U.S. patent application number 13/509564 was filed with the patent office on 2012-10-11 for mannose-containing solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection of nucleic acids.
Invention is credited to Thorsten Mutzke.
Application Number | 20120258046 13/509564 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42126466 |
Filed Date | 2012-10-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120258046 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mutzke; Thorsten |
October 11, 2012 |
MANNOSE-CONTAINING SOLUTION FOR LYOPHILIZATION, TRANSFECTION AND/OR
INJECTION OF NUCLEIC ACIDS
Abstract
The present invention is directed to (the use of) a solution
containing at least one nucleic acid (sequence) and free mannose
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, particularly of
RNA and mRNA. The inventive solution exhibits a positive effect on
stabilization of the nucleic acid (sequence) during lyophilization
and storage but also leads to a considerable increase of the
transfection efficiency of a nucleic acid. It thus also increases
in vivo expression of a protein encoded by such a nucleic acid upon
increased transfection rate. The present invention is furthermore
directed to a method of lyophilization using the mannose-containing
solution, to pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, kits, first and
second medical uses applying such a mannose-containing solution
and/or a nucleic acid (sequence) lyophilized or resuspended with
such a solution.
Inventors: |
Mutzke; Thorsten;
(Reutlingen, DE) |
Family ID: |
42126466 |
Appl. No.: |
13/509564 |
Filed: |
November 8, 2010 |
PCT Filed: |
November 8, 2010 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2010/006788 |
371 Date: |
May 11, 2012 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
424/9.1 ;
424/184.1; 435/440; 514/44A; 514/44R; 536/23.1; 536/24.3;
536/24.33; 536/24.5 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A61K 47/26 20130101;
A61K 31/7088 20130101; A61K 2039/53 20130101; C12N 15/87 20130101;
A61K 39/0011 20130101; A61K 48/00 20130101; A61P 37/04 20180101;
A61K 47/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
424/9.1 ;
435/440; 514/44.R; 514/44.A; 536/23.1; 536/24.5; 536/24.3;
536/24.33; 424/184.1 |
International
Class: |
A61K 31/7088 20060101
A61K031/7088; A61K 31/713 20060101 A61K031/713; A61P 37/04 20060101
A61P037/04; C07H 21/04 20060101 C07H021/04; C07H 21/02 20060101
C07H021/02; C12N 15/63 20060101 C12N015/63; A61K 49/00 20060101
A61K049/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 9, 2009 |
EP |
PCT/EP2009/008804 |
Claims
1. A method of using a solution, wherein the solution comprises at
least one nucleic acid sequence and a free, unconjugated and
non-covalently bound mannose for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection of the nucleic acid sequence, wherein the solution
enhances the transfection efficiency of the nucleic acid and/or the
expression of a protein encoded by the nucleic acid sequence.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the mannose concentration of the
solution is in the range of about 0.01 to about 10% (w/w),
including a concentration of about 0.01 to about 10% (w/w), a
concentration of about 0.1 to about 7.5% (w/w), a concentration of
about 0.5 to about 5% (w/w), a concentration of about 1 to about 4%
(w/w), or a concentration of about 2 to about 4% (w/w), including a
concentration of about 2.5% (w/w).
3. The method of claim 1 or 2, wherein the mannose is selected from
.alpha.-D-Mannofuranose, .beta.-D-Mannofuranose,
.alpha.-D-Mannopyranose and/or .beta.-D-Mannopyranose.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution is present in an
osmolarity in the range of about 200 mosmol/l to about 400
mosmol/l.
5. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution additionally
contains an isotonic buffer or its components wherein the isotonic
buffer or its components are selected from phosphate-buffered
saline (PBS), TRIS-buffered saline (TBS), Hank's balanced salt
solution (HBSS), Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS), standard
saline citrate (SSC), HEPES-buffered saline (HBS), Grey's balanced
salt solution (GBSS), or normal saline (NaCl), or hypotonic
(saline) solutions with addition of glucose or dextrose.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution additionally
contains lactic acid selected from free lactic acid (IUPAC
systematic name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid), including its optical
isomers L-(+)-lactic acid, (S)-lactic acid, D-(-)-lactic acid or
(R)-lactic acid, or its biologically active optical isomer
L-(+)-lactic acid, a salt or an anion thereof, selected from
sodium-lactate, potassium-lactate, or Al3+-lactate,
NH.sub.4+-lactate, Fe-lactate, Li-lactate, Mg-lactate, Ca-lactate,
Mn-lactate or Ag-lactate, or is selected from Ringer's lactate
(RiLa), lactated Ringer's solution (main content sodium lactate,
also termed "Hartmann's Solution" in the UK), acetated Ringer's
solution, or is selected from lactate containing water or
ortho-lactate-containing solutions.
7. The method of claim 1, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is
selected from DNA, including genomic DNA, single-stranded DNA
molecules, double-stranded DNA molecules, coding DNA, DNA primers,
DNA probes, immunostimulatory DNA, (short) DNA oligonucleotides
((short) oligodesoxyribonucleotides), or is selected from PNA
(peptide nucleic acid) or is selected from RNA, including (short)
RNA oligonucleotides ((short) oligoribonucleotides), a coding RNA,
a messenger RNA (mRNA), an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an
antisense RNA, a micro RNA or riboswitches, ribozymes aptamers,
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA),
and/or a viral RNA (vRNA).
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the solution additionally
comprises an additive selected from mannite, proteins, peptides,
amino acids, alcohols, carbohydrates, metals or metal ions,
surfactants, polymers or complexing agents, and/or a buffer.
9. A lyophilized nucleic acid, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is
selected from DNA, including genomic DNA, single-stranded DNA
molecules, double-stranded DNA molecules, coding DNA, DNA primers,
DNA probes, immunostimulatory DNA, (short) DNA oligonucleotides
((short) oligodesoxyribonucleotides), or is selected from PNA
(peptide nucleic acid) or is selected from RNA, including (short)
RNA oligonucleotides ((short) oligoribonucleotides), a coding RNA,
a messenger RNA (mRNA), an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an
antisense RNA, a micro RNA or riboswitches, ribozymes aptamers,
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA),
and/or a viral RNA (vRNA), and wherein the sequence is obtained by
lyophilizing (freeze-drying) the nucleic acid from a solution
according to claim 1.
10. The lyophilized nucleic acid sequence of claim 9, wherein the
residual water content of the lyophilized nucleic acid sequence is
reduced to a content of about 0.5% (w/w) to about 10% (w/w),
including a content of about 1% (w/w) to about 5% (w/w), a content
of about 2% (w/w) to about 4% (w/w), a content of about 3% (w/w),
or a content of about 3% (w/w).+-.2% (w/w) or 3% (w/w).+-.1%
(w/w).
11. The lyophilized nucleic acid sequence of claim 9 or 10, wherein
the relative integrity of the lyophilized nucleic acid sequence has
a relative integrity of at least about 70%.
12. The lyophilized nucleic acid sequence of claim 9, wherein the
nucleic acid is RNA or an RNA, complexed with a cationic or
polycationic compound.
