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  • C12N2502/00—Coculture with; Conditioned medium produced by
  • C12N2502/13—Coculture with; Conditioned medium produced by connective tissue cells; generic mesenchyme cells, e.g. so-called "embryonic fibroblasts"
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  • Y02A50/30—Against vector-borne diseases, e.g. mosquito-borne, fly-borne, tick-borne or waterborne diseases whose impact is exacerbated by climate change

Definitions

• the present application relates generally to methods and compositions for the repair or regeneration of damaged or diseased cells or tissue.
• Several embodiments relate to administration of exosomes (or protein and/or nucleic acids from the exosomes) isolated from cells or synthetic surrogates in order to repair and/or regenerate damage or diseased tissues.
• exosomes derived from certain cell types, such as for example cardiac stem cells, and use of the exosomes in the repair and/or regeneration of cardiac tissue.
• Many diseases, injuries and maladies involve loss of or damage to cells and tissues. Examples include, but are not limited to neurodegenerative disease, endocrine diseases, cancers, and cardiovascular disease. Just these non-limiting examples are the source of substantial medical costs, reduced quality of life, loss of productivity in workplaces, workers compensation costs, and of course, loss of life.
• coronary heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, taking more than 650,000 lives annually.
• Approximately 1.3 million people suffer from a heart attack (or myocardial infarction, MI) every year in the United States (roughly 800,000 first heart attacks and roughly 500,000 subsequent heart attacks). Even among those who survive the MI, many will still die within one year, often due to reduced cardiac function, associated side effects, or progressive cardiac disease.
• Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women, and coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, led to approximately 400,000 deaths in 2008 in the US. Regardless of the etiology, most of those afflicted with coronary heart disease or heart failure have suffered permanent heart tissue damage, which often leads to a reduced quality of life.
• methods for regenerating tissue in an individual having damaged tissue comprising, identifying an individual having damaged tissue and administering a plurality of exosomes to the individual, wherein the exosomes are secreted from regenerative cells, wherein the exosomes comprise one or more microRNA fragments, and wherein after administration of the plurality of exosomes, the one or more microRNA fragments alter gene expression in the damaged tissue, improve the viability of the damaged tissue, and/or facilitate the formation of new tissue in the individual.
• administration of the exosomes results in functional improvement in the tissue, in combination with one or more of the above-mentioned positive results.
• the exosomes are synthetic in origin. In some such embodiments, the synthetic exosomes are generated in order to replicate, substantially, or closely mimic exosomes that are secreted from regenerative cells.
• the regenerative cells are mammalian in origin. In several embodiments, the regenerative cells are human cells. In some embodiments, the cells are non-embryonic human regenerative cells. In several embodiments, the regenerative cells are autologous to the individual while in several other embodiments the regenerative cells are allogeneic to the individual. Xenogeneic or syngeneic cells are used in certain other embodiments.
• a method of regenerating tissue in an individual having damaged tissue comprising identifying an individual having damaged tissue and administering one or more microRNA fragments, or derivatives thereof, to the individual, wherein after administration of the one or more microRNA fragments, the one or more microRNA fragments alter gene expression in the damaged tissue, improve the viability of the damaged tissue, and/or facilitate the formation of new tissue in the individual.
• exosomes need not be administered, but rather miRNAs (and/or proteins) that are thought to or known to be present in a certain exosome, can be directly administered to effect regeneration of damaged tissue.
• the microRNA fragments, or derivatives thereof are synthetically generated.
• the microRNA fragments, or derivatives thereof are synthesized with a sequence that mimics one or more endogenous microRNA molecules.
• miRNAs are complementary to certain genes in the target cell and can reduce the expression of target genes.
• Combinations of complementary miRNAs e.g., antisense molecules known as antagomiRs
• miRNAs or miRNA mimics
• modifications are made in order to enhance the stability of the microRNAs, thereby improving the ability to administer the microRNA (or fragments/derivatives thereof).
• administration is of only microRNA fragments, mimics thereof, derivatives thereof, or chemical replicas thereof, or combinations thereof (e.g., no exosomes).
• administration comprises administration of a plurality of synthetic liposomes that comprise the one or more microRNA fragments, or derivatives thereof.
• a plurality of regenerative cells is administered along with exosomes, and/or miRNAs.
• the damaged tissue comprises cardiac tissue.
• the regenerative cells comprise cardiospheres.
• the regenerative cells comprise cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs).
• CDCs cardiosphere-derived cells
• the use of cardiospheres and/or CDCs as a source of exosomes is particularly advantageous, as the resultant exosomes provide unexpectedly superior therapeutic benefits (as compared to exosomes from other cell types). In some embodiments, such benefits include, but are not limited to, reduced degradation, enhanced specificity for cardiac regeneration, lower immunogenicity, etc.
• the cardiospheres and or CDCs are screened to identify an miRNA expression profile that is unique to those cells.
• That profile in several embodiments, is replicated, at least in part, by the generation and administration of synthetic exosomes and/or miRNAs.
• the therapeutic efficacy of cardiospheres and/or CDCs can unexpectedly be mirrored, without administration of the cells themselves. In several embodiments, this results in improved therapeutic efficacy as the exosomes and/or miRNAs result in reduced immune response in the target tissue.
• the damaged tissue comprises one or more of neural and/or nervous tissue, epithelial tissue, skeletal muscle tissue, endocrine tissue, vascular tissue, smooth muscle tissue, liver tissue, pancreatic tissue, lung tissue, intestinal tissue, osseous tissue, connective tissue, or combinations thereof.
• the damaged tissue is in need of repair, regeneration, or improved function due to an acute event.
• Acute events include, but are not limited to, trauma such as laceration, crush or impact injury, shock, loss of blood or oxygen flow, infection, chemical or heat exposure, poison or venom exposure, drug overuse or overexposure, and the like.
• the damaged tissue is cardiac tissue and the acute event comprises a myocardial infarction.
• administration of the exosomes results in an increase in cardiac wall thickness in the area subjected to the infarction.
• the tissue is damaged due to chronic disease or ongoing injury.
• progressive degenerative diseases can lead to tissue damage that propagates over time (at times, even in view of attempted therapy).
• Chronic disease need not be degenerative to continue to generate damaged tissue, however.
• chronic disease/injury includes, but it not limited to epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dopaminergic impairment, dementia, ischemia including focal cerebral ischemia, ensuing effects from physical trauma (e.g., crush or compression injury in the CNS), neuro degeneration, immune hyperactivity or deficiency, bone marrow replacement or functional supplementation, arthritis, auto-immune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, diabetes, muscle weakness (e.g., muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the like), blindness and hearing loss.
• physical trauma e.g., crush or compression injury in the CNS
• neuro degeneration e.g., immune hyperactivity or deficiency
• bone marrow replacement or functional supplementation e.g., auto-immune disorders
• inflammatory bowel disease e.g., cancer, diabetes, muscle weakness (e.g., muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and the like),
• Cardiac tissue in several embodiments, is also subject to damage due to chronic disease, such as for example congestive heart failure, ischemic heart disease, diabetes, valvular heart disease, dilated cardiomyopathy, infection, and the like. Other sources of damage also include, but are not limited to, injury, age-related degeneration, cancer, and infection.
• the regenerative cells are from the same tissue type as is in need of repair or regeneration. In several other embodiments, the regenerative cells are from a tissue type other than the tissue in need of repair or regeneration. In several embodiments, the regenerative cells comprise somatic cells, while in additional embodiments, they comprise germ cells. In still additional embodiments, combinations of one or more cell types are used to obtain exosomes (or the contents of the exosomes).
• the exosomes are about 15 nm to about 95 nm in diameter, including about 15 nm to about 20 nm, about 20 nm to about 25 nm, about 25 nm to about 30 nm, about 30 nm to about 35 nm, about 35 nm to about 40 nm, about 40 nm to about 50 nm, about 50 nm to about 60 nm 3 about 60 nm to about 70 nm, about 70 nm to about 80 nm, about 80 nm to about 90 nm, about 90 nm to about 95 nm and overlapping ranges thereof.
• larger exosomes are obtained are larger in diameter (e.g., those ranging from about 140 to about 210 nm).
• the exosomes comprise synthetic membrane bound particles (e.g., exosome surrogates), which depending on the embodiment, are configured to a specific range of diameters.
• the diameter of the exosome surrogates is tailored for a particular application (e.g. , target site or route of delivery).
• the exosome surrogates are labeled or modified to enhance trafficking to a particular site or region post-administration.
