Orn4, Lys4His(3O01Orn,, LyS3H is(3O0,Orn2, Lys2His(3O0)Orn3, Lys,His(3O0,Orn4; Arg(2.9,Lys5His,, Arg(2.9,Lys4His2, Arg(2.9,Lys3His3, Arg(2.9,Lys2His4, Arg(2.9)Lys,His5, Arg(2.
9)Lys5Orn,, Arg(2.9,Lys4Om2, Arg(2.9)Lys3Orn3, Arg(2.9)Lys2Orn4, Arg(2.9)Lys,Orn5, Arg(2.9,His5Orn,,
Arg(2.9)H Js4Om2, Arg(2.9)His3Om3, Arg(2.9)His2Orn4, Arg(2.9)His,Orn5, Arg5Lys(2_9,His,, Arg4Lys(2.
9,His2, Arg3Lys(2.9)His3, Arg2Lys(2.9,His4, Arg, Lys(2.9,His5, Arg5Lys(2.9,Om,, Arg4Lys(2.9)Orn2,
Arg3Lys(2.9,Om3, Arg2Lys(2.9)Orn4, Arg,Lys(2.9)Orn5, Lys(2.9)His5Orn,, Lys(2.9)Hi S4Om2, Lys(2. 9)His3Om3, Lys(2.9)His2Orn4, Lys(2.9,His,Orn5, Arg5Lys,His(2.9), Arg4Lys2His(2.9), Arg3Lys3His(2.9),
Arg2Lys4His(2.9), Arg,Lys5His(2.9), Arg5His(2.9)Om,, Arg4His(2.9)Orn2, Arg3His(2.9,Orn3, Arg2His(2.
9)Orn4, Arg,His(2.9)Orn5, Lys5His(2.9)Orn,, Lys4His(2.9,Orn2, Lys3His(2.9,Orn3, Lys2His(2.9)Orn4,
Lys,His(2.9,Orn5;
Figure imgf000017_0005
Arg5His(). LyS6HiS0^Om1,
Figure imgf000018_0001
APg1502)LyS)HiS1Om1, APg1LyS(S02)HiS1Om1, APg1 LyS1HiS(S02)Om1, APg1LyS1 HiS1Om1502,; m1, m1,
Figure imgf000018_0002
APg300)LyS3HiS1Om1, APg1300)LyS2HiS2Om1, APg000)LyS2HiS1Om2, APg1300)LyS1HiS2Om2, Arg(3. ,0,LyS1 HiS1Om3, Arg3Lys(3O0,His,Orn,, APg2LyS1300)HiS2Om1, APg2LyS000)HiS1Om2, APg1LyS0. ,O1HiS2Om2, APg1LyS0001HiS1Om3, APg3LyS1HiS0001Om1, Arg2 LyS2 Hi S0001Om1, APg2LyS1HiS0. 10)Om2, APg1LyS2HiS0001Om2, APg1 LyS1HiS0001Om3, APg3LyS1HiS1Om0001, APg2LyS2HiS1Om0001,
Figure imgf000018_0003
According to one preferred embodiment, the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, is selected from the subgroup consisting of: Arg8, Arg9, Arg,0, Arg,,, Arg12, Arg,3,
Arg,4, Arg15, (SEQ ID NOs: 1 -8); Lys8, LyS9, Lys10, LyS1 1, LyS12, Lys13, LyS14, LyS15, (SEQ ID NOs: 9-16); His8, His9, His,0, His,,, His,2, His,3, His,4, HiS15, (SEQ ID NOs: 17-24); or Om8, Om9, Om10, Om11, Om12, Om13, Om14, Om15, (SEQ ID NOs: 25-32).
According to another preferred embodiment, the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, is selected from the subgroup consisting of general formulas Arg9 (also termed R9),
Arg9His3 (also termed R9H3), His3Arg9His3 (also termed H3R9H3), TyrSerSerArg9SerSerTyr
(also termed YSSR9SSY), His3Arg9SerSerTyr (also termed H3R9SSY), (ArgLysHis)4 (also termed (RKH)4), Tyr(ArgLysHis)2Arg (also termed Y(RKH)2R). Even more preferably, these general formulas are defined as follows:
Arg9: Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 2)
Arg9His3: Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-H is-H is-H is
(SEQ ID NO: 39) H is3Arg9H is3: H is-H is-H is-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-H is-H is-H is
(SEQ ID NO: 40) TyrSerSerArg9SerSerTyr: Tyr-Ser-Ser-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr
(SEQ ID NO: 41 )
H is3 Arg9SerSerTyr: H is-H is-H is-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr (SEQ ID NO: 42)
(ArgLysHis)4: Arg-Lys-His-Arg-Lys-His-Arg-Lys-His-Arg-Lys-His
(SEQ ID NO: 43) Tyr(ArgLysHis)2Arg: Tyr-Arg-Lys-His-Arg-Lys-His-Arg (SEQ ID NO: 44)
The at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, may be additionally modified. Modifications in the context of the present invention typically comprise any modification suitable for peptides, provided that these modifications do not interfere with the transfection capabilities of the resulting complexed RNA.
Typical modifications may thus include e.g. the use of modified amino acids as defined above. Furthermore, the terminal amino acid residues of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, with their carboxy (C- terminus) and their amino (N-terminus) groups (as well as carboxy or amide amino acid side chain groups, see above) may be present in their protected (e.g. the C terminus protected by an amide group) and/or unprotected form, using appropriate amino or carboxyl protecting groups. Also, acid-addition salts of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, may be used. Common acid addition salts are hydrohalic acid salts, i.e., HBr, HI, or more preferably, HCl.
PEGylation of terminal or side chain carboxyl groups or the epsilon-amino group of lysine occurring in the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, confers resistance to agglomeration and serum degradation and is also within the scope of the present invention.
The at least one oligopeptide of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the present invention, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, may furthermore be modified to bind to or be coupled to at least one specific ligand, wherein the at least one specific ligand may be bound to or coupled to one or both terminal ends of the at least one oligopeptide. The at least one specific ligand bound to or coupled to one or both terminal ends of the oligopeptide may be identical or different and may be selected from any compound capable to bind to or interact with a receptor or a protein or a protein/receptor complex, e.g. at the cell surface, e, e.g., without being limited thereto,
RGD-peptide, transferrin or mannose, etc.
Other preferred modifications resulting in derivatives of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x as shown above, are based on carbohydrates and/or lipids which may be covalently coupled to the oligopeptide. It is preferred to couple carbohydrates and/or lipids to serine, threonine, asparagine, glutamine or tyrosine or glutamate or aspartate via their reactive side chain moieties. Alternatively, carbohydrates and/or lipids may also be linked to the terminal moieties of the oligopeptide as defined herein. Furthermore, the oligopeptide may be coupled to a functionally different peptide or protein moiety, which may also stabilize the oligopeptide and/or may serve to improve the transport properties of oligopeptide in body fluids, in particular blood. Suitable peptides or proteins may e.g. be selected from albumin, transferrin etc., which may be directly coupled to the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x as shown above, or via a peptide or organic linker sequence.
Preferably, these peptides or proteins are linked to one of the termini of the oligopeptide. In this context, it is to be noted that a modification of the oligopeptide with lipids, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x as shown above, does typically not include the use of (saturated or non-saturated) fatty acids, particularly not the use of long chain (saturated or non-saturated) fatty acids (in particular with a chain length of > C12, > C14 or > C16). Thus, in the context of the present invention, modification of the oligopeptide with fatty acids, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Om)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, does not form an integral part of the present invention. However, if fatty acids are used at all to modify the carrier peptide, thex may be selected, without being limited thereto, from the group comprising e.g. butanoic fatty acid (butyric fatty acid), pentanoic fatty acid (valeric fatty acid), hexanoic fatty acid (caproic fatty acid), octanoic fatty acid (caprylic fatty acid), nonanoic fatty acid (pelargonic fatty acid), decanoic fatty acid (capric fatty acid), dodecanoic fatty acid (lauric fatty acid), tetradecanoic fatty acid (myristic fatty acid), hexadecanoic fatty acid (palmitic fatty acid), heptadecanoic fatty acid (margaric (daturic) fatty acid), octadecanoic fatty acid (stearic fatty acid), eicosanoic fatty acid (arachidic fatty acid), docosanoic fatty acid (behenic fatty acid), tetracosanoic fatty acid (lignoceric fatty acid), hexacosanoic fatty acid (cerotic fatty acid), heptacosanoic fatty acid (carboceric fatty acid), octacosanoic fatty acid (montanic fatty acid), triacontanoic fatty acid (melissic fatty acid), dotriacontanoic fatty acid (lacceroic fatty acid), tritriacontanoic fatty acid (ceromelissic (psyllic) fatty acid), tetratriacontanoic fatty acid (geddic fatty acid), pentatriacontanoic fatty acid (ceroplastic fatty acid), etc., or their non-saturated analogs. As a particular example, the present invention does typically not include the use of octadecanoic fatty acid (stearic fatty acid) or its non-saturated analogs for modification of the carrier peptides of formula I, i.e. typically no stearylated oligopeptides of formula I may be used herein for complexation of the RNA component of the inventive complex.
In order to circumvent the problem of degradation of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, according to another embodiment of the present invention a retro-inverso isomer of the above oligopeptide composed of D amino acids or at least partially composed of D amino acids may be used. The term "retro- inverso isomer" refers to an isomer of a linear peptide in which the direction of the sequence is reversed and the chirality of each amino acid residue is inverted (see, e.g., Jameson et a/., Nature, 368, 744-746 (1994); Brady et a/., Nature, 368, 692-693 (1994)). With respect to the parent peptide, the retro-inverso peptide is assembled in reverse order of amino acids, typically with F-moc amino acid derivatives. Typically, the crude peptides may be purified by reversed phase HPLC.
Other modifications, which may be introduced into the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as shown above, relate to modifications of the peptide backbone. Preferably, the modified oligopeptides are scaffold mimetics. Their backbone is different from the natural occurring backbone, while their side-chain structures are identical with the oligopeptides or their fragments, variants or derivatives. In general, scaffold mimetics exhibit a modification of one or more of the backbone chain members (NH, CH, CO), either as substitution (preferably) or as an insertion. Substituents are e.g. (I) - O-, -S-, or -CH2- instead of -NH-; (II) -N-, C-Alkyl-, or -BH- instead of -CHR- and (III) -CS-, -CH2-, -SOn-, -P=O(OH)-, or -B(OH)- instead of -CO-. A peptide mimetic of an oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x, as defined herein, may be a combination of each of these modifications. In particular, modifications of each the groups I, Il and III may be combined. In a peptide mimetic each backbone chain member may be modified or, alternatively, only a certain number of chain members may be exchanged for a non-natural Iy occurring moiety. Preferably, all backbone chain members of an oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x, as defined herein, of either -NH-, -CHR- or CO are exchanged for another non-naturally occurring group. In case the amide bond (-NH-CO-) of the oligopeptide backbone is substituted (in the entire molecule or at least in one single position), preferable substitution moieties are bioisosteric, e.g. retro-inverse amide bonds (-CO-NH-), hydroxyl ethylene (-CH(OH)-CH2-), alkene (CH2=CH-), carba (CH2-CH2-) and/or -P=O(OH)-CH2-). Alternatively, backbone chain elongation by insertions may occur in a scaffold mimetic of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x as defined herein, e.g. by moieties flanking the C-alpha atom. On either side of the C-alpha atom e.g. -O-, -S-, -CH-, -NH- may be inserted.
Particularly preferred are oligocarbamate peptide backbone structure of the oligopeptide, having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, as defined herein. Thereby amide bond may be replaced by a carbamate moiety. The monomeric N-protected amino alkyl carbonates are accessible via the corresponding amino acids or amino alcohols. They are converted into active esters, e.g. p-nitro phenyl ester by using the F-moc moiety or a photo sensitive nitroatryloxycarbonyl group by solid phase synthesis.
The complexed RNA of the present invention further comprises at least one RNA (molecule) suitable for transfection purposes, wherein this at least one RNA (molecule) is complexed with one or more oligopeptides, as disclosed above with empirical formula I
((Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x).
The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may have any length (preferably dependent on the type of RNA to be applied as a complexed RNA according to the present invention). Without being restricted thereto, the at least one RNA
(molecule) may have a length of 5 to 20000 nucleotides, more preferably a length of 5 to
10000 or of 300 to 10000 nucleotides, even more preferably a length of 5 to 5000 nucleotides, and most preferably a length of 20 to 5000, of 50 to 5000, of 100 to 5000 or of 300 to 10000 nucleotides depending on the type of RNA to be transfected (see disclosure below).
The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA, preferably, without being limited thereto, a short RNA oligonucleotide (preferable length 5 to 80 or, more preferably 20 to 80 nucleotides), a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers. Furthermore, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA (which may also be regarded as an RNA (molecule) due to non-covalent association of two single-stranded RNA (molecules)) or a partially double-stranded RNA (which is typically formed by a longer and a shorter single-stranded RNA molecule or by two single stranded RNA-molecules, which are about equal in length, wherein one single-stranded RNA molecule is partially complementary to the other single-stranded RNA molecule and both thus form a double- stranded RNA molecule in this region). Preferably, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a single-stranded RNA. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also be a circular or linear RNA, preferably a linear RNA. More preferably, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a ribosomal RNA (rRNA), a transfer RNA (tRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), or a viral RNA (vRNA), preferably a mRNA. The present invention allows all of these RNAs to be transfected into the cell. In this context, an mRNA is typically an RNA, which is composed of several structural elements, e.g. an optional 5'-UTR region, an upstream positioned ribosomal binding site followed by a coding region, an optional 3'-UTR region, which may be followed by a poly-A tail (and/or a poly-C-tail). An mRNA may occur as a mono-, di-, or even multicistronic RNA, i.e. an RNA which carries the coding sequences of one, two or more proteins. Such coding sequences in di-, or even multicistronic mRNA may be separated by at least one IRES sequence, e.g. as defined herein.
Short RNA oligonucleotides
In a first embodiment, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a short RNA oligonucleotide. Short RNA oligonucleotides in the context of the present invention may comprise any RNA as defined above. Preferably, the short RNA oligonucleotide may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA oligonuclotide, more preferably a single-stranded RNA oligonucleotide. Even more preferably, the short RNA oligonucleotide may be a linear single-stranded RNA oligonucleotide.
Preferably, the short RNA oligonucleotides as used herein comprise a length as defined above in general for RNA molecules, more preferably a length of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50, or of 5 of 30, or, alternatively, a length of 20 to 100, of 20 to 80, or, even more preferably, of 20 of 60 nucleotides. Short RNA oligonucleotides may be used for various purposes, e.g. for (unspecific) immune stimulation, or reducing/suppressing transcription/translation of genes.
Coding RNA
In a second embodiment, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be a coding RNA. The coding RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA as defined above. Preferably, the coding RNA may be a single- or a double-stranded RNA, more preferably a single-stranded RNA, and/or a circular or linear RNA, more preferably a linear RNA. Even more preferably, the coding RNA may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA. Most preferably, the coding RNA may be a ((linear) single-stranded) messenger RNA (mRNA). The coding RNA may further encode a protein or a peptide, which may be selected, without being restricted thereto, e.g. from therapeutically active proteins or peptides, tumor antigens, antibodies, immunostimulating proteins or peptides, etc., or from any other protein or peptide suitable for a specific (therapeutic) application, wherein the at least one RNA (molecule) encoding the protein is to be transported into a cell, a tissue or an organism and the protein is expressed subsequently in this cell, tissue or organism.
In this context, therapeutically active proteins may be selected from any recombinant or isolated proteins known to a skilled person from the prior art. Without being restricted thereto therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may be selected from apoptotic factors or apoptosis related proteins including AIF, Apaf e.g. Apaf-1 , Apaf-2, Apaf-3, oder APO-2 (L), APO-3 (L),
Apopain, Bad, Bak, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-xs, bik, CAD, Calpain, Caspase e.g. Caspase-1 , Caspase-2, Caspase-3, Caspase-4, Caspase-5, Caspase-6, Caspase-7, Caspase-8, Caspase-9,
Caspase-10, Caspase-1 1 , ced-3, ced-9, c-Jun, c-Myc, crm A, cytochrom C, CdR1 , DcRI ,
DD, DED, DISC, DNA-PKc5, DR3, DR4, DR5, FADD/MORT-1 , FAK, Fas (Fas-ligand
CD95/fas (receptor)), FLICE/MACH, FLIP, fodrin, fos, G-Actin, Gas-2, gelsolin, granzyme
A/B, ICAD, ICE, JNK, lamin A/B, MAP, MCL-1 , Mdm-2, MEKK-I , MORT-1, NEDD, NF- kappaB, NuMa, p53, PAK-2, PARP, perforin, PITSLRE, PKCdelta, pRb, presenilin, prlCE,
RAIDD, Ras, RIP, sphingomyelinase, thymidinkinase from herpes simplex, TRADD, TRAF2,
TRAIL-R1 , TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, transglutaminase, etc.
Therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from recombinant proteins, including proteins selected from the group consisting of 0ATL3, 0FC3, 0PA3, 0PD2, 4- 1 BBL, 5T4, 6Ckine, 707-AP, 9D7, A2M, AA, AAAS, AACT, AASS, ABAT, ABCAI , ABCA4, ABCB1 , ABCB1 1 , ABCB2, ABCB4, ABCB7, ABCC2, ABCC6, ABCC8, ABCD1 , ABCD3, ABCG5, ABCG8, ABL1 , ABO, ABR ACAA1 , ACACA, ACADL, ACADM, ACADS, ACADVL, ACAT1 , ACCPN, ACE, ACHE, ACHM3, ACHM1 , ACLS, ACPI, ACTA1 , ACTC, ACTN4, ACVRL1 , AD2, ADA, ADAMTS13, ADAMTS2, ADFN, ADHI B, ADHI C, ADLDH3A2, ADRB2, ADRB3, ADSL, AEZ, AFA, AFD1 , AFP, AGA, AGL, AGMX2, AGPS, AGS1 , AGT, AGTRI , AGXT, AH02, AHCY, AHDS, AHHR, AHSG, AIC, AIED, AIH2, AIH3, AIM-2, AIPLl, AIRE, AK1, ALAD, ALAS2, ALB, HPG1, ALDH2, ALDH3A2, ALDH4A1, ALDH5A1, ALDH1A1, ALDOA, ALDOB, ALMS1, ALPL, ALPP, ALS2, ALX4, AMACR, AMBP, AMCD, AMCDl, AMCN, AMELX, AMELY, AMGL, AMH, AMHR2, AMPD3, AMPD1, AMT, ANC, ANCR, ANK1, ANOP1, AOM, AP0A4, AP0C2, AP0C3, AP3B1, APC, aPKC, APOA2, APOAI, APOB, APOC3, APOC2, APOE, APOH, APP, APRT, APS1, AQP2, AR, ARAFl, ARG1, ARHGEFl 2, ARMET, ARSA, ARSB, ARSC2, ARSE, ART-4, ARTC1/m, ARTS, ARVD1, ARX, AS, ASAH, ASAT, ASDl, ASL, ASMD, ASMT, ASNS, ASPA, ASS, ASSP2, ASSP5, ASSP6, AT3, ATD, ATHS, ATM, ATP2A1, ATP2A2, ATP2C1, ATP6B1, ATP7A, ATP7B, ATP8B1, ATPSK2, ATRX, ATXN1, ATXN2, ATXN3, AUTS1, AVMD, AVP, AVPR2, AVSD1, AXIN1, AXIN2, AZF2, B2M, B4GALT7, B7H4, BAGE, BAGE-I, BAX, BBS2, BBS3, BBS4, BCA225, BCAA, BCH, BCHE, BCKDHA, BCKDHB, BCL10, BCL2, BCL3, BCL5, BCL6, BCPM, BCR, BCR/ABL, BDC, BDE, BDMF, BDMR, BESTI, beta-Catenin/m, BF, BFHD, BFIC, BFLS, BFSP2, BGLAP,BGN, BHD, BHR1, BING-4, BIRC5, BJS, BLM, BLMH, BLNK, BMPR2, BPGM, BRAF, BRCA1, BRCA1/m, BRCA2, BRCA2/m, BRCD2, BRCD1, BRDT, BSCL, BSCL2, BTAA, BTD, BTK, BUB1, BWS, BZX, C0L2A1, C0L6A1, CINH, C1QA, CIQB, C1QG, CIS, C2, C3, C4A, C4B, C5, C6, CI, C7orf2, C8A, C8B, C9, CA125, CA15- 3/CA 27-29, CA195, CA19-9, CA72-4, CA2, CA242, CA50, CABYR, CACD, CACNA2D1, CACNAIA, CACNA1F, CACNA1S, CACNB2, CACNB4, CAGE, CA1, CALB3, CALCA, CALCR, CALM, CALR, CAM43, CAMEL, CAP-1, CAPN3, CARD15, CASP-5/m, CASP-8, CASP-8/m, CASR, CAT, CATM, CAV3, CBl, CBBM, CBS, CCA1, CCAL2, CCALI, CCAT, CCL-1, CCL-11, CCL-12, CCL-13, CCL-14, CCL-15, CCL-16, CCL-17, CCL-18, CCL-19, CCL-2, CCL-20, CCL-21, CCL-22, CCL-23, CCL-24, CCL-25, CCL-27, CCL-3, CCL-4, CCL-5, CCL-7, CCL-8, CCM1, CCNB1, CCND1, CCO, CCR2, CCR5, CCT, CCV, CCZS, CD1, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD25, CD27, CD27L, cD3, CD30, CD30, CD30L, CD33, CD36, CD3E, CD3G, CD3Z, CD4, CD40, CD40L, CD44, CD44v, CD44v6, CD52, CD55, CD56, CD59, CD80, CD86, CDAN1, CDAN2, CDAN3, CDC27, CDC27/m, CDC2L1, CDH1, CDK4, CDK4/m, CDKN1C, CDKN2A, CDKN2A/m, CDKNIA, CDKN1C, CDL1, CDPD1, CDR1, CEA, CEACAMI, CEACAM5, CECR, CECR9, CEPA, CETP, CFNS, CFTR, CGFl, CHAC, CHED2, CHEDI, CHEK2, CHM, CHML, CHR39C, CHRNA4, CHRNA1, CHRNB1, CHRNE, CHS, CHS1, CHST6, CHX10, CIAS1, CIDX, CKN1, CLA2, CLA3, CLA1, CLCA2, CLCNl, CLCN5, CLCNKB, CLDN16, CLP, CLN2, CLN3, CLN4, CLN5, CLN6, CLN8, C1QA, ClQB, CIQG, ClR, CLS, CMCWTD, CMDJ, CMD1A, CMD1 B, CMH2, MH3, CMH6, CMKBR2, CMKBR5, CML28, CML66, CMM, CMT2B, CMT2D, CMT4A, CMT1A, CMTX2, CMTX3, C-MYC, CNA1, CND, CNGA3, CNGA1, CNGB3, CNSN, CNTF, COA- 1/m, COCH, COD2, COD1, COH 1, COL10A, COL2A2, COL11A2, COLI 7A1, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL2A1, COL3A1, COL4A3, COL4A4, COL4A5, COL4A6, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A1, COL6A2, COL6A3, COL7A1, COL8A2, COL9A2, COL9A3, COL11A1, COL1A2, COL23A1 , COL1 A1 , COLQ, COMP, COMT, CORD5, CORD1 , COXI 0, COX-2, CP, CPB2, CPO, CPP, CPS1, CPT2, CPT1A, CPX, CRAT, CRB1, CRBM, CREBBP, CRH, CRHBP, CRS, CRV, CRX, CRYAB, CRYBA1, CRYBB2, CRYGA, CRYGC, CRYGD, CSA, CSE, CSF1R, CSF2RA, CSF2RB, CSF3R, CSF1R, CST3, CSTB, CT, CT7, CT-9/BRD6, CTAAI, CTACK, CTEN, CTH, CTHM, CTLA4, CTM, CTNNB1, CTNS, CTPA, CTSB, CTSC, CTSK, CTSL, CTS1, CUBN, CVD1, CX3CL1, CXCLI, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL12, CXCL13, CXCLl 6, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL4, CXCL5, CXCL6, CXCL7, CXCL8, CXCL9, CYB5, CYBA, CYBB, CYBB5, , CYFRA 21-1, CYLD, CYLD1, CYMD, CYP11B1, CYP11B2, CYP17, CYP17A1, CYPI 9, CYP19A1, CYP1A2, CYPI BI, CYP21A2, CYP27A1, CYP27B1, CYP2A6, CYP2C, CYP2C19, CYP2C9, CYP2D, CYP2D6, CYP2D7P1, CYP3A4, CYP7B1, CYPB1, CYP11B1, CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYRAA, D40,DADl, DAM, DAM-10/MAGE-B1, DAM-6/MAGE-B2, DAX1, DAZ, DBA, DBH, DBI, DBT, DCC, DC-CK1, DCK, DCR, DCX, DDB 1, DDB2, DDIT3, DDU, DECR1, DEK-CAN, DEM, DES, DF,DFN2, DFN4, DFN6, DFNA4, DFNA5, DFNB5, DGCR, DHCR7, DHFR, DHOF, DHS, DIAI, DIAPH2, DIAPH1, DIH1, DIO1, DISCI, DKCI, DLAT, DLD, DLL3, DLX3, DMBT1, DMD, DM1, DMPK, DMWD, DNA11, DNASE1, DNMT3B, DPEP1, DPYD, DPYS, DRD2, DRD4, DRPLA, DSCR1, DSG1, DSP, DSPP, DSS, DTDP2, DTR, DURS1, DWS, DYS, DYSF, DYT2, DYT3, DYT4, DYT2, DYT1, DYX1, EBAF, EBM, EBNA, EBP, EBR3, EBS1, ECA1, ECB2, ECE1, ECGF1, ECT, ED2, ED4, EDA, EDAR, ECA1, EDN3, EDNRB, EEC1, EEF1A1L14, EEGV1, EFEMP1, EFTUD2/m, EGFR, EGFR/Her1, EGI, EGR2, EIF2AK3, elF4G, EKV, El IS, ELA2, ELF2, ELF2M, ELK1, ELN, ELONG, EMD, EML1, EMMPRIN, EMX2, ENA-78, ENAM, END3, ENG, ENO1, ENPP1, ENUR2, ENUR1, EOS, EP300, EPB41, EPB42, EPCAM, EPD, EphA1, EphA2, EphA3, EphrinA2, EphrinA3, EPHX1, EPM2A, EPO,EPOR, EPX, ERBB2, ERCC2 ERCC3,ERCC4, ERCC5, ERCC6, ERVR, ESR1, ETFA, ETFB, ETFDH, ETMI, ETV6-AML1, ETV1, EVC, EVR2, EVR1, EWSR1, EXT2, EXT3, EXT1, EYA1, EYCL2, EYCL3, EYCLI, EZH2, F10, FI 1, F12, F13A1, F13B, F2, F5, F5F8D, F7, F8, F8C, F9, FABP2, FACL6, FAH, FANCA, FANCB, FANCC, FANCD2, FANCF, FasL,FBN2, FBN1, FBP1, FCG3RA,FCGR2A, FCGR2B, FCGR3A, FCHL, FCMD, FCP1, FDPSL5, FECH, FEO, FEOM1, FES, FGA, FGB, FGD1, FGF2, FGF23, FGF5, FGFR2, FGFR3, FGFR1, FGG, FGS1, FH, FICI, FIH, F2, FKBP6, FLNA, FLT4, FMO3,FMO4, FMR2, FMR1, FN, FN1/m, FOXC1, FOXEI, FOXL2, FOXO1A, FPDMM, FPF, Fra-1, FRAXF, FRDA, FSHB, FSHMD1A, FSHR, FTHI, FTHL17, FTL, FTZF1, FUCA1, FUT2, FUT6, FUT1, FY, G250, G250/CAIX, G6PC, G6PD, G6PT1, G6PT2, GAA, GABRA3, GAGE- 