13. A method of preparing a lyophilized nucleic acid sequence as
defined according to claim 9, comprising the following steps: a)
optionally providing a nucleic acid sequence containing solution as
defined according to claim 1; b) freezing the nucleic acid sequence
containing solution, obtained according to step a); c) drying the
frozen nucleic acid sequence containing solution, obtained
according to step b), via sublimation; d) optionally floating the
lyophilized nucleic acid sequence obtained according to step c)
with an inert gas selected from nitrogen, or a noble gas, including
helium, neon, argon, xenon, and/or krypton; and e) optionally
sealing the lyophilized nucleic acid sequence obtained according to
step c) or d).
14. The method of claim 13, wherein the freezing in step b) occurs
at a temperature in the range between -20.degree. C. and
-80.degree. C., including a range between -30.degree. C. and
-60.degree. C., a range between -40.degree. C. and -50.degree. C.,
or a temperature of about -47.degree. C.
15. The method of claim 13, wherein the drying in step c) occurs in
a primary drying step c1) and a secondary drying step c2), wherein
the primary drying step c1) is carried out at a pressure including
a pressure in a range of about 980 to about 1045 mbar, or a
pressure in a range of about 0.001 mbar to about 0.2 mbar, a range
of about 0.01 mbar to about 0.1 mbar, or a range of about 0.025
mbar to about 0.075 mbar, or a pressure of about 0.05 mbar and/or
is carried out at a temperature of about -40.degree. C. to about
+20.degree. C., and/or wherein the secondary drying step c2) is
carried out at a temperature range of about +10.degree. C. to about
+40.degree. C., including a range of about +25.degree. C. to about
+35.degree. C., or a temperature of about 30.degree. C., and/or a
pressure of about 0.001 mbar to about 0.05 mbar, including a range
of about 0.001 mbar to about 0.025 mbar, a range of about 0.005
mbar to about 0.015 mbar, or a pressure of about 0.01 mbar.
16. At least one lyophilized nucleic acid sequence as defined
according to claim 9 for use as a medicament.
17. A solution as defined according to claim 1 or at least one
lyophilized nucleic acid as defined according to claim 9 for use in
the prophylaxis, treatment and/or amelioration of diseases selected
from cancer or tumor diseases, infectious diseases, including
viral, bacterial or protozoological infectious diseases, autoimmune
diseases, allergies or allergic diseases, monogenetic diseases,
including hereditary diseases, or genetic diseases, diseases which
have a genetic inherited background and which are typically caused
by a single gene defect, cardiovascular diseases or neuronal
diseases.
18. A pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one
lyophilized nucleic acid as defined according to claim 9 and
optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or
vehicle.
19. The pharmaceutical composition of claim 18, wherein the
pharmaceutical composition is a vaccine.
20. A kit of parts, comprising in one or more parts of the kit at
least one lyophilized nucleic acid as defined according to claim 9,
and optionally in one or more parts of the kit additives as defined
according to claim 8, and in one or more parts of the kit water, a
liquid and/or a buffer or solution as defined according to claim 1,
and optionally technical instructions with information on the
administration and dosage of the lyophilized nucleic acid.
21. A solution comprising at least one nucleic acid sequence and a
free, unconjugated and non-covalently bound mannose for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection of the nucleic acid
sequence, wherein the solution enhances the transfection efficiency
of the nucleic acid and/or the expression of a protein encoded by
the nucleic acid sequence.
22. The solution of claim 21, wherein the mannose concentration of
the solution is in the range of about 0.01 to about 10% (w/w),
including a concentration of about 0.01 to about 10% (w/w), a
concentration of about 0.1 to about 7.5% (w/w), a concentration of
about 0.5 to about 5% (w/w), a concentration of about 1 to about 4%
(w/w), or a concentration of about 2 to about 4% (w/w), including a
concentration of about 2.5% (w/w).
23. The solution of claim 21 or 22, wherein the mannose is selected
from .alpha.-D-Mannofuranose, .beta.-D-Mannofuranose,
.alpha.-D-Mannopyranose and/or .beta.-D-Mannopyranose.
24. The solution of claim 21, wherein the solution is present in an
osmolarity in the range of about 200 mosmol/l to about 400
mosmol/l.
25. The solution of claim 21, wherein the solution additionally
contains an isotonic buffer or its components wherein the isotonic
buffer or its components are selected from phosphate-buffered
saline (PBS), TRIS-buffered saline (TBS), Hank's balanced salt
solution (HBSS), Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS), standard
saline citrate (SSC), HEPES-buffered saline (HBS), Grey's balanced
salt solution (GBSS), or normal saline (NaCl), or hypotonic
(saline) solutions with addition of glucose or dextrose.
26. The solution of claim 21, wherein the solution additionally
contains lactic acid selected from free lactic acid (IUPAC
systematic name: 2-hydroxypropanoic acid), including its optical
isomers L-(+)-lactic acid, (S)-lactic acid, D-(-)-lactic acid or
(R)-lactic acid, or its biologically active optical isomer
L-(+)-lactic acid, a salt or an anion thereof, selected from
sodium-lactate, potassium-lactate, or Al3+-lactate,
NH.sub.4+-lactate, Fe-lactate, Li-lactate, Mg-lactate, Ca-lactate,
Mn-lactate or Ag-lactate, or is selected from Ringer's lactate
(RiLa), lactated Ringer's solution (main content sodium lactate,
also termed "Hartmann's Solution" in the UK), acetated Ringer's
solution, or is selected from lactate containing water or
ortho-lactate-containing solutions.
27. The solution of claim 21, wherein the nucleic acid sequence is
selected from DNA, including genomic DNA, single-stranded DNA
molecules, double-stranded DNA molecules, coding DNA, DNA primers,
DNA probes, immunostimulatory DNA, (short) DNA oligonucleotides
((short) oligodesoxyribonucleotides), or is selected from PNA
(peptide nucleic acid) or is selected from RNA, including (short)
RNA oligonucleotides ((short) oligoribonucleotides), a coding RNA,
a messenger RNA (mRNA), an immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an
antisense RNA, a micro RNA or riboswitches, ribozymes aptamers,
ribosomal RNA (rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA),
and/or a viral RNA (vRNA).