• exosomes are obtained via centrifugation of the regenerative cells. In several embodiments, ultracentrifugation is used. However, in several embodiments, ultracentrifugation is not used. In several embodiments, exosomes are obtained via size-exclusion filtration of the regenerative cells. As disclosed above, in some embodiments, synthetic exosomes are generated, which can be isolated by similar mechanisms as those above.
• the exosomes induce altered gene expression by repressing translation and/or cleaving mRNA.
• the alteration of gene expression results in inhibition of undesired proteins or other molecules, such as those that are involved in cell death pathways, or induce further damage to surrounding cells (e.g., free radicals).
• the alteration of gene expression results directly or indirectly in the creation of desired proteins or molecules (e.g., those that have a beneficial effect).
• the proteins or molecules themselves need not be desirable per se (e.g., the protein or molecule may have an overall beneficial effect in the context of the damage to the tissue, but in other contexts would not yield beneficial effects).
• the alteration in gene expression causes repression of an undesired protein, molecule or pathway (e.g., inhibition of a deleterious pathway).
• the alteration of gene expression reduces the expression of one or more inflammatory agents and/or the sensitivity to such agents.
• the administration of exosomes, or miRNAs results in downregulation of certain inflammatory molecules and/or molecules involved in inflammatory pathways.
• cells that are contacted with the exosomes or miRNAs enjoy enhanced viability, even in the event of post-injury inflammation or inflammation due to disease.
• the exosomes fuse with one or more recipient cells of the damaged tissue.
• the exosomes release the microRNA into one or more recipient cells of the damaged tissue, thereby altering at least one pathway in the one or more cells of the damaged tissue.
• the exosomes exerts their influence on cells of the damaged tissue by altering the environment surrounding the cells of the damaged tissue.
• signals generated by or as a result of the content or characteristics of the exosomes lead to increases or decreases in certain cellular pathways.
• the exosomes (or their contents/characteristics) can alter the cellular milieu by changing the protein and/or lipid profile, which can, in turn, lead to alterations in cellular behavior in this environment.
• the miRNA of an exosome can alter gene expression in a recipient cell, which alters the pathway in which that gene was involved, which can then further alter the cellular environment.
• the influence of the exosomes directly or indirectly stimulates angiogenesis.
• the influence of the exosomes directly or indirectly affects cellular replication.
• the influence of the exosomes directly or indirectly inhibits cellular apoptosis.
• the beneficial effects of the exosomes need not only be on directly damaged or injured cells.
• the cells of the damaged tissue that are influenced by the disclosed methods are healthy cells.
• the cells of the damaged tissue that are influenced by the disclosed methods are damaged cells.
• regeneration comprises improving the function of the tissue.
• functional improvement may comprise increased cardiac output, contractility, ventricular function and/or reduction in arrhythmia (among other functional improvements).
• improved function may be realized as well, such as enhanced cognition in response to treatment of neural damage, improved blood-oxygen transfer in response to treatment of lung damage, improved immune function in response to treatment of damaged immunological-related tissues.
• the micro RNA fragments are selected from the group consisting of miR-23a, miR-23b, miR-24, miR-26a, miR27-a, miR-30c, let-7e, mir- 19b, miR-125b, mir-27b, let-7a, miR-19a, let-7c, miR-140-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-132, miR-150, miR-155, mir-210, let-7b, miR-24, miR-423-5p, miR-22, let-7f, miR-146a, and combinations thereof.
• one, two, three or more of these miRNAs are used to treat cardiac tissue.
• the microRNA comprises miR-146a. In one embodiment, the microRNA comprises miR-210. In additional embodiments, the miRNA comprises one or more of miR-17, miR-21 , miR-92, miR92a, miR-29, miR-29a, miR-29b, miR-29c, miR-34, mi-R34a, miR-150, miR-451, miR-145, miR-143, miR-144, miR-193a-3p, miR-133a, miR-155, miR-181a, miR-214, miR-199b, miR-199a, miR-210, miR-126, miR-378, miR-363 and miR-30b, and miR-499.
• exosomes do not contain any of miR-92, miR-17, miR-21, miR-92, miR92a, miR-29, miR- 29a, miR-29b, miR-29c, miR-34, mi-R34a, miR-150, miR-451, miR-145, miR-143, miR- 144, miR-193a-3p, miR-133a, miR-155, miR-181a, miR-214, miR-199b, miR-199a, miR- 126, miR-378, miR-363 and miR-30b, or miR-499.
• the exosomes further comprise at least one protein that further facilitates regeneration and/or improved function of the tissue.
• Administration can be via a variety of routes, depending on the embodiment.
• delivery is locally to the tissue.
• delivery is systemically.
• delivery is via an intramyocardial route, while in other embodiments, delivery is via an intracoronary route.
• Combinations of delivery routes are used, in certain embodiments, in order to improve the speed with which positive effects are realized and or improve the duration of treatment.
• miRNAs are delivered directly to a target tissue and exosomes are delivered via a systemic route.
• the method further comprises administering the regenerative cells from which the exosomes were obtained to the individual, either prior to, concurrent with, or after administration of the exosomes. Administration of these cells can be by the same route or an alternative route.
• a composition for the repair or regeneration of damaged or diseased cardiac tissue comprising, a plurality of exosomes isolated from a population of cardiac stem cells, wherein the cardiac stem cells comprise a population of cardiosphere-derived cells, wherein the exosomes comprise at least one micro RN A, wherein the microRNA is selected from the group consisting of miR-146a, miR-22, miR-24, and miR-26a, and wherein upon administration to a subject having damaged or diseased cardiac tissue, the exosomes increase one or more of cardiac cell viability, cardiac cell proliferation, and cardiac cell function.
• the composition further comprises a plurality of cardiac stem cells.
• the miRNA payload of the exosome comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of miR- 146a. In one embodiment, the miRNA payload of the exosome comprises, consists of, or consists essentially of miR-210. In several embodiments, there is provided a use of a composition comprising a plurality of exosomes isolated from a population of cardiosphere-derived cells for the treatment of damaged or diseased cardiac tissue. In several embodiments, there is provided a use of a composition comprising a plurality of miRNA, a plurality of exosome, and/or a plurality of cardiosphere-derived cells for the treatment of damaged or diseased cardiac tissue.
• compositions for the repair or regeneration of damaged or diseased cardiac tissue comprising synthetic microRNA- 146a and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• the synthetic miRNA consists of or consists essentially of miR-146a.
• the synthetic miRNA also comprises a synthetic miR210.
• the synthetic miRNA consists of or consists essentially of miR-210.
• the microRNA is directly administered, while in some embodiments, it is administered via delivery of an exosome (either isolated or synthetically generated).
• a method comprising identifying a subject in need of repair of damaged tissue and instructing the administration of a composition comprising exosomes derived from regenerative cells to the subject, thereby resulting in repair of the damaged tissue.
• a method comprising identifying a subject in need of repair of damaged tissue and instructing the administration of a composition comprising one or more miRNA to the subject, thereby resulting in repair of the damaged tissue.
• a method comprising identifying a subject in need of repair of damaged tissue and instructing the administration of a composition comprising one or more of exosomes derived from regenerative cells, miRNA, and regenerative cells to the subject, thereby resulting in repair of the damaged tissue.
• the repair of the damaged tissue comprises both anatomical repair (e.g., tissue regeneration) and functional repair.
• a method of generating exosomes comprising obtaining a population of non-embryonic human regenerative cells, culturing the population of non-embryonic human regenerative cells, and exposing the cultured population of non-embryonic human regenerative cells to a hydrolase enzyme to induce the cells to secrete exosomes, thereby generating exosomes.
• the method further comprises harvesting the secreted exosomes.
• the hydrolase comprises a member of the DNAse I superfamily of enzymes.
• the hydrolase comprises a sphingomyelinase, such as for example a sphingomyelinase of a type selected from the group consisting of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase, secreted zinc-dependent acid sphingomyelinase, neutral sphingomyelinase, and alkaline sphingomyelinase.
• a neutral sphingomyelinase is used.
• the neutral sphingomyelinase comprises one or more of magnesium-dependent neutral sphingomyelinase and magnesium- independent neutral sphingomyelinase.
• the neutral sphingomyelinase comprises one or more of neutral sphingomyelinase type I, neutral sphingomyelinase type 2, and neutral sphingomyelinase type 3.
• the exosomes are synthetically manufactured in vitro by established methods to generate lipid bilayers.