1, GAGE-2, GAGE-3, GAGE-4, GAGE-5, GAGE-6, GAGE-7b, GAGE-8, GALC, GALE, GALK1, GALNS, GALT, GAMT, GAN, GAST, GASTRINI 7, GATA3, GATA, GBA, GBE, GC, GCDH, GCGR, GCH1, GCK, GCP-2, GCS1, G-CSF, GCSH, GCSL, GCY, GDEP,GDF5, GDH, GDNF, GDXY, GFAP, GFND, GGCX, GGT1, GH2, GH1, GHR, GHRHR, GHS, GIF, GINGF, GIP, GJA3, GJA8, GJB2, GJB3, GJB6, GJB1, GK, GLA, GLB, GLB1, GLC3B, GLC1B, GLCIC, GLDC, GLI3, GLPI, GLRA1, GLUDI, GM1 (fuc-GMI), GM2A, GM-CSF, GMPR, GNAI2, GNAS, GNAT1, GNB3, GNE, GNPTA, GNRH, GNRHI, GNRHR, GNS, GnT-V, gplOO, GP1BA, GPIBB, GP9, GPC3, GPD2, GPDS1, GPI, GPIBA, GPN1LW, GPNMB/m, GPSC, GPX1, GRHPR, GRK1, GRO, GRO, GRO, GRPR, GSE, GSM1, GSN, GSR, GSS, GTD, GTS, GUCA1A, GUCY2D, GULOP, GUSB, GUSM, GUST, GYPA, GYPC, GYSl, GYS2, H0KPP2, H0MG2, HADHA, HADHB, HAGE, HAGH, HAL, HAST-2, HB 1, HBA2, HBA1, HBB, HBBP1, HBD, HBE1, HBG2, HBG1, HBHR, HBP1, HBQ1, HBZ, HBZP, HCA, HCC-I, HCC-4, HCF2, HCG, HCL2, HCL1, HCR, HCVS, HD, HPN, HER2, HER2/NEU, HER3, HERV-K-MEL, HESX1, HEXA, HEXB, HF1, HFE, HF1, HGD, HHC2, HHC3, HHG, HK1 HLA-A, HLA-A*0201-R170l, HLA-A11/m, HLA-A2/m, HLA-DPB1 HLA-DRA, HLCS, HLXB9, HMBS, HMGA2, HMGCL, HMI, HMN2, HMOX1, HMS1 HMW-MAA, HND, HNE, HNF4A, HOAC, HOMEOBOX NKX 3.1, HOM-TES-14/SCP-1, HOM-TES-85, HOXA1 HOXD13, HP, HPC1, HPD, HPE2, HPEI, HPFH, HPFH2, HPRT1, HPS1, HPT, HPV-E6, HPV-E7, HR, HRAS, HRD, HRG, HRPT2, HRPT1, HRX, HSD11B2, HSD17B3, HSDI 7B4, HSD3B2, HSD3B3, HSN1, HSP70-2M, HSPG2, HST-2, HTC2, HTC1, hTERT, HTN3, HTR2C, HVBS6, HVBSI, HVEC, HV1S, HYAL1, HYR, I-309, IAB, IBGCI, IBM2, ICAM1, ICAM3, iCE, ICHQ, ICR5, ICRI, ICS 1, IDDM2, IDDM1, IDS, IDUA, IF, IFNa/b, IFNGR1, IGADI, IGER, IGF-1R, IGF2R, IGFI, IGH, IGHC, IGHG2, IGHG1, IGHM, IGHR, IGKC, IHGl, IHH, IKBKG, ILI, IL-I RA, ILlO, IL-11 , IL12, IL12RB1, IL13, IL-13Rα2, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, IL18, IL-Ia, IL-1α, IL-Ib, IL-1β, ILlRAPLl, IL2, IL24, IL-2R, IL2RA, IL2RG, IL3, IL3RA,IL4, IL4R,IL4R, IL-5, IL6, IL-7, IL7R, IL-8, IL-9, Immature laminin receptor, IMMP2L, INDX, INFGRl, INFGR2, INFα, IFNβlNFγ, INS, INSR, INVS, IP-IO, IP2, IPFl, IPl, IRF6, IRSl, ISCW, ITGA2, ITGA2B, ITGA6, ITGA7, ITGB2, ITGB3, ITGB4, ITIHI, ITM2B, IV, IVD, JAG1, JAK3, JBS, JBTS1, JMS, JPD, KAL1, KAL2, KALI, KLK2, KLK4, KCNAI, KCNE2, KCNE1, KCNH2, KCNJl, KCNJ2, KCNJ1, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQl, KCS, KERA, KFM, KFS, KFSD, KHK, ki-67, KIAA0020, KIAA0205, KIAA0205/m, KIFlB, KIT, KK-LC-1, KLK3, KLKB1, KM-HN-I, KMS, KNG, KNO, K-RAS/m, KRAS2, KREVI, KRT1, KRT10, KRTI 2, KRTI 3, KRT14, KRT14L1, KRT14L2, KRT14L3,KRT16, KRT16L1, KRT16L2, KRTI 7, KRTl 8, KRT2A, KRT3, KRT4, KRT5, KRT6 A, KRT6B, KRT9, KRTHB1, KRTH B6, KRT1, KSA, KSS, KWE, KYNU, L0H19CR1, L1CAM, LAGE, LAGE-1, LALL, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMB3, LAMBI, LAMC2, LAMP2, LAP, LCA5, LCAT, LCCS, LCCS 1, LCFS2, LCS1, LCT, LDHA, LDHB, LDHC, LDLR, LDLR/FUT, LEP, LEWISY, LGCR, LGGF-PBP, LGII, LGMD2H, LGMDIA, LGMD1B, LHB, LHCGR, LHON, LHRH, LHX3, LIF, LIGI, LIMM, LIMP2, LIPA, LIPA, LIPB, LIPC, LIVIN7 L1CAM, LMAN1, LMNA, LMX1B, LOLR, LOR, LOX, LPA, LPL, LPP, LQT4, LRP5, LRS 1, LSFC, LT-β , LTBP2, LTC4S, LYLI, XCLI, LYZ, M344, MA50, MAA, MADH4, MAFD2, MAFD1, MAGE, MAGE-A1, MAGE-A10, MAGE-A12, MAGE-A2, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A6, MAGE-A9, MAGEB1, MAGE-B10, MAGE-B16, MAGE- BI 7, MAGE-B2, MAGE-B3, MAGE-B4, MAGE-B5, MAGE-B6, MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, MAGE-C3, MAGE-D1, MAGE-D2, MAGE-D4, MAGE-E1, MAGE-E2, MAGE-F1 ,MAGE-HI, MAGEL2, MGB1, MGB2, MAN2A1, MAN2B1, MANBA, MANBB, MAOA, MAOB, MAPK8IP1, MAPT, MART-1, MART-2, MART2/m, MAT1A, MBL2, MBP, MBS1, MC1 R, MC2R, MC4R, MCC, MCCC2, MCCC1, MCDR1, MCF2, MCKD, MCL1, MC1R, MCOLN1, MCOP, MCOR, MCP-I, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCPH2, MCPH 1, MCS, M-CSF, MDB, MDCR, MDM2, MDRV, MDS 1, MEI, MEI /m, ME2, ME20, ME3, MEAX, MEB, MEC CCL- 28, MECP2, MEFV, MELANA, MELAS, MEN1 MSLN, MET, MF4, MG50, MG50/PXDN, MGAT2, MGAT5, MGC1 MGCR, MGCT, MGI, MGP, MHC2TA, MHS2, MHS4, MIC2, MIC5, MIDI, MIF, MIP, MIP-5/HCC-2, MITF, MJD, MKI67, MKKS, MKSI, MLH1, MLL, MLLT2, MLLT3, MLLT7, MLLT1, MLS, MLYCD, MMAIa, MMP 11, MMVP1, MN/CA IX- Antigen, MNGI, MN1, MOC31, MOCS2, MOCS1, MOG, MORC, MOS, MOV18, MPD1, MPE, MPFD, MPI, MPIF-1, MPL, MPO, MPS3C, MPZ, MRE11A, MROS, MRP1, MRP2, MRP3, MRSD, MRX14, MRX2, MRX20, MRX3, MRX40, MRXA, MRX1, MS, MS4A2, MSD, MSH2, MSH3, MSH6, MSS, MSSE, MSX2, MSX1, MTATP6, MTC03, MTCO1, MTCYB, MTHFR, MTM1, MTMR2, MTND2, MTND4, MTND5, MTND6, MTND1, MTP, MTR, MTRNR2, MTRNR1, MTRR,MTTE, MTTG, MTTI, MTTK, MTTL2, MTTL1, MTTN, MTTP, MTTS1 , MUC1 ,MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUM-I , MUM-1/m, MUM-2, MUM-2/m, MUM- 3, MUM-3/m, MUT, mutant p21 ras, MUTYH, MVK, MX2, MXH, MY05A, MYB, MYBPC3, MYC, MYCL2, MYH6, MYH7, MYL2, MYL3, MYMY, MYO15A, MYO1G, MYO5A, MYO7A, MYOC, Myosin/m, MYP2, MYP1, NA88-A, N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V, NAGA, NAGLU, NAMSD, NAPB, NAT2, NAT, NBIAI, NBSI, NCAM, NCF2, NCF1, NDN , NDP, NDUFS4, NDUFS7, NDUFS8, NDUFV1, NDUFV2, NEB, NEFH, NEM1, Neo-PAP, neo-PAP/m, NEU1, NEUROD1, NF2, NF1, NFYQm, NGEP, NHS, NKS1, NKX2E, NM, NME1, NMP22, NMTC, NODAL, NOG, NOS3, NOTCH3, NOTCH1, NP, NPC2, NPC1, NPHL2, NPHPI, NPHS2, NPHS1, NPM/ALK, NPPA, NQOI, NR2E3, NR3C1, NR3C2, NRAS, NRAS/m, NRL, NROB1, NRTN, NSE, NSX, NTRK1, NUMA1, NXF2, NY-CO1, NY- ESO1, NY-ESO-B, NY-LU-12, ALDOA, NYS2, NYS4, NY-SAR-35, NYS1, NYX, OA3, OA1, OAP, OASD, OAT, OCA1, OCA2, OCD1, OCRL, OCRL1, OCT, ODDD, ODT1, OFC1, OFD1, OGDH, OGT, OGT/m, OPA2, OPA1, OPD1, OPEM, OPG, OPN, OPN1LW, OPN1MW, OPN1SW, OPPG, OPTB1, TTD, ORM1, ORP1, OS-9, OS-9/m, OSM LIF, OTC, OTOF, OTSCl, OXCT1, OYTESI, P15, PI 90 MINOR BCR-ABL, P2RY12, P3, P16, P40, P4HB, P-501, P53, P53/m, P97, PABPN1, PAFAH1B1, PAFAH1P1, PAGE-4, PAGE-5, PAH, PAI-1, PAI-2, PAK3, PAP, PAPPA, PARK2, PART-1, PATE, PAX2, PAX3, PAX6, PAX7, PAX8, PAX9, PBCA, PBCRA1, PBT, PBX1, PBXP1, PC, PCBD, PCCA, PCCB, PCK2, PCK1, PCLD, PCOS1, PCSKl, PDB1, PDCN, PDE6A, PDE6B, PDEF, PDGFB, PDGFR, PDGFRL, PDHAl, PDR, PDXl, PECAMl, PEE1, PEO1, PEPD, PEX10, PEX12, PEX13, PEX3, PEX5, PEX6, PEX7, PEX1, PF4, PFBI, PFC, PFKFB1, PFKM, PGAM2, PGD, PGK1, PGK1P1, PGL2, PGR, PGS, PHA2A, PHB, PHEX, PHGDH, PHKA2, PHKA1, PHKB, PHKG2, PHP, PHYH, Pl, PI3, PIGA, PIMI -KINASE, PIN1, PIP5K1B, PITX2, PITX3, PKD2, PKD3, PKD1, PKDTS, PKHD1, PKLR, PKP1, PKU1, PLA2G2A, PLA2G7, PLAT, PLEC1, PLG, PLI, PLOD, PLP1, PMEL17, PML, PML/RARα, PMM2, PMP22, PMS2, PMS1, PNKD, PNLIP, POF1, POLA, POLH, POMC, PON2, PON1, PORC, POTE, POU1F1, POU3F4, POU4F3, POU1F1, PPAC, PPARG, PPCD, PPGB, PPH1, PPKB, PPMX, PPOX, PPP1R3A, PPP2R2B, PPT1, PRAME, PRB, PRB3, PRCA1, PRCC, PRD, PRDX5/m, PRF1, PRG4, PRKAR1A, PRKCA, PRKDC, PRKWNK4, PRNP, PROC, PRODH, PROMT, PROP1, PROS1, PRST, PRP8, PRPF31, PRPF8, PRPH2, PRPS2, PRPSI, PRS, PRSS7, PRSS1, PRTN3, PRX, PSA, PSAP, PSCA, PSEN2, PSEN1, PSG1, PSGR, PSM, PSMA, PSORS1, PTC, PTCH, PTCH1, PTCH2, PTEN, PTGS1, PTH, PTHR1, PTLAH, PTOS1, PTPN12, PTPNI I, PTPRK, PTPRK/m, PTS, PUJO, PVR, PVRLI, PWCR, PXE, PXMP3, PXR1, PYGL, PYGM, QDPR, RAB27A, RAD54B, RAD54L, RAG2, RAGE, RAGE-1, RAGI, RAP1, RARA, RASA1, RBAF600/m, RB1, RBP4, RBP4, RBS, RCA1, RCAS1, RCCP2, RCD1, RCV1, RDH5, RDPA, RDS, RECQL2, RECQL3, RECQL4, REG1A, REHOBE, REN, RENBP, RENS1, RET, RFX5, RFXANK, RFXAP, RGR, RHAG, RHAMM/CD168, RHD, RHO, Rip-1, RLBP1, RLN2, RLNI, RLS, RMD1, RMRP, ROM1, ROR2, RP, RP1, RP14, RP17, RP2, RP6, RP9, RPDl, RPE65, RPGR, RPGRIPI, RP1, RPIO, RPSI 9, RPS2, RPS4X, RPS4Y, RPS6KA3, RRAS2, RS1, RSN, RSS, RU1, RU2, RUNX2,RUNXI, RWS, RYRl, S-100, SAA1, SACS, SAG, SAGE, SALLI, SARDH, SART1, SART2 , SART3, SAS, SAX1, SCA2, SCA4, SCA5, SCA7, SCA8, SCA1, SCC, SCCD, SCF, SCLC1, SCN1A, SCNIB, SCN4A, SCN5A, SCNNlA, SCNN1B, SCNN1G, SCO2, SCPl, SCZD2, SCZD3, SCZD4, SCZD6, SCZDl, SDF- 1α/β SDHA, SDHD, SDYS, SEDL, SERPENA7, SERPINA3, SERPINA6, SERPINA1, SERPINC1, SERPIND1, SERPINE1, SERPINF2, SERPING1, SERPINII, SFTPA1, SFTPB, SFTPC, SFTPD, SGCA, SGCB, SGCD, SGCE, SGM1, SGSH, SGY-1, SH2D1A, SHBG, SHFM2, SHFM3, SHFM1, SHH, SHOX, Sl, SIAL, SIALYL LEWISX , SIASD, SII, SIM1, SIRT2/m, SIX3, SJS1, SKP2, SLC10A2, SLC12A1, SLC12A3, SLCI 7A5, SLC19A2, SLC22A1L, SLC22A5, SLC25A13, SLC25A15, SLC25A20, SLC25A4, SLC25A5, SLC25A6, SLC26A2, SLC26A3, SLC26A4, SLC2A1, SLC2A2, SLC2A4, SLC3A1, SLC4A1, SLC4A4, SLC5A1, SLC5A5, SLC6A2, SLC6A3, SLC6A4, SLC7A7, SLC7A9, SLC11A1, SLOS, SMA, SMAD1, SMAL, SMARCB1, SMAX2, SMCR, SMCY, SM1, SMN2, SMN1, SMPD1, SNCA, SNRPN, SOD2, SOD3, SODI, SOS1, SOST, SOX9, SOX10, Sp 17, SPANXC, SPG23, SPG3A, SPG4, SPG5A, SPG5B, SPG6, SPG7, SPINK1, SPINK5, SPPK, SPPM, SPSMA, SPTA1, SPTB, SPTLC1, SRC, SRD5A2, SRPX, SRS, SRY, βhCG, SSTR2, SSXl, SSX2 (HOM-MEL-40/SSX2), SSX4, ST8, STAMP-I, STAR, STARP1, STATH, STEAP, STK2, STK11, STn/ KLH, STO, STOM, STS, SUOX, SURF1, SURVIVIN-2B, SYCP1, SYM1, SYN1, SYNS1, SYP, SYT/SSX, SYT-SSX-1, SYT-SSX-2, TA-90, TAAL6, TACSTD1, TACSTD2, TAG72, TAF7L, TAF1, TAGE, TAG-72, TALI, TAM, TAP2, TAP1, TAPVRl, TARC, TARP, TAT, TAZ, TBP, TBX22, TBX3, TBX5, TBXA2R, TBXAS1, TCAP, TCF2, TCF1, TCIRG1, TCL2, TCL4, TCL1A, TCN2, TCOF1, TCR, TCRA, TDD, TDFA, TDRD1, TECK, TECTA, TEK, TEL/AML1, TELAB1, TEXl 5, TF, TFAP2B, TFE3, TFR2, TG, TGFα, TGFβ, TGFβl, TGFβi, TGFβR2, TGFβRE, TGFγ, TGFβRII, TGIF, TGM-4, TGMl, TH, THAS, THBD, THC, THC2, THM, THPO, THRA, THRB, TIMM8A, TIMP2, TIMP3, TIMP1, TITFI, TKCR, TKT, TLP, TLRI, TLRIO, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLX1, TM4SF1, TM4SF2, TMC1, TMD, TMIP, TNDM, TNF, TNFRSF11A, TNFRSF1A, TNFRSF6, TNFSF5, TNFSF6, TNFα, TNFβ, TNNI3, TNNT2, TOC, TOP2A, TOPI, TP53, TP63, TPA, TPBG, TPI, TPI/m, TPII, TPM3, TPM1, TPMT, TPO, TPS, TPTA, TRA, TRAG3, TRAPPC2, TRC8, TREH, TRG, TRH, TRIM32, TRIM37, TRPI, TRP2, TRP-2/6b, TRP-2/INT2, Trp-p8, TRPS1, TS, TSC2, TSC3, TSCI, TSG101, TSHB, TSHR, TSP- 180, TST, TTGA2B, TTN, TTPA, TTR, TU M2-PK, TULP1, TWIST, TYH, TYR, TYROBP, TYROBP, TYRPI, TYS, UBE2A, UBE3A, UBEI, UCHL1, UFS, UGTlA, ULR, UMPK, UMPS, UOX, UPA, UQCRC1 , URO5, UROD, UPK1 B, UROS, USH2A, USH3A, USH1 A, USH1 C, USP9Y, UV24, VBCH, VCF, VDI, VDR, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-1 , VEGFR-2/FLK-1 , VHL, VIM, VMD2, VMD1 , VMGLOM, VNEZ, VNF, VP, VRNI, VWF, VWS, WAS, WBS2, WFS2, WFS1 , WHCR, WHN, WISP3, WMS, WRN, WS2A, WS2B, WSN, WSS, WT2, WT3, WT1, WTS, WWS, XAGE, XDH, XIC, XIST, XK, XM, XPA, XPC, XRCC9, XS, ZAP70, ZFHX1 B, ZFX, ZFY, ZIC2, ZIC3, ZNF145, ZNF261 , ZNF35, ZNF41, ZNF6, ZNF198, and ZWS1.
Additionally, therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from growth hormones or growth factors, for example for promoting growth in a (transgenic) living being, such as, for example, TGFα and the IGFs (insulin- like growth factors), proteins that influence the metabolism and/or haematopoiesis, such as, for example, α-anti-trypsin, LDL receptor, erythropoietin (EPO), insulin, GAT A-1 , etc., or proteins such as, for example, factors VIII and Xl of the blood coagulation system, etc. Such proteins further include enzymes, such as, for example, β-galactosidase (lacZ), DNA restriction enzymes (e.g. EcoRI, Hindlll, etc.), lysozymes, etc., or proteases, such as, for example, papain, bromelain, keratinases, trypsin, chymotrypsin, pepsin, renin (chymosin), suizyme, nortase, etc. These proteins may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein. Accordingly, the invention provides a technology which allows to substitute proteins which are defective in the organism to be treated (e.g. either due to mutations, due to defective or missing expression) and thereby effective and increased expression of proteins, which are not functional in the organism to be treated, as e.g. occurring in monogenetic disorders, preferably without leading to an innate immune response.
Alternatively, therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from proteases etc. which allow to cure a specific disease due to e.g. (over)expression of a dysfunctional or exogenous proteins causing disorders or diseases. Accordingly, the invention may be used to therapeutically introduce the complexed RNA into the organism, which attacks a pathogenic organism (virus, bacteria etc). E.g. RNA encoding therapeutic proteases may be used to cleave viral proteins which are essential to the viral assembly or other essential steps of virus production. Therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also be selected from proteins which modulate various intracellular pathways by e.g. signal transmission modulation (inhibition or stimulation) which may influence pivotal intracellular processes like apoptosis, cell growth etc, in particular with respect to the organism's immune system. Accordingly, immune modulators, e.g. cytokines, lymphokines, monokines, interferones etc. may be expressed efficiently by the complexed RNA as defined herein. Preferably, these proteins therefore also include, for example, cytokines of class I of the cytokine family that contain 4 position- specific conserved cysteine residues (CCCC) and a conserved sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp- Ser (WSXWS), wherein X represents an unconserved amino acid. Cytokines of class I of the cytokine family include the GM-CSF sub-family, for example IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, the IL-6 sub-family, for example IL-6, IL-1 1 , IL-12, or the IL-2 sub-family, for example IL-2, IL-4, IL- 7, IL-9, IL-15, etc., or the cytokines IL-1 α, IL-I β, IL-10 etc. By analogy, such proteins can also include cytokines of class Il of the cytokine family (interferon receptor family), which likewise contain 4 position-specific conserved cysteine residues (CCCC) but no conserved sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS). Cytokines of class Il of the cytokine family include, for example, IFN-α, IFN-β, IFN-γ, etc. Proteins coded for by the at least one modified (m)RNA (of the inventive immunosuppressive composition) used according to the invention can further include also cytokines of the tumour necrosis family, for example TNF-α, TNF-β, TNF-RI, TNF-RII, CD40, Fas, etc., or cytokines of the chemokine family, which contain 7 transmembrane helices and interact with G-protein, for example IL-8, MIP- 1 , RANTES, CCR5, CXR4, etc. Such proteins can also be selected from apoptosis factors or apoptosis-related or -linked proteins, including AIF, Apaf, for example Apaf-1 , Apaf-2, Apaf-3, or APO-2 (L), APO-3 (L), apopain, Bad, Bak, Bax, Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, Bcl-xs, bik, CAD, calpain, caspases, for example caspase-1 , caspase-2, caspase-3, caspase-4, caspase-5, caspase-6, caspase-7, caspase-8, caspase-9, caspase-10, caspase-1 1 , ced-3, ced-9, c-Jun, c- Myc, crm A, cytochrome C, CdR1 , DcR1 , DD, DED, DISC, DNA-PKc5, DR3, DR4, DR5, FADD/MORT-1 , FAK, Fas (Fas ligand CD95/fas (receptor)), FLICE/MACH, FLIP, fodrin, fos, G-actin, Gas-2, gelsolin, granzymes A/B, ICAD, ICE, JNK, lamin A/B, MAP, MCL-1 , Mdm-2, MEKK-1 , MORT-1 , NEDD, NF-KB, NuMa, p53, PAK-2, PARP, perforin, PITSLRE, PKCδ, pRb, presenilin, prlCE, RAIDD, Ras, RIP, sphingomyelinase, thymidine kinase from Herpes simplex, TRADD, TRAF2, TRAIL, TRAIL-R1 , TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, transglutaminase, etc. Additionally, therapeutically active proteins as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein may also code for antigen specific T cell receptors. The T cell receptor or TCR is a molecule found on the surface of T lymphocytes (or T cells) that is generally responsible for recognizing antigens bound to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. It is a heterodimer consisting of an alpha and beta chain in 95% of T cells, while 5% of T cells have TCRs consisting of gamma and delta chains. Engagement of the TCR with antigen and MHC results in activation of its T lymphocyte through a series of biochemical events mediated by associated enzymes, co-receptors and specialized accessory molecules. Hence, these proteins allow to specifically target specific antigen and may support the functionality of the immune system due to their targeting properties. Accordingly, transfection of cells in vivo by administering the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein coding for these receptors or, preferably, an ex vivo cell transfection approach (e.g. by transfecting specifically certain immune cells), may be pursued. The T cell receptor molecules introduced recognize specific antigens on MHC molecule and may thereby support the immune system's awareness of antigens to be attacked.
The therapeutically active proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may furthermore comprise an adjuvant protein. In this context, an adjuvant protein is preferably to be understood as any protein, which is capable to elicit an innate immune response as defined herein. Preferably, such an innate immune response comprises an activation of a pattern recognition receptor, such as e.g. a receptor selected from the Toll-like receptor (TLR) familiy, including e.g. a Toll like receptor selected from human TLR1 to TLR10 or from murine Toll like receptors TLR1 to TLR13. Preferably, an innate immune response is elicited in a mammal, more preferably in a human. Preferably, the adjuvant protein is selected from human adjuvant proteins or from pathogenic adjuvant proteins, in particular from bacterial adjuvant proteins. In addition, mRNA encoding human proteins involved in adjuvant effects may be used as well.
Human adjuvant proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, typically comprise any human protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (in a mammal), e.g. as a reaction of the binding of an exogenous TLR ligand to a TLR. More preferably, human adjuvant proteins which may be encoded by the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, cytokines which induce or enhance an innate immune response, including IL-2, IL-12, IL-15, IL-18, IL-21 CCL21 , GM-CSF and TNF-alpha; cytokines which are released from macrophages, including IL-I , IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and TNF- alpha; from components of the complement system including C1 q, MBL, C1 r, C1 s, C2b, Bb, D, MASP-1 , MASP-2, C4b, C3b, C5a, C3a, C4a, C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9, CRI , CR2, CR3, CR4, C1 qR, CI INH, C4bp, MCP, DAF, H, I, P and CD59; from proteins which are components of the signalling networks of the pattern recognition receptors including TLR and IL-I R1 , whereas the components are ligands of the pattern recognition receptors including IL-I alpha, IL-I beta, Beta-defensin, heat shock proteins, such as HSP10, HSP60, HSP65, HSP70, HSP75 and HSP90, gp96, Fibrinogen, Typlll repeat extra domain A of fibronectin; the receptors, including IL-1 RI, TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 ; the signal transducers including components of the Small- GTPases signalling (RhoA, Ras, Rac1 , Cdc42 etc.), components of the PIP signalling (PI3K, Src-Kinases, etc.), components of the MyD88-dependent signalling (MyD88, IRAKI , IRAK2, etc.), components of the MyD88-independent signalling (TICAM1 , TICAM2 etc.); activated transcription factors including e.g. NF-κB, c-Fos, c-Jun, c-Myc; and induced target genes including e.g. IL-I alpha, I L- 1 beta, Beta-Defensin, IL-6, IFN gamma, IFN alpha and IFN beta; from costimulatory molecules, including CD28 or CD40-ligand or PD1 ; protein domains, including LAMP; cell surface proteins; or human adjuvant proteins including CD80, CD81 , CD86, trif, flt-3 ligand, thymopentin, Gp96 or fibronectin, etc., or any species homolog of any of the above human adjuvant proteins.
Pathogenic adjuvant proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, typically comprise any pathogenic (adjuvant) protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (in a mammal), more preferably selected from pathogenic (adjuvant) proteins derived from bacteria, protozoa, viruses, or fungi, animals, etc., and even more preferably from pathogenic adjuvant proteins selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, bacterial proteins, protozoan proteins (e.g. profilin - like protein of Toxoplasma gondii), viral proteins, or fungal proteins, animal proteins, etc. In this context, bacterial (adjuvant) proteins which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may comprise any bacterial protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune response (preferably in a mammal). More preferably, bacterial (adjuvant) proteins, which may be encoded by the complexed RNA, may comprise bacterial adjuvant proteins selected from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, bacterial flagellins, including flagellins from organisms including Agrobacterium, Aquifex, Azospirillum, Bacillus, Bartonella, Bordetella, Borrelia, Burkholderia, Campylobacter, Caulobacte, Clostridium, Escherichia, Helicobacter, Lachnospiraceae, Legionella, Listeria, Proteus, Pseudomonas, Rhizobium, Rhodobacter, Roseburia, Salmonella, Serpulina, Serratia, Shigella, Treponema, Vibrio, Wolinella, Yersinia, more preferably flagellins from the species, without being limited thereto, Agrobacterium tumefaciens, Aquifex pyrophilus, Azospirillum brasilense, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus thuringiensis, Bartonella bacilliformis, Bordetella bronchi septica, Borrelia burgdorferi, Burkholderia cepacia, Campylobacter jejuni, Caulobacter crescentus, Clostridium botulinum strain Bennett clone 1, Escherichia coli, Helicobacter pylori, Lachnospiraceae bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, Listeria monocytogenes, Proteus mirabilis, Pseudomonas aeroguinosa, Pseudomonas syringae, Rhizobium meliloti, Rhodobacter sphaeroides, Roseburia cecicola, Roseburis hominis, Salmonella typhimurium, Salmonella bongori, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella enteritidis, Serpulina hyodysenteriae, Serratia marcescens, Shigella boydii, Treponema phagedenis, Vibrio alginolyticus, Vibrio cholerae, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Wolinella succinogenes and Yersinia enterocolitica.
Bacterial flagellins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, are particularly preferred and may be selected from any bacterial flagellin showing adjuvant character, more preferably from bacterial flagellins selected from the group consisting of bacterial heat shock proteins or chaperons, including Hsp60, Hsp70, Hsp90, Hsp100; OmpA (Outer membrane protein) from gram-negative bacteria; bacterial porins, including OmpF; bacterial toxins, including pertussis toxin (PT) from Bordetella pertussis, pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin CyaA and CyaC from Bordetella pertussis, PT-9K/129G mutant from pertussis toxin, pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin CyaA and CyaC from Bordetella pertussis, tetanus toxin, cholera toxin (CT), cholera toxin B- subunit, CTK63 mutant from cholera toxin, CTE1 12K mutant from CT, Escherichia coli heat- labile enterotoxin (LT), B subunit from heat-labile enterotoxin (LTB) Escherichia coli heat- labile enterotoxin mutants with reduced toxicity, including LTK63, LTR72; phenol-soluble modulin; neutrophil-activating protein (HP-NAP) from Helicobacter pylorf, Surfactant protein D; Outer surface protein A lipoprotein from Borrelia burgdorferi, Ag38 (38 kDa antigen) from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proteins from bacterial fimbriae; Enterotoxin CT of Vibrio cholerae, Pilin from pili from gram negative bacteria, and Surfactant protein A; etc., or any species homolog of any of the above bacterial (adjuvant) proteins.