28. The solution of claim 21, wherein the solution additionally
comprises an additive selected from mannite, proteins, peptides,
amino acids, alcohols, carbohydrates, metals or metal ions,
surfactants, polymers or complexing agents, and/or a buffer.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application represents the U.S. National Stage
Application of International Application No. PCT/EP2010/006788,
filed Nov. 8, 2010, which claims priority to International
Application No. PCT/EP2009/008804, filed Dec. 9, 2009, all of which
are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety for all
purposes.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is directed to (the use of) a solution
containing at least one nucleic acid (sequence) and free mannose
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, particularly of
RNA and mRNA. The inventive solution exhibits a positive effect on
stabilization of the nucleic acid (sequence) during lyophilization
and storage but also leads to a considerable increase of the
transfection efficiency of a nucleic acid. It thus also increases
in vivo expression of a protein encoded by such a nucleic acid upon
increased transfection rate. The present invention is furthermore
directed to a method of lyophilization using the mannose-containing
solution, to pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, kits, first and
second medical uses applying such a mannose-containing solution
and/or a nucleic acid (sequence) lyophilized or resuspended with
such a solution.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In gene therapy and many other therapeutically relevant
biochemical and biotechnological applications the use of nucleic
acids for therapeutic and diagnostic purposes is of major
importance. As an example, rapid progress has occurred in recent
years in the field of gene therapy and promising results have been
achieved. Nucleic acids are therefore regarded as important tools
for gene therapy and prophylactic and therapeutic vaccination
against infectious and malignant diseases.
[0004] Nucleic acids, both DNA and RNA, have been used widely in
gene therapy, either in naked or in complexed form. In this
context, the application of nucleic acids and particularly of RNA
for therapeutic vaccination is revised permanently. On the one
hand, nucleic acids and particularly RNA or mRNA molecules can be
optimized for a more efficient transcription rate. The 5' Cap
structure, the untranslated and translated regions are typically
modified to stabilize the molecule or to change its characteristics
to enhance its translation properties (see e.g. Pascolo, S. (2008),
Handb Exp Pharmacol (183): 221-35). Further, different formulations
of nucleic acids and particularly of mRNA molecules or different
delivery routes are investigated to achieve improved expression
levels. To mention are the encapsulation into cationic liposomes or
cationic polymers (see e.g. Hoerr, I., R. Obst, et al. (2000), Eur
J Immunol 30(1): 1-7; Hess, P. R., D. Boczkowski, et al. (2006),
Cancer Immunol Immunother 55(6): 672-83; Scheel, B., R. Teufel, et
al. (2005), Eur J Immunol 35(5): 1557-66), the needleless delivery
of gold particles coated by mRNA using a gene gun (see e.g. Qiu,
P., P. Ziegelhoffer, et al. (1996). "Gene gun delivery of mRNA in
situ results in efficient transgene expression and genetic
immunization." Gene Ther 3(3): 262-8), the transfection of in vitro
generated autologous APCs that are re-administred to patients (see
e.g. Boczkowski, D., S. K. Nair, et al. (1996). "Dendritic cells
pulsed with RNA are potent antigen-presenting cells in vitro and in
vivo." J Exp Med 184(2): 465-72; Boczkowski, et al, 1996, supra),
and the direct injection of naked RNA (see Hoerrr et al, 2000,
supra). Despite all progress achieved regarding gene delivery it is
very important to improve further transfection efficiency to make
nucleic acids especially RNA applicable for all imaginable
therapeutic purposes.
[0005] Application of RNA thus represents a favored tool in modern
molecular medicine. It also exhibits some superior properties over
DNA cell transfection. As generally known, transfection of 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. Furthermore, 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 may be a
particular danger if integration of the DNA takes place into a gene
which is involved in regulation of cell growth. Nevertheless, DNA
still represents an important tool, even though some risks are
associated with the application of DNA. These risks do not occur if
RNA, particularly mRNA, is used instead of DNA. An advantage of
using RNA rather than DNA is that no virus-derived promoter element
has to be administered in vivo and no integration into the genome
may occur. Furthermore, the RNA has not to overcome the barrier to
the nucleus. However, a main disadvantage resulting from the use of
RNA is due to its huge instability. Even though it is understood
that DNA, e.g., naked DNA, introduced into a patient circulatory
system is typically not stable and therefore may have little chance
of affecting most disease processes (see e.g. Poxon et al.,
Pharmaceutical development and Technology, 5(1), 115-122 (2000))
the problem of stability is even more evident in the case of RNA.
As generally known, the physico chemical stability of RNAs in
solution is extremely low. RNA is very susceptible to hydrolysis by
ubiquitous ribonucleases and is typically completely degraded
already after a few hours or days in solution. This even occurs in
the absence of RNases, e.g. when stored a few hours or days in
solution at room temperature.
[0006] To avoid such degradation the RNA is typically stored at
-20.degree. C. or even -80.degree. C. and RNAse free conditions to
prevent a prior degradation of the RNA. This method, however, does
not prevent a loss of function effectively and additionally is very
cost-intensive for shipping when these temperatures have to be
guaranteed. One further method for stabilization comprises
lyophilization or freeze-drying of the RNA. Lyophilization is a
worldwide known and recognized method in the art to enhance storage
stability of temperature sensitive biomolecules, such as nucleic
acids. During lyophilization, typically water is removed from a
frozen sample containing nucleic acids via sublimation. The process
of lyophilization is usually characterized by a primary and a
secondary drying step. During the primary drying step, free, i.e.
unbound, water surrounding the nucleic acid (sequence) and
optionally further components, escapes from the solution.
Subsequent thereto water being bound on a molecular basis by the
nucleic acids may be removed in a secondary drying step by adding
thermal energy. In both cases the hydration sphere around the
nucleic acids is lost.
[0007] During lyophilization the sample containing nucleic acids is
initially cooled below the freezing point of the solution and
accordingly of the water contained therein. As a result, the water
freezes. Dependent on temperature, rate of cooling down (freezing
rate), and the time for freezing, the crystal structure of water is
changed. This exhibits physical stress on the nucleic acid
(sequence) and other components of the solution, which may lead to
a damage of the nucleic acid, e.g. breakage of strands, loss of
supercoiling, etc. Furthermore, due to the decrease of volume and
loss of the hydration sphere, autocatalytic degradation processes
are favored e.g. by traces of transition metals. Additionally,
significant changes of pH are possible by concentration of traces
of acids and bases.
[0008] Lyophilization involves two stresses, freezing and drying.
Both are known to damage nucleic acids, such as non-viral vectors
or plasmid DNA. In the literature, a number of cryoprotectants and
lyoprotectants are discussed for lyophilization purposes to prevent
these damages. In this context, cryoprotectants are understood as
excipients, which allow influencing the structure of the ice and/or
the eutectical temperature of the mixture. Lyoprotectants are
typically excipients, which partially or totally replace the
hydration sphere around a molecule and thus prevent catalytic and
hydrolytic processes.
[0009] In the specific context of DNA, lyophilization causes the
removal of the hydration sphere around the DNA, wherein it appears
that there are approximately 20 water molecules per nucleotide pair
bound most tightly to DNA. These water molecules do not form an
ice-like structure upon low-temperature cooling. Upon DNA
dehydration over hygroscopic salts at 0% relative humidity, only
five or six water molecules remain (see e.g. Tao et al.,
Biopolymers, 28, 1019-1030 (1989)). Lyophilization may increase the
stability of DNA under long-term storage, but may also cause some
damage upon the initial lyophilization process, potentially through
changes in the DNA secondary structure, breaks of the nucleic acid
chain(s) or the concentration of reactive elements such as
contaminating metals. Lyophilization can also cause damage upon the
initial lyophilization process in other nucleic acid, e.g. RNA.