• the synthetic exosomes can advantageously be customized to regenerate a certain tissue type and optionally damage due to a specific source of damage.
• Figure 1 depicts a general schematic of the various components of cellular and tissue regeneration, including direct and indirect mechanisms.
• Figures 2A-2D depict information related to the isolation of exosomes and characterization of cells during the isolation protocol.
• Figure 2A depicts a schematic for the isolation of exosomes from cultured cells according to several embodiments disclosed herein.
• Figure 2B depicts the survival of CDCs in serum free culture conditions prior in preparation for exosome isolation.
• Figure 2C and 2D show bright-field microscopic images of CDCs at Day 0 and Day 15 (respectively) of culture in serum-free conditions.
• Figures 3A-3E depict exosome characterization data.
• Figure 3A depicts data related to the RNA content of the supernatant and exosome fractions of cells.
• Figure 3B shows data related to the number of exosomes generated from the isolation scheme outlined in Figure 2A.
• Figure 3C shows differences in expression of various surface genes on NHDF and CDCs.
• Figure 3D shows microscopic images of exosomes.
• Figure 3E depicts analysis of the frequency of exosomes as compared to their diameter.
• Figure 4 depicts a schematic protocol for the evaluation of the effects of exosome treatment on cellular proliferation and cell death.
• Figures 5A-5D depict data related to the effects of exosome treatment on cell death and cellular proliferation.
• Figure 5A shows data related to apoptosis of cells after incubation with exosomes from various sources.
• Figure 5B shows data related to proliferative activity of cells after incubation with exosomes from various sources.
• Figure 5C shows immunofluorescent TUNEL staining that depicts apoptosis of cells after exposure to various exosome compositions.
• Figure 5D shows immunofluorescent Ki-67 staining that depicts proliferative activity of cells after exposure to various exosome compositions.
• Figure 6 depicts a schematic protocol for the evaluation of the effects of exosome treatment on angiogenesis.
• Figure 7 depicts summary data related to angiogenesis after treatment of endothelial cells with various media and exosome preparations.
• Figures 8A-8E depict photomicrographs of the results of an angiogenesis by tube formation assay.
• Figure 9 depicts data related to the survival of mice subject to myocardial infarction and treated with various exosome preparations.
• Figure 10 depicts cardiac functional data after myocardial infarction and treatment with exosome preparations.
• FIGS 11A-11C depicts echocardiography (ECHO) data after myocardial infarction and treatment with exosome preparations.
• Figures 12A-12H depict data related to the anatomical improvements in cardiac tissue after exosome administration.
• Figures 12A-12D depict Masson's trichrome staining data after myocardial infarction and treatment with exosome preparations from various cell sources. Summary data related to tissue viability scar mass, viable mass, and wall thickness are shown in Figures 12E-12H, respectively.
• Figure 13 depicts data related to the reduced myocardial levels of inflammatory markers after treatment with exosomes derived from cardiosphere-derived cells (CDCs).
• Figures 14A-14C depicts data related to mechanisms of exosome secretion.
• Figure 14A depicts dose-response data related to inhibition of secretion of CDC-derived exosomes with a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor (GW4869).
• Figure 14B indicates cell viability in response to inhibition of exosome secretion.
• Figure 14C summarizes cardiac functional data after administration of exosomes derived from control cells or cells treated with a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor (GW4869).
• Figures 15A-15B depict ECHO data after administration of exosomes derived from cells treated with a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor (GW4869) or control cells (CDCs).
• Figures 16A-16B depict Masson's trichrome staining of cardiac tissue treated with exosomes derived from cells treated with a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor (GW4869) or control cells (CDCs).
• Figures 17A-17D depict data related to the amount of viable tissue (in the risk region, 17 A), scar mass (17B), overall viable mass (17C) or infarct thickness (17D) after animals were treated with exosomes derived from cells treated with a neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor (GW4869) or control cells (CDCs).
• GW4869 neutral sphingomyelinase inhibitor
• CDCs control cells
• Figures 18A-18B depicts profiling of miRNA expression from exosomes isolated from CDCs, as compared to control cells (normal human dermal fibroblast: NHDF).
• Figure 18A depicts relative expression of selected miRNAs in exosomes from CDCs as compared to NHDF cells.
• Figure 18B shows a listing of those miRNAs that are equivalently expressed in NHDF and CDCs, those that are significantly upregulated, and those that are significantly downregulated.
• Figure 19 depicts a schematic for an in vitro study to determine the effects of administration of mil46a.
• Figures 20A-20D depict data related to cell viability and death after cells were treated with either mil 46a or a control miRNA.
• Figure 20A depicts results of calcein staining to evaluate cell viability 6 hours after NRVM were transfected with miR146a.
• Figure 20B depicts results of ETHD-1 staining to evaluate cell viability 12 hours after NRVM were transfected with miR146a.
• Figure 20C depicts data showing the protective effects of miR146a on NRVM exposed to hydrogen peroxide.
• Figure 20D depicts data showing the protective effects of miR146a on NRVMs exposed to cobalt chloride.
• Figures 21A-21G relate to in vivo data showing the regenerative capacity of miR146a.
• Figure 21 A shows two infarcted hearts, while 21 B shows Masson's Trichrome of a heart treated with control mimic miRNA and 21C shows Masson's Trichrome of a heart treated with miR146a.
• Figure 21D shows the ejection fraction in control and treated mice over 30 days post-MI.
• Figure 21E, 21F, and 21G show overall viable tissue mass, scar mass, and wall thickness (respectively) of hearts from animals treated with miR146a or a control mimic miR.
• Figure 22 shows expression data related to known inflammatory molecules in cultured cardiomyocytes transfected with miR146a.
• Figure 23 shows data related to cell viability of cultured cardiomyocytes transfected with miR210 after exposure to hydrogen peroxide.
• Several embodiments of the methods and compositions disclosed herein are useful for the treatment of tissues that are damaged or adversely affected by disease(s). The vast majority of diseases lead to at least some compromise (even if acute) in cellular or tissue function. Several embodiments of the methods and compositions disclosed herein allow for repair and/or regeneration of cells and/or tissues that have been damaged, limited in their functionality, or otherwise compromised as a result of a disease. In several embodiments, methods and compositions disclosed herein may also be used as adjunct therapies to ameliorate adverse side effects of a disease treatment that negatively impacts cells or tissues.
• the use of one or more relatively common therapeutic modalities are used to treat damaged or diseased tissues in an effort to halt progression of the disease, reverse damage that has already occurred, prevent additional damage, and generally improve the well-being of the patient.
• many conditions can be readily treated with holistic methodologies or changes in lifestyle (e.g., improved diet to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and the like).
• Drug therapy or pharmaceutical therapies are routinely administered to treat patients suffering from a particular disease.
• a patient suffering from high blood pressure might be prescribed an angiotensin-converting-enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, in order to reduce the tension of blood vessels and blood volume, thereby treating high blood pressure.
• ACE angiotensin-converting-enzyme
• cancer patients are often prescribed panels of various anticancer compounds in an attempt to limit the spread and/or eradicate a cancerous tumor.
• Surgical methods may also be employed to treat certain diseases or injuries.
• implanted devices are used in addition to or in place of pharmaceutical or surgical therapies (e.g., a cardiac pacemaker).
• additional therapy types have become very promising, such as, for example, gene therapy, protein therapy, and cellular therapy.
• Cell therapy generally speaking, involves the administration of population of cells to subject with the intent of the administered cells functionally or physically replacing cells that have been damaged, either by injury, by disease, or combinations thereof.
• a variety of different cell types can be administered in cell therapy, with stem cells being particularly favored (in certain cases) due to their ability to differentiate into multiple cell types, thus providing flexibility for what disease or injury they could be used to treat.
• Protein therapy involves the administration of exogenous proteins that functionally replace deficient proteins in the subject suffering from a disease or injury.
• synthesized acid alpha-glucosidase is administered to patients suffering from glycogen storage disease type II.
• nucleic acid therapy is being investigated as a possible treatment for certain diseases or conditions.
• Nucleic acid therapy involves the administration of exogenous nucleic acids, or short fragments thereof, to the subject in order to alter gene expression pathways through a variety of mechanisms, such as, for example, translational repression of the target gene, cleavage of a target gene, such that the target gene product is never expressed.