Bacterial flagellins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, even more preferably comprise a sequence selected from the group comprising any of the following sequences as referred to their accession numbers:
Figure imgf000037_0001
Figure imgf000038_0001
Figure imgf000039_0001
Protozoan proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any protozoan protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Tc52 from Trypanosoma cruzi, PFTG from Trypanosoma gondii, Protozoan heat shock proteins, LeIF from Leishmania spp, profilin— like protein from Toxoplasma gondii, etc.
Viral proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any viral protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Respiratory Syncytial Virus fusion glycoprotein (F-protein), envelope protein from MMT virus, mouse leukemia virus protein, Hemagglutinin protein of wild-type measles virus, etc.
Fungal proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may be selected from any fungal protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, fungal immunomodulatory protein (FIP; LZ-8), etc.
Finally, pathogenic adjuvant proteins, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein, may finally be selected from any further pathogenic protein showing adjuvant character, more preferably, from the group consisting of, without being limited thereto, Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), OspA, etc. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may alternatively encode an antigen. According to the present invention, the term "antigen" refers to a substance which is recognized by the immune system and is capable of triggering an antigen-specific immune response, e.g. by formation of antibodies. Antigens can be classified according to their origin. Accordingly, there are two major classes of antigens: exogenous and endogenous antigens. Exogenous antigens are antigens that enter the cell or the body from outside (the cell or the body), for example by inhalation, ingestion or injection, etc. These antigens are internalized by antigen-presenting cells ("APCs", such as dendritic cells or macrophages) and processed into fragments. APCs then present the fragments to T helper cells (e.g. CD4+) by the use of MHC Il molecules on their surface. Recognition of these antigen fragments by T cells leads to activation of the T cells and secretion of cytokines. Cytokines are substances that can activate proliferation of immune cells such as cytotoxic T cells, B cells or macrophages. In contrast, endogenous antigens are antigens which have been generated within the cell, e.g. as a result of normal cell metabolism. Fragments of these antigens are presented on MHC I molecules on the surface of APCs. These antigens are recognized by activated antigen-specific cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. After recognition, those T cells react in secretion of different toxins that cause lysis or apoptosis of the antigen-presenting cell. Endogenous antigens comprise antigens, e.g. proteins or peptides encoded by a foreign nucleic acid inside the cell as well as proteins or peptides encoded by the genetic information of the cell itself, or antigens from intracellularly occurring viruses. One class of endogenous antigens is the class of tumor antigens. Those antigens are presented by the MHC I molecules on the surface of tumor cells. This class can be divided further in tumor-specific antigens (TSAs) and tumor- associated-antigens (TAAs). TSAs can only be presented by tumor cells and never by normal "healthy" cells. They typically result from a tumor specific mutation. TAAs, which are more common, are usually presented by both tumor and healthy cells. These antigens are recognized and the antigen-presenting cell can be destroyed by cytotoxic T cells. Additionally, tumor antigens can also occur on the surface of the tumor in the form of e.g. a mutated receptor. In this case, they can be recognized by antibodies.
Antigens, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may include e.g. proteins, peptides or fragments thereof. Preferably, antigens are proteins and peptides or fragments thereof, such as epitopes of those proteins or peptides. Epitopes (also called "antigen determinants"), typically, are fragments located on the outer surface of such antigenic protein or peptide structures having 5 to 15, preferably 9 to 15, amino acids (B-cell epitopes and T-cell epitopes are typically presented on MHC molecules, wherein e.g. MHC-I typically presents epitopes with a length of about 9 aa and MHC-II typically presents epitopes with a length of about 12-15 aa). Furthermore, antigens encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complex according to the invention may also comprise any other biomolecule, e.g., lipids, carbohydrates, etc., which may be covalently or non-covalently attached to the RNA (molecule).
In accordance with the invention, antigens, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be exogenous or endogenous antigens. Endogenous antigens comprise antigens generated in the cell, especially in degenerate cells such as tumor cells. These antigens are referred to as "tumor antigens". Preferably, without being restricted thereto, they are located on the surface of the cell. Furthermore, "tumor antigens" means also antigens expressed in cells which are (were) not by themselves (or originally not by themselves) degenerate but are associated with the supposed tumor. Antigens which are connected with tumor-supplying vessels or (re)formation thereof, in particular those antigens which are associated with neovascularization, e.g. growth factors, such as VEGF, bFGF etc., are also included herein. Antigens connected with a tumor furthermore include antigens from cells or tissues, typically embedding the tumor. Further, some substances (usually proteins or peptides) are expressed in patients suffering (knowingly or not-knowingly) from a cancer disease and they occur in increased concentrations in the body fluids of said patients, e.g. proteins, which are associated with tumor cell invasion and migration. These substances are also referred to as "tumor antigens", however they are not antigens in the stringent meaning of an immune response inducing substance. Use thereof is also encompassed by the scope of the present invention.
Antigens, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be exemplarily selected, without being restricted thereto, e.g. from any antigen suitable for the specific purpose, e.g. from antigens, which are relevant (or causal) for specific infection diseases, such as defined herein, from cancer antigens such as tumor specific surface antigens, from antigens expressed in cancer diseases, from mutant antigens expressed in cancer diseases, or from protein antigens involved in the etiology of further diseases, e.g. autoimmune diseases, allergies, etc. E.g. these antigens may be used to desensitize a patient by administering an antigen causing the patient's allergic or autoimmune status.
Preferred exemplary antigenic (poly)peptides encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein include all known antigenic peptides, for example tumour antigens, etc. Specific examples of tumour antigens are inter alia tumour-specific surface antigens (TSSAs), for example 5T4, alpha5beta1 -integrin, 707-AP, AFP, ART-4, B7H4, BAGE, Bcr-abl, MN/C IX antigen, CA125, CAMEL, CAP-1 , CASP-8, beta-eaten in/m, CD4, CDI 9, CD20, CD22, CD25, CDC27/m, CD 30, CD33, CD52, CD56, CD80, CDK4/m, CEA, CT, Cyp-B, DAM, EGFR, ErbB3, ELF2M, EMMPRIN, EpCam, ETV6-AML1 , G250, GAGE, GnT-V, Gp100, HAGE, HER-2/new, HLA-A*0201 -R170l, HPV-E7, HSP70- 2M, HAST-2, hTERT (or hTRT), iCE, IGF-I R, IL-2R, IL-5, KIAA0205, LAGE, LDLR/FUT, MAGE, MART-1/melan-A, MART-2/Ski, MCl R, myosin/m, MUCI , MUM-I , -2, -3, NA88-A, PAP, proteinase-3, p190 minor bcr-abl, Pml/RARalpha, PRAME, PSA, PSM, PSMA, RAGE, RU1 or RU2, SAGE, SART-1 or SART-3, survivin, TEL/AML1 , TGFbeta, TPI/m, TRP-1 , TRP-2, TRP-2/INT2, VEGF and WT1 , or from sequences such as, for example, NY-Eso-1 or NY-Eso- B. Any class of tumor antigens is suitable for the purpose of the present invention, e.g. tumor antigens known to be involved in neovascularization, influencing the extracellular matrix structure etc. Fragments and analogues of the above antigens are also encompassed.
Examples of tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are shown in Tables 1 and 2 below. These tables illustrate specific (protein) antigens (i.e. "tumor antigens") with respect to the cancer disease, they are associated with. According to the invention, the terms "cancer diseases" and "tumor diseases" are used synonymously herein.
Table 1 : Antigens expressed in cancer diseases
Figure imgf000042_0001
Figure imgf000043_0001
Figure imgf000044_0001
Figure imgf000045_0001
Figure imgf000046_0001
Figure imgf000047_0001
Figure imgf000048_0001
Figure imgf000049_0001
Table 2: Mutant antigens expressed in cancer diseases
Figure imgf000049_0002
Figure imgf000050_0001
Figure imgf000051_0001
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, examples of tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of 5T4, 707-AP, 9D7, AFP, AlbZIP HPGI , 5 1 -integrin, 5 6-integrin, -actinin-4/m, methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, ART-4, ARTC1/m, B7H4, BAGE-1 , BCL-2, bcr/abl, catenin/m, BING-4, BRCAl/m, BRCA2/m, CA 15-3/CA 27-29, CA 19-9, CA72-4, CA125, calreticulin, CAMEL, CASP-8/m, cathepsin B, cathepsin L, CD19, CD20, CD22, CD25, CDE30, CD33, CD4, CD52, CD55, CD56, CD80, CDC27/m, CDK4/m, CDKN2A/m, CEA, CLCA2, CML28, CML66, COA-1/m, coactosin-like protein, collage XXIII, COX-2, CT-9/BRD6, Cten, cyclin B1 , cyclin D1 , cyp-B, CYPBI , DAM-10, DAM-6, DEK-CAN, EFTUD2/m, EGFR, ELF2/m, EMMPRIN, EpCam, EphA2, EphA3, ErbB3, ETV6-AML1 , EZH2, FGF-5, FN, Frau-1 , G250, GAGE-1 , GAGE-2, GAGE-3, GAGE-4, GAGE-5, GAGE-6, GAGE7b, GAGE-8, GDEP, GnT-V, gpl OO, GPC3, GPNMB/m, HAGE, HAST-2, hepsin, Her2/neu, HERV-K-MEL, HLA-A*0201 -R1 71, HLA-A1 1/m, HLA- A2/m, HNE, homeobox NKX3.1 , HOM-TES-14/SCP-1 , HOM-TES-85, HPV-E6, HPV-E7, HSP70-2M, HST-2, hTERT, iCE, IGF-1 R, IL-13Ra2, IL-2R, IL-5, immature laminin receptor, kallikrein-2, kallikrein-4, Ki67, KIAAO2O5, KIAA0205/m, KK-LC-1 , K-Ras/m, LAGE-A1 , LDLR-FUT, MAGE-A1 , MAGE-A2, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A4, MAGE-A6, MAGE-A9, MAGE- A10, MAGE-AI 2, MAGE-B1 , MAGE-B2, MAGE-B3, MAGE-B4, MAGE-B5, MAGE-B6, MAGE-B10, MAGE-B16, MAGE-B1 7, MAGE-C1 , MAGE-C2, MAGE-C3, MAGE-DI , MAGE- D2, MAGE-D4, MAGE-E1 , MAGE-E2, MAGE-FI , MAGE-HI , MAGEL2, mammaglobin A, MART-I /melan-A, MART-2, MART-2/m, matrix protein 22, MCl R, M-CSF, ME1/m, mesothelin, MG50/PXDN, MMP1 1 , MN/CA IX-antigen, MRP-3, MUC-1 , MUC-2, MUM- 1/m, MUM-2/m, MUM-3/m, myosin class l/m, NA88-A, N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V, Neo-PAP, Neo-PAP/m, NFYQm, NGEP, NMP22, NPM/ALK, N-Ras/m, NSE, NY-ESO-1 , NY- ESO-B, OA1 , OFA-iLRP, OGT, OGT/m, OS-9, OS-9/m, osteocalcin, osteopontin, p15, p190 minor bcr-abl, p53, p53/m, PAGE-4, PAM , PAI-2, PART-1 , PATE, PDEF, Pim-1 -Kinase, Pin- 1 , Pml/PARα, POTE, PRAME, PRDX5/m, prostein, proteinase-3, PSA, PSCA, PSGR, PSM, PSMA, PTPRK/m, RAGE-1 , RBAF600/m, RHAMM/CD168, RU1 , RU2, S-100, SAGE, SART- 1 , SART-2, SART-3, SCC, SIRT2/m, Sp17, SSX-1 , SSX-2/HOM-MEL-40, SSX-4, STAMP-1 , STEAP, survivin, survivin-2B, SYT-SSX-I , SYT-SSX-2, TA-90, TAG-72, TARP, TEL-AML1 , TGFβ, TGFβRII, TGM-4, TPI/m, TRAG-3, TRG, TRP-1 , TRP-2/6b, TRP/INT2, TRP-p8, tyrosinase, UPA, VEGF, VEGFR-2/FLK-1 , and WT1.
In a preferred embodiment according to the invention, examples of tumor antigens which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention are selected from the group consisting of MAGE-A1 [accession number M77481 ], MAGE-A6 [accession number NM_005363], melan-A [accession number NM_00551 1 ], GP100 [accession number M77348], tyrosinase [accession number NM_000372], survivin [accession number AF077350], CEA [accession number NM_004363], Her-2/neu [accession number M1 1 730], WT1 [accession number NM_000378], PRAME [accession number NM_0061 15], EGFRI (epidermal growth factor receptor 1 ) [accession number AF288738], mucin-1 [accession number NM_002456] and SEC61 G [accession number NM_014302].
As a further alternative, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode an antibody. According to the present invention, such an antibody may be selected from any antibody, e.g. any recombinantly produced or naturally occurring antibodies, known in the art, in particular antibodies suitable for therapeutic, diagnostic or scientific purposes, or antibodies which have been identified in relation to specific cancer diseases. Herein, the term "antibody" is used in its broadest sense and specifically covers monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies (including agonist, antagonist, and blocking or neutralizing antibodies) and antibody species with polyepitopic specificity. According to the invention, "antibody" typically comprises any antibody known in the art (e.g. IgM, IgD, IgG, IgA and IgE antibodies), such as naturally occurring antibodies, antibodies generated by immunization in a host organism, antibodies which were isolated and identified from naturally occurring antibodies or antibodies generated by immunization in a host organism and recombinantly produced by biomolecular methods known in the art, as well as chimeric antibodies, human antibodies, humanized antibodies, bispecific antibodies, intrabodies, i.e. antibodies expressed in cells and optionally localized in specific cell compartments, and fragments and variants of the aforementioned antibodies. In general, an antibody consists of a light chain and a heavy chain both having variable and constant domains. The light chain consists of an N-terminal variable domain, VL, and a C-terminal constant domain, Q. In contrast, the heavy chain of the IgG antibody, for example, is comprised of an N-terminal variable domain, VH, and three constant domains, CH1 , CH2 und CH3. Single chain antibodies may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA as defined herein as well, preferably by a single-stranded RNA, more preferably by an mRNA.
According to a first alternative, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode a polyclonal antibody. In this context, the term, "polyclonal antibody" typically means mixtures of antibodies directed to specific antigens or immunogens or epitopes of a protein which were generated by immunization of a host organism, such as a mammal, e.g. including goat, cattle, swine, dog, cat, donkey, monkey, ape, a rodent such as a mouse, hamster and rabbit. Polyclonal antibodies are generally not identical, and thus usually recognize different epitopes or regions from the same antigen. Thus, in such a case, typically a mixture (a composition) of different RNA molecules complexed as claimed by the present invention will be applied, each encoding a specific (monoclonal) antibody being directed to specific antigens or immunogens or epitopes of a protein.
According to a further alternative, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode a monoclonal antibody. The term "monoclonal antibody" herein typically refers to an antibody obtained from a population of substantially homogeneous antibodies, i.e., the individual antibodies comprising the population are identical except for possible naturally-occurring mutations that may be present in minor amounts. Monoclonal antibodies are highly specific, being directed to a single antigenic site. Furthermore, in contrast to conventional (polyclonal) antibody preparations which typically include different antibodies directed to different determinants (epitopes), each monoclonal antibody is directed to a single determinant on the antigen. For example, monoclonal antibodies as defined above may be made by the hybridoma method first described by Kohler and Milstein, Nature, 256:495 (1975), or may be made by recombinant DNA methods, e.g. as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,816,567. "Monoclonal antibodies" may also be isolated from phage libraries generated using the techniques described in McCafferty et ai, Nature, 348:552-554 (1990), for example. According to Kohler and Milstein, an immunogen (antigen) of interest is injected into a host such as a mouse and B- cell lymphocytes produced in response to the immunogen are harvested after a period of time. The B-cells are combined with myeloma cells obtained from mouse and introduced into a medium which permits the B-cells to fuse with the myeloma cells, producing hybridomas. These fused cells (hybridomas) are then placed in separate wells in microtiter plates and grown to produce monoclonal antibodies. The monoclonal antibodies are tested to determine which of them are suitable for detecting the antigen of interest. After being selected, the monoclonal antibodies can be grown in cell cultures or by injecting the hybridomas into mice. However, for the purposes of the present invention, the peptide sequences of these monoclonal antibodies have to be sequenced and RNA sequences encoding these antibodies may be prepared according to procedures well known in the art.
For therapeutical purposes in humans, non-human monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies, such as murine antibodies may also be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention. However, such antibodies are typically only of limited use, since they generally induce an immune response by production of human antibodies directed to the said non-human antibodies, in the human body. Therefore, a particular non-human antibody can only be administered once to the human. To solve this problem, chimeric, humanized non-human and human antibodies can be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention. "Chimeric" antibodies, which may be encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, are preferably antibodies in which the constant domains of an antibody described above are replaced by sequences of antibodies from other organisms, preferably human sequences. ,,Humanized" (non-human) antibodies, which may be also encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, are antibodies in which the constant and variable domains (except for the hypervariable domains) described above of an antibody are replaced by human sequences. According to another alternative, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode human antibodies, i.e. antibodies having only human sequences. Such human antibodies can be isolated from human tissues or from immunized non-human host organisms which are transgene for the human IgG gene locus, sequenced RNA sequences may be prepared according to procedures well known in the art. Additionally, human antibodies can be provided by the use of a phage display.
In addition, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode bispecific antibodies. "Bispecific" antibodies in context of the invention are preferably antibodies which act as an adaptor between an effector and a respective target, e.g. for the purposes of recruiting effector molecules such as toxins, drugs, cytokines etc., targeting effector cells such as CTL, NK cells, makrophages, granulocytes, etc. (see for review: Kontermann R. E., Acta Pharmacol. Sin, 2005, 26(1 ): 1 -9). Bispecific antibodies as described herein are, in general, configured to recognize, e.g. two different antigens, immunogens, epitopes, drugs, cells (or receptors on cells), or other molecules (or structures) as described above. Bispecificity means herewith that the antigen-binding regions of the antibodies are specific for two different epitopes. Thus, different antigens, immunogens or epitopes, etc. can be brought close together, what, optionally, allows a direct interaction of the two components. For example, different cells such as effector cells and target cells can be connected via a bispecific antibody. Encompassed, but not limited, by the present invention are antibodies or fragments thereof which bind, on the one hand, a soluble antigen as described herein, and, on the other hand, an antigen or receptor on the surface of a tumor cell.
In summary, according to the invention, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also encode antibodies as defined above. Since these antibodies are intracellularly expressed antibodies, i.e. antibodies which are encoded by nucleic acids localized in specific compartments of the cell and also expressed there, such antibodies may also be termed intrabodies.
Antibodies as encoded by the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may preferably comprise full-length antibodies, i.e. antibodies composed of the full heavy and full light chains, as described above. However, derivatives of antibodies such as antibody fragments, variants or adducts may be encoded by the above at least one RNA of the complexed RNA in accordance with the present invention. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may also encode antibody fragments selected from Fab, Fab', F(ab')2, Fc, Facb, pFc', Fd and Fv fragments of the aforementioned antibodies. In general, antibody fragments are known in the art. For example, a Fab ("fragment, antigen binding") fragment is composed of one constant and one variable domain of each of the heavy and the light chain. The two variable domains bind the epitope on specific antigens. The two chains are connected via a disulfide linkage. A scFv ("single chain variable fragment") fragment, for example, typically consists of the variable domains of the light and heavy chains. The domains are linked by an artificial linkage, in general a polypeptide linkage such as a peptide composed of 15-25 glycine, proline and/or serine residues.
According to the invention, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may encode fragments and/or variants of the aforementioned therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies, wherein the fragments and/or variants may have a sequence identity to one of the aforementioned therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies of at least 70%, 80% or 85%, preferably at least 90%, more preferably at least 95% and most preferably at least 99% over the whole length of the coding nucleic acid or amino acid sequences encoding these therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies. Preferably, the fragments and/or variants have the same biological function or specific activity compared to the full-length native therapeutically active proteins, antigens or antibodies, e.g. specific binding capacity (e.g. of particular antigens), catalytic activity (e.g. of therapeutically active proteins), etc. In this context, "biological function" of antibodies described herein also comprises neutralization of antigens, complement activation or opsonization. Thereby, antibodies typically recognize either native epitopes on the cell surface or free antigens. Antibodies as defined above can interact with the cell-presenting antigens and initiate different defense mechanisms. On the one hand, the antibody can initiate signaling mechanisms in the targeted cell that leads to the cell's self-destruction (apoptosis). On the other hand, it can mark the cell in such a way that other components or effector cells of the body's immune system can recognize and attack. The attack mechanisms are referred to as antibody-dependent complement-mediated cytotoxicity (CMC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). ADCC involves a recognition of the antibody by immune cells that engage the antibody-marked cells and either through their direct action, or through the recruitment of other cell types, lead to the tagged-cell's death. CMC is a process where a cascade of different complement proteins becomes activated, usually when several antibodies are in close proximity to each other, either resulting in cell lysis or attracting other immune cells to this location for effector cell function. In the neutralization of an antigen, the antibody can bind an antigen and neutralize the same. Such neutralization reaction, in turn, leads in general to blocking of the antibody. Thus, the antibody can bind only one antigen, or, in case of a bispecific antibody, two antigens. In particular, scFv antibody fragments are useful for neutralization reactions because they don't contain the functionalities of the constant domain of an antibody. In the complement activation, the complex system of complement proteins can be activated via binding of an antibody which is independent of the Fc part of an antibody. End products of the complement cascade result in lysis of the cell and generation of an inflammatory milieu. In the opsonization, pathogens or other non-cellular particles are made accessible to phagocytes via binding the constant domain of an antibody. Alternatively, cells recognized as foreign can be lysed via antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity (ADCC). In particular, NK-cells can display lysis functions by activating Fc receptors.
In order to determine the percentage to which two RNA sequences (nucleic or amino acid) are identical, the sequences can be aligned in order to be subsequently compared to one another. Therefore, e.g. gaps can be inserted into the sequence of the first sequence and the component at the corresponding position of the second sequence can be compared. If a position in the first sequence is occupied by the same component as is the case at a position in the second sequence, the two sequences are identical at this position. The percentage to which two sequences are identical is a function of the number of identical positions divided by the total number of positions.
The percentage to which two sequences are identical can be determined using a mathematical algorithm. A preferred, but not limiting, example of a mathematical algorithm which can be used is the algorithm of Karlin et al. (1993), PNAS USA, 90:5873-5877 or Altschul et a/. (1997), Nucleic Acids Res, 25:3389-3402. Such an algorithm is integrated in the BLAST program. Sequences which are identical to the sequences of the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention to a certain extent can be identified by this program. Those at least one RNA molecules (of the complexed RNA of the present invention) encoding amino acid sequences which have (a) conservative substitution(s) compared to the physiological sequence in particular fall under the term variants. Substitutions in which encoded amino acids which originate from the same class are exchanged for one another are called conservative substitutions. In particular, these are encoded amino acids encoded aliphatic side chains, positively or negatively charged side chains, aromatic groups in the side chains or encoded amino acids, the side chains of which can enter into hydrogen bridges, e.g. side chains which have a hydroxyl function. This means that e.g. an amino acid having a polar side chain is replaced by another amino acid having a likewise polar side chain, or, for example, an amino acid characterized by a hydrophobic side chain is substituted by another amino acid having a likewise hydrophobic side chain (e.g. serine (threonine) by threonine (serine) or leucine (isoleucine) by isoleucine (leucine)). Insertions and substitutions are possible, in particular, at those sequence positions which cause no modification to the three-dimensional structure or do not affect the binding region. Modifications to a three-dimensional structure by insertion(s) or deletion(s) can easily be determined e.g. using CD spectra (circular dichroism spectra) (Urry, 1985, Absorption, Circular Dichroism and ORD of Polypeptides, in: Modern Physical Methods in Biochemistry, Neuberger eta/, (ed.), Elsevier, Amsterdam).
lmmunostimulatory RNA
According to a third embodiment, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be an immunostimulatory RNA. Thereby, the immunostimulatory RNA may exhibit an immunostimulatory effect already prior to complexation of the RNA with the inventive oligopeptide according to formula (I) as defined above, or, more preferably, an immunostimulatory effect of the RNA as used herein can be enhanced or even induced by complexation of the RNA with the inventive oligopeptide according to formula (I) as defined above. The immunostimulatory RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be any RNA, e.g. a coding RNA, as defined above. Preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA may be a single-stranded, a double-stranded or a partially double-stranded RNA, more preferably a single-stranded RNA, and/or a circular or linear RNA, more preferably a linear RNA. More preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA may be a (linear) single-stranded RNA. Even more preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA may be a ((linear) single-stranded) messenger RNA (mRNA). An immunostimulatory RNA may also occur as a short RNA oligonucleotide as defined above.
An immunostimulatory RNA as used herein may furthermore be selected from any class of RNA molecules, found in nature or being prepared synthetically, and which can induce an immune response. In this context, an immune response may occur in various ways. A substantial factor for a suitable immune response is the stimulation of different T-cell sub- populations. T-lymphocytes are typically divided into two sub-populations, the T-helper 1 (Th1 ) cells and the T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, with which the immune system is capable of destroying intracellular (Th1 ) and extracellular (Th2) pathogens (e.g. antigens). The two Th cell populations differ in the pattern of the effector proteins (cytokines) produced by them. Thus, ThI cells assist the cellular immune response by activation of macrophages and cytotoxic T-cells. Th2 cells, on the other hand, promote the humoral immune response by stimulation of the B-cells for conversion into plasma cells and by formation of antibodies (e.g. against antigens). The Th1/Th2 ratio is therefore of great importance in the immune response. In connection with the present invention, the Th1/Th2 ratio of the immune response is preferably shifted in the direction towards the cellular response (Th1 response) and a cellular immune response is thereby induced. According to one example, the immune system may be activated by ligands of Toll-like receptors (TLRs). TLRs are a family of highly conserved pattern recognition receptor (PRR) polypeptides that recognize pathogen- associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) and play a critical role in innate immunity in mammals. Currently at least thirteen family members, designated TLR1 - TLR13 (Toll-like receptors: TLR1 , TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR1 1 , TLR12 or TLR13), have been identified. Furthermore, a number of specific TLR ligands have been identified. It was e.g. found that unmethylated bacterial DNA and synthetic analogs thereof (CpG DNA) are ligands for TLR9 (Hemmi H et a/. (2000) Nature 408:740-5; Bauer S et a/. (2001 ) Proc NatlAcadSci USA 98, 9237-42). Furthermore, it has been reported that ligands for certain TLRs include certain nucleic acid molecules and that certain types of RNA are immunostimulatory in a sequence- independent or sequence-dependent manner, wherein these various immunostimulatory RNAs may e.g. stimulate TLR3, TLR7, or TLR8, or intracellular receptors such as RIG-I, MDA-5, etc. E.g. Lipford et a/, determined certain G, U-containing oligoribonucleotides as immunostimulatory by acting via TLR7 and TLR8 (see WO 03/086280). The immunostimulatory G, U-containing oligoribonucleotides described by Lipford et a/, were believed to be derivable from RNA sources including ribosomal RNA, transfer RNA, messenger RNA, and viral RNA.
According to the present invention, it was found that any RNA (molecule) as e.g. defined above (irrespective of its specific length, strandedness, modification and/or nucleotide sequence) complexed with a carrier peptide according to empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) may have immunostimulatory properties, i.e. enhance the immune response. RNA as defined above complexed with a carrier peptide according to empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) may thus be used to enhance (unspecific) immunostimulation, if suitable and desired for a specific treatment. Accordingly, it can be an intrinsic property of the complexed RNA of the invention to provide immunestimulatory effects by complexation of any RNA with a peptide according to formula (I).
The at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may thus comprise any RNA sequence known to be immunostimulatory, including, without being limited thereto, RNA sequences representing and/or encoding ligands of TLRs, preferably selected from family members TLR1 - TLR13, more preferably from TLR7 and TLR8, ligands for intracellular receptors for RNA (such as RIG-I or MAD-5, etc.) (see e.g. Meylan, E., Tschopp, J. (2006). Toll-like receptors and RNA helicases: two parallel ways to trigger antiviral responses. MoI. Cell 22, 561 -569), or any other immunostimulatory RNA sequence. Furthermore, (classes of) RNA molecules, which may be used as immunostimulatory RNA may include any other RNA capable of eliciting an immune response. Without being limited thereto, such immunostimulatory RNA may include ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and viral RNA (vRNA).
Such further (classes of) RNA molecules, which may be used as the at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may comprise, without being limited thereto, e.g. an RNA molecule of formula (Ma):
G1X01Gn wherein:
G is guanosine, uracil or an analogue of guanosine or uracil;
X is guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine, cytosine or an analogue of the above- mentioned nucleotides; 1 is an integer from 1 to 40, wherein when I = 1 G is guanosine or an analogue thereof, when I > 1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are guanosine or an analogue thereof; m is an integer and is at least 3; wherein when m = 3 X is uracil or an analogue thereof, when m > 3 at least 3 successive uracils or analogues of uracil occur; n is an integer from 1 to 40, wherein when n = 1 G is guanosine or an analogue thereof, when n > 1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are guanosine or an analogue thereof.
In addition, such further (classes of) RNA molecules, which may be used as the at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may comprise, without being limited thereto, e.g. an RNA molecule of formula (lib):
C|XmCn ,
wherein:
C is cytosine, uracil or an analogue of cytosine or uracil; X is guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine, cytosine or an analogue of the above- mentioned nucleotides; I is an integer from 1 to 40, wherein when I = 1 C is cytosine or an analogue thereof, when I > 1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are cytosine or an analogue thereof; m is an integer and is at least 3; wherein when m = 3 X is uracil or an analogue thereof, when m > 3 at least 3 successive uracils or analogues of uracil occur; n is an integer from 1 to 40, wherein when n = 1 C is cytosine or an analogue thereof, when n > 1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are cytosine or an analogue thereof.
Preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA molecules as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention comprise a length as defined above in general for RNA molecules of the complexed RNA of the present invention, more preferably a length of 5 to 5000, of 500 to 5000 or, more preferably, of 1000 to 5000 or, alternatively, of 5 to 1000, 5 to 500, 5 to 250, of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50 or, more preferably, of 5 to 30 nucleotides.
The at least one immunostimulatory RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be furthermore modified, preferably "chemically modified" in order to enhance the immunostimulatory properties of said DNA. The term "chemical modification" means that the RNA used as immuostimulatory RNA according to the invention is modified by replacement, insertion or removal of individual or several atoms or atomic groups compared with naturally occurring RNA species.
Preferably, the chemical modification of the RNA comprises at least one analogue of naturally occurring nucleotides. In a list which is in no way conclusive, examples which may be mentioned for nucleotide analogues which can be used according to the invention are analogues of guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine, cytosine. The modifications may refer to modifications of the base, the ribose moiety and/or the phosphate backbone moiety. In this context, analogues of guanosine, uracil, adenosine, and cytosine include, without implying any limitation, any naturally occurring or non-naturally occurring guanosine, uracil, adenosine, thymidine or cytosine that has been altered chemically, for example by acetylation, methylation, hydroxylation, etc., including 1 -methyl-adenosine, 1 -methyl- guanosine, 1 -methyl-inosine, 2,2-dimethyl-guanosine, 2,6-diaminopurine, 2'-Amino-2'- deoxyadenosine, 2'-Amino-2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-Amino-2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-Amino-2'- deoxyuridine, 2-Amino-6-chloropurineriboside, 2-Aminopurine-riboside, 2'-Araadenosine, 2'-Aracytidine, 2'-Arauridine, 2'-Azido-2'-deoxyadenosine, 2'-Azido-2'-deoxycytidine, T- Azido-2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-Azido-2'-deoxyuridine, 2-Chloroadenosine, 2'-Fluoro-2'- deoxyadenosine, 2'-Fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-Fluoro-2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-Fluoro-2'- deoxyuridine, 2'-Fluorothymidine, 2-methyl-adenosine, 2-methyl-guanosine, 2-methyl-thio- N6-isopenenyl-adenosine, 2'-O-Methyl-2-aminoadenosine, 2'-O-Methyl-2'- deoxyadenosine, 2'-O-Methyl-2'-deoxycytidine, 2'-O-Methyl-2'-deoxyguanosine, 2'-O- Methyl-2'-deoxyuridine, 2'-O-Methyl-5-methyluridine, 2'-O-Methylinosine, 2'-O- Methylpseudouridine, 2-Thiocytidine, 2-thio-cytosine, 3-methyl-cytosine, 4-acetyl-cytosine, 4-Thiouridine, 5-(carboxyhydroxymethyl)-uracil, 5,6-Dihydrouridine, 5-Aminoallylcytidine, 5-Aminoallyl-deoxy-uridine, 5-Bromouridine, S-carboxymehtylaminomethyl^-thio-uracil, S-carboxymethylamonomethyl-uracil, 5-Chloro-Ara-cytosine, 5-Fluoro-uridine, 5- Iodouridine, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-uridine, 5-methoxy-uridine, 5-methyl-2-thio- uridine, 6-Azacytidine, 6-Azauridine, 6-Chloro-7-deaza-guanosine, 6-Chloropurineriboside, 6-Mercapto-guanosine, 6-Methyl-mercaptopurine-riboside, 7-Deaza-2'-deoxy-guanosine, 7- Deazaadenosine, 7-methyl-guanosine, 8-Azaadenosine, 8-Bromo-adenosine, 8-Bromo- guanosine, 8-Mercapto-guanosine, 8-Oxoguanosine, Benzimidazole-riboside, Beta-D- mannosyl-queosine, Dihydro-uracil, Inosine, N1 -Methyladenosine, N6-([6- Aminohexyl]carbamoylmethyl)-adenosine, N6-isopentenyl-adenosine, N6-methyl- adenosine, N7-Methyl-xanthosine, N-uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester, Puromycin, Queosine, Uracil-5-oxyacetic acid, Uracil-5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester, Wybutoxosine, Xanthosine, and Xylo-adenosine. The preparation of such analogues is known to a person skilled in the art, for example from US Patents 4,373,071 , US 4,401 ,796, US 4,415,732, US 4,458,066, US 4,500,707, US 4,668,777, US 4,973,679, US 5,047,524, US 5,132,418, US 5,153,319, US 5,262,530 and 5,700,642. In the case of an analogue as described above, particular preference is given according to the invention to those analogues that increase the immunogenicity of the immunostimulatory RNA sequence as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention and/or do not interfere with a further modification that has been introduced into said immunostimulatory RNA.
siRNA
In a forth embodiment, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be in the form of siRNA. A siRNA is of interest particularly in connection with the phenomenon of RNA interference. Attention was drawn to the phenomenon of RNA interference in the course of immunological research. In recent years, a RNA-based defence mechanism has been discovered, which occurs both in the kingdom of the fungi and in the plant and animal kingdom and acts as an "immune system of the genome". The system was originally described in various species independently of one another, first in C. elegans, before it was possible to identify the underlying mechanisms of the processes as being identical: RNA-mediated virus resistance in plants, PTGS (posttranscriptional gene silencing) in plants, and RNA interference in eukaryotes are accordingly based on a common procedure. The in vitro technique of RNA interference (RNAi) is based on double-stranded RNA molecules (dsRNA), which trigger the sequence- specific suppression of gene expression (Zamore (2001 ) Nat. Struct. Biol. 9: 746-750; Sharp (2001 ) Genes Dev. 5:485-490: Hannon (2002) Nature 41 : 244-251 ). In the transfection of mammalian cells with long dsRNA, the activation of protein kinase R and RnaseL brings about unspecific effects, such as, for example, an interferon response (Stark et a/. (1998) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67: 227-264; He and Katze (2002) Viral Immunol. 15: 95-1 19). These unspecific effects are avoided when shorter, for example 21 - to 23-mer, so-called siRNA (small interfering RNA), is used, because unspecific effects are not triggered by siRNA that is shorter than 30 bp (Elbashir eta/. (2001 ) Nature 41 1 : 494-498). Recently, dsRNA molecules have also been used in vivo (McCaffrey et a/. (2002), Nature 418: 38-39; Xia et a/. (2002), Nature Biotech. 20: 1006-1010; Brummelkamp eta/. (2002), Cancer Cell 2: 243-247). Thus, a siRNA as used for the complexed RNA according to the present invention typically comprises a (single- or) double stranded, preferably a double-stranded, RNA sequence with about 8 to 30 nucleotides, preferably 1 7 to 25 nucleotides, even more preferably from 20 to 25 and most preferably from 21 to 23 nucleotides. In principle, all the sections having a length of from 17 to 29, preferably from 19 to 25, most preferably from 21 to 23 base pairs that occur in the coding region of a RNA sequence as mentioned above, e.g. of an (m)RNA sequence, can serve as target sequence for a siRNA. Equally, siRNAs can also be directed against nucleotide sequences of a (therapeutically relevant) protein or antigen described hereinbefore that do not lie in the coding region, in particular in the 5' non-coding region of the RNA, for example, therefore, against non-coding regions of the RNA having a regulatory function. The target sequence of the siRNA can therefore lie in the translated and/or untranslated region of the RNA and/or in the region of the control elements. The target sequence of a siRNA can also lie in the overlapping region of untranslated and translated sequence; in particular, the target sequence can comprise at least one nucleotide upstream of the start triplet of the coding region of the RNA. Antisense RNA
According to a fifth embodiment, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be an antisense RNA. In the context of the present invention, an antisense RNA is preferably a (single-stranded) RNA molecule transcribed on the basis of the coding, rather than the template, strand of DNA, so that it is complementary to the sense (messenger) RNA. An antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention typically forms a duplex between the sense and antisense RNA molecules and is thus capable to block translation of the mRNA. An antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention can be directed against (may be complementary to) any portion of the mRNA sequence, which may encode a (therapeutically relevant) protein or antigen (e.g. as described hereinbefore), if thereby translation of the encoded protein is reduced/suppressed. Accordingly, the target sequence of the antisense RNA on the targeted mRNA may be located in the translated and/or untranslated region of the mRNA, e.g. in the region of the mRNA control elements, in particular in the 5' non-coding region of the RNA exerting a regulatory function. The target sequence of an antisense RNA on the targeted mRNA may also be constructed such that the antisense RNA binds to the mRNA by covering with its sequence a region which is partially complementary to the untranslated and to translated (coding) sequence of the targeted mRNA; in particular, the antisense RNA may be complementary to the target mRNA sequence by at least one nucleotide upstream of the start triplet of the coding region of the targeted mRNA. Preferably, the antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention comprises a length as generally defined above for RNA molecules (of the complexed RNA of the present invention). Typically the antisense RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention will be a fragment of the targeted mRNA. In more detail, the antisense RNA may have more preferably a length of of 5 to 5000, of 500 to 5000, and, more preferably, of 1000 to 5000 or, alternatively, of 5 to 1000, 5 to 500, 5 to 250, of 5 to 100, of 5 to 50 or of 5 to 30 nucleotides, or, alternatively, and even more preferably a length of 20 to 100, of 20 to 80, or of 20 to 60 nucleotides.
Modifications of the RNA
According to one embodiment, the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention (irrespective of its e.g. specific therapeutic potential, length, and/or sequence), particularly the short RNA oligonucleotide, the coding RNA, the immunostimulatory RNA, the siRNA, the antisense RNA, the riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, may provided as a modified RNA, wherein any modification, in particular a modification disclosed in the following) may be introduced (in any combination or as such) into the RNA (molecules) as defined above. Certain types of modifications may, however, be more suitable for specific RNA types (e.g. more suitable for coding RNA), while other modifications may be applied for any RNA molecule, e.g. as defined herein without being restricted to specific RNA types. Accordingly, modifications of the RNA may be introduced in order to achieve specific or complex effects which may desired for the use of the subject-matter of the invention. Accordingly, modifications may be designed to e.g. stabilize the RNA against degradation, to enhance their transfection efficacy, to improve its translation efficacy, to increase their immunogenic potential and/or to enhance their therapeutic potential (e.g. enhance their silencing or antisense properties). It is particularly preferred, if the modified RNA as component of the inventive complexed RNA allows to combine improvement of at least one, more preferably of at least two functional properties, e.g. to stabilized the RNA and to improve the therapeutic or immunogenic potential.
Generally, it is a primary object to stabilize the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, which allows to extend their half-life time in vivo. Preferably, the half-life time of a modified RNA under in vivo conditions is extended (as compared to the unmodified RNA) by at least 20, more preferably at least 40, more preferably at least 50 and even more preferably at least 70, 80, 90, 100,
150 or 200%. The stabilization achieved by the modification may extend the half-life time of the modified mRNA by at least 5, 10, 15, 30 or more preferably at least 60 min as compared to the unmodified RNA.
According to one embodiment the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, preferably a coding RNA, e.g. mRNA, may be stabilized by modifying the G/C content of e.g. the coding region of the RNA. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the G/C content of the coding region of the RNA (of the complexed RNA of the present invention) is altered, particularly increased, compared to the G/C content of the coding region of its corresponding wild-type RNA, i.e. the unmodified RNA. The encoded amino acid sequence of the modified RNA is preferably not altered as compared to the amino acid sequence encoded by the corresponding wild-type RNA.
This modification of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on the fact that the coding sequence of any RNA to be translated is important for efficient translation of that RNA. In particular, sequences having an increased G (guanosine)/C (cytosine) content are more stable than sequences having an increased A (adenosine)/U (uracil) content. According to the invention, the codons of the RNA are therefore altered compared to the wild-type RNA, while retaining the translated amino acid sequence, such that they include an increased amount of G/C nucleotides. In respect to the fact that several codons code for one and the same amino acid (so-called degeneration of the genetic code), the most favorable codons for the stability can be determined (so-called alternative codon usage).
Depending on the amino acid to be encoded by the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, there are various possibilities for modification of the RNA sequence, compared to its wild-type sequence. In the case of amino acids which are encoded by codons which contain exclusively G or C nucleotides, no modification of the codon is necessary. Thus, the codons for Pro (CCC or CCG), Arg (CGC or CGG), Ala (GCC or GCG) and GIy (GGC or GGG) require no modification, since no A or U is present.
In contrast, codons which contain A and/or U nucleotides can be modified by substitution of other codons which code for the same amino acids but contain no A and/or U. Examples of these are:
the codons for Pro can be modified from CCU or CCA to CCC or CCG; the codons for Arg can be modified from CGU or CGA or AGA or AGG to CGC or CGG; the codons for Ala can be modified from GCU or GCA to GCC or GCG; the codons for GIy can be modified from GGU or GGA to GGC or GGG.
In other cases, although A or U nucleotides cannot be eliminated from the codons, it is however possible to decrease the A and U content by using codons which contain a lower content of A and/or U nucleotides. Examples of these are:
the codons for Phe can be modified from UUU to UUC; the codons for Leu can be modified from UUA, UUG, CUU or CUA to CUC or CUG; the codons for Ser can be modified from UCU or UCA or AGU to UCC, UCG or AGC; the codon for Tyr can be modified from UAU to UAC; the codon for Cys can be modified from UGU to UGC; the codon for His can be modified from CAU to CAC; the codon for GIn can be modified from CAA to CAG; the codons for lie can be modified from AUU or AUA to AUC; the codons for Thr can be modified from ACU or ACA to ACC or ACG; the codon for Asn can be modified from AAU to AAC; the codon for Lys can be modified from AAA to AAG; the codons for VaI can be modified from GUU or GUA to GUC or GUG; the codon for Asp can be modified from GAU to GAC; the codon for GIu can be modified from GAA to GAG; the stop codon UAA can be modified to UAG or UGA.
In the case of the codons for Met (AUG) and Trp (UGG), on the other hand, there is no possibility of sequence modification.
The substitutions listed above can be used either individually or in all possible combinations to increase the G/C content of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention compared to its particular wild- type RNA (i.e. the original sequence). Thus, for example, all codons for Thr occurring in the wild-type sequence can be modified to ACC (or ACG). Preferably, however, for example, combinations of the above substitution possibilities are used:
substitution of all codons coding for Thr in the original sequence (wild-type RNA) to ACC (or ACG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for Ser to UCC (or UCG or AGC); substitution of all codons coding for lie in the original sequence to AUC and substitution of all codons originally coding for Lys to AAG and substitution of all codons originally coding for Tyr to UAC; substitution of all codons coding for VaI in the original sequence to GUC (or GUG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for GIu to GAG and substitution of all codons originally coding for Ala to GCC (or GCG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for Arg to CGC (or CGG); substitution of all codons coding for VaI in the original sequence to GUC (or GUG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for GIu to GAG and substitution of all codons originally coding for Ala to GCC (or GCG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for GIy to GGC (or GGG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for Asn to AAC; substitution of all codons coding for VaI in the original sequence to GUC (or GUG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for Phe to UUC and substitution of all codons originally coding for Cys to UGC and substitution of all codons originally coding for Leu to CUG (or CUC) and substitution of all codons originally coding for GIn to CAG and substitution of all codons originally coding for Pro to CCC (or CCG); etc.
Preferably, the G/C content of the coding region of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is increased by at least
7%, more preferably by at least 15%, particularly preferably by at least 20%, compared to the G/C content of the coded region of the wild-type RNA which codes for a protein.
According to a specific embodiment at least 60%, more preferably at least 70 %, even more preferably at least 80% and most preferably at least 90%, 95% or even 100% of the substitutable codons in the region coding for a protein or the whole sequence of the wild type RNA sequence are substituted, thereby increasing or even maximizing the GC/content of said sequence.
In this context, it is particularly preferable to increase the G/C content of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention to the maximum (i.e. 100% of the substitutable codons), in particular in the region coding for a protein, compared to the wild-type sequence. According to the invention, a further preferred modification of the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on the finding that the translation efficiency is also determined by a different frequency in the occurrence of tRNAs in cells. Thus, if so-called "rare codons" are present in an RNA sequence to an increased extent, the corresponding modified RNA sequence is translated to a significantly poorer degree than in the case where codons coding for relatively "frequent" tRNAs are present.
According to the invention, in the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, the region which codes for the protein is modified compared to the corresponding region of the wild-type RNA such that at least one codon of the wild-type sequence which codes for a tRNA which is relatively rare in the cell is exchanged for a codon which codes for a tRNA which is relatively frequent in the cell and carries the same amino acid as the relatively rare tRNA. By this modification, the RNA sequences are modified such that codons for which frequently occurring tRNAs are available are inserted. In other words, according to the invention, by this modification all codons of the wild-type sequence which code for a tRNA which is relatively rare in the cell can in each case be exchanged for a codon which codes for a tRNA which is relatively frequent in the cell and which, in each case, carries the same amino acid as the relatively rare tRNA.
Which tRNAs occur relatively frequently in the cell and which, in contrast, occur relatively rarely is known to a person skilled in the art; cf. e.g. Akashi, Curr. Opin. Genet. Dev. 2001 , 1 1 (6): 660-666. The codons which use for the particular amino acid the tRNA which occurs the most frequently, e.g. the GIy codon, which uses the tRNA which occurs the most frequently in the (human) cell, are particularly preferred.
According to the invention, it is particularly preferable to link the sequential G/C content which is increased, in particular maximized, in the RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, with the "frequent" codons without modifying the amino acid sequence of the protein encoded by the coding region of the RNA. This preferred embodiment allows provision of a particularly efficiently translated and stabilized (modified) RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention. The determination of the G/C content of an RNA as used herein as the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention (increased G/C content; exchange of tRNAs) can be carried out using the computer program explained in WO 02/098443 - the disclosure content of which is included in its full scope in the present invention. Using this computer program, the nucleotide sequence of any desired RNA can be modified with the aid of the genetic code or the degenerative nature thereof such that a maximum G/C content results, in combination with the use of codons which code for tRNAs occurring as frequently as possible in the cell, the amino acid sequence coded by the RNA (molecule) preferably not being modified compared to the non-modified sequence. Alternatively, it is also possible to modify only the G/C content or only the codon usage compared to the original sequence. The source code in Visual Basic 6.0 (development environment used: Microsoft Visual Studio Enterprise 6.0 with Servicepack 3) is also described in WO 02/098443.
In a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, the A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is increased compared to the A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of its particular wild-type RNA. This modification (an increased A/U content around the ribosome binding site) increases the efficiency of ribosome binding to the modified RNA. An effective binding of the ribosomes to the ribosome binding site (Kozak sequence: GCCGCCACCAUGG (SEQ ID NO: 33), the AUG forms the start codon) in turn has the effect of an efficient translation of the modified RNA.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may be modified with respect to potentially destabilizing sequence elements. Particularly, the coding region and/or the 5' and/or 3' untranslated region of this RNA may be modified compared to the particular wild-type RNA such that is contains no destabilizing sequence elements, the coded amino acid sequence of the RNA (molecule) preferably not being modified compared to its particular wild-type RNA. It is known that, for example, in sequences of eukaryotic RNAs destabilizing sequence elements (DSE) occur, to which signal proteins bind and regulate enzymatic degradation of RNA in vivo. For further stabilization of the RNA (molecule), optionally in the region which encodes for a protein, one or more such modifications compared to the corresponding region of the wild-type RNA can therefore be carried out, so that no or substantially no destabilizing sequence elements are contained there. According to the invention, DSE present in the untranslated regions (3'- and/or 5'-UTR) can also be eliminated from the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention by such modifications.
Such destabilizing sequences are e.g. AU-rich sequences (AURES), which occur in 3'-UTR sections of numerous unstable RNAs (Caput et a/., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1986, 83: 1670 to 1674). The RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention is therefore preferably modified compared to the wild-type RNA such that the RNA contains no such destabilizing sequences. This also applies to those sequence motifs which are recognized by possible endonucleases, e.g. the sequence GAACAAG, which is contained in the 3'-UTR segment of the gene which codes for the transferrin receptor (Binder et a/., EMBO J. 1994, 13: 1969 to 1980). These sequence motifs are also preferably removed according to the invention in the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention.
According to the present invention, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention can have a 5' cap structure. Examples of cap structures which can be used according to the invention are m7G(5')ppp, (5'(A,G(5')ppp(5')A and G(5')ppp(5')G.
Another modification enhancing the stability of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is based on 5'- or 3' elongations of the RNA, typically homonucleotide elongations of a length of 10 to 200 nucleotides. These elongations may contain, particularly if the RNA is provided as mRNA, a poly-A tail at the 3' terminus of typically about 10 to 200 adenosine nucleotides, preferably about 10 to 100 adenosine nucleotides, more preferably about 20 to 70 adenosine nucleotides or even more preferably about 20 to 60 adenosine nucleotides. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain, particularly if the RNA is provided as mRNA, a poly-C tail at the 3' terminus of typically about 10 to 200 cytosine nucleotides, preferably about 10 to 100 cytosine nucleotides, more preferably about 20 to 70 cytosine nucleotides or even more preferably about 20 to 60 or even 10 to 40 cytosine nucleotides.
Another modification, which may occur in the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, particularly if the RNA is provided as mRNA, refers preferably to at least one IRES and/or at least one 5' and/or 3' stabilizing sequence. According to the invention, one or more so-called IRES (internal ribosomal entry site) may be inserted into the RNA. An IRES can thus function as the sole ribosome binding site, but it can also serve to provide a RNA which codes several proteins which are to be translated by the ribosomes independently of one another (multicistronic RNA). Examples of IRES sequences which can be used according to the invention are those from picornaviruses (e.g. FMDV), pestiviruses (CFFV), polioviruses (PV), encephalomyocarditis viruses (ECMV), foot and mouth disease viruses (FMDV), hepatitis C viruses (HCV), classical swine fever viruses (CSFV), mouse leukoma virus (MLV), simian immunodeficiency viruses (SIV) or cricket paralysis viruses (CrPV).
According to the invention, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may exhibit at least one 5' and/or 3' stabilizing sequence as known from the art. These stabilizing sequences in the 5' and/or 3' untranslated regions have the effect of increasing the half-life of the RNA in the cytosol. These stabilizing sequences can have 100% sequence homology to naturally occurring sequences which occur in viruses, bacteria and eukaryotes, but can also be partly or completely synthetic. The untranslated sequences (UTR) of the globin gene, e.g. from Homo sapiens or Xenopus laevis may be mentioned as an example of stabilizing sequences which can be used in the present invention for a stabilized RNA. Another example of a stabilizing sequence has the general formula (C/U)CCANxCCC(U/A)PyxUC(C/U)CC (SEQ ID NO: 34), which is contained in the 3'UTR of the very stable RNA which codes for globin, (l)-collagen, 15-lipoxygenase or for tyrosine hydroxylase (cf. Holcik et a/., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1997, 94: 2410 to 2414). Such stabilizing sequences can of course be used individually or in combination with one another and also in combination with other stabilizing sequences known to a person skilled in the art. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is therefore preferably present as globin UTR (untranslated regions)-stabilized RNA, in particular as globin UTR-stabilized RNA. If desired, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain backbone modifications. A backbone modification in connection with the present invention is a modification in which phosphates of the backbone of the nucleotides contained in the RNA are chemically modified. Such backbone modifications typically include, without implying any limitation, modifications from the group consisting of methylphosphonates, phosphoramidates and phosphorothioates (e.g. cytidine-5'-O-(1 - thiophosphate)).
The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain sugar modifications. A sugar modification in connection with the present invention is a chemical modification of the sugar of the nucleotides present and typically includes, without implying any limitation, sugar modifications selected from the group consisting of 2'-deoxy-2'-fluoro-oligoribonucleotide (2'-fluoro-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate, 2'-fluoro-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate), T- deoxy-2'-deamine oligoribonucleotide (2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate, T- 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, T- arauridine-5'-triphosphate), or azidotriphosphate (2'-azido-2'-deoxycytidine-5'- triphosphate, 2 '-azido-2'-deoxyuridine-5 '-triphosphate).
The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain at least one base modification, which is preferably suitable for increasing the expression of the protein coded for by the at least one RNA (molecule) significantly as compared with the unaltered, i.e. natural (- native), RNA sequence. Significant in this case means an increase in the expression of the protein compared with the expression of the native RNA sequence by at least 20%, preferably at least 30%, 40%, 50% or 60%, more preferably by at least 70%, 80%, 90% or even 100% and most preferably by at least 150%, 200% or even 300%. In connection with the present invention, a nucleotide having a base modification is preferably selected from the group of the base-modified nucleotides 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, Nl -methyladenosine-5 '-triphosphate, NI -methylguanosine-5'-triphosphate, N6-methyladenosine-5 '-triphosphate, O6-methylguanosine-5 '-triphosphate, pseudouridine- 5 '-triphosphate, or puromycin-5'-triphosphate, xanthosine-5'-triphosphate. Particular preference is given to nucleotides for base modifications selected from the group of base- modified nucleotides consisting of 5-methylcytidine-5 '-triphosphate, 7-deazaguanosine-5'- triphosphate, 5-bromocytidine-5'-triphosphate, and pseudouridine-5'-triphosphate.
The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may additionally or alternatively also contain at least one modification of a nucleoside of a nucleotide as contained in the at least one RNA (molecule), which acts immunosuppressive, i.e. is preferably suitable for preventing or decreasing an immune response, when administered to a patient in need thereof. Such at least one modification is preferably selected from nucleoside modifications selected from: a) a chemical modification at the 4-, 5-or 6-position of the pyrimidine base of the nucleosides of cytidine and/or uridine; b) a chemical modification at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides of adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine; and/or c) a chemical modification at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides of adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine.
In this context, an (m)RNA is a nucleic acid chain formed by a number of nucleotides typically selected from adenosine-5'-monophosphate, guanosine-5'-monophosphate, inosine-5'-monophosphate, cytidine-5'-monophosphate and/or uridine-5'-monophosphate. Those nucleotides are linked to each other via their monophosphate. Nucleotides comprise nucleosides and a 5'-monophosphate as a structural component, wherein the nucleosides are typically formed by a nucleobase, i.e. a pyrimidine (uracil or cytosine) or a purine (adenine or guanine) base, and a sugar. Accordingly, a modification of a nucleoside of at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention is always intended to mean a modification in the nucleoside structure of the respective nucleotide of said at least one RNA (molecule).
According to a first modification a), at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be modified with a chemical modification at the 5- or 6-position of the pyrimidine base of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine. Without being limited thereto, such chemical modifications at the 4-, 5- or 6-position of the base pyrimidine of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine may be selected from the group consisting of: 4-thio, 5-iodo- / (5-I-), 5-bromo- / (5-Br-), 5- aminoallyl-, 5-fluoro- / (5-F-), 5-hydroxy-, 5-hydro- / (5-H-), 5-nitro-, 5-propynyl- / (5-(C≡C- CH3)-), 5-methyl-, 5-methyl-2-thio-, 5-formyl-, 5-hydroxymethyl-, 5-methoxy-, 5-oxyacetic acid methyl ester-, 5-oxyacetic acid-, 5-carboxyhydroxymethyl-, 5- (carboxyhydroxymethyl)pyrimidine methyl ester-, 5-methoxycarbonylmethyl-, 5- methoxycarbonylmethyl-2-thio, 5-aminomethyl-, 5-aminomethyl-2-thio-, 5-aminomethyl-2- seleno-, 5-methylaminomethyl-, 5-carbamoylmethyl-, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-, 5- carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thio-, 5-carboxymethyl-, 5-methyldihydro-, 5-taurinomethyl-, 5-taurinomethyl-2-thiouridine, 5-isopentenylaminomethyl-, 5-isopentenylaminomethyl-2- thio-, 5-aminopropyl- / (5-(C3H6NH3)-), 5-methoxy-ethoxy-methyl- / (5-(CH2-O-C2H4-O- CH3)-), or 6-aza-.
According to second modification b), at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, suitable for suppressing and/or avoiding an (innate) immunostimulatory response in a mammal typically exhibited when administering the corresponding unmodified at least one RNA (molecule), may be alternatively modified with a chemical modification at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine. Without being limited thereto, such chemical modifications at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine may be selected from the group consisting of 2-Amino-, 7-Deaza-, 8-Aza-, or 8-Azido-. According to a third modification c), at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention, suitable for suppressing and/or avoiding an (innate) immunostimulatory response in a mammal typically exhibited when administering the corresponding unmodified at least one RNA (molecule), may be modified with at least one chemical modification at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine, when incorporated in the RNA sequence. Without being limited thereto, such chemical modifications at the 2'-position of the sugar of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine, guanosine, cytidine and/or uridine may be selected from the group consisting of: 2'-deoxy-, 2'-amino-2'-deoxy-, 2'-amino-, 2'-fluoro- 2'-deoxy-, 2'-fluoro-, 2'-O-methyl-2'-deoxy- or 2'-O-methyk
According to a particularly preferred embodiment, at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified at the 4,- 5- or 6-position of the base pyrimidine of the nucleosides cytidine and/or uridine and at the 2'-position of the ribose sugar according to modifications a) and c) as defined above.
According to another particularly preferred embodiment, at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified at the 2-, 6-, 7- or 8-position of the purine base of the nucleosides adenosine, inosine and/or guanosine and at the 2'-position of the ribose sugar according to modifications b) and c) as defined above, more preferably as defined above.