Agents that can substitute for non-freezable water, such as some
carbohydrates, can demonstrate cryoprotective properties for DNA
and other molecules during lyophilization of intact bacteria (see
e.g. Israeli et al, Cryobiology, 30, 519-523 (1993); or Rudolph et
al, Arch. Biochem. Biophys., 245, 134-143 (1986)).
[0010] During lyophilization, specific carbohydrates, such as
several sugars, appear to play a central role in stabilization of
the nucleic acid. However, when using cryoprotectants and
lyoprotectants, no general rule may be applied with respect to
their impact on different groups of compounds. Therefore, in many
cases an optimal formulation has to be found using empirical
methods.
[0011] In this context, specific carbohydrates are utilized in the
art as lyoprotective substances for enhancing stability of the
nucleic acid (sequence) during lyophilization. They exhibit an
effect on storage stability after lyophilisation of pure nucleic
acids or nucleic acid (sequence) complexes (see e.g. Maitani, Y.,
Y. Aso, et al. (2008), Int J Pharm 356(1-2): 69-75; Quaak, S. G.,
J. H. van den Berg, et al. (2008), Eur J Pharm Biopharm 70(2):
429-38; Jones, K. L., D. Drane, et al. (2007), Biotechniques 43(5):
675-81; Molina, M. C., S. D. Allison, et al. (2001), J Pharm Sci
90(10): 1445-55; and Allison, S. D. and T. J. Anchordoquy (2000), J
Pharm Sci 89(5): 682-91). Lyoprotective properties are particularly
described for sucrose, glucose, and trehalose. They allow to
restore at least in part the transfection efficiency which is
otherwise lost in many cases after lyophilisation (see Maitani et
al, 2008, supra; Yadava, P., M. Gibbs, et al. (2008). AAPS
PharmSciTech 9(2): 335-41; Werth, S., B. Urban-Klein, et al.
(2006), J Control Release 112(2): 257-70; Brus, C., E. Kleemann, et
al. (2004), J Control Release 95(1): 119-31; Poxon, S. W. and J. A.
Hughes (2000), Pharm Dev Technol 5(1): 115-22; Anchordoquy, T. J.,
J. F. Carpenter, et al. (1997), Arch Biochem Biophys 348(1):
199-206). Sugars are able to prevent loss in activity due to the
lyophilization process mainly by preventing particle
fusion/aggregation especially in the case of liposome complexed
nucleic acids (see Yadava et al, 2008, supra; Katas, H., S. Chen,
et al. (2008), J Microencapsul: 1-8; Molina et al, supra,
2001).
[0012] Particularly, Poxon et al. (2000, supra) investigated the
effect of lyophilization on plasmid DNA activity. Poxon et al.
(2000, supra) hypothesized, that a change in the DNA conformation
from supercoiled to open circular and linear form would be
indicative of damage of the plasmid DNA. However, the percentage of
supercoiled DNA did not change after lyophilization and subsequent
DMED treatment, suggesting that other effects drew responsible for
the loss of transfection efficiency. Poxon et al. (2000, supra)
found that a decrease in plasmid DNA activity as measured by an in
vitro transfection assay can be ameliorated by the use of
carbohydrates during lyophilization of the plasmid DNA but he did
not found that any of the used carbohydrates increased the
transfection efficiency of the plasmid DNA. As lyoprotectants,
glucose (monosaccaride), sucrose and lactose (disaccharides) were
used. Poxon et al. (2000, supra), however, only carried out
investigations with plasmid DNA. They did also not investigate if
the addition of saccharides to the lyophilization affects the
stability of the lyophilized plasmid DNA.
[0013] Li et al. (see Li, B., S. Li, et al. (2000), J Pharm Sci
89(3): 355-64) furthermore showed that disaccharides are superior
to monosaccharides using them as a cryoprotectant for
lyophilization of lipid based gene delivery systems due to the
prevention of aggregation. They noted that it is very important to
prevent the particle size of the complexes during lyophilization.
Unfortunately, in a specific example of lipid based gene delivery
systems, lyophilization with mannose led to an increase in particle
size, which was regarded as negative for transfection efficiency.
Additionally Li et al. (2000, supra) showed that lipid delivery
systems can be stored at room temperature without loss of
transfection efficiency when lyophilized in 10% sucrose. Li et al.
(2000, supra) did not examine the stabilization due to the presence
of mannose as a lyoprotectant. More importantly, they did not
observe an increase in the expression of the encoded protein due to
the presence of sugar (sucrose and trehalose) in the injection
buffer.
[0014] Even though many available prior art documents discuss the
stabilization of nucleic acids during lyophilization in the context
of plasmid DNA, only few publications focus on stabilization of
other nucleic acids, such as RNAs, e.g. during lyophilization and
long-term storage.
[0015] In this context, Jones et al (2007, supra) is one rare
document, which examines the effect of sugars on long term
stability of mRNA. It describes the possibility to prevent storage
depending loss of transfection activity in vitro. Jones et al
(2007, supra) uses trehalose as a lyoprotectant and shows a
preventive effect on the loss of transfection activity at a storage
temperature of 4.degree. C. for a period of 6 months. Integrity of
the mRNA was only measured by loss of weight after recovering. At
elevated temperatures (room temperature and higher) degradation and
a dramatic loss of transfection efficiency took place.
Additionally; transfection efficiency could not be improved using
trehalose as lyoprotectant.
[0016] In a further context, specific carbohydrates may also be
utilized to improve biological activity and/or transfection
efficiency, which is, at least at a first glance, independent from
stability issues. Such an effect of specific carbohydrates, e.g. of
mannose may be attributed to the interaction of these carbohydrates
with specific receptors in the cell. As an example, the addition of
mannose may involve the mannose receptor targeted transfer. The
mannose receptor (MR) is primarily present on dendritic cells (DCs)
and macrophages. The carbohydrate recognition domains of the MR
recognizes carbohydrates (e.g. mannose, fucose, glucose,
N-Acetylglucosamine, maltose) on the cell walls of infectious
agents (mainly bacteria and yeast) which leads to rapid
internalization and phagocytosis. This process can initiate
effective immune defense. Several different strategies targeted to
the MR have been used to enhance transfection levels or to develop
upgraded vaccines (see Keler, T., V. Ramakrishna, et al. (2004).
"Mannose receptor-targeted vaccines." Expert Opin Biol Ther 4(12):
1953-62). In this context, mannose modified non-viral DNA vectors,
including cationic liposomes (Kawakami, S., A. Sato, et al. (2000),
Gene Ther 7(4): 292-9; and Hattori, Y., S. Kawakami, et al. (2006),
J Gene Med 8(7): 824-34), polyethyleneimine (Diebold, S. S., H.