• Nucleic acids are generally not present in the body as free nucleic acids, as they are quickly degraded by nucleases. Certain types of nucleic acids are associated with membrane-bound particles. Such membrane-bound particles are shed from most cell types and consist of fragments of plasma membrane and contain DNA, RNA, mRNA, microRNA, and proteins. These particles often mirror the composition of the cell from which they are shed.
• Exosomes are one type of such membrane bound particles and typically range in diameter from about 15 nm to about 95 nm in diameter, including about 15 nm to about 20 nm, 20 nm to about 30 nm, about 30 nm to about 40 nm, about 40 nm to about 50 nm, about 50 nm to about 60 nm, about 60 nm to about 70 nm, about 70 nm to about 80 nm, about 80 nm to about 90 nm, about 90 nm to about 95 nm, and overlapping ranges thereof.
• exosomes are larger (e.g.
• the exosomes that are generated from the original cellular body are 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900, 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000 times smaller in at least one dimension (e.g., diameter) than the original cellular body.
• exosome shall be given its ordinary meaning and may also include terms including microvesicles, epididimosomes, argosomes, exosome-like vesicles, microparticles, promininosomes, prostasomes, dexosomes, texosomes, dex, tex, archeosomes and oncosomes. Exosomes are secreted by a wide range of mammalian cells and are secreted under both normal and pathological conditions.
• Exosomes function as intracellular messengers by virtue of carrying mRNA, miRNA or other contents from a first cell to another cell (or plurality of cells).
• exosomes are involved in blood coagulation, immune modulation, metabolic regulation, cell division, and other cellular processes.
• exosome preparations can be used as a diagnostic tool (e.g., exosomes can be isolated from a particular tissue, evaluated for their nucleic acid or protein content, which can then be correlated to disease state or risk of developing a disease).
• Exosomes are isolated from cellular preparations by methods comprising one or more of filtration, centrifugation, antigen- based capture and the like.
• a population of cells grown in culture are collected and pooled.
• monolayers of cells are used, in which case the cells are optionally treated in advance of pooling to improve cellular yield (e.g., dishes are scraped and/or enzymatically treated with an enzyme such as trypsin to liberate cells).
• cells grown in suspension are used.
• the pooled population is then subject to one or more rounds of centrifugation (in several embodiments ultracentrifugation and/or density centrifugation is employed) in order to separate the exosome fraction from the remainder of the cellular contents and debris from the population of cells.
• centrifugation need not be performed to harvest exosomes.
• pre-treatment of the cells is used to improve the efficiency of exosome capture.
• agents that increase the rate of exosome secretion from cells are used to improve the overall yield of exosomes.
• augmentation of exosome secretion is not performed.
• size exclusion filtration is used in conjunction with, or in place of centrifugation, in order to collect a particular size (e.g., diameter) of exosome.
• filtration need not be used.
• exosomes (or subpopulations of exosomes are captured by selective identification of unique markers on or in the exosomes (e.g., transmembrane proteins)).
• the unique markers can be used to selectively enrich a particular exosome population.
• enrichment, selection, or filtration based on a particular marker or characteristic of exosomes is not performed.
• exosomes can fuse with the cells of a target tissue.
• the term "fuse” shall be given its ordinary meaning and shall also refer to complete or partial joining, merging, integration, or assimilation of the exosome and a target cell.
• the exosomes fuse with healthy cells of a target tissue.
• the fusion with healthy cells results in alterations in the healthy cells that leads to beneficial effects on the damaged or diseased cells (e.g., alterations in the cellular or intercellular environment around the damaged or diseased cells).
• the exosomes fuse with damaged or diseased cells.
• fusion of the exosomes with either healthy or damaged cells is not necessary for beneficial effects to the tissue as a whole (e.g., in some embodiments, the exosomes affect the intercellular environment around the cells of the target tissue). Thus, in several embodiments, fusion of the exosome to another cell does not occur. In several embodiments, there is no cell-exosome contact, yet the exosomes still influence the recipient cells.
• a hydrolase is used to facilitate the liberation (e.g., secretion) of exosomes from cells.
• hydrolases that cleave one or more of ester bonds, sugars (e.g., DNA), ether bonds, peptide bonds, carbon- nitrogen bonds, acid anhyrides, carbon-carbon bonds, halide bonds, phosphorous-nitrogen bonds, sulpher-nitrogen bonds, carbon-phosphorous bonds, sulfur-sulfur bonds, and/or carbon-sulfur bonds are used.
• the hydrolases are DNAses (e.g., cleave sugars).
• Certain embodiments employ specific hydrolases, such as for example, one or more of lysosomal acid sphingomyelinase, secreted zinc-dependent acid sphingomyelinase, neutral sphingomyelinase, and alkaline sphingomyelinase.
• exosomes are administered to a subject in order to initiate the repair or regeneration of cells or tissue.
• the exosomes are derived from a stem cell.
• the stem cells are non- embryonic stem cells.
• the non-embryonic stem cells are adult stem cells.
• embryonic stem cells are optionally used as a source for exosomes.
• somatic cells are used as a source for exosomes.
• germ cells are used as a source for exosomes.
• exosomes are particularly suited to effect the repair or regeneration of damaged or diseased cells.
• exosomes are isolated from stem cells derived from the tissue to be treated.
• exosomes are derived from cardiac stem cells.
• Cardiac stem cells are obtained, in several embodiments, from various regions of the heart, including but not limited to the atria, septum, ventricles, auricola, and combinations thereof (e.g. , a partial or whole heart may be used to obtain cardiac stem cells in some embodiments).
• exosomes are derived from cells (or groups of cells) that comprise cardiac stem cells or can be manipulated in culture to give rise to cardiac stem cells (e.g., cardiospheres and/or cardiosphere derived cells (CDCs)). Further information regarding the isolation of cardiospheres can be found in United States Patent No. 8,268,619, issued on September 18, 2012, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference herein.
• the cardiac stem cells are cardiosphere- derived cells (CDCs). Further information regarding methods for the isolation of CDCs can be found in United States Patent Application No. 11/666,685, filed on April 21, 2008, and 13/412,051, filed on March 5, 2012, both of which are incorporated in their entirety by reference herein.
• stem cells may also be used, depending on the embodiment, including but not limited to bone marrow stem cells, adipose tissue derived stem cells, mesenchymal stem cells, induced pluripotent stem cells, hematopoietic stem cells, and neuronal stem cells.
• exosomes administration of exosomes is particularly advantageous because there are reduced complications due to immune rejection by the recipient.
• Certain types of cellular or gene therapies are hampered by the possible immune response of a recipient of the therapy.
• certain types of foreign cells e.g., not from the recipient
• recipient immune function As with organ transplants or tissue grafts, certain types of foreign cells (e.g., not from the recipient) are attacked and eliminated (or rendered partially or completely non-functional) by recipient immune function.
• One approach to overcome this is to co-administer immunosuppressive therapy, however this can be costly, and leads to a patient being subject to other infectious agents.
• exosomal therapy is particularly beneficial because the immune response is limited.
• this allows the use of exosomes derived from allogeneic cell sources (though in several embodiments, autologous sources may be used). Moreover, the reduced potential for immune response allows exosomal therapy to be employed in a wider patient population, including those that are immune-compromised and those that have hyperactive immune systems. Moreover, in several embodiments, because the exosomes do not carry a full complement of genetic material, there is a reduced risk of unwanted cellular growth (e.g., teratoma formation) post-administration.
• the exosomes can be derived, depending on the embodiment, from cells obtained from a source that is allogeneic, autologous, xenogeneic, or syngeneic with respect to the eventual recipient of the exosomes.
• master banks of exosomes that have been characterized for their expression of certain miRNAs and/or proteins can be generated and stored long-term for subsequent use in defined subjects on an "off-the-shelf basis.
• exosomes are isolated and then used without long-term or short-term storage (e.g., they are used as soon as practicable after their generation).
• exosomes need not be administered; rather the nucleic acid and/or protein carried by exosomes can be administered to a subject in need of tissue repair.
• exosomes are harvested as described herein and subjected to methods to liberate and collect their protein and/or nucleic acid contents.
• exosomes are lysed with a detergent (or non- detergent) based solution in order to disrupt the exosomal membrane and allow for the collection of proteins from the exosome.
• specific methods can then be optionally employed to identify and selected particularly desired proteins.
• nucleic acids are isolated using chaotropic disruption of the exosomes and subsequent isolation of nucleic acids.
• Nucleic acids that are isolated may include, but are not limited to DNA, DNA fragments, and DNA plasmids, total RNA, mRNA, tRNA, snRNA, saRNA, miRNA, rRNA, regulating RNA, non-coding and coding RNA, and the like.