According to an even more particularly preferred embodiment, at least one nucleoside of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention has been modified leading to chemically modified nucleotides (of the (m)RNA) selected from the following group: 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-lodocytidine-5'-(mono)phosphate, 5-lodo-2'-deoxycytidine-5'- (mono)phosphate, 5-lodouridine-5'-(mono)phosphate, 5-lodo-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'-0-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'-0-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'-0-methyIuridine-5'-(mono)phosphate, 5- carboxymethylaminomethyluridine-5'-(mono)phosphate, 5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2'- 0-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'-0-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, 2 '-O-Methyl-i nosi ne-5 '-(mono)phosphate.
If desired, the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the present invention may contain substitutions, additions or deletions of nucleotides, which are preferably introduced to achieve functional effects. These various types of nucleotide modifications may be introduced, if the RNA, e.g the mRNA, is derived from a WT sequence. Hereby, a DNA matrix is used for preparation of the RNA of the complexed RNA according to the present invention by techniques of the well known site directed mutagenesis (see e.g. Maniatis et a/., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor, NY, 2001 ). In such a process, for preparation of the RNA, a corresponding DNA molecule may be transcribed in vitro. This DNA matrix has a suitable promoter, e.g. a T7 or SP6 promoter, for in vitro transcription, which is followed by the desired nucleotide sequence for the RNA to be prepared and a termination signal for in vitro transcription. According to the invention, the DNA molecule which forms the matrix of a RNA of interest may be prepared by fermentative proliferation and subsequent isolation as part of a plasmid which can be replicated in bacteria. Plasmids which may be mentioned as suitable for the present invention are e.g. the plasmids pT7Ts (GenBank accession number U26404; Lai et a/., Development 1995, 121 : 2349 to 2360), pGEM® series, e.g. pGEM®-1 (GenBank accession number X65300; from Promega) and pSP64 (GenBank accession number X65327); cf. also Mezei and Storts, Purification of PCR Products, in: Griffin and Griffin (ed.), PCR Technology: Current Innovation, CRC Press, Boca Raton, FL, 2001 .
The mass or molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention, which means the mass or molar ratio of the RNA (be it single- or double- stranded) to the one or more oligopeptides typically is by no way restricted and is chosen as suitable for the particular application. However, the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may be less than 1 :1 , 1 :2, 1 :3, 1 :4, 1 :5, 1 :6, 1 :7, 1 :8, 1 :9, 1 :10, 1 :1 1 , 1 :12, 1 :13, 1 :14, 1 :15, 1 :16, 1 :17, 1 :18, or less than 1 :20. Alternatively, the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may higher than 1 :1 , 2:1 , 3:1 , 4:1 , 5:1 , 6:1 , 7:1 , 8:1, 9:1 , 10:1 , 1 1 :1 , 12:1 , 13:1 , 14:1 , 15:1 , 16:1 , 1 7:1 , 18:1 , 19:1 , 20:1. Preferably, the mass or molar ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA may not be less than 1 :5 with respect to the content of the one or more oligopeptides. More preferably, the (molar or) mass ratio of the one or more oligopeptides and the RNA is from 1 :5 to 20:1 , more preferably from 1 :3 to 15:1.
According to a particular preferred embodiment, the mass ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention, particularly the mass ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides is preferably in a range of about 1 :100 to about 1 :0,5, more preferably has a value of about 1 :50 to about 1 :1 , or even more preferably about 1 :100, about 1 :90, about 1 :80, about 1 :70, about 1 :60, about 1 :50, about 1 : 45, about 1 :40, about 1 :35, about 1 :30, about 1 :25, about 1 :20, about 1 :15, about 1 :10, about 1 :5, about 1 :4, about 1 :3, about 1 :2, about 1 :1 or even about 1 :0,5 regarding the ratio of RNArpeptide in the complex, wherein any range may be formed by combining two of the above specifically indicated values. Most preferably, the mass ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides may be in a range of about 1 :50 to about 1 :1.
Likewise, the molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention, particularly the molar ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides is preferably, according to a particular preferred embodiment, in a range of about 1 :20000 to about 1 :500 or even 1 :250, more preferably in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :1000, or even more preferably has a value of about 1 :9500, about 1 :9000, about 1 :8500, about 1 :8000, about 1 :7500, about 1 :7000, about 1 :6500, about 1 :6000, about 1 :5500, about 1 :5000, about 1 :4500, about 1 :4000, about 1 :3500, about 1 :3000, about 1 :2500, about 1 :2000, about 1 :1500, about 1 :1000, about 1 :500, about 1 :450, about 1 : 400, about 1 :350, about 1 :300, or about 1 :250 regarding the ratio of RNA:peptide in the complex, wherein any range may be formed by combining two of the above specifically indicated values. Most preferably, the molar ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides may be in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :1000. For immunostimulation purposes, the molar ratio of the components of the RNA complex according to the present invention may be in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :100 or even in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :500.
In the context of the present invention, the molar ratio and the mass ratio are typically dependent on each other, wherein each of these ratios may be influenced by factors such as RNA length or peptide length. However, for purposes of determination, the mass ratio and the molar ratio may be calculated for an average complex size, wherein a mass ratio of about 1 :50 - 1 :1 approximately corresponds to a molar ratio of about 1 :10000 - 1 :1000. An exemplary schedule of molar and mass ratios is given in the Examples, which may be used for calculation additionally.
Furthermore, the ratio of the RNA complex components according to the present invention, particularly the ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides, may also be calculated on the basis of the nitrogen/phosphate ratio (N/P-ratio) of the entire RNA complex. For example, 1 μg RNA typically contains about 3 nmol phosphate residues, provided the RNA exhibits a statistical distribution of bases. Additionally, 1 μg peptide typically contains about x nmol nitrogen residues, dependent on the molecular weight and the number of basic amino acids. When exemplarily calculated for (Arg)9 (molecular weight 1424 g/mol, 9 nitrogen atoms), 1 μg (Arg)9 contains about 700 pmol (Arg)9 and thus 700 x 9=6300 pmol basic amino acids = 6.3 nmol nitrogen atoms. For a mass ratio of about 1 :1 RNA/(Arg)9 an N/P ratio of about 2 can be calculated. When exemplarily calculated for protamine (molecular weight about 4250 g/mol, 21 nitrogen atoms, when protamine from salmon is used) with a mass ratio of about 2:1 with 2 μg RNA, 6 nmol phosphate are to be calulated for the RNA; 1 μg protamine contains about 235 pmol protamine molecues and thus 235 x 21 = 4935 pmol basic nitrogen atoms = 4.9 nmol nitrogen atoms. For a mass ratio of about 2:1 RNA/protamine an N/P ratio of about 0.81 can be calculated. For a mass ratio of about 8:1 RNA/protamine an N/P ratio of about 0.2 can be calculated. In the context of the present invention, an N/P-ratio is preferably in the range of about 0,2-50, preferably in a range of about 0.5-50 and most preferably in a range of about 0.75-25 or 1 -25 regarding the ratio of RNA:peptide in the complex, even more preferably in the range of about 10-50 and most preferably in the range of about 25-50).
Another embodiment of the present invention relates to a composition, preferably a pharmaceutical composition, comprising a complexed RNA according to the present invention and optionally a (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier and/or further auxiliary substances and additives. The (pharmaceutical) composition employed according to the present invention typically comprises a safe and effective amount of a complexed RNA according to the present invention. As used herein, a "safe and effective amount" means an amount of a complexed RNA according to the present invention such as to provide an effect in cells or tissues in vitro or in vivo, e.g. to induce significantly an expression {in vitro or in vivo) of an encoded protein as described above, such as a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above, to induce a positive change of a state to be treated {in vivo) in a cell, a tissue or an organism, e.g. a tumour disease or cancer disease, a cardiovascular disease, an infectious disease, an autoimmune disease, (mono-)genetic diseases, etc. as described herein, and/or to induce or enhance an immue response. At the same time, however, a "safe and effective amount" is low enough to avoid serious side effects, particularly in the therapy of diseases as mentioned herein, that is to say to render possible a reasonable ratio of advantage and risk. Determination of these limits typically lies within the range of reasonable medical judgement. The concentration of the complexed RNA according to the invention in such (pharmaceutical) compositions can therefore vary, for example, without being limited thereto, within a wide range of from e.g. 0.1 ng to 1 ,000 mg/ml or even more. Such a "safe and effective amount" of a complexed RNA according to the invention can vary in connection with the particular state to be treated and the age and the physical state of the patient to be treated, the severity of the state, the duration of the treatment, the nature of the concomitant therapy, of the particular (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier used and similar factors within the knowledge and experience of the treating doctor. The (pharmaceutical) composition described here can be employed for human and also for veterinary medicine purposes.
The (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention described here can optionally comprise a suitable carrier, preferably a pharmaceutically suitable carrier. The term "suitable carrier" used here preferably includes one or more compatible solid or liquid fillers, or diluents or encapsulating compounds which are suitable for administration to a person. The term "compatible" as used here means that the constituents of the composition are capable of being mixed together with the complexed RNA according to the invention and the auxiliary substance optionally contained in the composition, as such and with one another in a manner such that no interaction which would substantially reduce the (pharmaceutical) effectiveness of the composition under usual condition of use occurs, such as e.g. would reduce the (pharmaceutical) activity of the encoded proteins or even suppress or impair expression of the coded proteins or e.g. would inhibit the immunogenic potential of the complexed RNA. Suitable carrier must of course have a sufficiently high purity and a sufficiently low toxicity to render them suitable for administration to a person to be treated.
Carriers are chosen dependent on the way of administration, be it in solid or liquid form. Accordingly, the choice of a (pharmaceutically) suitable carrier as described above is determined in particular by the mode in which the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention is administered. The (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can be administered, for example, systemically. Administration routes include e.g. intra- or transdermal, oral, parenteral, including subcutaneous, intramuscular, i.a. or intravenous injections, topical and/or intranasal routes. The suitable amount of the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention which is to be used can be determined by routine experiments using animal models. Such models include, but without being limited thereto, models of the rabbit, sheep, mouse, rat, dog and non-human primate models.
If administered in liquid form, e.g. by injection, the carrier may be selected from pyrogen- free water; isotonic saline solution and buffered solutions, e.g. phosphate buffered solutions. Preferred unit dose forms for injection include sterile solutions of water, physiological saline solution or mixtures thereof, e.g. Ringer-Lactat solution. The pH of such solutions should be adjusted to about 7. 0 to about 7.6, preferably about 7.4.
Preferably, the (pharmaceutical) composition contains the inventive complexed RNA in water. Alternatively, the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention may contain an injection buffer as carrier for liquid preparation, which preferably improves transfection and, if the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention codes for a protein, also the translation of the encoded protein, in cells, tissues or an organism. The (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can comprise, for example, an aqueous injection buffer or water which contains, with respect to the total (pharmaceutical) composition, if this is in liquid form, a sodium salt, preferably at least 50 mM sodium salt, a calcium salt, preferably at least 0.01 mM calcium and/or magnesium salt, and optionally a potassium salt, preferably at least 3 mM potassium salt. According to a preferred embodiment, the sodium salts, calcium and/or magnesium salts and optionally potassium salts contained in such an injection buffer are in the form of halides, e.g. chlorides, iodides or bromides, or in the form of their hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates or sulfates. Examples which are to be mentioned here are, for the sodium salt NaCI, NaI, NaBr, Na2CO3, NaHCO3, and/or Na2SO4, for the potassium salt optionally present KCl, Kl, KBr, K2CO3, KHCO3, and/or K2SO4, and for the calcium and/or magnesium salt CaCI2, CaI2, CaBr2, CaCO3, CaSO4, Ca(OH)2, MgCI2, MgI2, MgBr2, MgCO3, MgSO4, and/or Mg(OH)2. The injection buffer can also contain organic anions of the abovementioned cations. In a particularly preferred embodiment, such an injection buffer contains as salts sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride (CaCI2) and optionally potassium chloride (KCl), it also being possible for other anions to be present in addition to the chlorides. These salts are typically present in the injection buffer optionally used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention, with respect to the total (pharmaceutical) composition (if this is in liquid form), in a concentration of at least 50 mM sodium chloride (NaCI), at least 3 mM potassium chloride (KCI) and at least 0.01 mM calcium and/or magnesium chloride (CaCI2). The injection buffer can be in the form of both hypertonic and isotonic or hypotonic injection buffers. In connection with the present invention, in this context the injection buffer is hypertonic, isotonic or hypotonic in each case with respect to the particular reference medium, i.e. the injection buffer has either a higher, the same or a lower salt content compared with the particular reference medium, such concentrations of the abovementioned salts which do not lead to damage to the cells caused by osmosis or other concentration effects preferably being employed. Reference media here are, for example, liquids which occur in "in vivo' methods, such as, for example, blood, lymph fluid, cytosol fluids or other fluids which occur in the body, or liquids or buffers conventionally employed in "in vitrd1 methods. Such liquids and buffers are known to a person skilled in the art.
The injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can also contain further components, for example sugars (mono-, di-, tri- or polysaccharides), in particular glucose or mannitol. In a preferred embodiment, however, no sugars are present in the injection buffer used. It is also preferable for the injection buffer precisely to contain no non-charged components, such as, for example, sugars. The injection buffer typically contains exclusively metal cations, in particular from the group consisting of the alkali or alkaline earth metals, and anions, in particular the anions described above. The pH of the injection buffer used, with respect to the total (pharmaceutical) composition, if this is in liquid form, is preferably between 1 and 8.5, preferably between 3 and 5, more preferably between 5.5 and 7.5, in particular between 5.5 and 6.5. If appropriate, the injection buffer can also contain a buffer system which fixes the injection buffer at a buffered pH. This can be, for example, a phosphate buffer system, HEPES or Na2HPOVNaH2PO4. However, the injection buffer used very particularly preferably contains none of the abovementioned buffer systems or contains no buffer system at all. The injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention can contain, in addition to or as an alternative to the monovalent and divalent cations described, divalent cations, in particular from the group consisting of alkaline earth metals, such as, for example, magnesium (Mg2+), or also iron (Fe2+), and monovalent cations, in particular from the groups consisting of alkali metals, such as, for example, lithium (Li+). These monovalent cations are preferably in the form of their salts, e.g. in the form of halides, e.g. chlorides, iodides or bromides, or in the form of their hydroxides, carbonates, bicarbonates or sulfates. Examples which are to be mentioned here are, for the lithium salt LiCl, LiI, LiBr, Li2CO3, LiHCO3, Li2SO4, for the magnesium salt MgCl2, MgI2, MgBr2, MgCO3, MgSO4, and Mg(OH)2, and for the iron salt FeCI2, FeBr2, FeI2, FeF2, Fe2O3, FeCO3, FeSO4, Fe(OH)2. All the combinations of di- and/or monovalent cations, as described above, are likewise included. Such injection buffers which contain only divalent, only monovalent or di- and monovalent cations can thus be used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention. Such injection buffers which contain only one type of di- or monovalent cations, particularly preferably e.g. only Ca2+ cations, or a salt thereof, e.g. CaCl2, can likewise be used. The molarities given above for Ca2+ (as a divalent cation) and Na1+ (as a monovalent cation) (that is to say typically concentrations of at least 50 mM Na+, at least 0.01 mM Ca2+ and optionally at least 3 mM K+) in the injection buffer can also be taken into consideration if another di- or monovalent cation, in particular other cations from the group consisting of the alkaline earth metals and alkali metals, are employed instead of some or all the Ca2+ or, respectively, Na1+ in the injection buffer used according to the invention for the preparation of the injection solution. All the Ca2+ or Na1+, as mentioned above, can indeed be replaced by in each case other di- or, respectively, monovalent cations in the injection buffer used, for example also by a combination of other divalent cations (instead of Ca2+) and/or a combination of other monovalent cations (instead of Na1+) (in particular a combination of other divalent cations from the group consisting of the alkaline earth metals or, respectively, of other monovalent cations from the group consisting of the alkali metals), but it is preferable to replace at most some of the Ca2+ or Na1+, i.e. for at least 20 %, preferably at least 40 %, even more preferably at least 60 % and still more preferably at least 80 % of the particular total molarities of the mono- and divalent cations in the injection to be occupied by Ca2+ and, respectively, Na1+. However, it is very particularly preferable if the injection buffer optionally contained in the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention contains exclusively Ca2+ as a divalent cation and Na1+ as a monovalent cation, that is to say, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, Ca2+ represents 100 % of the total molarity of divalent cations, just as Na1+ represents 100 % of the total molarity of monovalent cations. The aqueous solution of the injection buffer can contain, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, up to 30 mol% of the salts contained in the solution, preferably up to 25 mol%, preferably up to 20 mol%, furthermore preferably up to 15 mol%, more preferably up to 10 mol%, even more preferably up to 5 mol%, likewise more preferably up to 2 mol% of insoluble or sparingly soluble salts. Salts which are sparingly soluble in the context of the present invention are those of which the solubility product is < 10"4. Salts which are readily soluble are those of which the solubility product is > 10"4. Preferably, the injection buffer optionally contained in the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention is from 50 mM to 800 mM, preferably from 60 mM to 500 mM, more preferably from 70 mM to 250 mM, particularly preferably 60 mM to 1 10 mM in sodium chloride (NaCl), from 0.01 mM to 100 mM, preferably from 0.5 mM to 80 mM, more preferably from 1.5 mM to 40 mM in calcium chloride (CaCI2) and optionally from 3 mM to 500 mM, preferably from 4 mM to 300 mM, more preferably from 5 mM to 200 mM in potassium chloride (KCI). Organic anions can also occur as further anions in addition to the abovementioned inorganic anions, for example halides, sulfates or carbonates. Among these there may be mentioned succinate, lactobionate, lactate, malate, maleate etc., which can also be present in combination.
An injection buffer optionally contained in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention preferably contains lactate. If it contains an organic anion, such an injection buffer particularly preferably contains exclusively lactate as the organic anion. Lactate in the context of the invention can be any desired lactate, for example L-lactate and D-lactate. Lactate salts which occur in connection with the present invention are typically sodium lactate and/or calcium lactate, especially if the injection buffer contains only Na+ as a monovalent cation and Ca2+ as a divalent cation. An injection buffer optionally used in the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the invention and as described above preferably contains, with respect to the total pharmaceutical composition, from 15 mM to 500 mM, more preferably from 15 mM to 200 mM, and even more most preferably from 15 mM to 100 mM lactate. If formulated in non-liquid form (e.g. in solid or semi-solid form), the pharmaceutical composition of the invention may be contain compounds which can serve as suitable carriers or constituents thereof, e.g. sugars, such as, for example, lactose, glucose and sucrose; starches, such as, for example, corn starch or potato starch; cellulose and its derivatives, such as, for example, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, ethylcellulose, cellulose acetate; pulverized tragacanth; malt; gelatine; tallow; solid lubricants, such as, for example, stearic acid, magnesium stearate; calcium sulfate; plant oils, such as, for example, groundnut oil, cottonseed oil, sesame oil, olive oil, corn oil and oil from Theobroma; polyols, such as, for example, polypropylene glycol, glycerol, sorbitol, mannitol and polyethylene glycol; alginic acid. However, the above compounds may also be used for the provision of liquid compositions.
Other components which may be included in a pharmaceutical composition of the invention are e.g. emulsifiers, such as, for example, Tween®; wetting agents, such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate; colouring agents; flavouring agents; medicament carriers; tablet-forming agents; stabilizers; antioxidants; preservatives.
Other suitable carriers for injection include hydrogels, devices for controlled or delayed release, polylactic acid and collagen matrices. Suitable carriers which can be used here include those which are suitable for use in lotions, creams, gels and the like. If the compound is to be administered perorally, tablets, capsules and the like are the preferred unit dose form. The suitable carriers for the preparation of unit dose forms which can be used for oral administration are well-known in the prior art. Their choice will depend on secondary considerations, such as flavour, cost and storage stability, which are not critical for the purposes of the present invention and can be implemented without difficulties by a person skilled in the art.
The present invention also provides an (in vitro or in vivo) transfection method for transfecting cells or a tissue with the complexed RNA of the present invention as described above. The inventive [in vitro or in vivo) transfection method preferably comprises the following steps: a) Optionally preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA according to the present invention, comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg),;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x; b) Transfecting a cell, a (living) tissue or an organism (in vitro or in vivo) using the complexed RNA prepared and/or provided according to step a).
Preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA as defined above according to step a) of the inventive in vitro or in vivo transfection method for transfecting cells or a tissue with the complexed RNA of the present invention, may be carried out by any method known in the art. A complexed RNA as used herein comprises at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x. Preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA as defined above according to step a) may thus comprise the preparation and/or provision of the least one RNA and the one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x.
Methods for preparation of short peptide sequences such as (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, are widely known in the art and may employ e.g. solid phase synthesis such as Fmoc solid phase synthesis or other suitable methods (see e.g. R. Martin, Ed., Protein Synthesis: Methods and Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology, Vol. 77Humana Press (1998)).
Preparing and/or providing the at least one RNA (molecule) as component of the inventive complex as defined above may comprise according to step a) a first sub-step a1 ), namely provision and/or preparation of a nucleic acid template, which typically comprises a sequence corresponding to the desired RNA. The sequence of the nucleic acid template may be any nucleic acid, e.g. a single- or double-stranded DNA, cDNA, genomic DNA or fragments thereof, etc., which may code for a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above. Typically, DNA sequences, e.g. DNA plasmids, preferably in linearized form, may be employed for this purpose. Preferably, the sequence of the nucleic acid template may be an (expression) vector, more preferably an (expression)vector having an RNA polymerase binding site. Any (expression) vectors known in the prior art, e.g. commercially available (expression) vectors (see above), can be used for this. Preferred (expression) vectors are, for example, those which have an SP6 or a T7 or T3 binding site upstream and/or downstream of the cloning site. The vector may comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigen, or any other protein or peptide as described above, which is typically cloned into the (expression) vector, e.g. via a multiple cloning site of the vector used.
Prior to transcription the (expression) vector is typically cleaved with restriction enzymes at the site at which the future 3' end of the RNA is to be found, using a suitable restriction enzyme, and the fragment is purified. This prevents the transcribed RNA from containing vector sequences, and an RNA transcript of defined length may be obtained. In this context, preferably no restriction enzymes which generate overhanging ends (such as, e.g., Aatλ, Apa\, Barλ\, BgA, #5/?1286, Bsm, Cfo\, Haέλ, HgiN\, Hha\, Kpn\, PsA, PviA, Sad, Saά\, SfA, SpM, etc.) are used. Should such restriction enzymes nevertheless be used, the overhanging 3' end preferably may be filled up, e.g. with Klenow or T4 DNA polymerase.
As an alternative to the above, the nucleic acid template used for preparing and/or providing the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention, may be prepared by employing a polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The nucleic acid template preferably and one of the primers used therefore, typically contains the sequence of an RNA polymerase binding site. Furthermore, the 5' end of the primer used preferably contains an extension of about 10 - 50 further nucleotides, more preferably of from 15 to 30 further nucleotides and most preferably of about 20 nucleotides.
Prior to in vitro transcription, the nucleic acid, e.g. the DNA or cDNA template, used as transcription template, is typically purified and free from RNase in order to ensure a high yield. In this context, purification of such template can be carried out with the aid of any method known in the prior art, for example using a caesium chloride gradient, ion exchange methods or by purification via agarose gel electrophoresis.
Subsequent to preparing and/or providing the nucleic acid template, an in vitro transcription reaction according to a second sub-step a2) may be carried out for preparing the desired the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention using the nucleic acid template prepared according to first sub-step a1 ) as defined above. The in vitro transcription reaction according to a second sub-step a2) is typically carried out in an in vitro transcription reaction. A suitable in vitro transcription medium initially comprises the nucleic acid template as described above, for example about 0.1 - 10 μg, preferably about 1 - 5 μg, more preferably 2,5 μg and most preferably about 1 μg of such a nucleic acid. A suitable in vitro transcription medium furthermore optionally comprises a reducing agent, e.g. DTT, more preferably about 1 -20 μl 50 mM DTT, even more preferably about 5 μl 50 mM DTT. The in vitro transcription medium typically comprises nucleotides, e.g. a nucleotide mix, in the case of the present invention comprising a mixture of nucleotides of A, G, C or U, typically about 0.1 -10 mM per nucleotide, preferably 0.1 to 1 mM per nucleotide, preferably about 4 mM in total. A suitable in vitro transcription medium likewise comprises an RNA polymerase, e.g. 17 RNA polymerase (for example T7-Opti mRNA Kit, CureVac, Tubingen, Germany), T3 RNA polymerase or SP6, typically about 10 to 500 U, preferably about 25 to 250 U, more preferably about 50 to 150 U, and most preferably about 100 U of RNA polymerase. The in vitro transcription medium is furthermore preferably kept free from RNase in order to avoid degradation of the transcribed the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention. A suitable in vitro transcription medium therefore optionally additionally comprises an RNase inhibitor.
The nucleic acid template may be then incubated in the in vitro transcription medium and is transcribed to the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention, which may encode for a therapeutically active protein, an antibody or an antigene, or any other protein or peptide as described above. The incubation times are typically about 30 to 240 minutes, preferably about 40 to 120 minutes and most preferably about 90 minutes. The incubation temperatures are typically about 30-45 0C, preferably 37-42 0C. The incubation temperature depends on the RNA polymerase used, e.g. for T7 RNA polymerase it is about 37 0C. The at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention obtained by the transcription is preferably an mRNA. The yields obtained in the in vitro transcription are, for the stated starting amounts employed above, typically in the region of about 30 μg of RNA per μg of template DNA used. In the context of the present invention, the yields obtained in the in vitro transcription can be increased by linear up scaling. For this, the stated starting amounts employed above are preferably increased according to the yields required, e.g. by a multiplication factor of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500, 1 ,000, 5,000, 10,000, 50,000, 100,000 etc. After incubation, a purification of the transcribed at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention can optionally take place. Any suitable method known in the prior art, e.g. chromatographic purification methods, e.g. affinity chromatography, gel filtration etc., can be used for this. By the purification, non-incorporated, i.e. excess nucleotides and template DNA can be removed from the in vitro transcription medium and a clean RNA can be obtained. For example, after the transcription the reaction mixture with the transcribed RNA can typically be digested with DNase in order to remove the DNA template still contained in the reaction mixture. The transcribed at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA of the invention can be subsequently or alternatively precipitated with LiCI. Purification of the transcribed RNA can then take place via IP RP-HPLC. This renders in particular effective separation of longer and shorter fragments from one another possible.
Preferably, in this context purification of the RNA may take place via a method for purification of RNA on a preparative scale, which is distinguished in that the RNA is purified by means of HPLC using a porous reverse phase as the stationary phase (PURE Messenger). For example, for the purification a reverse phase can be employed as the stationary phase for the HPLC purification. For the chromatography with reverse phases, a non-polar compound typically serves as stationary phases, and a polar solvent, such as mixtures of water, which is usually employed in the form of buffers, with acetonitrile and/or methanol, serves as the mobile phase for the elution. Preferably, the porous reverse phase has a particle size of 8.0 ± 2 μm, preferably +1 μm, more preferably +/- 0.5 μm. The reverse phase material can be in the form of beads. The purification can be carried out in a particularly favourable manner with a porous reverse phase having this particle size, optionally in the form of beads, particularly good separation results being obtained. The reverse phase employed is preferably porous since with stationary reverse phases which are not porous, such as are described e.g. by Azarani A. and Hecker K.H., pressures which are too high are built up, so that preparative purification of the RNA is possible, if at all, only with great difficulty. The reverse phase preferably has a pore size of from 200 to 5,000 , in particular a pore size of from 300 to 4,000. Particularly preferred pore sizes for the reverse phases are 200 - 400 , 800 - 1 ,200 and 3,500 - 4,500. With a reverse phase having these pore sizes, particularly good results are achieved in respect of the purification of the transcribed RNA. The material for the reverse phase is preferably a polystyrene- divinylbenzene, and non-alkylated polystyrene-divinylbenzenes can be employed in particular. Stationary phases with polystyrene-divinylbenzene are known per se. For the purification, the polystyrene-divinylbenzenes which are known per se and already employed for HPLC methods and are commercially obtainable can be used. A non- alkylated porous polystyrene-divinylbenzene which in particular has a particle size of 8.0 ± 0.5 μm and a pore size of 250 - 300, 900 - 1 ,100 or 3,500 - 4,500 is very particularly preferably used for the purification. The advantages described above can be achieved in a particularly favourable manner with this material for the reverse phases.
The HPLC purification can be carried out by the ion pair method, an ion having a positive charge being added to the mobile phase as a counter-ion to the negatively charged RNA. An ion pair having a lipophilic character, which is slowed down by the non-polar stationary phase of the reverse phase system, is formed in this manner. In practice, the precise conditions for the ion pair method must be worked out empirically for each specific separation problem. The size of the counter-ion, its concentration and the pH of the solution contribute greatly towards the result of the separation. In a favourable manner, alkylammonium salts, such as triethylammonium acetate and/or tetraalkylammonium compounds, such as tetrabutylammonium, are added to the mobile phase. Preferably, 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate is added and the pH is adjusted to about 7. The choice of mobile phase depends on the nature of the desired separation. This means that the mobile phase found for a specific separation, such as can be known, for example, from the prior art, cannot be transferred readily to another separation problem with adequate prospect of success. The ideal elution conditions, in particular the mobile phase used, must be determined for each separation problem by empirical experiments. A mixture of an aqueous solvent and an organic solvent can be employed as the mobile phase for elution of the RNA by the HPLC method. In this context, it is favourable if a buffer which has, in particular, a pH of about 7, for example 6.5 - 7.5, e.g. 7.0, is used as aqueous solvent; preferably, the buffer triethylammonium acetate is used, particularly preferably a 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate buffer which, as described above, also acts as a counter-ion to the RNA in the ion pair method. The organic solvent employed in the mobile phase can be acetonitrile, methanol or a mixture of these two, very particularly preferably acetonitrile. The purification of the RNA using an HPLC method as described is carried out in a particularly favourable manner with these organic solvents. The mobile phase is particularly preferably a mixture of 0.1 M triethylammonium acetate, pH 7, and acetonitrile. It has emerged to be likewise particularly favourable if the mobile phase contains 5.0 vol.% to 20.0 vol.% of organic solvent, based on the mobile phase, and the remainder to make up 100 vol.% is the aqueous solvent. It is very particularly favourable for the method according to the invention if the mobile phase contains 9.5 vol.% to 14.5 vol.% of organic solvent, based on the mobile phase, and the remainder to make up 100 vol.% is the aqueous solvent. Elution of the RNA can subsequently be carried out isocratically or by means of a gradient separation. In the case of an isocratic separation, elution of the RNA is carried out with a single eluting agent or a mixture of several eluting agents which remains constant, it being possible for the solvents described above in detail to be employed as the eluting agent.