Lehrmann, et al. (1999), Hum Gene Ther 10(5): 775-86), poly
L-lysine (Nishikawa, M., S. Takemura, et al. (2000), J Drug Target
8(1): 29-38), dendrimers (Arima, H., Y. Chihara, et al. (2006), J
Control Release 116(1): 64-74) and chitosan (Kim, T. H., J. W. Nah,
et al. (2006), J Nanosci Nanotechnol 6(9-10): 2796-803);
(Hashimoto, M., M. Morimoto, et al. (2006), Biotechnol Lett 28(11):
815-21), have been reported (see also review: Irache, J. M., H. H.
Salman, et al. (2008). "Mannose-targeted systems for the delivery
of therapeutics." Expert Opin Drug Deliv 5(6): 703-24). However, in
all cases mannose was covalently bound to the vector to ensure a
combined uptake due to binding to the mannose receptor. However,
the expression of the mannose receptor is restricted to a few cell
types (especially dendritic cells) which are not excessively
present in the dermis and therefore it appeared unlikely that free
mannose improves the expression of the encoded protein due to an
increased uptake in mannose receptor expressing cells.
[0017] The only case which is known in the prior art to use free
sugar to enhance transfection efficiency is disclosed in Sun et al
(see Sun, C., K. Ridderstrale, et al. (2007), Plant J 52(6):
1192-8). Sun et al. (2007) could show that sucrose can stimulate
uptake of oligo deoxynucleotides (ODN) in human cells (in vitro).
They investigated the effect of glucose and sucrose to the ODN
delivery compared to the effect of oligofectamine, a commercially
available lipid-based transfection reagent. Interestingly they
observed that sucrose was 30% more potent than oligofectamine and
even 60% more potent than glucose supporting ODN uptake. They
hypothesized that sucrose is a common trigger for endocytosis in
animal cells and therefore the ODN internalizes into endosomes
together with the sucrose. Sun et al. (2007) only examined in vitro
transfection assays which are very difficult to transfer to the in
vivo situation due to the dilution effect. In tissues it thus
appeared very unlikely that the nucleic acid and the sugar molecule
enter the cell at the same time.
[0018] Summarizing the above, there is a long-lasting and urgent
need in the art to provide means, which allow (a skilled person) to
store RNA without a loss in activity, an effect, which is observed
in many cases. Likewise, there is a long-lasting and urgent need to
provide means, which allow (a skilled person) to enhance
transfection efficiency of nucleic acids especially of RNA for in
vitro and particularly for in vivo applications. In this context, a
still most challenging problem of the prior art is the stability of
the above defined nucleic acids, particularly during storage and
delivery. Another challenging problem of the prior art, which in
part due to the problem of stability, is the loss of activity
subsequent to storage, or the loss of biological activity after
lyophilization (e.g. increase in particle size, . . . ), which is
observed for many nucleic acids. Finally, a further challenging
problem of the prior art represents the small amount of expressed
protein or small biological activity of the nucleic acid obtained
upon transfection into the cell. Some further problems can be
regarded in the provision of a suitable final dosage form for
delivering these nucleic acids but also the production, transport
and storage thereof. Especially transport of RNA is a remaining
problem because it is very cost-intensive to ensure temperatures at
-20.degree. C. and below during shipment.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0019] The present invention is summarized as (the use of) a
solution and uses thereof containing at least one nucleic acid
(sequence) and free mannose for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, particularly of RNA and mRNA. The inventive solution
exhibits a positive effect on stabilization of the nucleic acid
(sequence) during lyophilization and storage but also leads to a
considerable increase of the transfection efficiency of a nucleic
acid. It thus also increases in vivo expression of a protein
encoded by such a nucleic acid upon increased transfection rate.
The present invention is furthermore directed to a method of
lyophilization using the mannose-containing solution, to
pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, kits, first and second
medical uses applying such a mannose-containing solution and/or a
nucleic acid (sequence) lyophilized or resuspended with such a
solution.
[0020] All of the challenging problems mentioned above in the
background of the invention are solved by the present invention,
particularly by the attached claims. According to a first aspect,
the problem underlying the present invention is solved by (the use
of) a solution containing at least one nucleic acid (sequence) and
free mannose for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection.
Preferably, the inventive solution containing at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose stabilizes the at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) contained in the inventive solution during
lyophilization and/or improves biological activity of the nucleic
acid (sequence). This is particularly preferable true, if a protein
is encoded by the at least one nucleic acid (sequence), as
expression of an encoded protein may be increased thereby. This
solution is particularly surprising and was not suggested by any of
the above mentioned prior art documents. In contrast, reviewing the
prior art a skilled person would have rather suggested
that--considering its teaching--addition of mannose as
lyoprotectant diminishes transfection efficiency and even more
problematic, may lead to a decrease of biological activity of the
nucleic acid, or, if a protein is encoded, to a decrease of the
expression of the encoded protein in vitro or in vivo. Regarding
transfection the prior art only dealt with covalently bound
mannose. Free mannose was never considered as suitable. As
discussed above, in tissues it appears very unlikely that the
nucleic acid and the sugar molecule enter the cell at the same
time. Therefore, it was highly surprising for the present inventors
to see that free mannose can in fact improve transfection
efficiency in vivo as outlined herein.
[0021] In summary it was particularly surprising to the inventors,
that use of such a mannose containing solution was associated with
the significant increase of storage capabilities, particularly the
storage at room temperature or higher could be shown using mannose
as lyoprotectant. Additionally, it was particularly surprising,
that an increase in transfection efficiency due to the use of such
a mannose containing solution was associated with the significant
increase in biological activity. In contrast to the covalent
binding shown in the art the present inventors used free mannose
which was only added to the solution and which was not covalently
bound to the nucleic acid. As a combined uptake in mannose receptor
expressing cells is unlikely due to the dilution effect in the
tissue a skilled person would never have suggested that mannose
could improve transfection efficiency of nucleic acids, especially
RNA. Particularly Sun et al. only examined in vitro transfection
assays with free sugar containing solutions which are very
difficult to transfer to the in vivo situation due to the dilution
effect. Likewise, a skilled person would never have suggested that
free mannose, could improve transfection efficiency of nucleic
acids, especially RNA.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] The following Figures are intended to illustrate the
invention further. They are not intended to limit the subject
matter of the invention thereto.
[0023] FIG. 1: shows the in vivo luciferase expression in balb/c
mice 1) buffer control: Ringer-lactate 2) mRNA/WFI: mRNA coding for
luciferase lyophilized in WFI (water for injection) and dissolved
in salt containing solution 3) mRNA/trehalose: mRNA coding for
luciferase lyophilized in WFI containing 5% trehalose and dissolved
in salt containing solution 4) mRNA/mannose: mRNA coding for
luciferase lyophilized in WFI containing 2.5% mannose and dissolved
in salt containing solution 5) mRNA/mannite: mRNA coding for
luciferase lyophilized in WFI containing 5% mannite and dissolved
in salt containing solution.