• the RNA can be used as a template in an RT-PCR-based (or other amplification) method to generate large copy numbers (in DNA form) of the RNA of interest.
• the exosomal isolation and preparation of the RNA can optionally be supplemented by the in vitro synthesis and coadministration of that desired sequence.
• exosomes derived from cells are administered in combination with one or more additional agents.
• the exosomes are administered in combination with one or more proteins or nucleic acids derived from the exosome (e.g., to supplement the exosomal contents).
• the cells from which the exosomes are isolated are administered in conjunction with the exosomes.
• such an approach advantageously provides an acute and more prolonged duration of exosome delivery (e.g., acute based on the actual exosome delivery and prolonged based on the cellular delivery, the cells continuing to secrete exosomes post-delivery).
• exosomes are delivered in conjunction with a more traditional therapy, e.g., surgical therapy or pharmaceutical therapy. In several embodiments such combinations of approaches result in synergistic improvements in the viability and/or function of the target tissue.
• exosomes may be delivered in conjunction with a gene therapy vector (or vectors), nucleic acids (e.g., those used as siRNA or to accomplish RNA interference), and/or combinations of exosomes derived from other cell types.
• exosome administration can be by local or systemic administration.
• Local administration depending on the tissue to be treated, may in some embodiments be achieved by direct administration to a tissue (e.g., direct injection, such as intramyocardial injection). Local administration may also be achieved by, for example, lavage of a particular tissue (e.g., intra-intestinal or peritoneal lavage).
• systemic administration is used and may be achieved by, for example, intravenous and/or intra- arterial delivery.
• intracoronary delivery is used.
• the exosomes are specifically targeted to the damaged or diseased tissues.
• the exosomes are modified (e.g., genetically or otherwise) to direct them to a specific target site.
• modification may, in some embodiments, comprise inducing expression of a specific cell-surface marker on the exosome, which results in specific interaction with a receptor on a desired target tissue.
• the native contents of the exosome are removed and replaced with desired exogenous proteins or nucleic acids.
• the native contents of exosomes are supplemented with desired exogenous proteins or nucleic acids. In some embodiments, however, targeting of the exosomes is not performed.
• exosomes are modified to express specific nucleic acids or proteins, which can be used, among other things, for targeting, purification, tracking, etc. In several embodiments, however, modification of the exosomes is not performed. In some embodiments, the exosomes do not comprise chimeric molecules.
• exosomes are particularly advantageous for certain types of therapy because they can pass through blood vessels down to the size of the microvasculature, thereby allowing for significant penetration into a tissue. In some embodiments, this allows for delivery of the exosomes directly to central portion of the damaged or diseased tissue (e.g., to the central portion of a tumor or an area of infarcted cardiac tissue).
• use of exosomes is particularly advantageous because the exosomes can deliver their payload (e.g., the resident nucleic acids and/or proteins) across the blood brain barrier, which has historically presented an obstacle to many central nervous system therapies.
• exosomes may be delivered to the central nervous system by injection through the blood brain barrier.
• exosomes are particularly beneficial for administration because they permit lower profile delivery devices for administration (e.g., smaller size catheters and/or needles).
• the smaller size of exosomes enables their navigation through smaller and/or more convoluted portions of the vasculature, which in turn allows exosomes to be delivered to a greater portion of most target tissues.
• the dose of exosomes administered ranges from about 1.0 x 10 5 to about 1.0 x 10 9 exosomes, including about 1.0 x 10 5 to about 1.0 x 10 6 , about 1.0 x 10 6 to about 1.0 x 10 7 , about 1.0 x 10 7 to about 5.0 x 10 7 , about 5.0 x 10 7 to about 1.0 x 10 s , about 1.0 x 10 s to about 2.0 x 10 8 , about 2.0 x 10 8 to about 3.5 x 10 8 , about 3.5 x 10 8 to about 5.0 x 10 8 , about 5.0 x 10 8 to about 7.5 x 10 8 , about 7.5 x 10 8 to about 1.0 x 10 9 , and overlapping ranges thereof.
• the exosome dose is administered on a per kilogram basis, for example, about 1.0 x 10 5 exosomes/kg to about 1.0 x 10 9 exosomes/kg.
• exosomes are delivered in an amount based on the mass of the target tissue, for example about 1.0 x 10 5 exosomes/gram of target tissue to about 1.0 x 10 9 exosomes/gram of target tissue.
• exosomes are administered based on a ratio of the number of exosomes the number of cells in a particular target tissue, for example exosome:target cell ratio ranging from about 10 9 : 1 to about 1 : 1, including about 10 s : 1 , about 10 7 : 1 , about 10 6 : 1 , about 10 5 : 1 , about 10 4 : 1, about 10 3 : 1, about 10 2 : 1 , about 10: 1 , and ratios in between these ratios.
• exosome:target cell ratio ranging from about 10 9 : 1 to about 1 : 1, including about 10 s : 1 , about 10 7 : 1 , about 10 6 : 1 , about 10 5 : 1 , about 10 4 : 1, about 10 3 : 1, about 10 2 : 1 , about 10: 1 , and ratios in between these ratios.
• exosomes are administered in an amount about 10-fold to an amount of about 1 ,000,000-fold greater than the number of cells in the target tissue, including about 50-fold, about 100-fold, about 500-fold, about 1000-fold, about 10,000-fold, about 100,000-fold, about 500,000-fold, about 750,000- fold, and amounts in between these amounts. If the exosomes are to be administered in conjunction with the concurrent therapy (e.g. , cells that can still shed exosomes, pharmaceutical therapy, nucleic acid therapy, and the like) the dose of exosomes administered can be adjusted accordingly (e.g., increased or decreased as needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect).
• concurrent therapy e.g., cells that can still shed exosomes, pharmaceutical therapy, nucleic acid therapy, and the like
• the dose of exosomes administered can be adjusted accordingly (e.g., increased or decreased as needed to achieve the desired therapeutic effect).
• the exosomes are delivered in a single, bolus dose. In some embodiments, however, multiple doses of exosomes may be delivered. In certain embodiments, exosomes can be infused (or otherwise delivered) at a specified rate over time. In several embodiments, when exosomes are administered within a relatively short time frame after an adverse event (e.g., an injury or damaging event, or adverse physiological event such as an MI), their administration prevents the generation or progression of damage to a target tissue.
• an adverse event e.g., an injury or damaging event, or adverse physiological event such as an MI
• exosomes are administered within about 20 to about 30 minutes, within about 30 to about 40 minutes, within about 40 to about 50 minutes, within about 50 to about 60 minutes post-adverse event, the damage or adverse impact on a tissue is reduced (as compared to tissues that were not treated at such early time points).
• the administration is as soon as possible after an adverse event.
• the administration is as soon as practicable after an adverse event (e.g., once a subject has been stabilized in other respects).
• administration is within about 1 to about 2 hours, within about 2 to about 3 hours, within about 3 to about 4 hours, within about 4 to about 5 hours, within about 5 to about 6 hours, within about 6 to about 8 hours, within about 8 to about 10 hours, within about 10 to about 12 hours, and overlapping ranges thereof.
• Administration at time points that occur longer after an adverse event are effective at preventing damage to tissue, in certain additional embodiments.
• exosomes provide, at least in part, a portion of the indirect tissue regeneration effects seen as a result of certain cellular therapies.
• delivery of exosomes (alone or in combination with an adjunct agent such as nucleic acid) provide certain effects (e.g., paracrine effects) that serve to promote repair of tissue, improvement in function, increased viability, or combinations thereof.
• the protein content of delivered exosomes is responsible for at least a portion of the repair or regeneration of a target tissue.
• proteins that are delivered by exosomes may function to replace damaged, truncated, mutated, or otherwise mis-functioning or nonfunctional proteins in the target tissue.
• proteins delivered by exosomes initiate a signaling cascade that results in tissue repair or regeneration.
• miRNA delivery by exosomes is responsible, in whole or in part, for repair and/or regeneration of damaged tissue. As discussed above, miRNA delivery may operate to repress translation of certain messenger RNA (for example, those involved in programmed cell death), or may result in messenger RNA cleavage.
• these effects alter the cell signaling pathways in the target tissue and, as demonstrated by the data disclosed herein, can result in improved cell viability, increased cellular replication, beneficial anatomical effects, and/or improved cellular function, each of which in turn contributes to repair, regeneration, and/or functional improvement of a damaged or diseased tissue as a whole.