Alternatively, the at least one RNA (molecule) according to step a) of the inventive method of transfection may well be prepared by chemical synthesis. Hereby, various methods known in the art may be used. The phosphoroamidite method is used most widely as a method of chemically synthesizing oligonucleotides, e.g. RNA fragments (Nucleic Acid Research, 1 7:7059-7071 , 1989). In general, this phosphoroamidite method makes use of a condensation reaction between a nucleoside phosphoroamidite and a nucleoside as a key reaction using tetrazole as an accelerator. Because this reaction usually occurs competitively on both the hydroxy! group in a sugar moiety and the amino group in a nucleoside base moiety, the selective reaction on only the hydroxyl group in a sugar moiety is required to synthesize a desired nucleotide. Accordingly, the side reaction on the amino group is usually prevented by protecting the amino group. The protective group is removed when synthesis is finished. More secific information about how to synthesize RNA molecules may be retrieved from Arnold et a/., "Chloridite and Amidite Automated Synthesis of Oligodeoxyribonucleotides Using Amidine Protected Nucleosides," reported in "7th Symposium Chem. Nucleic Acid Components," Nucleic Acids Symposium Series, 18, 181 -184 (Aug. 30, 1987); Chemical Abstracts, 108(19), p. 692, Abstr. No. 167875z (May 9, 1988); Hayakawa et a/., "Benzimidazolium Triflate as an Efficient Promoter for Nucleotide Synthesis via the Phosphoramidite Method," J. Organic Chemistry, 61 (23), 7996-7997 (Nov. 15, 1996); Pirrung et a/., "Proofing of Photolithographic DNA Synthesis with 3', 5'- Dimethoxybenzoinyloxycarbonyl-Protected Deoxynucleoside Phosphoramidites," J. Organic Chemistry, 63(2), 241 -246 (Jan. 23, 1998); Effenberger et a/., Trifluoromethanesulfonic Imidazolide— A Convenient Reagent for Introducing the Triflate Group, Tetrahedron Letters, 1980 (45), 3947-3948 (Sep. 1980), al of them incorporated herein by reference.
Preparation of the complexed RNA according to step a) of the present invention typically occurs according to sub-step a3) by adding a specific amount of the at least one RNA (molecule) to a specific amount to the one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x. Thereby, molar or mass ratios as indicated above of the at least one RNA (molecule) and the one or more oligopeptides having the herein defined empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x are typically envisaged. Complex formation typically occurs upon mixing both components. Therby, the peptidic component is typically added o the RNA component, in some cases, however, vice versa.
Such a preparation step according to method step a), however, is optional and may not take place if the complexed RNA according to the present invention is already available. Accordingly, sub-steps a1 ), a2) and a3) as defined above are also optional and need not to be carried out, if the RNA used for the complexed RNA is already available. Similarly, the one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Om)0;(Xaa)x may be used directly and need not to be prepared, if already available, e.g. from a supplier.
According to step b) of the inventive method for transfecting cells or tissues in vitro or in vivo a cell or a tissue may be transfected using the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a). Transfection of the cells or tissues in vitro or in vivo is in general carried out by adding the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a) to the cells or tissue. Preferably, the complexed RNA then enters into the cells by using cellular mechanisms, e.g. endocytosis. Addition of the complexed RNA as such to the cells or tissues may occur according to the invention without addition of any further components due to the transfectional potential of the complexed RNA (molecule) of the invention. Alternatively, addition of the complexed RNA provided and/or prepared according to step a) to the cells or tissue may occur in the form of a composition, e.g. as component of an aqueous solution, preferably a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, which may optionally contain additional components for further enhancement of the transfection activity. Cells (or host cells) in this context for transfection of the complexed RNA (provided and/or prepared according to step a)) in vitro includes any cell, and preferably, with out being restricted thereto, cells, which shall be transfected by any RNA molecule (as defined above) by using the inventive complexed RNA. In particular, RNA transfection may allow for expression of a protein encoded by the RNA of the complexed RNA according to the invention in the cell or may allow RNA (e.g. siRNA, anti-sense RNA) of the inventive complex to attenuate or suppress the expression of a cellular gene. Cells in this context preferably include cultured eukaryotic cells (e.g. yeast cells, plant cells, animal cells and human cells) or prokaryotic cells (e.g. bacteria cells etc.) or induce an immune response. Cells of multicellular organisms are preferably chosen if posttranslational modifications, e.g. glycosylation of the encoded protein, are necessary (N- and/or O-coupled). In contrast to prokaryotic cells, such (higher) eukaryotic cells render posttranslational modifications of the protein synthesized possible. The person skilled in the art knows a large number of such higher eukaryotic cells or cell lines, e.g. 293T (embryonal kidney cell line), HeLa (human cervix carcinoma cells), CHO (cells from the ovaries of the Chinese hamster) and further cell lines, including such cells and cell lines developed for laboratory purposes, such as, for example, hTERT-MSC, HEK293, Sf9 or COS cells. Suitable eukaryotic cells furthermore include cells or cell lines which are impaired by diseases or infections, e.g. cancer cells, in particular cancer cells of any of the types of cancer mentioned here in the description, cells impaired by HIV, and/or cells of the immune system or of the central nervous system (CNS). Suitable cells can likewise be derived from eukaryotic microorganisms, such as yeast, e.g. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Stinchcomb et a/., Nature, 282:39, (1997)), Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Candida, Pichia, and filamentous fungi of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, etc. Suitable cells likewise include prokaryotic cells, such as e.g. bacteria cells, e.g. from Escherichia coli or from bacteria of the general Bacillus, Lactococcus, Lactobacillus, Pseudomonas, Streptomyces, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, preferably E. coli, etc. Human cells or animal cells, e.g. of animals as mentioned herein, are particularly preferred as eukaryotic cells. Furthermore, antigen presenting cells (APCs) may be used for ex vivo transfection of the complexed RNA according to the present invention. Particularly preferred are dendritic cells, which may be used for ex vivo transfection of the complexed RNA according to the present invention. According to a particularly preferred embodiment, blood cells and/or haemopoietic cells, or partial populations thereof, i.e. any type of cells, which may be isolated from (whole) blood and/or which may be derived from cultivated cell lines derived from those cells, may be transfected with a complexed RNA as defined herein using the above method of transfection, e.g. red blood cells (erythrocytes), granulocytes, mononuclear cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, PBMCs) and/or blood platelets (thrombocytes), APSs, DCs, etc. Preferably, blood cells are used, especially partial populations thereof, which are characterized in particular in that they contain a small proportion of well-differentiated professional APCs, such as DCs. The transfected cells may contain preferably less than 5%, particularly preferably no more than 2%, of DCs when used for transfection. In the context of the present invention "blood cells" are preferably understood as a mixture or an enriched to substantially pure population of red blood cells, granulocytes, mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and/or blood platelets from whole blood, blood serum or another source, e.g. from the spleen or lymph nodes, only a small proportion of professional APCs being present. The blood cells as used according to the present invention are preferably fresh blood cells, i.e. the period between collection of the blood cells (especially blood withdrawal) and transfection being only short, e.g. less than 12 h, preferably less than 6 h, particularly preferably less than 2 h and very particularly preferably less than 1 h. Furthermore, the blood cells to be transfected using the above method for transfecting the complexed RNA according to the present invention preferably originate from the actual patient who will be treated with the pharmaceutical composition of the present invention. The use of blood cells, haematopoietic cells or partial populations thereof as defined above is based on the surprising discovery that for vaccination of a patient to be treated against certain antigens encoded by an mRNA as defined herein, it is not necessary to differentiate blood cells, e.g. PBMCs, obtained e.g. from the blood of an individual, especially the actual patient to be treated, by means of laborious, lengthy and expensive cell culture techniques, into a population of cells with a high proportion of professional antigen presenting cells (APCs), especially dendritic cells (DCs), but that it is sufficient, for a successful immune stimulation, to transfect blood cells directly with the mRNA coding for one or more antigens in order to obtain a pharmaceutical composition which effects a suitable immune stimulation e.g. in the actual patient from whom the blood cells, especially the abovementioned partial populations thereof, have been obtained, said immune stimulation preferably being directed against one or more antigens from a tumour or one or more antigens from a pathogenic germ or agent. Transfection of a complexed RNA as defined herein into blood cells or cells derived therefrom (either isolated therefrom or from respective cultivated cell lines) is not limited to antigens and, of course, relates to any RNA as defined herein used for a complexed RNA, e.g. any further immunostimulating RNA as defined herein, any coding RNA, etc.
While there is the need to transfect cultivated cells in vitro (e.g. human or animal cells) or to transfect explanted cells (e.g. human or animal cells) in vitro (before retransplantation into the host organism), direct administration of the complexed RNA of the invention to patients for in vivo transfection is envisaged as well. Accordingly, transfection of the complexed RNA (provided and/or prepared according to step a)) may also occur in vivo according to step b), i.e. may be administered to living tissues and/or organisms. Therefore, the complexed RNA provided according to step a) of the inventive transfection method may be administered to a living tissue or an organism either as such or e.g. as component of a (liquid) composition, in particular an aqueous composition, e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above. In this context, an organism (or a being) typically means mammals, selected from, without being restricted thereto, the group comprising humans, and animals, including e.g. pig, goat, cattle, swine, dog, cat, donkey, monkey, ape or rodents, including mouse, hamster and rabbit. Furthermore, living tissues as mentioned above, are preferably derived from these organisms. Administration of the complexed RNA to those living tissues and/or organisms may occur via any suitable administration route, e.g. systemically, and include e.g. intra- or transdermal, oral, parenteral, including subcutaneous, intramuscular or intravenous injections, topical and/or intranasal routes as defined above.
Moreover, the method for transfection, which may be used in vitro or ex vivo, may also be well suited for use in vivo, e.g. as method of treatment of various diseases as mentioned herein. In a preferred form of a method of treatment according to the invention a further step may be included, which may contain administration of another pharmaceutically effective substance, e.g. an antibody, an antigen (in particular a pathogenic or a tumor antigen as disclosed herein) or the administration of at least one cytokine. Both may be administered separately from the complexed RNA as DNA or RNA coding for e.g. the cytokine or the antigen or the cytokine or antigen may be administered as such. The method of treatment may also comprise the administration of an additional adjuvant (as disclosed herein), which may further activate the immune system.
According to a further embodiment of the present invention, the complexed RNA as defined above, comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide shows a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and has the empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, may be used for treatment and/or prophylaxis of specific diseases as mentioned herein. Treatment and/or prophylaxis of specific diseases is typically dependent on selection of a suitable protein encoded by the RNA of the complexed RNA of the present invention. Treatment in this context may occur either by administering the complexed RNA according to the present invention (encoding this protein) as such or by administering the (pharmaceutical) composition according to the present invention as defined above.
Without being limited thereto, diseases or states include in this context, for example, cancer or tumour diseases chosen from melanomas, malignant melanomas, colon carcinomas, lymphomas, sarcomas, blastomas, kidney carcinomas, gastrointestinal tumours, gliomas, prostate tumours, bladder cancer, rectal tumours, stomach cancer, oesophageal cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, mammary carcinomas (= breast cancer), uterine cancer, cervical cancer, acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL), chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML), chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL), hepatomas, diverse virus- induced tumours, such as e.g. papilloma virus-induced carcinomas (e.g. cervix carcinoma = cervical cancer), adenocarcinomas, herpes virus-induced tumours (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma, EBV-induced B cell lymphoma), hepatitis B-induced tumours (hepatocell carcinomas), HTL V-1 - and HTLV-2-induced lymphomas, acusticus neurinoma, lung carcinomas (= lung cancer = bronchial carcinoma), small cell lung carcinomas, throat cancer, anal carcinoma, glioblastoma, rectum carcinoma, astrocytoma, brain tumours, retinoblastoma, basalioma, brain metastases, medulloblastomas, vaginal cancer, testicular cancer, thyroid carcinoma, Hodgkin's syndrome, meningeomas, Schneeberger's disease, pituitary tumour, mycosis fungoides, carcinoids, neurinoma, spinalioma, Burkitt's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, kidney cancer, thymoma, corpus carcinoma, bone cancer, non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, urethral cancer, CUP syndrome, head/neck tumours, oligodendroglioma, vulval cancer, intestinal cancer, colon carcinoma, oesophageal carcinoma (= oesophageal cancer), wart conditions, small intestine tumours, craniopharyngeomas, ovarian carcinoma, soft tissue tumours, ovarian cancer (- ovarian carcinoma), pancreatic carcinoma (= pancreatic cancer), endometrium carcinoma, liver metastases, penis cancer, tongue cancer, gallbladder cancer, leukaemia, plasmocytoma, lid tumour, prostate cancer (= prostate tumours) etc.
Diseases or states may also include in this context infectious diseases chosen from, e.g., viral infectious diseases chosen from, without being limited thereto, SARS, yellow fever, Lyme, anthrax, AIDS, condyloma acuminata, molluscum contagiosum, dengue fever, three- day fever, Ebola virus, colds, early summer meningoencephalitis (ESME), influenza, shingles, hepatitis, herpes simplex type I, herpes simplex type II, herpes zoster, influenza, Japanese encephalitis, Lassa fever, Marburg virus, measles, foot and mouth disease, mononucleosis, mumps, Norwalk virus infection, Pfeiffer's glandular fever, smallpox, polio (poliomyelitis), pseuodcroup, infectious erythema, rabies, warts, West Nile fever, chicken- pox, cytomegalovirus (CMV), bacterial infectious diseases, such as abortion (prostate inflammation), anthrax, appendicitis (inflammation of the caecum), borreliosis, botulism, Campylobacter, Chlamydia trachomatis (inflammation of the urethra, conjunctiva), cholera, diphtheria, donavonosis, epiglottitis, louse-borne typhus, typhoid fever, gas gangrene, gonorrhoea, hare plague, Helicobacter pylori, whooping-cough, climatic bubo, osteomyelitis, legionnaires' disease, leprosy, listeriosis, pneumonia, meningitis, bacterial meningitis, anthrax, inflammation of the middle ear, Mycoplasma hominis, neonatal sepsis (chorioamnionitis), noma, paratyphoid fever, plague, Reiter's syndrome, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Salmonella paratyphoid fever, Salmonella typhoid fever, scarlet fever, syphilis, tetanus, gonorrhoea, tsutsugamushi fever, tuberculosis, typhus, vaginitis (colpitis), soft chancre and infectious diseases caused by parasites, protozoa or fungi, such as amoebic dysentery, bilharziosis, Chagas' disease, Echinococcus, fish tapeworm, ichthyotoxism (ciguatera), fox tapeworm, mycosis pedis, dog tapeworm, candiosis, ptyriasis, the itch (scabies), leishmaniasis, cutaneous leishmaniasis, lamblian dysentery (giadiasis), lice, malaria, microscopy, onchocercosis (river blindness), fungal diseases, beef tapeworm, schistosomiasis, sleeping sickness, pork tapeworm, toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness), visceral leishmaniasis, nappy dermatitis or dwarf tapeworm. Diseases in the context of the present invention likewise include, without being limited thereto, (infectious) virus diseases caused by viruses chosen from, without being limited thereto, HIV, orthopox variola virus, orthopox alastrim virus, parapox ovis virus, molluscum contagiosum virus, herpes simplex virus 1 , herpes simplex virus 2, herpes B virus, varicella zoster virus, pseudorabies virus, human cytomegaly virus, human herpes virus 6, human herpes virus 7, Epstein-Barr virus, human herpes virus 8, hepatitis B virus, chikungunya virus, O'nyong'nyong virus, rubivirus, hepatitis C virus, GB virus C, West Nile virus, dengue virus, yellow fever virus, louping ill virus, St. Louis encephalitis virus, Japan B encephalitis virus, Powassan virus, FSME virus, SARS-associated corona virus, human corona virus 229E, human corona virus Oc43, Torovirus, human T cell lymphotropic virus type I, human T cell lymphotropic virus type II, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 , human immunodeficiency virus type 2, Lassa virus, lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus, Tacaribe virus, Junin virus, Machupo virus, Borna disease virus, Bunyamwera virus, California encephalitis virus, Rift Valley fever virus, sand fly fever virus, Toscana virus, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus, Hazara virus, Khasan virus, Hantaan virus, Seoul virus, Prospect Hill virus, Puumala virus, Dobrava Belgrade virus, Tula virus, sin nombre virus, Lake Victoria Marburg virus, Zaire Ebola virus, Sudan Ebola virus, Ivory Coast Ebola virus, influenza virus A, influenza virus B, influenza viruses C, parainfluenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus, respiratory syncytial virus, human metapneumovirus, vesicular stomatitis Indiana virus, rabies virus, Mokola virus, Duvenhage virus, European bat lyssavirus 1 + 2, Australian bat lyssavirus, adenoviruses A-F, human papilloma viruses, condyloma virus 6, condyloma virus 1 1 , polyoma viruses, adeno-associated virus 2, rotaviruses, or orbiviruses etc. These diseases may e.g. be treated by a vaccine according to the invention.
Additionally, diseases or states may include cardiovascular diseases chosen from, without being limited thereto, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, apoplexy and hypertension, and neuronal diseases chosen from Alzheimer's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dystonia, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease etc.
Diseases or states may also include in this context an allergic disorder or disease. Allergy is a condition that typically involves an abnormal, acquired immunological hypersensitivity to certain foreign antigens or allergens. Allergies normally result in a local or systemic inflammatory response to these antigens or allergens and leading to an immunity in the body against these allergens. Allergens in this context include e.g. grasses, pollens, molds, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers, etc. Without being bound to any theory, several different disease mechanisms are supposed to be involved in the development of allergies. According to a classification scheme by P. GeII and R. Coombs the word "allergy" was restricted to type I hypersensitivities, which are caused by the classical IgE mechanism. Type I hypersensitivity is characterised by excessive activation of mast cells and basophils by IgE, resulting in a systemic inflammatory response that can result in symptoms as benign as a runny nose, to life-threatening anaphylactic shock and death. Well known types of allergies include, without being limited thereto, allergic asthma (leading to swelling of the nasal mucosa), allergic conjunctivitis (leading to redness and itching of the conjunctiva), allergic rhinitis ("hay fever"), anaphylaxis, angiodema, atopic dermatitis (eczema), urticaria (hives), eosinophilia, respiratory, allergies to insect stings, skin allergies (leading to and including various rashes, such as eczema, hives (urticaria) and (contact) dermatitis), food allergies, allergies to medicine, etc. With regard to the present invention, e.g. a pharmaceutical composition is provided, which contains e.g. an RNA coding for an allergen (e.g. from a cat allergen, a dust allergen, a mite antigen, a plant antigen (e.g. a birch antigen) etc.) as a complex of the invention. Hereby, the encoded allergen may desensitize the patient' immune response. Alternatively, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention may shift the (exceeding) immune response to a stronger TH1 response, thereby suppressing or attenuating the undesired IgE response from the the patient suffers.
Furthermore, diseases or states as defined herin may include autoimmune diseases. Autoimmune diseases can be broadly divided into systemic and organ-specific or localised autoimmune disorders, depending on the principal clinico-pathologic features of each disease. Autoimmune disease may be divided into the categories of systemic syndromes, including SLE, Sjδrgen's syndrome, Scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis and polyomyositis or local syndromes which may be endocrinologic (DM Type 1 , Hashimoto's thyroiditis, Addison's disease, etc.), dermatologic (pemphigus vulgaris), haematologic (autoimmune haemolytic anaemia), neural (multiple sclerosis) or can involve virtually any circumscribed mass of body tissue. The autoimmune diseases to be treated may be selected from the group consisting of type I autoimmune diseases or type Il autoimmune diseases or type III autoimmune diseases or type IV autoimmune diseases, such as, for example, multiple sclerosis (MS), rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes, type I diabetes (Diabetes mellitus), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), chronic polyarthritis, Basedow's disease, autoimmune forms of chronic hepatitis, colitis ulcerosa, allergy type I diseases, allergy type Il diseases, allergy type III diseases, allergy type IV diseases, fibromyalgia, hair loss, Bechterew's disease, Crohn's disease, Myasthenia gravis, neurodermitis, Polymyalgia rheumatica, progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), psoriasis, Reiter's syndrome, rheumatic arthritis, psoriasis, vasculitis, etc, or type Il diabetes.
While the exact mode as to why the immune system induces a immune reaction against autoantigens has not been elucidated so far, there are several findings with regard to the etiology. Accordingly, the autoreaction may be due to a T-CeII Bypass. A normal immune system requires the activation of B-cells by T-cells before the former can produce antibodies in large quantities. This requirement of a T-cell can be by-passed in rare instances, such as infection by organisms producing super-antigens, which are capable of initiating polyclonal activation of B-cells, or even of T-cells, by directly binding to the -subunit of T-cell receptors in a non-specific fashion. Another explanation deduces autoimmune diseases from a molecular mimicry. An exogenous antigen may share structural similarities with certain host antigens; thus, any antibody produced against this antigen (which mimics the self-antigens) can also, in theory, bind to the host antigens and amplify the immune response. The most striking form of molecular mimicry is observed in Group A beta- haemolytic streptococci, which shares antigens with human myocardium, and is responsible for the cardiac manifestations of rheumatic fever. The present invention allows therefore to provide an RNA coding for an autoantigen as component of the complexed RNA of the invention (or a (liquid) composition containing such a complexed RNA of the invention) or to provide a pharmaceutical composition containing an autoantigen (as protein, mRNA or DNA encoding for a autoantigen protein) and a complexed RNA of the invention all of which typically allow the immune system to be desensitized.