[0024] FIG. 2: displays the relative integrity of RNA in
mRNA/protamine containing samples dissolved in salt containing
solution (5 mM K, 2 mM Ca, 2 mM Mg, 130 mM Na) and subsequently 1)
lyophilized from salt solution (1=RNA-Lyo-Salt) 2) stored in salt
solution (2=RNA-Sol-Salt) 3) lyophilized from 2.5% mannose
containing salt solution (3=RNA-Lyo_MnSalt) or 4) stored in 2.5%
mannose containing salt solution (4=RNA-Sol_MnSalt). Comparison of
the lyophilized samples clearly shows that storage of RNA at
60.degree. C. is not possible when lyophilized from a salt
containing solution. However, addition of mannose leads to an
absolutely unexpected stabilization of the RNA, although it is
believed in the state of the art that presence of salts is adverse
and therefore should be avoided.
[0025] FIG. 3: shows the relative integrity of mRNA lyophilized in
a glucose or mannose containing solution stored at 60.degree. C.
for 0 to 33 days (d). Mannose clearly increases the stability of
lyophilized RNA compared to the addition of glucose.
[0026] FIG. 4: depicts the tumour growth in mice vaccinated with 1)
80% Ringer lactate as control, 2) mRNA coding for ovalbumine (not
lyophilized) in 80% Ringer lactate and 3) mRNA coding for
ovalbumine lyophilized in 2.5% (w/w) Mannose containing WFI and
dissolved in 80% Ringer lactate. It is remarkable that the
mannose-containing solution extremely enhances the efficacy of the
mRNA vaccination compared to the sample without mannose. Since the
samples were controlled for integrity and complex size it is
guaranteed that the RNA was intact in all samples. The optimal
concentration of mannose is located between 1% and 10%.
[0027] FIG. 5: illustrates the mRNA sequence termed pCV19-Pp
luc(GC)-muag-A70-C30 (SEQ ID NO: 1), coding for Photinus pyralis
luciferase, which exhibits a length of 1857 nucleotides. The mRNA
sequence contains following sequence elements: [0028] the coding
sequence encoding Photinus pyralis luciferase; [0029] stabilizing
sequences derived from alpha-globin-3'-UTR (muag (mutated
alpha-globin-3'-UTR)); [0030] 70.times. adenosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail); [0031] 30.times. cytosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-C-tail).
[0032] The ORF is indicated in italic letters, muag (mutated
alpha-globin-3'-UTR is indicated with a dotted line, the
poly-A-tail is underlined with a single line and the poly-C-tail is
underlined with a double line.
[0033] FIG. 6: shows the mRNA sequence termed
CAP-GgOva(GC)-muag-A70-C30 (SEQ ID NO: 2), coding for Gallus gallus
ovalbumin, which exhibits a length of 1365 nucleotides. The mRNA
sequence contains following sequence elements: [0034] the coding
sequence encoding Gallus gallus ovalbumin; [0035] stabilizing
sequences derived from alpha-globin-3'-UTR (muag (mutated
alpha-globin-3'-UTR)); [0036] 70.times. adenosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail); [0037] 30.times. cytosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-C-tail).
[0038] The ORF is indicated in italic letters, muag (mutated
alpha-globin-3'-UTR is indicated with a dotted line, the
poly-A-tail is underlined with a single line and the poly-C-tail is
underlined with a double line.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0039] The present invention relates to (the use of) a solution
containing at least one nucleic acid (sequence) and free mannose
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, particularly of
RNA and mRNA. The inventive solution exhibits a positive effect on
stabilization of the nucleic acid (sequence) during lyophilization
and storage but also leads to a considerable increase of the
transfection efficiency of a nucleic acid. It thus also increases
in vivo expression of a protein encoded by such a nucleic acid upon
increased transfection rate. The present invention is furthermore
directed to a method of lyophilization using the mannose-containing
solution, to pharmaceutical compositions, vaccines, kits, first and
second medical uses applying such a mannose-containing solution
and/or a nucleic acid (sequence) lyophilized or resuspended with
such a solution.
[0040] According to the first aspect, the present invention thus
provides (the use of) a solution containing at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) and (free) mannose for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection. In this context "free" mannose is preferably
understood as a mannose, which is not covalently bound and/or
conjugated, preferably not covalently bound and/or conjugated to
the nucleic acid (sequence) to be lyophilized, transfected and/or
injected. "Free" mannose may therefore comprise a free,
non-covalently bound and/or unconjugated mannose, preferably with
respect to the nucleic acid (sequence) to be lyophilized,
transfected and/or injected.
[0041] In the context of the present invention, mannose is
preferably a sugar monomer of the aldohexose series of
carbohydrates. Mannose as defined herein typically has the
molecular formula C.sub.6H.sub.12C.sub.6, is also known under its
IUPAC nomenclature as (2S,3S,4R,5R)-Pentahydroxyhexanal,
(2R,3R,4S,5S)-Pentahydroxyhexanal. It is preferably identified
under CAS number 31103-86-3 and typically exhibits the following
general structure:
##STR00001##
[0042] Mannose is typically formed by the oxidation of mannitol. It
can also be formed from D-glucose in the Lobry-de Bruyn-van
Ekenstein transformation. Mannose as defined herein typically
occurs in two diastereomeric isoforms, D-Mannose and L-Mannose (CAS
numbers 3458-28-4 for D-mannose and 10030-80-5 for L-mannose).
D-mannose is sold as a naturopathic remedy for urinary tract
infections, and it is claimed to work through the disruption of
adherence of bacteria in the urinary tract. D-Mannose and L-Mannose
can be illustrated as the D and L straight-chain forms of mannose
using Fischer projections according to the following
structures:
##STR00002##
[0043] According to a particularly preferred aspect, mannose as
used herein is a D-Mannose. D-Mannose may be depicted according to
at least one of the D-Mannose isomers .alpha.-D-Mannofuranose,
.beta.-D-Mannofuranose, .alpha.-D-Mannopyranose and
.beta.-D-Mannopyranose as represented by following
Haworth-structures:
##STR00003##
[0044] Typically, the occurrence of the different mannose isomers
in nature significantly differs. D-Mannose forms anomers, wherein
.alpha.-D-Mannofuranose occurs in a concentration/frequency of less
than 1%, .beta.-D-Mannofuranose in a concentration/frequency of
less than 1%, .alpha.-D-Mannopyranose in a concentration/frequency
of about 67% and .beta.-D-Mannopyranose in a
concentration/frequency of about 33%. Thus, D-Mannose may be
selected more preferably from at least one, two, three or four of
the anomers .alpha.-D-Mannofuranose, .beta.-D-Mannofuranose,
.alpha.-D-Mannopyranose and/or .beta.-D-Mannopyranose. Most
preferably, upon solubilization in an aqueous solution mannose
typically forms the above anomers in an equilibrity reaction,
typically in the above concentrations.
[0045] According to a particularly preferred aspect, mannose as
used herein is selected from an anomeric mixture of D-Mannose,
preferably an anomeric mixture comprising .alpha.-D-Mannofuranose,
.beta.-D-Mannofuranose, .alpha.-D-Mannopyranose and
.beta.-D-Mannopyranose, more preferably in the above
concentrations/frequencies. Alternatively, but less preferred,
mannose as used herein may be selected from L-mannose or a racemic
mixture of D-Mannose and/or L-Mannose, wherein D-mannose preferably
as described above. Such mixtures may be obtained e.g. by a
non-selective synthesis of mannose, e.g. by non-selective oxidation
of mannitol. An anomeric mixture may furthermore be obtained by
solubilization of mannose in an aqueous solution, e.g. in water,
WFI, or any buffer or solution as defined herein.