• compositions disclosed herein can be used to repair or regenerate cells or tissues affected by a wide variety of types of damage or disease.
• the compositions and methods disclosed herein can be used to treat inherited diseases, cellular or body dysfunctions, combat normal or abnormal cellular ageing, induce tolerance, modulate immune function.
• cells or tissues may be damaged by trauma, such as blunt impact, laceration, loss of blood flow and the like.
• Cells or tissues may also be damaged by secondary effects such as post-injury inflammation, infection, auto-digestion (for example, by proteases liberated as a result of an injury or trauma).
• the methods and compositions disclosed herein can also be used, in certain embodiments, to treat acute events, including but not limited to, myocardial infarction, spinal cord injury, stroke, and traumatic brain injury.
• the methods and compositions disclosed herein can be used to treat chronic diseases, including but not limited to neurological impairments or neurodegenerative disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, heat stroke, epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, dopaminergic impairment, dementia resulting from other causes such as AIDS, cerebral ischemia including focal cerebral ischemia, physical trauma such as crush or compression injury in the CNS, including a crush or compression injury of the brain, spinal cord, nerves or retina, and any other acute injury or insult producing neurodegeneration), immune deficiencies, facilitation of repopulation of bone marrow (e.g., after bone marrow ablation or transplantation), arthritis, auto-immune disorders, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, diabetes, muscle weakness (e
• exosomes can be administered to treat a variety of cancerous target tissues, including but not limited to those affected with one or of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), adrenocortical carcinoma, kaposi sarcoma, lymphoma, gastrointestinal cancer, appendix cancer, central nervous system cancer, basal cell carcinoma, bile duct cancer, bladder cancer, bone cancer, brain tumors (including but not limited to astrocytomas, spinal cord tumors, brain stem glioma, craniopharyngioma, ependymoblastoma, ependymoma, medulloblastoma, medulloepithelioma, breast cancer, bronchial tumors, burkitt lymphoma, cervical cancer, colon cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), chronic myeloproliferative disorders,
• ALL acute lymphoblastic
• exosomes are delivered to an infected target tissue, such as a target tissue infected with one or more bacteria, viruses, fungi, and/or parasites.
• exosomes are used to treat tissues with infections of bacterial origin (e.g., infectious bacteria is selected the group of genera consisting of Bordetella, Borrelia, Brucella, Campylobacter, Chlamydia and Chlamydophila, Clostridium, Corynebacterium, Enterococcus , Escherichia, Francisella, Haemophilus, Helicobacter, Legionella, Leptospira, Listeria, Mycobacterium, Mycoplasma, Neisseria, Pseudomonas, Rickettsia, Salmonella, Shigella, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Treponema, Vibrio, and Yersinia, and mutants or combinations thereof).
• infectious bacteria is selected the group of genera consisting of Bordetell
• the exosomes inhibit or prevent one or more bacterial functions, thereby reducing the severity and/or duration of an infection.
• administration of exosomes sensitizes the bacteria (or other pathogen) to an adjunct therapy (e.g., an antibiotic).
• the infection is viral in origin and the result of one or more viruses selected from the group consisting of adenovirus, Coxsackievirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis a virus, hepatitis b virus, hepatitis c virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, cytomegalovirus, ebola virus, human herpes virus type 8, HIV, influenza virus, measles virus, mumps virus, human papillomavirus, parainfluenza virus, poliovirus, rabies virus, respiratory syncytial virus, rubella virus, and varicella-zoster virus.
• viruses selected from the group consisting of adenovirus, Coxsackievirus, Epstein-Barr virus, hepatitis a virus, hepatitis b virus, hepatitis c virus, herpes simplex virus type 1, herpes simplex virus type 2, cytomegalovirus, ebola virus,
• Exosomes can be used to treat a wide variety of cell types as well, including but not limited to vascular cells, epithelial cells, interstitial cells, musculature (skeletal, smooth, and/or cardiac), skeletal cells (e.g., bone, cartilage, and connective tissue), nervous cells (e.g., neurons, glial cells, astrocytes, Schwann cells), liver cells, kidney cells, gut cells, lung cells, skin cells or any other cell in the body.
• vascular cells e.g., epithelial cells, interstitial cells, musculature (skeletal, smooth, and/or cardiac), skeletal cells (e.g., bone, cartilage, and connective tissue), nervous cells (e.g., neurons, glial cells, astrocytes, Schwann cells), liver cells, kidney cells, gut cells, lung cells, skin cells or any other cell in the body.
• vascular cells e.g., epithelial cells, interstitial cells, musculature (skeletal, smooth
• compositions comprising exosomes for use in repair or regeneration of tissues that have been adversely impacted by damage or disease.
• the compositions comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of exosomes.
• the exosomes comprise nucleic acids, proteins, or combinations thereof.
• the nucleic acids within the exosomes comprise one or more types of RNA (though certain embodiments involved exosomes comprising DNA).
• the RNA in several embodiments, comprises one or more of messenger RNA, snRNA, saRNA, miRNA, and combinations thereof.
• the miRNA comprises one or more of miR-26a, miR27-a, let-7e, mir-19b, miR-125b, mir-27b, let-7a, miR-19a, let-7c, miR-140-3p, miR-125a-5p, miR-150, miR- 155, mir-210, let-7b, miR-24, miR-423-5p, miR-22, let-7f, miR-146a, and combinations thereof.
• the compositions comprise, consist of, or consist essentially of a synthetic microRNA and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
• the synthetic microRNA comprises miR146a.
• the miRNA is pre-miRNA (e.g., not mature), while in some embodiments, the miRNA is mature, and in still additional embodiments, combinations of pre-miRNA and mature miRNA are used.
• the compositions comprise exosomes derived from a population of cells, as well as one or more cells from the population (e.g. , a combination of exosomes and their "parent cells").
• the compositions comprise a plurality of exosomes derived from a variety of cell types (e.g., a population of exosomes derived from a first and a second type of "parent cell”).
• the compositions disclosed herein may be used alone, or in conjunction with one or more adjunct therapeutic modalities (e.g., pharmaceutical, cell therapy, gene therapy, protein therapy, surgery, etc.).
• exosomes In order to isolate exosomes, cultured cells were grown to 100% confluence in serum free media. For this experiment, exosome yield and RNA content was compared between cultured CDCs and normal human dermal fibroblast (NHDF) cells. It shall be appreciated that, in several embodiments, exosomes may be isolated from other cell types, and may be harvested at time points were confluence is less than 100%. After about 15 days in culture, the cells were displaced from the culture vessel and centrifuged to remove cellular debris.
• NHDF normal human dermal fibroblast
• EXOQUICK exosome precipitation solution System Biosciences, Mountain View, CA, USA
• the cells were centrifuged (1500 x g for 30 min; though in some embodiments, other conditions are used) to yield an exosome pellet fraction and a supernatant fraction.
• the incubation in exosome precipitation solution enhances isolation of exosomes (or the contents thereof) without the need for ultracentrifugation.
• ultracentrifugation is optionally used.
• other reagents and/or incubation conditions may be used, depending on the downstream use of the exosomes (or their contents) following exosome isolation.
• PBS incubations are used when exosomes are to be studied by electron microscopy or flow cytometry.
• Cell growth medium exosome depleted in some embodiments
• Lysis buffer is used in certain embodiments, wherein protein and/or RNA is to be isolated from the exosomes.
• a schematic of the isolation process is shown in Figure 2A. The RNA concentration was determined for both cell types, and both isolated fractions.
• the exosome pellet fraction for both CDCs and NHDF cells contain the vast majority of RNA.
• CD81 encodes a protein that is a member of the transmembrane 4 superfamily (also known as the tetraspanin family). This family of proteins mediate a variety of signal transduction events involved in, for example, regulation of cell development, activation, growth and motility. These proteins also complex with integrins and thus may play a role in cell attachment and fusion.
• LAMP1 also known as CD107a
• Ezrin or cytovillin
• ALIX Apoptosis-Linked gene 2 Interacting protein X
• Figure 3D depicts scanning electron microscopic images of at various magnifications.
• Figure 3E shows a histogram of exosome diameter versus frequency. Exosomes range in diameter from between about 15 nm to about 205 nm, with the majority of the exosomes in the range of about 15 nm to about 95 nm in diameter.
• CDCs are a rich source of both mRNA and protein, which may play a role in the indirect regenerative effects realized after CDC administration.