Finally, diseases to be treated in the context of the present invention likewise include monogenetic diseases, i.e. (hereditary) diseases, or genetic diseases in general. Such genetic diseases are typically caused by genetic defects, e.g. due to gene mutations resulting in loss of protein activity or regulatory mutations which do not allow transcription or translation of the protein. Frequently, these diseases lead to metabolic disorders or other symptoms, e.g. muscle dystrophy. Accordingly, the present invention allows to treat these diseases by providing the complexed RNA as defined herein. Insofar, the following diseases may be treated: 3-beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase deficiency (type II); 3-ketothiolase deficiency; 6-mercaptopurine sensitivity; Aarskog-Scott syndrome; Abetalipoproteinemia; Acatalasemia; Achondrogenesis; Achondrogenesis-hypochondrogenesis; Achondroplasia; Achromatopsia; Acromesomelic dysplasia (Hunter-Thompson type); ACTH deficiency; Acyl- CoA dehydrogenase deficiency (short-chain, medium chain, long chain); Adenomatous polyposis coli; Adenosin-deaminase deficiency; Adenylosuccinase deficiency; Adhalinopathy; Adrenal hyperplasia, congenital (due to 1 1 -beta-hydroxylase deficiency; due to 17-alpha-hydroxylase deficiency; due to 21 -hydroxylase deficiency); Adrenal hypoplasia, congenital, with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism; Adrenogenital syndrom; Adrenoleukodystrophy; Adrenomyeloneuropathy; Afibrinogenemia; Agammaglobulinemia; Alagille syndrome; Albinism (brown, ocular, oculocutaneous, rufous); Alcohol intolerance, acute; Aldolase A deficiency; Aldosteronism, glucocorticoid-remediable; Alexander disease; Alkaptonuria; Alopecia universalis; Alpha-1 -antichymotrypsin deficiency; Alpha- methylacyl-CoA racemase deficiency; Alpha-thalassemia/mental retardation syndrome; Alport syndrome; Alzheimer disease-1 (APP-related); Alzheimer disease-3; Alzheimer disease-4; Amelogenesis imperfecta; Amyloid neuropathy (familial, several allelic types); Amyloidosis (Dutch type; Finnish type; hereditary renal; renal; senile systemic); Amytrophic lateral sclerosis; Analbuminemia; Androgen insensitivity; Anemia (Diamond-Blackfan); Anemia (hemolytic, due to PK deficiency); Anemia (hemolytic, Rh-null, suppressor type); Anemia (neonatal hemolytic, fatal and nearfatal); Anemia (sideroblastic, with ataxia); Anemia (sideroblastic/hypochromic); Anemia due to G6PD deficiency; Aneurysm (familial arterial); Angelman syndrome; Angioedema; Aniridia; Anterior segment anomalies and cataract; Anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis; Anterior segment mesenchymal dysgenesis and cataract; Antithrombin III deficiency; Anxiety-related personality traits; Apert syndrome; Apnea (postanesthetic); ApoA-l and apoC-lll deficiency (combined); Apolipoprotein A-Il deficiency; Apolipoprotein B-100 (ligand-defective); Apparent mineralocorticoid excess (hypertension due to); Argininemia; Argininosuccinicaciduria; Arthropathy (progressive pseudorheumatoid, of childhood); Aspartylglucosaminuria; Ataxia (episodic); Ataxia with isolated vitamin E deficiency; Ataxia-telangiectasia; Atelosteogenesis II; ATP-dependent DNA ligase I deficiency; Atrial septal defect with atrioventricular conduction defects; Atrichia with papular lesions; Autism (succinylpurinemic); Autoimmune polyglandular disease, type I; Autonomic nervous system dysfunction; Axenfeld anomaly; Azoospermia; Bamforth-Lazarus syndrome; Bannayan-Zonana syndrome; Barthsyndrome; Bartter syndrome (type 2 or type 3); Basal cell carcinoma ; Basal cell nevus syndrome; BCG infection; Beare-Stevenson cutis gyrata syndrome; Becker muscular dystrophy; Beckwith- Wiedemann syndrome; Bernard-Soulier syndrome (type B; type C); Bethlem myopathy; Bile acid malabsorption, primary ; Biotinidase deficiency; Bladder cancer; Bleeding disorder due to defective thromboxane A2 receptor; Bloom syndrome; Brachydactyly (type B1 or type C); Branchiootic syndrome; Branchiootorenal syndrome; Breast cancer (invasive intraductal; lobular; male, with Reifenstein syndrome; sporadic); Breast cancer-1 (early onset); Breast cancer-2 (early onset); Brody myopathy; Brugada syndrome; Brunner syndrome; Burkitt lymphoma; Butterfly dystrophy (retinal); C1 q deficiency (type A; type B; type C ); C1 r/C1 s deficiency; C1 s deficiency, isolated; C2 deficiency ; C3 deficiency; C3b inactivator deficiency; C4 deficiency; C8 deficiency, type II; C9 deficiency; Campomelic dysplasia with autosomal sex reversal; Camptodactyly-arthropathy-coxa varapericarditis syndrome; Canavan disease; Carbamoylphosphate synthetase I deficiency; Carbohydrate-deficient glycoprotein syndrome (type I; type Ib; type II); Carcinoid tumor of lung; Cardioencephalomyopathy (fatal infantile, due to cytochrome c oxidase deficiency); Cardiomyopathy (dilated; X-linked dilated; familial hypertrophic; hypertrophic); Carnitine deficiency (systemic primary); Carnitine-acylcamitine translocase deficiency; Carpal tunnel syndrome (familial); Cataract (cerulean; congenital; crystalline aculeiform; juvenile-onset; polymorphic and lamellar; punctate; zonular pulverulent); Cataract, Coppock-like; CD59 deficiency; Central core disease; Cerebellar ataxia; Cerebral amyloid angiopathy; Cerebral arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy; Cerebral cavernous malformations-1 ; Cerebrooculofacioskeletal syndrome; Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis; Cerebrovascular disease; Ceroid lipofuscinosis (neuronal, variant juvenile type, with granular osmiophilic deposits); Ceroid lipofuscinosis (neuronal-1 , infantile); Ceroid- lipofuscinosis (neuronal-3, juvenile); Char syndrome; Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease; Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy; Charlevoix-Saguenay type; Chediak-Higashi syndrome; Chloride diarrhea (Finnish type); Cholestasis (benign recurrent intrahepatic); Cholestasis (familial intrahepatic); Cholestasis (progressive familial intrahepatic); Cholesteryl ester storage disease; Chondrodysplasia punctata (brachytelephalangic; rhizomelic; X-linked dominant; X-linked recessive; Grebe type); Chondrosarcoma; Choroideremia; Chronic granulomatous disease (autosomal, due to deficiency of CYBA); Chronic granulomatous disease (X-linked); Chronic granulomatous disease due to deficiency of NCF-1 ; Chronic granulomatous disease due to deficiency of NCF-2; Chylomicronemia syndrome, familial; Citrullinemia; classical Cockayne syndrome-1 ; Cleft lip, cleft jaw, cleft palate; Cleft lip/palate ectodermal dysplasia syndrome; Cleidocranial dysplasia; CMO Il deficiency; Coats disease; Cockayne syndrome-2, type B; Coffin-Lowry syndrome; Colchicine resistance; Colon adenocarcinoma; Colon cancer; Colorblindness (deutan; protan; tritan); Colorectal cancer; Combined factor V and VIII deficiency; Combined hyperlipemia (familial); Combined immunodeficiency (X-linked, moderate); Complex I deficiency; Complex neurologic disorder; Cone dystrophy-3; Cone-rod dystrophy 3; Cone-rod dystrophy 6; Cone-rod retinal dystrophy-2; Congenital bilateral absence of vas deferens; Conjunctivitis, ligneous; Contractural arachnodactyly; Coproporphyria; Cornea plana congenita; Corneal clouding; Corneal dystrophy (Avellino type; gelatinous drop-like; Groenouw type I; lattice type I; Reis-Bucklers type); Cortisol resistance; Coumarin resistance; Cowden disease; CPT deficiency, hepatic (type I; type II); Cramps (familial, potassium-aggravated); Craniofacial-deafness-hand syndrome; Craniosynostosis (type 2); Cretinism; Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease ; Crigler-Najjar syndrome; Crouzon syndrome; Currarino syndrome; Cutis laxa; Cyclic hematopoiesis; Cyclic ichthyosis; Cylindromatosis; Cystic fibrosis; Cystinosis (nephropathic); Cystinuria (type II; type III); Daltonism; Darier disease; D-bifunctional protein deficiency; Deafness, autosomal dominant 1 ; Deafness, autosomal dominant 1 1 ; Deafness, autosomal dominant 12; Deafness, autosomal dominant 15; Deafness, autosomal dominant 2; Deafness, autosomal dominant 3; Deafness, autosomal dominant 5; Deafness, autosomal dominant 8; Deafness, autosomal dominant 9; Deafness, autosomal recessive 1 ; Deafness, autosomal recessive 2; Deafness, autosomal recessive 21 ; Deafness, autosomal recessive 3; Deafness, autosomal recessive 4; Deafness, autosomal recessive 9; Deafness, nonsyndromic sensorineural 13; Deafness, X-linked 1 ; Deafness, X-linked 3; Debrisoquine sensitivity; Dejerine-Sottas disease; Dementia (familial Danish); Dementia (frontotemporal, with parkinsonism); Dent disease; Dental anomalies; Dentatorubro-pallidoluysian atrophy; Denys-Drash syndrome; Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans; Desmoid disease; Diabetes insipidus (nephrogenic ); Diabetes insipidus (neurohypophyseal); Diabetes mellitus (insulin-resistant); Diabetes mellitus (rare form); Diabetes mellitus (type II); Diastrophic dysplasia; Dihydropyrimidinuria; Dosage-sensitive sex reversal; Doyne honeycomb degeneration of retina; Dubin-Johnson syndrome; Duchenne muscular dystrophy; Dyserythropoietic anemia with thrombocytopenia; Dysfibrinogenemia (alpha type; beta type; gamma type); Dyskeratosis congenita-1; Dysprothrombinemia; Dystonia (DOPAresponsive); Dystonia (myoclonic); Dystonia-1 (torsion); Ectodermal dysplasia; Ectopia lentis; Ectopia pupillae; Ectrodactyly (ectodermal dysplasia, and cleft lip/palate syndrome 3); Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (progeroid form); Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (type I; type II; type III; type IV; type Vl; type VII); Elastin Supravalvar aortic stenosis; ElIi ptocytos i s- 1 ; Elliptocytosis-2; Elliptocytosis-3; Ellis-van Creveld syndrome; Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy; Emphysema; Encephalopathy; Endocardial fibroelastosis-2; Endometrial carcinoma; Endplate acetylcholinesterase deficiency; Enhanced S-cone syndrome; Enlarged vestibular aqueduct; Epidermolysis bullosa; Epidermolysis bullosa dystrophica (dominant or recessive); Epidermolysis bullosa simplex; Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis; Epidermolytic palmoplanar keratoderma; Epilepsy (generalize; juvenile; myoclonic; nocturnal frontal lobe; progressive myoclonic); Epilepsy, benign, neonatal (typei or type2); Epiphyseal dysplasia (multiple); Episodic ataxia (type 2); Episodic ataxia/myokymia syndrome; Erythremias (alpha-; dysplasia); Erythrocytes is; Erythrokeratoderma; Estrogen resistance; Exertional myoglobinuria due to deficiency of LDH-A; Exostoses, multiple (type 1 ; type 2); Exudative vitreoretinopathy, X-linked; Fabry disease; Factor H deficiency; Factor VII deficiency; Factor X deficiency; Factor Xl deficiency; Factor XII deficiency; Factor XIIIA deficiency; Factor XIIIB deficiency; Familial Mediterranean fever; Fanconi anemia; Fanconi-Bickel syndrome; Farber lipogranulomatosis; Fatty liver (acute); Favism; Fish-eye disease; Foveal hypoplasia; Fragile X syndrome; Frasier syndrome; Friedreich ataxia; fructose-bisphosphatase Fructose intolerance; Fucosidosis; Fumarase deficiency; Fundus albipunctatus; Fundus flavimaculatus; G6PD deficiency; GABA-transaminase deficiency; Galactokinase deficiency with cataracts; Galactose epimerase deficiency; Galactosemia; Galactosialidosis; GAMT deficiency; Gardner syndrome; Gastric cancer; Gaucher disease; Generalized epilepsy with febrile seizures plus; Germ cell tumors; Gerstmann-Straussler disease; Giant cell hepatitis (neonatal); Giant platelet disorder; Giant-cell fibroblastoma; Gitelman syndrome; Glanzmann thrombasthenia (type A; type B); Glaucoma 1 A; Glaucoma 3A; Glioblastoma multiforme; Glomerulosclerosis (focal segmental); Glucose transport defect (blood-brain barrier); Glucose/galactose malabsorption; Glucosidase I deficiency; Glutaricaciduria (type I; type MB; type HC); Gluthation synthetase deficiency; Glycerol kinase deficiency; Glycine receptor (alpha-1 polypeptide); Glycogen storage disease I; Glycogen storage disease II; Glycogen storage disease III; Glycogen storage disease IV; Glycogen storage disease Vl; Glycogen storage disease VII; Glycogenosis (hepatic, autosomal); Glycogenosis (X-linked hepatic); GM1 -gangliosidosis; GM2 -gangliosidosis; Goiter (adolescent multinodular); Goiter (congenital); Goiter (nonendemic, simple); Gonadal dysgenesis (XY type); Granulomatosis, septic; Graves disease; Greig cephalopolysyndactyly syndrome; Griscelli syndrome; Growth hormone deficient dwarfism; Growth retardation with deafness and mental retardation; Gynecomastia (familial, due to increased aromatase activity); Gyrate atrophy of choroid and retina with ornithinemia (B6 responsive or unresponsive); Hailey-Hailey disease; Haim- Munk syndrome; Hand-foot-uterus syndrome; Harderoporphyrinuria; HDL deficiency (familial); Heart block (nonprogressive or progressive); Heinz body anemia; HELLP syndrome; Hematuria (familial benign); Heme oxygenase-1 deficiency; Hemiplegic migraine; Hemochromotosis; Hemoglobin H disease; Hemolytic anemia due to ADA excess; Hemolytic anemia due to adenylate kinase deficiency; Hemolytic anemia due to band 3 defect; Hemolytic anemia due to glucosephosphate isomerase deficiency; Hemolytic anemia due to glutathione synthetase deficiency; Hemolytic anemia due to hexokinase deficiency; Hemolytic anemia due to PGK deficiency; Hemolytic-uremic syndrome; Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis; Hemophilia A; Hemophilia B; Hemorrhagic diathesis due to factor V deficiency; Hemosiderosis (systemic, due to aceruloplasminemia); Hepatic lipase deficiency; Hepatoblastoma; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia-1 ; Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia- 2; Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome; Heterotaxy (X-linked visceral); Heterotopia (periventricular); Hippel-Lindau syndrom; Hirschsprung disease; Histidine-rich glycoprotein Thrombophilia due to HRG deficiency; HMG-CoA lyase deficiency; Holoprosencephaly-2; Holoprosencephaly-3; Holoprosencephaly-4; Holoprosencephaly-5; Holt-Oram syndrome; Homocystinuria; Hoyeraal-Hreidarsson; HPFH (deletion type or nondeletion type); HPRT- related gout; Huntington disease; Hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis; Hydrops fetalis; Hyperbetalipoproteinemia; Hypercholesterolemia, familial; Hyperferritinemia- cataract syndrome; Hyperglycerolemia; Hyperglycinemia; Hyperimmunoglobulinemia D and periodic fever syndrome; Hyperinsulinism; Hyperinsulinism-hyperammonemia syndrome; Hyperkalemic periodic paralysis; Hyperlipoproteinemia; Hyperlysinemia; Hypermethioninemia (persistent, autosomal, dominant, due to methionine, adenosyltransferase I/Ill deficiency); Hyperornithinemia- hyperammonemiahomocitrullinemia syndrome; Hyperoxaluria; Hyperparathyroidism; Hyperphenylalaninemia due to pterin-4acarbinolamine dehydratase deficiency; Hyperproinsulinemia; Hyperprolinemia; Hypertension; Hyperthroidism (congenital); Hypertriglyceridemia; Hypoalphalipoproteinemia; Hypobetalipoproteinemia;
Hypocalcemia; Hypochondroplasia; Hypochromic microcytic anemia; Hypodontia; Hypofibrinogenemia; Hypoglobulinemia and absent B cells; Hypogonadism (hypergonadotropic); Hypogonadotropic (hypogonadism); Hypokalemic periodic paralysis; Hypomagnesemia; Hypomyelination (congenital); Hypoparathyroidism; Hypophosphatasia (adult; childhood; infantile; hereditary); Hypoprothrombinemia; Hypothyroidism (congenital; hereditary congenital; nongoitrous); lchthyosiform erythroderma ; Ichthyosis ; Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens ; lgG2 deficiency; lmmotile cilia syndrome-1 ; Immunodeficiency (T-cell receptor/CD3 complex); Immunodeficiency (X-linked, with hyper-lgM); Immunodeficiency due to defect in CD3-gamma; Immunodeficiency- centromeric instabilityfacial anomalies syndrome; Incontinentia pigmenti; Insensitivity to pain (congenital, with anhidrosis); Insomnia (fatal familial); lnterleukin-2 receptor deficiency (alpha chain); Intervertebral disc disease; Iridogoniodysgenesis; Isolated growth hormone deficiency (lllig type with absent GH and Kowarski type with bioinactive GH); Isovalericacidemia ; Jackson-Weiss sydnrome; Jensen syndrome; Jervell and Lange-Nielsen syndrome; Joubert syndrom; Juberg-Marsidi syndrome; Kallmann syndrome; Kanzaki disease; Keratitis; Keratoderma (palmoplanar); Keratosis palmoplantaris striata I; Keratosis palmoplantaris striata II; Ketoacidosis due to SCOT deficiency; Keutel syndrome; Klippel- Trenaurnay syndrom; Kniest dysplasia; Kostmann neutropenia; Krabbe disease; Kurzripp- Polydaktylie syndrom; Lacticacidemia due to PDX1 deficiency; Langer mesomelic dysplasia; Laron dwarfism; Laurence-Moon-Biedl-Bardet syndrom; LCHAD deficiency; Leber congenital amaurosis; Left-right axis malformation; Leigh syndrome; Leiomyomatosis (diffuse, with Alport syndrome); Leprechaunism; Leri- Weill dyschondrosteosis; Lesch- Nyhan syndrome; Leukemia (acute myeloid; acute promyelocyte; acute T-cell lymphoblastic; chronic myeloid; juvenile myelomonocytic; Leukemia-1 (T-cell acute lymphocytic); Leukocyte adhesion deficiency; Leydig cell adenoma; Lhermitte-Duclos syndrome; Liddle syndrome; Li-Fraumeni syndrome; Lipoamide dehydrogenase deficiency; Lipodystrophy; Lipoid adrenal hyperplasia; Lipoprotein lipase deficiency; Lissencephaly (X- linked); Lissencephaly-1; liver Glycogen storage disease (type 0); Long QT syndrome-1 ; Long QT syndrome-2; Long QT syndrome-3; Long QT syndrome-5; Long QT syndrome-6; Lowe syndrome; Lung cancer; Lung cancer (nonsmall cell); Lung cancer (small cell); Lymphedema; Lymphoma (B-cell non-Hodgkin); Lymphoma (diffuse large cell); Lymphoma (follicular); Lymphoma (MALT); Lymphoma (mantel cell); Lymphoproliferative syndrome (X- linked); Lysinuric protein intolerance; Machado-Joseph disease; Macrocytic anemia refractory (of 5q syndrome); Macular dystrophy; Malignant mesothelioma; Malonyl-CoA decarboxylase deficiency ; Mannosidosis, (alpha- or beta- ); Maple syrup urine disease (type Ia; type Ib; type II); Marfan syndrome; Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome; Marshall syndrome; MASA syndrome; Mast cell leukemia; Mastocytosis with associated hematologic disorder; McArdle disease; McCune-Albright polyostotic fibrous dysplasia; McKusick-Kaufman syndrome; McLeod phenotype ; Medullary thyroid carcinoma; Medulloblastoma; Meesmann corneal dystrophy; Megaloblastic anemia-1 ; Melanoma; Membroproliferative glomerulonephritis ; Meniere disease; Meningioma (NF2-related; SIS-related); Menkes disease; Mental retardation (X-linked); Mephenytoin poor metabolizer; Mesothelioma; Metachromatic leukodystrophy; Metaphyseal chondrodysplasia (Murk Jansen type; Schmid type); Methemoglobinemia; Methionine adenosyltransferase deficiency (autosomal recessive); Methylcobalamin deficiency (cbl G type); Methylmalonicaciduria (mutase deficiency type); Mevalonicaciduria; MHC class Il deficiency; Microphthalmia (cataracts, and iris abnormalities); Miyoshi myopathy; MODY; Mohr-Tranebjaerg syndrome; Molybdenum cofactor deficiency (type A or type B); Monilethrix; Morbus Fabry; Morbus Gaucher; Mucopolysaccharidosis; Mucoviscidosis; Muencke syndrome; Muir-Torre syndrome; Mulibrey nanism; Multiple carboxylase deficiency (biotinresponsive); Multiple endocrine neoplasia; Muscle glycogenosis; Muscular dystrophy (congenital merosindeficient); Muscular dystrophy (Fukuyama congenital); Muscular dystrophy (limb- girdle); Muscular dystrophy) Duchenne-like); Muscular dystrophy with epidermolysis bullosa simplex; Myasthenic syndrome (slow-channel congenital); Mycobacterial infection (atypical, familial disseminated); Myelodysplastic syndrome; Myelogenous leukemia; Myeloid malignancy; Myeloperoxidase deficiency; Myoadenylate deaminase deficiency; Myoglobinuria/hemolysis due to PGK deficiency; Myoneurogastrointestinal encephalomyopathy syndrome; Myopathy (actin; congenital; desmin-related; cardioskeletal; distal; nemaline); Myopathy due to CPT Il deficiency; Myopathy due to phosphoglycerate mutase deficiency; Myotonia congenita; Myotonia levior; Myotonic dystrophy; Myxoid liposarcoma; NAGA deficiency; Nailpatella syndrome; Nemaline myopathy 1 (autosomal dominant); Nemaline myopathy 2 (autosomal recessive); Neonatal hyperparathyroidism; Nephrolithiasis; Nephronophthisis (juvenile); Nephropathy (chronic hypocomplementemic); Nephrosis-1 ; Nephrotic syndrome; Netherton syndrome; Neuroblastoma; Neurofibromatosis (type 1 or type 2); Neurolemmomatosis; neuronal-5 Ceroid-lipofuscinosis; Neuropathy; Neutropenia (alloimmune neonatal); Niemann-Pick disease (type A; type B; type C1 ; type D); Night blindness (congenital stationary); Nijmegen breakage syndrome; Noncompaction of left ventricular myocardium; Nonepidermolytic palmoplanar keratoderma; Norrie disease; Norum disease; Nucleoside phosphorylase deficiency; Obesity; Occipital hornsyndrome; Ocular albinism (Nettleship-Falls type); Oculopharyngeal muscular dystorphy; Oguchi disease; Oligodontia; Omenn syndrome; Opitz G syndrome; Optic nerve coloboma with renal disease; Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency; Oroticaciduria; Orthostatic intolerance; OSMED syndrome; Ossification of posterior longitudinal ligament of spine; Osteoarthrosis; Osteogenesis imperfecta; Osteolysis; Osteopetrosis (recessive or idiopathic); Osteosarcoma; Ovarian carcinoma; Ovarian dysgenesis; Pachyonychia congenita (Jackson-Lawler type or Jadassohn-Lewandowsky type); Paget disease of bone; Pallister-Hall syndrome; Pancreatic agenesis; Pancreatic cancer; Pancreatitis; Papillon- Lefevre syndrome; Paragangliomas ; Paramyotonia congenita; Parietal foramina; Parkinson disease (familial or juvenile); Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria; Pelizaeus-Merzbacher disease; Pendred syndrome; Perineal hypospadias; Periodic fever; Peroxisomal biogenesis disorder; Persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia of infancy; Persistent Mullerian duct syndrome (type II); Peters anomaly; Peutz-Jeghers syndrome ; Pfeiffer syndrome; Phenylketonuria; Phosphoribosyl pyrophosphate synthetaserelated gout; Phosphorylase kinase deficiency of liver and muscle; Piebaldism; Pilomatricoma; Pinealoma with bilateral retinoblastoma; Pituitary ACTH secreting adenoma; Pituitary hormone deficiency; Pituitary tumor; Placental steroid sulfatase deficiency; Plasmin inhibitor deficiency; Plasminogen deficiency (types I and II); Plasminogen Tochigi disease; Platelet disorder; Platelet glycoprotein IV deficiency; Platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase deficiency; Polycystic kidney disease; Polycystic lipomembranous osteodysplasia with sclerosing leukenencephalophathy; Polydactyly, postaxial; Polyposis; Popliteal pterygium syndrome; Porphyria (acute hepatic or acute intermittent or congenital erythropoietic); Porphyria cutanea tarda; Porphyria hepatoerythropoietic ; Porphyria variegata; Prader-Willi syndrome; Precocious puberty; Premature ovarian failure; Progeria Typ I; Progeria Typ II; Progressive external ophthalmoplegia; Progressive intrahepatic cholestasis-2; Prolactinoma (hyperparathyroidism, carcinoid syndrome); Prolidase deficiency; Propionicacidemia; Prostate cancer; Protein S deficiency; Proteinuria; Protoporphyria (erythropoietic); Pseudoachondroplasia; Pseudohermaphroditism; Pseudohypoaldosteronism;
Pseudohypoparathyroidism; Pseudovaginal perineoscrotal hypospadias; Pseudovitamin D deficiency rickets; Pseudoxanthoma elasticum (autosomal dominant; autosomal recessive); Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis; Pulmonary hypertension; Purpura fulminans; Pycnodysostosis; Pyropoikilocytosis; Pyruvate carboxylase deficiency; Pyruvate dehydrogenase deficiency; Rabson-Mendenhall syndrome; Refsum disease; Renal cell carcinoma; Renal tubular acidosis; Renal tubular acidosis with deafness; Renal tubular acidosis-osteopetrosis syndrome; Reticulosis (familial histiocytic); Retinal degeneration; Retinal dystrophy; Retinitis pigmentosa; Retinitis punctata albescens; Retinoblastoma; Retinol binding protein deficiency; Retinoschisis; Rett syndrome; Rh(mod) syndrome; Rhabdoid predisposition syndrome; Rhabdoid tumors ; Rhabdomyosarcoma; Rhabdomyosarcoma (alveolar); Rhizomelic chondrodysplasia punctata; Ribbing-Syndrom; Rickets (vitamin D-resistant); Rieger anomaly; Robinow syndrome; Rothmund-Thomson syndrome; Rubenstein-Taybi syndrome; Saccharopinuria; Saethre-Chotzen syndrome; SaIIa disease; Sandhoff disease (infantile, juvenile, and adult forms); Sanfilippo syndrome (type A or type B); Schindler disease; Schizencephaly; Schizophrenia (chronic); Schwannoma (sporadic); SCID (autosomal recessive, T-negative/Bpositive type); Secretory pathway w/TMD; SED congenita; Segawa syndrome; Selective T-cell defect; SEMD (Pakistani type); SEMD (Strudwick type); Septooptic dysplasia; Severe combined immunodeficiency (B cellnegative); Severe combined immunodeficiency (T-cell negative, B-cel I/natural killer cell- positive type); Severe combined immunodeficiency (Xlinked); Severe combined immunodeficiency due to ADA deficiency; Sex reversal (XY, with adrenal failure); Sezary syndrome; Shah-Waardenburg syndrome; Short stature; Shprintzen-Goldberg syndrome; Sialic acid storage disorder; Sialidosis (type I or type II); Sialuria; Sickle cell anemia; Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome; Situs ambiguus; Sjogren-Larsson syndrome; Smith- Fineman-Myers syndrome; Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (type I or type II); Somatotrophinoma; Sorsby fundus dystrophy; Spastic paraplegia; Spherocytosis; Spherocytosis-1; Spherocytosis-2; Spinal and bulbar muscular atrophy of Kennedy; Spinal muscular atrophy; Spinocerebellar ataxia; Spondylocostal dysostosis; Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia tarda; Spondylometaphyseal dysplasia (Japanese type); Stargardt disease-1 ; Steatocystoma multiplex; Stickler syndrome; Sturge- Weber syndrom; Subcortical laminal heteropia; Subcortical laminar heterotopia; Succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase deficiency; Sucrose intolerance; Sutherland-Haan syndrome; Sweat chloride elevation without CF; Symphalangism; Synostoses syndrome; Synpolydactyly; Tangier disease; Tay- Sachs disease; T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia; T-cell immunodeficiency; T-cell prolymphocyte leukemia; Thalassemia (alpha- or delta-); Thalassemia due to Hb Lepore;
Thanatophoric dysplasia (types I or II); Thiamine-responsive megaloblastic anemia syndrome; Thrombocythemia; Thrombophilia (dysplasminogenemic); Thrombophilia due to heparin cofactor Il deficiency; Thrombophilia due to protein C deficiency; Thrombophilia due to thrombomodulin defect; Thyroid adenoma; Thyroid hormone resistance; Thyroid iodine peroxidase deficiency; Tietz syndrome; Tolbutamide poor metabolizer; Townes-
Brocks syndrome; Transcobalamin Il deficiency; Treacher Collins mandibulofacial dysostosis; Trichodontoosseous syndrome; Trichorhinophalangeal syndrome;
Trichothiodystrophy; Trifunctional protein deficiency (type I or type II); Trypsinogen deficiency; Tuberous sclerosis-1 ; Tuberous sclerosis-2; Turcot syndrome; Tyrosine phosphatase; Tyrosinemia; Ulnar-mammary syndrome; Urolithiasis (2,8-dihydroxyadenine);
Usher syndrome (type 1 B or type 2A); Venous malformations; Ventricular tachycardia;
Virilization; Vitamin K-dependent coagulation defect; VLCAD deficiency; Vohwinkel syndrome; von Hippel-Lindau syndrome; von Willebrand disease; Waardenburg syndrome; Waardenburg syndrome/ocular albinism; Waardenburg-Shah neurologic variant;
Waardenburg-Shah syndrome; Wagner syndrome; Warfarin sensitivity; Watson syndrome;
Weissenbacher-Zweymuller syndrome; Werner syndrome; Weyers acrodental dysostosis;
White sponge nevus; Williams-Beuren syndrome; Wilms tumor (typei ); Wilson disease;
Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome; Wolcott-Rallison syndrome; Wolfram syndrome; Wolman disease; Xanthinuria (type I); Xeroderma pigmentosum; X-SCID; Yemenite deaf-blind hypopigmentation syndrome; ypocalciuric hypercalcemia (type I); Zellweger syndrome;
Zlotogora-Ogur syndrome.
Preferred diseases to be treated which have a genetic inherited background and which are typically caused by a single gene defect and are inherited according to Mendel's laws are preferably selected from the group consisting of autosomal-recessive inherited diseases, such as, for example, adenosine deaminase deficiency, familial hypercholesterolemia, Canavan's syndrome, Gaucher's disease, Fanconi anaemia, neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, mucoviscidosis (cystic fibrosis), sickle cell anaemia, phenylketonuria, alcaptonuria, albinism, hypothyreosis, galactosaemia, alpha-1 -anti-trypsin deficiency, Xeroderma pigmentosum, Ribbing's syndrome, mucopolysaccharidoses, cleft lip, jaw, palate, Laurence Moon Biedl Bardet sydrome, short rib polydactylia syndrome, cretinism, Joubert's syndrome, type Il progeria, brachydactylia, adrenogenital syndrome, and X-chromosome inherited diseases, such as, for example, colour blindness, e.g. red/green blindness, fragile X syndrome, muscular dystrophy (Duchenne and Becker-Kiener type), haemophilia A and B, G6PD deficiency, Fabry's disease, mucopolysaccharidosis, Norrie's syndrome, Retinitis pigmentosa, septic granulomatosis, X-SCID, ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency, Lesch- Nyhan syndrome, or from autosomal-dominant inherited diseases, such as, for example, hereditary angiooedema, Marfan syndrome, neurofibromatosis, type I progeria, Osteogenesis imperfecta, Klippel-Trenaurnay syndrome, Sturge-Weber syndrome, Hippel- Lindau syndrome and tuberosis sclerosis.
The present invention also allows treatment of diseases, which have not been inherited, or which may not be summarized under the above categories. Such dieseases may include e.g. the treatment of patients, which are in need of a specific protein factor, e.g. a specific therapeutically active protein as mentioned above. This may e.g. include dialysis patients, e.g. patients which undergo a (regular) a kidney or renal dialysis, and which may be in need of specific therapeutically active proteins as defined above, e.g. erythropoietin (EPO), etc.
According to another embodiment, the present invention comprises the use of the at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention for transfecting a cell or an organism. Transfection of the cell or the organism may preferably be carried out using the above (in vitro or in vivdj transfection method for transfecting cells or a tissue with the complexed RNA of the present invention.
According to one further embodiment, the present invention comprises the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, disorders, conditions or pathological states. An agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above or an injection buffer as defined herein, additionally containing the inventive complexed RNA, a vaccine, etc. If more than one complexed RNA molecule type is used, the complexed RNAs may be different by their RNA (molecules) thereby forming a mixture of at least two distinct complexed RNA (molecule) types. If more than one complexed RNA is used (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases the same or (at least two) different RNA (molecule) types may be contained in these complexed RNA mixtures. In this context, any of the above mentioned RNA (molecules) may be used for the inventive complexed RNA, e.g. a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc. More preferably a coding RNA (molecule), even more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and most preferably an mRNA may be used. Preferably, such a coding RNA (molecule), more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and more preferably an mRNA is used for the complexed RNA, the RNA (molecule) typically encodes a protein or peptide suitable for the therapy of the specific disease, e.g. an antibody, which is cabable of binding to a specific cancer antigen, or a tumor antigen, when treating a (specific) cancer, etc. The combinations of suitable RNA (molecules) are known to a skilled person from the art and from the disclosure of the present invention.
According to another embodiment of the present invention, it may be preferred to (additionally) elicit, e.g. induce or enhance, an immune response during therapy. In this context, an immune response may occur in various ways. A substantial factor for a suitable immune response is the stimulation of different T-cell sub-populations. T-lymphocytes are typically divided into two sub-populations, the T-helper 1 (Th1 ) cells and the T-helper 2 (Th2) cells, with which the immune system is capable of destroying intracellular (Th1 ) and extracellular (Th2) pathogens (e.g. antigens). The two Th cell populations differ in the pattern of the effector proteins (cytokines) produced by them. Thus, Th1 cells assist the cellular immune response by activation of macrophages and cytotoxic T-cells. Th2 cells, on the other hand, promote the humoral immune response by stimulation of the B-cells for conversion into plasma cells and by formation of antibodies (e.g. against antigens). The Th1/Th2 ratio is therefore of major importance for the immune response. For various diseases to be treated by the present invention, the Th1/Th2 ratio of the immune response is preferably shifted in the direction towards the cellular response (Th1 response) and a cellular immune response is thereby induced. Accordingly, the present invention may also be used to revert this immune response shift. Therefore, the present invention encompasses also the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, wherein the agent (and/or the complexed RNA) may be capable to elicit, e.g. induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above. Again, an agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, or an injection buffer as defined herein, which contains the inventive complexed RNA, etc. If more than one complexed RNA type is used in this context (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, the complexed RNA types may be different with respect to their RNA (molecules) and may form a mixture of distinct RNA types.
However, for the present embodiment, it is preferred that at least one of these complexed RNAs induces or enhances the immune response during therapy, while other complexed RNA(s) need not to induce or enhance the immune response or may be used to prevent an imune response. In this context, any of the above mentioned RNA (molecules) may be used for the inventive complexed RNA, e.g. a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc. More preferably, a coding RNA (molecule), even more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and most preferably an mRNA may be used for the complexed RNA. If the RNA (molecule) is a coding RNA (molecule), more preferably a linear coding RNA (molecule), and more preferably an mRNA, it typically encodes a protein or peptide suitable for the therapy of the specific disease, e.g. an antibody, which is cabable of binding to a specific cancer antigen, when treating a (specific) cancer, etc. If more than one complexed RNA is contained in the agent, different combinations of proteins or peptides may be selected. Such combinations of suitable RNA (molecules) (and, if a coding RNA is used, of encoded proteins or peptides) are known to a skilled person from the art or may be combined from RNAs encoding therapeutically effective proteins, etc., as defined in the disclosure of the present invention. Induction or enhancement of the immune response concurrent to the treatment of a specific disease using one pharmaceutical composition or agent as defined above may be particularly advantageous in cases where an induced or enhanced immune response supports the treatment of a specific disease as mentioned above.