[0046] According to a more preferred aspect, mannose as used herein
is typically present in the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection in a concentration of about 0.01 to
about 10% (w/w), preferably in a concentration of about 0.01 to
about 10% (w/w), more preferably in a concentration of about 0.1 to
about 7.5% (w/w), even more preferably in a concentration of about
0.5 to about 5% (w/w), and most preferably in a concentration of
about 1 to about 4% (w/w), e.g. a concentration of about 2 to about
4% (w/w), such as about 2.5% (w/w). Herein, a concentration of
about 1% (w/w) mannose corresponds to a concentration of about
55,506 mM mannose. Any of the above and herein mentioned values and
concentrations for mannose in % (w/w) may thus be calculated in mM
on the above basis.
[0047] According to the above first embodiment, the present
invention provides (use of) a solution containing at least one
nucleic acid sequence and free mannose for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection of the at least one nucleic acid
(sequence). Lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be
carried out in vivo, in vitro or ex vivo. In the context of the
present invention, such a lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) may
be any suitable nucleic acid, selected e.g. from any
(double-stranded or single-stranded) DNA, preferably, without being
limited thereto, e.g. genomic DNA, single-stranded DNA molecules,
double-stranded DNA molecules, coding DNA, DNA primers, DNA probes,
immunostimulatory DNA, a (short) DNA oligonucleotide ((short)
oligodesoxyribonucleotides), or may be selected e.g. from any PNA
(peptide nucleic acid) or may be selected e.g. from any
(double-stranded or single-stranded) RNA, preferably, without being
limited thereto, a (short) RNA oligonucleotide ((short)
oligoribonucleotide), a coding RNA, a messenger RNA (mRNA), an
immunostimulatory RNA, a siRNA, an antisense RNA, a micro RNA or
riboswitches, ribozymes or aptamers; etc. The nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be a ribosomal RNA (rRNA), a
transfer RNA (tRNA), a messenger RNA (mRNA), or a viral RNA (vRNA).
Preferably, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection is an RNA. More
preferably, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be a (linear)
single-stranded RNA, even more preferably an mRNA. In the context
of the present invention, 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 or peptides. Such
coding sequences in di-, or even multicistronic mRNA may be
separated by at least one IRES sequence, e.g. as defined
herein.
[0048] Furthermore, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be a
single- or a double-stranded nucleic acid (molecule) (which may
also be regarded as a nucleic acid (molecule) due to non-covalent
association of two single-stranded nucleic acid(s) (molecules)) or
a partially double-stranded or partially single stranded nucleic
acid, which are at least partially self complementary (both of
these partially double-stranded or partially single stranded
nucleic acid molecules are typically formed by a longer and a
shorter single-stranded nucleic acid molecule or by two single
stranded nucleic acid molecules, which are about equal in length,
wherein one single-stranded nucleic acid molecule is in part
complementary to the other single-stranded nucleic acid molecules
molecule and both thus form a double-stranded nucleic acid
molecules molecule in this region, i.e. a partially double-stranded
or partially single stranded nucleic acid molecules). Preferably,
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be a
single-stranded nucleic acid molecule. Furthermore, the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be a circular or linear nucleic
acid molecule, preferably a linear nucleic acid molecule.
[0049] According to one alternative, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may be a coding nucleic acid, e.g. a DNA or RNA. Such a
coding DNA or RNA may be any DNA or RNA as defined above.
Preferably, such a coding DNA or RNA may be a single- or a
double-stranded DNA or RNA, more preferably a single-stranded DNA
or RNA, and/or a circular or linear DNA or RNA, more preferably a
linear DNA or RNA. Even more preferably, the coding DNA or RNA may
be a (linear) single-stranded DNA or RNA. Most preferably, the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be a ((linear)
single-stranded) messenger RNA (mRNA). Such 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 or peptides. Such
coding sequences in di-, or even multicistronic mRNA may be
separated by at least one IRES sequence, e.g. as defined
herein.
[0050] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may encode a protein
or a peptide, which may be selected, without being restricted
thereto, e.g. from therapeutically active proteins or peptides,
from antigens, e.g. tumor antigens, pathogenic antigens (e.g.
selected from pathogenic proteins as defined herein or from animal
antigens, viral antigens, protozoal antigens, bacterial antigens,
allergic antigens), autoimmune antigens, or further antigens, from
allergens, from antibodies, from immunostimulatory proteins or
peptides, from antigen-specific T-cell receptors, or from any other
protein or peptide suitable for a specific (therapeutic)
application, wherein the coding DNA or RNA may be transported into
a cell, a tissue or an organism and the protein may be expressed
subsequently in this cell, tissue or organism.
a) Therapeutically Active Proteins
[0051] In this context, therapeutically active proteins may be
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection. These may be
selected from any naturally occurring recombinant or isolated
protein known to a skilled person from the prior art. Without being
restricted thereto therapeutically active proteins may comprise
proteins, capable of stimulating or inhibiting the signal
transduction in the cell, e.g. cytokines, antibodies, etc.
Therapeutically active proteins may thus comprise cytokines of
class I of the family of cytokines, having 4 positionally conserved
cysteine residues (CCCC) and comprising a conserved sequence motif
Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS), wherein X is a non-conserved amino acid.
Cytokines of class I of the family of cytokines comprise the GM-CSF
subfamily, e.g. IL-3, IL-5, GM-CSF, the IL-6-subfamily, e.g. IL-6,
IL-11, IL-12, or the IL-2-subfamily, e.g. IL-2, IL-4, IL-7, IL-9,
IL-15, etc., or the cytokines IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-10 etc.
Therapeutically active proteins may also comprise cytokines of
class II of the family of cytokines, which also comprise 4
positionally conserved cystein residues (CCCC), but no conserved
sequence motif Trp-Ser-X-Trp-Ser (WSXWS). Cytokines of class II of
the family of cytokines comprise e.g. IFN-alpha, IFN-beta,
IFN-gamma, etc. Therapeutically active proteins may additionally
comprise cytokines of the family of tumor necrose factors, e.g.
TNF-alpha, TNF-beta, etc., or cytokines of the family of
chemokines, which comprise 7 transmembrane helices and interact
with G-protein, e.g. IL-8, MIP-1, RANTES, CCR5, CXR4, etc., or
cytokine specific receptors, such as TNF-R1, TNF-RII, CD40, OX40
(CD134), Fas, etc.