• Exosomes were isolated from CDCs or NHDF cells as discussed above. A portion of the exosome pellet fraction was then co-incubated with cultured neonatal rat ventricular myocytes (NRVM) in chamber slides for approximately 7 days. At the end of seven days, the co-cultures were evaluated by immunohistochemistry for changes in indices of proliferation or cell death (as measured by markers of apoptosis). A schematic for this protocol is shown in Figure 4.
• Figure 5A shows data related to death of the NRVM cells, as measured by TUNEL staining.
• Figure 5C shows confocal fluorescent microscopic analysis of TUNEL staining in NRCM incubated without exosomes, with exosomes from NHDF cells, or with exosomes from CDCs.
• HUVEC Human umbilical vein endothelial cells
• NRCM neonatal rat cardiomyocyte media
• MRCM supplemented with CDC-derived exosomes
• MRCM supplemented with NHDF-derived exosomes
• VCBM vascular cell basal media
• VCGM vascular cell growth media
• MI myocardial infarction
• SCID/Beige mice of approximately 3 months of age by ligation of the mid- left anterior descending coronary artery and exosome preparations or vehicle was injected under direct visualization at two peri-infarct sites.
• other delivery routes e.g., intracoronary, intramyocardially, IV, etc. are used in some embodiments.
• IMDM Iscove's Modified Dulbecco's Medium
• MSC-XO mesenchymal stem cells
• NHDF-XO exosomes isolated from NHDF
• CDC-XO exosomes isolated from CDCs
• exosomes derived from CDCs resulted in an increase in the amount of regenerated cardiac tissue (see e.g., Figure 11C as compared to Figures 11A-11B). Echo data for MSC-XO not shown. Additional data relating to anatomical improvements (e.g. regenerated myocardium) is shown in Figure 12.
• Figures 12A-12D depict representative Masson's trichrome stained sections of cardiac tissue from each of the various treatment groups. Comparing Figure 12D to Figure 12 A, demonstrates that exosomes derived from CDCs increase the wall thickness and reduce the chamber volume, which translates to improved cardiac function.
• Exosomes derived from NHDF (12B) also increased wall thickness as compared to control, but not to the same extent as exosomes from CDCs. In contrast, exosomes from MSCs failed to regenerate myocardium to the same degree as either NHDF or CDCs.
• Figure 12E depicts data relating to the percent viability of tissue in the risk region (the area around the infarct site). Exosomes derived from CDCs significantly improved cell viability as compared to control (p ⁇ 0.01) as well as compared to NHDF exosomes (p ⁇ 0.01). The viability in the risk region was not significantly different when compared to MSC-XO treated mice.
• Figure 12F shows the absolute amounts of scar mass resulting from the induced myocardial infarction.
• NHDF exosomes did not significantly reduce scar mass as compared to control, however, exosomes derived from CDCs significantly reduced the scar mass, not only compared to control, but as compared to all other treatment groups (p ⁇ 0.05 v. MSC-XO, p ⁇ 0.01 v. control and NHDF-XO). Not only does this represent an anatomical improvement, because scar tissue has reduced contractility, but the reduction in scar tissue is often associated with improved functionality.
• Figure 12G indicates that exosomes derived from CDCs yield a significant increase in the overall viable mass of cardiac tissue as compared to control or any other treatment group (p ⁇ 0.05).
• Figure 12H indicates that exosomes derived from CDCs result in a significant increase in cardiac wall thickness in the infarct region (as compared to both control and MSC exosomes, p ⁇ 0.01, and compared to NHDF exosomes, p ⁇ 0.05). Again, this increased thickness, in several embodiments, contributes, at least in part, to increased cardiac function.
• exosomes results in an increase in the viability of cells or tissue in the region of damage or disease.
• exosomes themselves need not be administered, but rather the contents or a portion of the contents of the exosomes can be administered (e.g., nucleic acids, proteins, or combinations thereof) to result in functional and/or anatomical improvements.
• administration of exosomes to a damaged or diseased tissue can ameliorate one or more secondary effects of the damage or disease, such secondary effects, often leading to potentiation of injury or loss of function in the damaged tissue.
• inflammation is one such secondary effect.
• the infiltration of inflammatory cells into a tissue that has been damaged or is subject to disease can oftentimes induce additional damage and or, loss of function.
• inflammatory cells may initiate certain pathways, which result in the further destruction of cells, including those that are not directly injured or diseased.
• the expression level of a panel of inflammatory markers was evaluated one month post myocardial infarction.
• exosomes derived from CDCs are associated with lower levels of inflammatory associated markers.
• exosomes derived from CDCs display significantly reduced expression of the inflammatory marker (see e.g., expression for fractalkine, GCSF, IL12p40p70, MIP-lg).
• the methods disclosed herein result in a decrease in the expression of (or inflammatory activity associated with) one or more of BLC, CD30L, eotaxin, eotaxin 2, FasL, fractalkine, GCSF, GM-CSF, interferon gamma, IL-la, IL-lb, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL- 12p40p70, IL-20p70, IL-13, IL-17, I-TAC, KC, leptin, LIX, lymphotactin, MCP-1, MCSF, MIG, MIP-la, MIP-lg, RANTES, SDF-1, TCA-3, TECK, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, sTNF-Rl, and sTNF-R2.
• administration of exosomes results in a reduction in inflammatory markers at time points earlier than 30 days.
• immediate reduction in inflammatory markers post injury results in less subsequent damage to the tissue due to inflammation.
• inflammatory markers are reduced by exosomes administration on a timeframe ranging from about 2 to about 5 hours, about five to about seven hours, about seven to about 10 hours, about 10 to about 15 hours, about 15 to about 20 hours, about 20 to about 24 hours, and overlapping ranges thereof.
• exosomes administration results in a reduction of inflammatory markers on a timeframe from about one day to about three days, about three days to about five days, about five days to about 10 days, about 10 days to about 15 days, about 15 days to about 20 days, about 20 days to about 30 days, and overlapping ranges thereof. Additionally, in several embodiments, administration of exosomes reduces the expression and/or infiltration of inflammatory mediators for longer periods of time.
• exosomes are capable of facilitating repair and/or regeneration of diseased or damaged tissues important, it is also important to understand processes for the efficient collection of exosomes. Understanding the mechanisms involved in exosomes secretion, and several embodiments, allow for optimization of the efficiency of exosome isolation.
• exosomes are membrane bound bodies that are derived from the endocytic recycling pathway.
• endocytic vesicles form at the plasma membrane and fuse to form early endosomes.
• intraluminal vesicles known as multivesicular bodies (MVB) bud off into the intracytoplasmic lumen.
• MVB multivesicular bodies
• Sphingomyelinases are enzymes that cleave certain lipids and may play a role in exosomal release.
• experiments were performed with an inhibitor of neutral sphingomyelinase (GW4869, Cayman Chemical).
• CDCs were incubated with either DMSO (control) or GW4869 and thereafter, exosomes were collected as described above.
• Figure 14A shows data related to the dose-dependent reduction in exosome secretion from CDCs due to exposure of cultured CDCs to GW4869.
• Figure 14B shows data that confirms that the reduction in secretion is not due to reduced CDC viability.
• mice were subjected to acute myocardial infarction (as above) and treated with either exosomes derived from CDCs that were exposed to DMSO (control) or exosomes derived from CDCs that were exposed to GW4869.
• Figure 14C shows that, as a result of exposure to GW4869, LVEF failed to improve, whereas, in contrast, exosomes derived from CDCs exposed to DMSO (solvent control) resulted in improvements in LVEF.
• Figures 15A-15B show MRI data depicting greater anatomical improvements with administration of the exosomes from DMSO exposed CDCs (15B), and lack of anatomical improvements after administration of exosomes from CDCs exposed to GW4869.
• Figures 16A-16B further demonstrate that exosomes play a critical role in cardiac tissue repair and regeneration resulting from CDC administration.
• treatment of CDCs with the inhibitor of exosome secretion GW4869 and administration of the resultant exosomes results in decreased cardiac wall thickness after acute MI.
• incubation of CDCs with DMSO does not adversely impact the beneficial effects of the exosomes, as demonstrated by the increased wall thickness.
• Additional data, shown in Figures 17A-17D further demonstrate inhibition of exosome release from CDCs results in reduced positive benefits (e.g., reduced cell viability in the infarct region, increased scar mass, reduced viable tissue mass, and decreased wall thickness).