Alternatively, treatment of the disease and induction or enhancement of the immune response may be carried out by using different pharmaceutical compositions or agents as defined above in a time staggered manner. E.g. one may induce or enhance the immune response by administering a pharmaceutical composition or an agent as defined herein, containing an inventive complexed (immunostimulatory) RNA, prior to (or concurrent to) administering another pharmaceutical composition or an agent as defined herein which may contain an inventive complexed RNA, e.g. a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers, etc., which is suitable for the therapy of the specific disease.
According to one embodiment, the present invention furthermore comprises the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above, more preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein. Hereby, the inventive complexed RNA may be used to activate the immune system unspecifically, e.g. to trigger the production of certain cytokines. The complexed RNA may therefore be used to support the specific immune response, which is elicited by e.g. an antigen derived from pathogens or tumors. An agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above or an injection buffer as defined herein, containing the inventive complexed RNA, a vaccine, etc. The immune response may be modulated either by the at least one complexed RNA due to the one or more oligopeptides having a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and showing the empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x, and/or by the immunostimulatory properties of the protein encoded by the RNA of the complexed RNA.
The present invention may therefore, whenever appropriate, well serve to achieve various objects. A complexed RNA as such or as a component of an inventive composition may by itself improve the transfection properties of the RNA as component of the inventive complex. This underlying property of the inventive complexed RNA is beneficial to a wide variety of applications. Whenever it is intended to introduce an RNA into a cell, improved transfection efficacy is ensured by the present invention. This property as such may allow the present invention to be used for the treatment of a huge variety of diseases, e.g. the treatment of monogenetic or genetic diseases as defined above.
In addition, the present invention may be used whenever treatment of immune disorders, e.g. allergies or autoimmune diseases, is envisaged. Moreover, the present invention may activate the patients's immune system by enhancing its unspecific or specific immune response. Accordingly, it may elicit an unspecific immune response, whenever appropriate, to cure a disease. And, whenever required, it may elicit a specific immune response as such (e.g. by encoding an antigen by the RNA as component of the inventive complex) or by a combination of the inventive complexed RNA with an antigen, e.g. in the same composition. Whenever required, the inventive complexed RNA may be preferably an antigen or an antibody, or any other protein or peptide as defined above, capable of modulating the immune response (preferably of inducing or enhancing same or, in case of allergies or autoimmune diseases by desensitizing the patient's immune system towards a specific allergen or autoantigen). In order to modulate, e.g. induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism the complexed RNA may be administered to this tissue or organism as defined above either as such or as an agent as defined above. The administration modes, which may be used, may be the same as described above for pharmaceutical compositions. Administration of the agent may occur prior, concurrent and/or subsequent to a therapy of diseases or states as mentioned herein, e.g. by administration of the agent prior, concurrent and/or subsequent to a therapy or an administration of a therapeutic suitable for these diseases or states.
According to an alternative embodiment, the present invention also encompasses the use of the peptide (Arg)7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg)7 alone (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to elicit, e.g. to induce or enhance, an immune response, preferably an unspecific immune response by e.g. triggering the production of cytokines, in a tissue or an organism as defined above, and preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein. While determining the ranges of the peptide of the inventive formula (I), the present inventors have surprisingly found that (Arg)7 is capable to significantly induce or enhance an immune response in hPBMCs, even if no transfection of nucleic acids, particularly RNA into hPBMCs, was observed. An RNA (molecule) may be any RNA (molecule) as defined herein, preferably, without being limited thereto, a short RNA oligonucleotide, a coding RNA, an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, or riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers. Again, an agent in this context may be e.g. a pharmaceutical composition as defined above, or an injection buffer as defined herein, which additionally contains the inventive complexed RNA, etc., wherein in the inventive complexed RNA in the agent as defined herein has been replaced by the peptide (Arg)7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg)7 alone. According to another alternative embodiment, the present invention also encompasses the use of the peptide (Arg)7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg)7 alone (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases or states.
According to a final embodiment, the present invention also provides kits containing a complexed RNA according to the invention and/or a pharmaceutical composition according to the invention as well as, optionally, technical instructions with information on the administration and dosage of the complexed RNA according to the invention and/or the pharmaceutical composition according to the invention. The kit may separately further comprise one or more of the following group of components: at least one antigen or at least one antibody or a composition containing an antigen or an antibody, an additional adjuvant or a composition containing at least one adjuvant and/or at least one cytokine or a composition containing at least one cytokine. The antigen, antibody and/or the cytokine may be provided as such (proteins) or may be provided as DNA or RNA coding for the antigen, antibody or cytokine.
The present invention also provides kits containing the peptide (Arg)7 in a complex with an RNA (molecule) as defined herein or the peptide (Arg)7 alone as well as, optionally, technical instructions with information on the administration and dosage of the the peptide (Arg)7. Such kits may applied e.g. for any of the above mentioned applications or uses, preferably for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases. The kits may also be applied for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for the treatment of any of the above mentioned diseases, wherein the agent (and/or the complexed RNA) may be capable to induce or enhance an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above. Such kits may further be applied for the use of at least one complexed RNA according to the present invention (for the preparation of an agent) for modulating, preferably to elicit, e.g. to induce or enhance, an immune response in a tissue or an organism as defined above, and preferably to support a disease or state as mentioned herein. Figures
The following Figures are intended to illustrate the invention further. They are not intended to limit the subject matter of the invention thereto.
Figure 1 : depicts the sequence of a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence, wherein the native luciferase encoding mRNA is modified with a poly-A/poly-C-tag (A70-
C30). This first construct (construct CAP-Ppluc(wt)-muag-A70-C30, SEQ ID
NO: 35) contained following sequence elements: stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene, 70 x Adenosin at the 3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail),
30 x Cytosin at the 3'- terminal end (poly-C-tail); represented by following symbols: = coding sequence
==== = 3'-UTR of the alpha globin gene = poly-A-tail = poly-C-tail
Figure 2: shows the sequence of a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence, wherein the construct according to SEQ ID NO: 35 (see Figure 1 ) is further modified with a GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage. The final construct
(construct CAP-Ppluc(GC)-muag-A70-C30, SEQ ID NO: 36) contained following sequence elements:
GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene 70 x Adenosin at the 3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail),
30 x Cytosin at the 3'- terminal end (poly-C-tail); represented by following symbols: = coding sequence
=== = modified 3'-UTR of the alpha globin gene = poly-A-tail = poly-C-tail Figure 3: shows the coding sequence of the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 35
(SEQ ID NO: 37) (see Figure 1 ).
Figure 4: shows the GC-optimized coding sequence of the sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (see Figure 2). The GC-optimized codons are underlined.
Figure 5: shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine
((Arg)9) in hPBMC cells by measuring IL-6 production. As can be seen, hPBMC cells show a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg)9).
Figure 6: shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine
((Arg)9) in hPBMC cells by measuring TNF-alpha production. As can be seen, hPBMC cells show a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg)9).
Figure 7: shows in an comparative example the comparison of immunostimulatory effects of RNA complexed with either nona-arginine ((Arg)9) or poly-L- arginine, respectively, in hPBMCs. Advantagously, a significant immunostimulatory effect can be observed for mass ratios lower than 1 :5 (RNA:nona-arginine) (1 :10; 1 :8; 1 :5; 1 :2; 1 :1 ; 2:1 ). However, when using mass ratios of RNA:nona-arginine (5:1 ) no significant TNFalpha production can be observed. The same applies to stimulation experiments, using nona- arginine ((Arg)9) or mRNA alone. Additionally, it was observed, that complexation of mRNA with poly-L-arginine leads to significantly lower induction of TNF-alpha production in comparison to nona-arginine ((Arg)9). Apparently, higher concentrations of poly-L-arginine appear to be toxic for cells transfected therewith, particularly when using a mass ratio of 1 :2 RNA:poly-L-arginine:RNA or higher, since the cells were lysed.
Figure 8: shows luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona-arginine ((Arg)9) in HeLa cells. As may be derived from Figure 8 a mass ratio of less than 2:1 (RNA:nona-arginine) appears to be advantageous. In contrast, complexation with (high molecular mass) poly-L-arginine does not lead to a significant luciferase-activity. Thus, (high molecular mass) poly-L- arginine does not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA.
Figure 9: depicts in a comparative example the luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) in HeLa cells. As may be derived from Figure 9, transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta-arginine
((Arg)7) does not lead to a significant luciferase-activity. Thus, hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) does also not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA.
Figure 10: shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) in hPBMC cells by measuring IL-6 production. As can be seen, hPBMC cells show a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7).
Figure 1 1 : shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine
((Arg)7) in hPBMC cells by measuring TNF-alpha production. As can be seen, hPBMC cells show a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine
((Arg)7).
Figure 12: shows the effect of RNA complexed with R9 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 13: shows the effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 14: shows the effect of RNA complexed with H3R9H3 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 15: shows the effect of RNA complexed with YYYR9SSY peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells. Figure 16: shows the effect of RNA complexed with H3R9SSY peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 17: shows the effect of RNA complexed with (RKH)4 peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 18: shows the effect of RNA complexed with Y(RKH)2R peptide on the expression of luciferase in HeLa cells.
Figure 19: shows the effect of Histidin in terminal positions on the transfection efficiacy.
Figure 20: shows the effect of neutral amino acids in terminal positions on the transfection efficiacy.
Figure 21 : shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 on secretion of TNFalpha in hPBMCs.
Figure 22: shows the immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with R9H3 on secretion of IL-6 in hPBMCs.
Examples
The following examples are intended to illustrate the invention further. They are not intended to limit the subject matter of the invention thereto.
Example 1 - Preparation of luciferase mRNA constructs
In the following experiments a stabilized luciferase mRNA sequence was prepared and used for transfection experiments, wherein the native luciferase encoding mRNA was modified with a poly-A/poly-C-tag (A70-C30) and was GC-optimized for a better codon-usage and further stabilized.
A first construct (construct CAP-Ppluc(wt)-muag-A70-C30, SEQ ID NO: 35) contained following sequence elements: stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene 70 ( Adenosin at the 3 '-terminal end
30 ( Cytosin at the 3'- terminal end
The final construct (construct CAP-Ppluc(GC)-muag-A7O-C3O, SEQ ID NO: 36), as used herein for the following experiments, contained following sequence elements:
GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage stabilizing sequences from the alpha-Globin gene
70 ( Adenosin at the 3 '-terminal end
30 ( Cytosin at the 3'- terminal end
These sequences are also shown in Figures 1 and 2 (SEQ ID NOs: 35 and 36). The respective coding sequences are shown in Figures 3 and 4 (SEQ ID NOs: 35 and 36)
Example 2 - In vitro transcription of stabilized luciferase mRNA The stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36 (Luc-RNActive) was transcribed in vitro using T7-Polymerase (T7-Opti mRNA Kit, CureVac, Tubingen, Deutschland) following the manufactures instructions. All mRNA-transkripts contained a 70 bases poly-A-tail and a 5 '-Cap-structure. The 5'-Cap- structure was obtained by adding an excess of N7-Methyl-Guanosin-5'-Triphosphat-5'- Guanosin.
Example 3 - Forming a complex of RNA with nona-arginine ((Arg)o). poly-L-arginine or further peptides based on (Arg)g. respectively
15 μg RNA stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (Luc-RNActive) were mixed in different mass ratios with nona-arginine (Arg9) or poly-L-arginine (Sigma-Aldrich; P4663; 5000-15000 g/mol), thereby forming a complex. Following mass ratios were used as shown exemplarily for ((Arg)9). Poly-L-arginine was used for comparative examples following the same instructions.
Figure imgf000124_0001
Additionally, further complexed RNAs based on (Arg)9 were prepared above using the following peptides for complexation:
R9 : Arg-Arg- Arg-Arg- Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg
R9H3: Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-His-His-His
H3R9H3: His-His-His-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-His-His-His YSSR9SSY: Tyr-Ser-Ser-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr
H3R9SSY: His-His-His-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Arg-Ser-Ser-Tyr
(RKH)4: Arg-Lys-H is-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg-Lys-H is
Y(RKH)2R: Tyr-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg-Lys-H is-Arg For complexation, 4 μg stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (Luc- RNActive) were mixed in molar ratios with the respectively peptide (according to formula I), thereby forming a complex. Afterwards the resulting solution was adjusted with water to a final volume of 50 μl und incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The used ratios are indicated in the tables given below. HeLa-cells (150x103/well) were then seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out.
R9:
Figure imgf000125_0001
Figure imgf000126_0001
Figure imgf000127_0001
Example 4 - Nona-arginine((Arg)g)-mediated transfection and expression of stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 35 or 36 (Luc-RNActive) in HeLa- cells
Hela-cells (150x103/well) were seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out. For transfection (40 μl) 50 μl of the RNA/(peptide)-solution as disclosed in Example 3 were mixed with 250 μl serum free medium and added to the cells (final RNA concentration: 13 μg/ml). Prior to addition of the transfection solution the HeLa-cells were washed gently and carefully 2 times with 1 ml Optimen (Invitrogen) per well. Then, the transfection solution (300 μl per well) was added to the cells and the cells were incubated for 4 h at 37°C. Subsequently 300 μl RPMI-medium (Camprex) containing 10% FCS was added per well and the cells were incubated for additional 20 h at 37°C. The transfection solution was sucked off 24 h after transfection and the cells were lysed in 300 μl lysis buffer (25 mM THs-PO4, 2 mM EDTA, 10% glycerol, 1 % Triton-X 100, 2 mM DTT). The supernatants were then mixed with luciferin buffer (25 mM Glycylglycin, 15 mM MgSO4, 5 mM ATP, 62,5 μM luciferin) and luminiscence was detected using a luminometer (Lumat LB 9507 (Berthold Technologies, Bad Wildbad, Germany)). The results of these experiments are shown in Figures 8 and 12 to 18.
Example 5 - Immune stimulation upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona- arginine ((Arg)o) or poly-L-arginine (Comparative Example)
a) Transfection experiments
HPBMC cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors were isolated using a Ficoll gradient and washed subsequently with I xPBS (phophate-buffered saline). The cells were then seeded on 96-well microtiter plates (200x103/well). The hPBMC cells were incubated for 24 h, as described under Example 4, supra, with 10 μl of the RNA/peptide complex (RNA final concentration: 6 μg/ml; the same amounts of RNA were used) in X-VIVO 15 Medium (BioWhittaker) (final RNA Concentration: 10 μg/ml). The immunostimulatory effect upon the hPBMC cells was measured by detecting the cytokine production (lnterleukin-6 und Tumor necrose factor alpha). Therefore, ELISA microtiter plates (Nunc Maxisorb) were incubated over night (o/n) with binding buffer (0,02% NaN3, 15 mM Na2CO3, 15 mM NaHCO3, pH 9,7), additionally containing a specific cytokine antibody. Cells were then blocked with
I xPBS, containing 1 % BSA (bovine serum albumin). The cell supernatant was added and incubated for 4 h at 37°C. Subsequently, the microtiter plate was washed with I xPBS, 0,05% Tween-20 and then incubated with a Biotin-labelled secondary antibody (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany). Streptavidin-coupled horseraddish peroxidase was added to the plate. Then, the plate was again washed with I xPBS, containing 0,05% Tween-20, and ABTS (2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethyl- benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was added as a substrate. The amount of cytokine was determined by measuring the absorption at 405 nm (OD405) using a standard curve with recombinant Cytokines (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany) with the Sunrise ELISA-Reader from Tecan (Crailsheim, Germany).
Results i) Immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg)g)
i1 ) HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with nona- arginine ((Arg)9) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg)9 was 1 :1. Then, IL-6 production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg)9) (see Figure 5).
i2) HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with nona- arginine ((Arg)9) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg)9 was 1 :1. Then, THF-alpha production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with nona-arginine ((Arg)9) (see Figure 6). ii) Comparison of immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with either nona-arginine ((Arg)g) or poly-L-arginine, respectively (Comparative Example)
hPBMCs were incubated in different mass ratios (RNA:nona-arginine 1 :10;
1 :8; 1 :5; 1 :2; 1 :1 ; 2:1 , 5:1 ; 8:1 and 10:1 ) with a complex of RNA and nona- arginine ((Arg)9) or poly-L-arginine, etc., respectively, for 24 h. Subsequently TNF-alpha production was measured using ELISA.
Advantagously, a significant immunostimulatory effect can be observed for mass ratios lower than 5:1 (RNA:nona-arginine) (1 :10; 1 :8; 1 :5; 1 :2; 1 :1 ; 2:1 ) (see Figure 7). When using mass ratios of RNA:nona-arginine (5:1 ) no significant TNFalpha production can be observed. The same applies to stimulation experiments, using nona-arginine ((Arg)9) or mRNA alone (see Figure 7, left).
Furthermore, complexation of mRNA with poly-L-arginine leads to significantly lower induction of TNF-alpha production in comparison to nona-arginine ((Arg)9) (see Figure 7, right). Additionally, it was observed that higher concentrations of poly-L-arginine appear to be toxic for cells transfected therewith, particularly when using a mass ratio of 1 :2 RNA:poly- L-arginine or lower, since the cells were lysed.
Example 6 - Luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona- arginine ((Arg)3) or Poly-L-Arginine, respectively, in HeLa cells (Comparative
Example)
a) Luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with nona-arginine
((Arg)9) in HeLa cells. HeLa-CeIIs were transfected with RNActive encoding luciferase, which has been complexed with different ratios of nona-arginine or Poly-
L-Arginine, respectively. 24h later luciferase-activity was measured. Apparently, a mass ration of less than 2:1 (RNA:nona-arginine) appears to be advantageous (see Figure 8). b) In comparison, complexation with (high molecular mass) poly-L-arginine does not increase luciferase-activity at a significant level. Thus, (high molecular mass) poly- L-arginine does not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA (see Figure 8).
Example 7 - Luciferase expression upon transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta- arginine ((Arg)z) in HeLa cells (Comparative Example)
HeLa-CeIIs were transfected with RNActive encoding luciferase, which has been complexed with different ratios of hepta-arginine ((Arg)7). 24h later luciferase-activity was measured. Apparently, complexation with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) does not increase luciferase-activity at a significant level. Thus, hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) does not appear to be suitable for transfection of mRNA (see Figure 9).
Example 8 - Immune stimulation upon transfection of complexes of RNA with hepta- arginine ((Arg)z) (Comparative Example)
a) Transfection experiments
Transfection Experiments were carried out for hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) analogously to the experiments in Example 5 as shown above.
b) Results of immunostismulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)z)
i) HPBMC cells were incubated with RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg)7 was 1 :1 . Then, IL-6 production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells showed a significant IL-6 production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) (see Figure 10).
ii) HPBMC cells were furthermore incubated with RNA complexed with hepta- arginine ((Arg)7) for 24 h as disclosed above, wherein the mass ratio of RNA:(Arg)7 was 1 :1 . Then, THF-alpha production was measured in the cell supernatants using ELISA. As a result, HPBMC cells also showed a significant TNF-alpha production, i.e. a significant immunostimulatory effect of RNA complexed with hepta-arginine ((Arg)7) (see Figure 1 1 ).
Example 9 - Determination of the effect of Histidin on the transfection efficiency
To determine the effect of Histidin on the transfection efficiency a transfection was carried out analogously to the transfection experiments above using peptides with different Histidine content. Therefore, 4 μg stabilized luciferase mRNA according to SEQ ID NO: 36 (Luc-RNActive) were mixed in molar ratios with the respectively peptide (according to formula I), particularly R9, R9H3 or H3R9H3, thereby forming a complex. Afterwards the resulting solution was adjusted with water to a final volume of 50 μl und incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. The used ratios are in each experiment 1 :10000, 1 :5000 and 1 :1000. HeLa-cells (15Ox1 O3/well) were then seeded 1 day prior to transfection on 24-well microtiter plates leading to a 70% confluence when transfection was carried out. For transfection 50 μl of the RNA/(peptide)-solution were mixed with 250 μl serum free medium and added to the cells (final RNA concentration: 13 μg/ml). Prior to addition of the transfection solution the HeLa-cells were washed gently and carefully 2 times with 1 ml Optimen (Invitrogen) per well. Then, the transfection solution (300 μl per well) was added to the cells and the cells were incubated for 4 h at 37°C. Subsequently 300 μl RPMI- medium (Camprex) containing 10% FCS was added per well and the cells were incubated for additional 20 h at 37°C. The transfection solution was sucked off 24 h after transfection and the cells were lysed in 300 μl lysis buffer (25 mM THs-PO4, 2 mM EDTA, 10% glycerol, 1 % Triton-X 100, 2 mM DTT). The supernatants were then mixed with luciferin buffer (25 mM Glycylglycin, 15 mM MgSO4, 5 mM ATP, 62,5 μM luciferin) and luminiscence was detected using a luminometer (Lumat LB 9507 (Berthold Technologies, Bad Wildbad, Germany)).
The results are shown in Figure 19. As can be seen, a stetch of 3 histidines at one teminal end already increases the transfection efficiacy of the complexed RNA, wherein a stetch of 3 histidines at both teminal ends significantly increases the transfection efficiacy of the complexed RNA. Example 10 - Determination of the effect of neutral amino acids on the transfection efficiency
To determine the effect of neutral amino acids on the transfection efficiency a further transfection experiment was carried out analogously to the transfection experiments above in Example 9 using the peptide H3R9CCS. The results of theis additional experiment are shown in Figure 20.
Example 1 1 - lmmunostimulation using R9H3 in hPBMCs
The effect of R9H3 on immunostimulation was tested in hPBMCs. Therefore, a complex of R9H3 and RNA as shown above in Example 3 was prepared. Furthermore, HPBMC cells from peripheral blood of healthy donors were isolated using a Ficoll gradient and washed subsequently with I xPBS (phophate-buffered saline). The cells were then seeded on 96- well microtiter plates (2OOx1 O3/well). The hPBMC cells were incubated for 24 h, as described under Example 4, supra, with 10 μl of the RNA/peptide complex (RNA final concentration: 6 μg/ml; the same amounts of RNA were used) in X-VIVO 15 Medium (BioWhittaker). The immunostimulatory effect upon the hPBMC cells was measured by detecting the cytokine production (lnterleukin-6 und Tumor necrose factor alpha). Therefore, ELISA microtiter plates (Nunc Maxisorb) were incubated over night (o/n) with binding buffer (0,02% NaN3, 15 mM Na2CO3, 15 mM NaHCO3, pH 9,7), additionally containing a specific cytokine antibody. Cells were then blocked with 1 χPBS, containing 1 % BSA (bovine serum albumin). The cell supernatant was added and incubated for 4 h at 37°C. Subsequently, the microtiter plate was washed with I xPBS, 0,05% Tween-20 and then incubated with a Biotin-labelled secondary antibody (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany). Streptavidin-coupled horseraddish peroxidase was added to the plate. Then, the plate was again washed with I xPBS, containing 0,05% Tween-20, and ABTS (2,2'-azino- bis(3-ethyl-benzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) was added as a substrate. The amount of cytokine was determined by measuring the absorption at 405 nm (OD405) using a standard curve with recombinant Cytokines (BD Pharmingen, Heidelberg, Germany) with the Sunrise ELISA-Reader from Tecan (Crailsheim, Germany). The results are seen in Figures 21 and 22. As can be seen, a significant immunostimulation was exhibited at a ratio of 1 :5000 RNA:R9H3.

Claims

Claims
1. Complexed RNA, comprising at least one RNA (molecule) complexed with one or more oligopeptides, wherein the oligopeptide has a length of 8 to 15 amino acids and has the following empirical formula:
(Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x (formula I) wherein
• I + m + n +o + x = 8-15, and
I, m, n or o independently of each other may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1 1 , 12, 13, 14 or 15, provided that the overall content of Arg, Lys, His and Orn represents at least 50% of all amino acids of the oligopeptide; and
• Xaa may be any amino acid selected from native or non-native amino acids except of Arg, Lys, His or Orn; and • x may be any number selected from 0, 1 , 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8, provided, that the overall content of Xaa does not exceed 50 % of all amino acids of the oligopeptide.
2. Complexed RNA according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one RNA (molecule) is an mRNA.
3. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 or 2, wherein the oligopeptide has a length of 8 to 14, 8 to 13, 8 to 12, or 9 to 12 or 9 to 1 1 amino acids.
4. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the overall content of Arg, Lys, His and Orn represents at least 60%, 70%, 80%, 90%, or 95% of all amino acids of the oligopeptide of the complexed RNA.
5. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 4, wherein Xaa in empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x is selected from amino acids having a neutral side chain including amino acids having a neutral hydrophobic side chain and amino acids having a neutral polar side chain.
6. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the oligopeptide according to empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x does not comprise amino acids at one or both terminal ends, which comprise an acidic side chain.
7. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the oligopeptide according to empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)o;(Xaa)x comprises neutral or basic amino acids at one or both terminal ends, or basic amino acids at one or both terminal ends or at least one, preferably at least two, more preferably at least three, basic amino acids at both terminal ends.
8. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 7, wherein the oligopeptide according to empirical formula (Arg)|,(Lys)m;(His)n;(Orn)0;(Xaa)x comprises a stretch of at least 3 contiguous basic amino acids within its sequence.
9. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 8, wherein the oligopeptide according to empirical formula (Arg)ι;(Lys)m;(His)n;(Om)o;(Xaa)x comprises at least 1 , 2, or 3 non-cationic amino acid(s) at one or both terminal ends, the non-cationic amino acid preferably being selected from histidine.
10. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA is an mRNA, wherein the mRNA codes for a therapeutically active protein or peptide, an immunostimulating protein or peptide, a tumor antigen or an antibody.
11 . Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 10, wherein the RNA is a modified RNA, in particular a stabilized RNA, as compared to the Mtf RNA.
12. Complexed RNA according to claim 1 1 , wherein the G/C content of the coding region of the modified RNA is increased compared with the G/C content of the coding region of the wild-type RNA, and wherein the coded amino acid sequence of the modified RNA is preferably not modified compared with the coded amino acid sequence of the wild-type RNA.
13. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the mass ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides is in a range of about 1 :100 to about 1 :0,5, or has a value of about 1 :50 to about 1 :1 , about 1 :100, about 1 :90, about 1 :80, about 1 :70, about 1 :60, about 1 :50, about 1 :
45, about 1 :40, about 1 :35, about 1 :30, about 1 :25, about 1 :20, about 1 :15, about 1 :10, about 1 :5, about 1 :4, about 1 :3, about 1 :2, about 1 :1 or about 1 :0,5.
14. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the molar ratio of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides is in a range of about 1 :20000 to about 1 :500 or 1 :250, or in a range of about 1 :10000 to about 1 :1000, or has a value of about 1 :9500, about 1 :9000, about 1 :8500, about 1 :8000, about 1 :7500, about 1 :7000, about 1 :6500, about 1 :6000, about 1 :5500, about 1 :5000, about 1 :4500, about 1 :4000, about 1 :3500, about 1 :3000, about 1 :2500, about 1 :2000, about 1 :1 500, about 1 :1000, about
1 :500, about 1 :450, about 1 : 400, about 1 :350, about 1 :300, or about 1 :250.
1 5. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 12, wherein the nitrogen/phosphate ratio (N/P-ratio) of the at least one RNA (molecule) of the complexed RNA to the one or more oligopeptides is in a range of about 0,2-50, in a range of about 0.5-50 or in a range of about 0.75-25.
1 6. Complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 15, wherein the oligopeptide is selected from the group consisting of: Arg9His3, His3Arg9His3, TyrSerSerArg9SerSerTyr, His3Arg9SerSerTyr, (ArgLysHis)4,
Tyr(ArgLysHis)2Arg; or from
Arg8, Arg9, Arg10, Argn, Arg,2, Arg13, Arg14, Arg15, (SEQ ID NOs: 1 -8);
Lys8, Lys9, Lys)0, Lysn, Lys12, LyS13, Lys14, LyS15, (SEQ ID NOs: 9-16); HiS8, His9, HiS10, His,,, His,2, HiS13, His,4, His,s, (SEQ ID NOs: 17-24); and
Om8, Om9, Om10, Orn,,, Om12, Om13, Om14, Om15, (SEQ ID NOs: 25-32);
1 7. Pharmaceutical composition comprising the complexed RNA according to any one of claims 1 to 1 6 and optionally a pharmaceutically suitable carrier.
18. A method for transfection of a cell or an organism, comprising the following steps: a. optionally preparing and/or providing a complexed RNA according to one of claims 1 to 16, comprising at least one RNA complexed with one or more oligopeptides having the empirical formula
Figure imgf000136_0001
b. transfecting a cell, a tissue or an organism using the complexed RNA prepared and/or provided according to step a).
19. Method according to claim 18, wherein the organism is a mammal, selected from the group comprising humans, goat, cattle, swine, dog, cat, donkey, monkey, ape or rodents, including mouse, hamster and rabbit.
20. Use of a complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 16 for transfecting a cell or an organism.
21. Use of a complexed RNA according to any of claims 1 to 16 for preparing an agent for treating a disease selected from a tumour or cancer disease, a cardiovascular disease, an infectious disease, an (infectious) virus disease, an autoimmune disease, a (mono-) genetic disease and/or an allergy.
22. Use according to claim 21 , wherein transfection of the complexed RNA elicits an immune response in the organism.
23. Kit according to claim 22 comprising a cytokine or a composition containing a cytokine and/or at least one additional adjuvant or a composition containing at least one additional adjuvant.
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