• cells that are to be used as a source of exosomes can be treated with one or more agents that prevent inhibition of exosome release and/or one or more agents that promote exosome release.
• the eventual efficacy of cellular repair or regeneration using exosomes can be modified by particular treatments of the cells that give rise to the exosomes.
• exosomes alone are administered to result in cellular repair regeneration, while in some embodiments, exosomes are administered in combination with the cells that give rise to those exosomes (e.g., a combination cell-exosome therapy).
• the latter approach potentiates the regenerative effects because the cells can continue to produce exosomes post-administration.
• neither exosomes nor cells need be administered, rather isolated products from the exosomes or the cells (e.g., nucleic acids or proteins, or combinations thereof) can be administered to yield the positive regenerative effects.
• products from exosomes can be administered in order to provide regenerative effects on damaged or diseased cells or tissues.
• DNA can be isolated from exosomes
• RNA can be isolated from exosomes (in addition to or in place of DNA).
• RNA is known to be carried by exosomes, such as, for example, microRNA (miRNA or miR).
• miRNAs function as post-transcriptional regulators, often through binding to complementary sequences on target messenger RNA transcripts (mRNAs), thereby resulting in translational repression, target mRNA degradation and/or gene silencing.
• Exosomes were prepared as described above from both CDCs and NHDF, and total RNA was isolated from the exosomes by established methods. cDNA was generated from the total RNA and used as a template in RT PCR reactions to determine the expression levels of a panel of miRNAs.
• Figure 18A depicts expression levels of various miRNA in CDCs as compared to NHDF cells (data are expressed as fold change relative to NHDF expression, which is the "0" value on the X- axis). As depicted, there are a variety of miRNAs that exhibit differential expression between the CDCs and the control cells.
• miRNAs that exhibit an increase in expression over control cell are candidates for subsequent use in tissue regeneration (e.g., by administration of exosomes containing such miRNAs, or alternatively, direct administration of the miRNAs).
• miR146a exhibits over a 250 fold increased expression in CDCs.
• Figure 18B shows a listing of those miRNA that are equivalently expressed in NHDF cells as compared to CDCs (equivalence was set for this embodiment as a less than 10-fold change in expression), those that are significantly upregulated in CDCs (right) and those that are significantly downregulated in CDCs (left). In some embodiments, however, other miRNAs exhibit altered expression, depending on the cell types tested.
• miRNAs that exhibit a decrease in expression as compared to control cells are candidates for subsequent use in tissue regeneration.
• Whether the miRNA expression is up or down regulated may be related to whether the miRNA is involved in a pathway in the context of subsequent suppression of translation, or alternatively, disk inhibition of translation.
• FIG. 19 A schematic for the experiment is shown in Figure 19, where an miR-mimic is produced (corresponding to mil46a in size and structure, but derived from C. elegans, so it has no specificity to human mRNA) that is complementary to a protein coding region of a target gene that is important for NRVM survival.
• NRVM were transfected with 40 nM of either mi 146a or control miRNA and grown as a monolayer (10% media). Cellular viability was assessed at 6 by calcein fluorescence and 12 hours by ETHD-1 fluorescence, respectively ( Figures 20A and 20B, respectively).
• cellular regeneration is accomplished through the administration of micro RNAs alone (e.g., with a suitable physiological carrier, but without exosomes or cells).
• the administration of exosomes and/or cells can be potentiated by administration of micro RNA prior to, concurrently with, or subsequent to administration of exosomes and/or cells.
• miRNAs were evaluated in an in vivo MI model. According to the MI protocol above an infarction was generated in mice that had received miR146a or a mimic control. The miRNAs were delivered at a concentration of 50 nm by peri-infarct injection. Functional evaluation was performed at 15 and 30 days post-MI, and tissue regeneration was assessed at 30 days post-MI by methods discussed above. Also as discussed above, other concentrations or delivery routes of miRNAs (or exosomes and/or cells) can be used, depending on the embodiment.
• FIG. 21 A hearts from mice receiving control mimic miRNA (left heart) have a larger infarct region as grossly compared to those receiving miR146a (right heart).
• Figures 21B and 21 C further corroborate that gross comparison.
• Figure 21 B shows Masson's Trichrome staining of an infarcted heart from a mouse that received miR mimic as a control.
• the wall thickness is notably thinner and has less muscle fiber than the heart shown in Figure 21 C, which is from an infarcted heart of a mouse treated with miR- 146a.
• This histological analysis indicates that treatment with miR-146a results in reduction of collagen (e.g., scar formation) and tissue regeneration post-infarct.
• miR146a even if administered alone (e.g., without associated stem cells, such as CDCs, and without exosomes) are highly efficacious in repairing damaged cardiac tissue, not only anatomically by reducing scar size and increasing viable tissue, but also in terms of function. This dual impact is clinically profound, as regeneration of cardiac tissue or reduction in scar size alone, while important in development of cardiac therapy, falls short of the ultimate goal of treating a patient post-MI.
• the administration of microRNAs such as, for example those that are upregulated in therapeutically efficacious cells, such as CDCs, leads unexpectedly to both functional and anatomical repair of damaged cardiac tissue.
• miR146a is particularly efficacious.
• the efficacy of the miRNAs alone may be due, at least in part, various physiological mechanisms induced by the miRNA.
• the administration of miRNA may support increased metabolic activity of cells and/or increased protein synthesis, which may enable cells to better survive adverse conditions that result from cardiac injury or disease.
• microRNA may also be efficacious due to the limited induction of inflammation that results from miRNA administration.
• Figure 22 shows differential gene expression data that was collected after cardiomyocytes were transfected with miR146a or a mimic control in vitro. Data was collected by gene chip analysis by established methods.
• cardiomyocytes treated with miR146a resulted in upregulation of MRPS12 (a mitochondrial ribosomal protein), CTH (cystothionase), MTFP1 (mitochondrial fission process protein 1), and SLC50A1 (a sugar transporter), which may be related to increased metabolic activity of the treated cardiomyoctes and/or protein synthesis.
• MRPS12 mitochondrial ribosomal protein
• CTH cystothionase
• MTFP1 mitochondrial fission process protein 1
• SLC50A1 a sugar transporter
• the reduction in expression of these genes may decrease the amount and/or intensity of immune activity in the cardiomyocytes.
• the treated cardiomyocytes may enjoy improved viability, despite the inflammatory response that can result after cardiac injury.
• This improved viability may in turn, in several embodiments, be a mechanism by which miRNAs can provide positive therapeutic benefits (both anatomic and functional).
• miRNAs that are upregulated also, in several embodiments, can be used to effect positive therapeutic outcomes.
• miR210 which is upregulated in CDCs approximately 30-fold (as compared to NHDF), improved cardiomyocyte viability in a dose-response fashion, when cardiomyocytes were exposed to H 2 0 2 .
• Figure 23 shows this data.
• Increasing the amount of miR210 transfected from 40nM up to 320nM resulted in greater than a 10-fold increase in cardiomyocyte viability (based on calcein fluorescence).
• the improved ability of cells such as cardiomyocytes to survive adverse conditions after being contacted with selected miRNAs supports the use, according to several embodiments disclosed herein, of miRNAs alone to treat cardiac tissue damage.
• the administration of miRNAs in a therapeutic context comprises delivery of the miRNAs directly to a target cell (such as a cardiomyocyte).
• that delivery is accomplished by administering the miRNA in a vehicle that enables the miRNA to contact and/or enter the target cell.
• a lipid-based transfection agent e.g., adenovirus, adeno-associated virus, lentivirus, etc.
• particle based agents e.g., gene guns.
• the miRNA can be delivered, in several embodiments, in concentrations ranging from about 10 nM to about 10 ⁇ , including about 10 nM to about 20 nM, about 20 nM to about 30 nM, about 30 nM to about 40 nM, about 40 nM to about 50 nM, about 50 nM to about 60 nM, about 60 nM to about 70 nM, about 70 nM to about 80 nM, about 80 nM to about 90 nM, about 90 nM to about 100 nM, about 100 nM to about 150 nM, about 150 nM to about 200 nM, about 200 nM to about 400 nM, about 400 nM to about 800 nM, about 800 nM to about 1 ⁇ , about 1 ⁇ to about 2 ⁇ , about 2 ⁇ to about 4 ⁇ , about 4 ⁇ to about 6 ⁇ , about 6 ⁇ to about 8 ⁇ , about 8 ⁇ to about 10 ⁇ , and any concentration between these ranges

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