[0052] Therapeutically active proteins, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may also be selected
from any of the proteins given in the following: 0ATL3, OFC3, OPA3,
OPD2, 4-IBBL, 5T4, 6Ckine, 707-AP, 9D7, A2M, AA, AAAS, AACT, AASS,
ABAT, ABCAI, ABCA4, ABCB1, ABCB11, 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, ACP1, ACTA1, ACTC, ACTN4, ACVRL1, AD2, ADA, ADAMTS13,
ADAMTS2, ADFN, ADHIB, ADHIC, ADLDH3A2, ADRB2, ADRB3, ADSL, AEZ,
AFA, AFD1, AFP, AGA, AGL, AGMX2, AGPS, AGSI, AGT, AGTR1, AGXT,
AH02, AHCY, AHDS, AHHR, AHSG, AIC, AIED, AIH2, AIH3, AIM-2, AIPL1,
AIRE, AK1, ALAD, ALAS2, ALB, HPG1, ALDH2, ALDH3A2, ALDH4A1,
ALDH5A1, ALDHIAI, ALDOA, ALDOB, ALMS1, ALPL, ALPP, ALS2, ALX4,
AMACR, AMBP, AMCD, AMCD1, AMCN, AMELX, AMELY, AMGL, AMH, AMHR2,
AMPD3, AMPD1, AMT, ANC, ANCR, ANK1, ANOP1, AOM, APOA4, APOC2,
APOC3, AP3B1, APC, aPKC, APOA2, APOA1, APOB, APOC3, APOC2, APOE,
APOH, APP, APRT, APS1, AQP2, AR, ARAF1, ARG1, ARHGEF12, ARMET,
ARSA, ARSB, ARSC2, ARSE, ART-4, ARTC1/m, ARTS, ARVD1, ARX, AS,
ASAH, ASAT, ASD1, 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-1,
BAX, BBS2, BBS3, BBS4, BCA225, BCAA, BCH, BCHE, BCKDHA, BCKDHB,
BCLIO, BCL2, BCL3, BCL5, BCL6, BCPM, BCR, BCR/ABL, BDC, BDE, BDMF,
BDMR, BEST1, 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, COL2A1, COL6A1, CINH, CIQA,
CIQB, CIQG, C1S, C2, C3, C4A, C4B, C5, C6, C7, C7orf2, C8A, C8B,
C9, CA125, CA15-3/CA 27-29, CA195, CA19-9, CA72-4, CA2, CA242,
CA50, CABYR, CACD, CACNA2D1, CACNAIA, CACNAIF, CACNAIS, 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, CB1, CBBM, CBS, CCA1, CCAL2, CCAL1, 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, CDI9, 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,
CDKNIC, CDKN2A, CDKN2A/m, CDKNIA, CDKNIC, CDL1, CDPD1, CDR1, CEA,
CEACAM1, CEACAM5, CECR, CECR9, CEPA, CETP, CFNS, CFTR, CGF1, CHAC,
CHED2, CHED1, CHEK2, CHM, CHML, CHR39c, CHRNA4, CHRNA1, CHRNB1,
CHRNE, CHS, CHS1, CHST6, CHXIO, CIAS1, CIDX, CKN1, CLA2, CLA3,
CLA1, CLCA2, CLCN1, CLCN5, CLCNKB, CLDNI6, CLP, CLN2, CLN3, CLN4,
CLN5, CLN6, CLN8, CIQA, CIQB, C1QG, CIR, CLS, CMCWTD, CMDJ, CMD1A,
CMDIB, CMH2, MH3, CMH6, CMKBR2, CMKBR5, CML28, CML66, CMM, CMT2B,
CMT2D, CMT4A, CMTIA, CMTX2, CMTX3, C-MYC, CNA1, CND, CNGA3, CNGA1,
CNGB3, CNSN, CNTF, COA-1/m, COCH, COD2, COD1, COH1, COL10A, COL2A2,
COL1A2, COL17A1, COL1A1, COL1A2, COL2A1, COL3A1, COL4A3, COL4A4,
COL4A5, COL4A6, COL5A1, COL5A2, COL6A1, COL6A2, COL6A3, COL7A1,
COL8A2, COL9A2, COL9A3, COL11A1, COLIA2, COL23A1, COL1A1, COLQ,
COMP, COMT, CORD5, CORD1, COX10, COX-2, CP, CPB2, CPO, CPP, CPS1,
CPT2, CPTIA, CPX, CRAT, CRB1, CRBM, CREBBP, CRH, CRHBP, CRS, CRV,
CRX, CRYAB, CRYBA1, CRYBB2, CRYGA, CRYGC, CRYGD, CSA, CSE, CSFIR,
CSF2RA, CSF2RB, CSF3R, CSFIR, CST3, CSTB, CT, CT7, CT-9/BRD6,
CTAA1, CTACK, CTEN, CTH, CTHM, CTLA4, CTM, CTNNB1, CTNS, CTPA,
CTSB, CTSC, CTSK, CTSL, CTS1, CUBN, CVD1, CX3CL1, CXCL1, CXCL10,
CXCLI1, CXCL12, CXCL13, CXCL16, CXCL2, CXCL3, CXCL4, CXCL5, CXCL6,
CXCL7, CXCL8, CXCL9, CYB5, CYBA, CYBB, CYBB5, CYFRA 21-1, CYLD,
CYLD1, CYMD, CYPIIB1, CYPIIB2, CYP17, CYP17A1, CYP19, CYP19A1,
CYPIA2, CYP1B1, CYP21A2, CYP27A1, CYP27B1, CYP2A6, CYP2C, CYP2C19,
CYP2C9, CYP2D, CYP2D6, CYP2D7P1, CYP3A4, CYP7B1, CYPB1, CYP11B1,
CYP1A1, CYP1B1, CYRAA, D40, DAD1, DAM, DAM-10/MAGE-B1,
DAM-6/MAGE-B2, DAX1, DAZ, DBA, DBH, DB1, 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, D1A1, D1APH2, D1APH1, D1H1, D100, DISC1, DKC1, 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, ECA], ECB2, ECE1, ECGF1,
ECT, ED2, ED4, EDA, EDAR, ECA1, EDN3, EDNRB, EEC1, EEFIAIL14,
EEGV1, EFEMP1, EFTUD2/m, EGFR, EGFR/Her1, EG1, EGR2, EIF2AK3,
eIF4G, EKV, E11S, ELA2, ELF2, ELF2M, ELK, ELN, ELONG, EMD, EML1,
EMMPRIN, EMX2, ENA-78, ENAM, END3, ENG, ENO1, ENPP1, ENUR2, ENUR1,
EOS, EP300, EPB41, EPB42, EPCAM, EPD, EphAl, EphA2, EphA3,
EphrinA2, EphrinA3, EPHX1, EPM2A, EPO, EPOR, EPX, ERBB2, ERCC2
ERCC3, ERCC4, ERCC5, ERCC6, ERVR, ESR1, ETFA, ETFB, ETFDH, ETM1,
ETV6-AML1, ETV1, EVC, EVR2, EVR1, EWSR1, EXT2, EXT3, EXT1, EYA1,
EYCL2, EYCL3, EYCL1, EZH2, F10, F1, 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, F1C1,
F1H, F2, FKBP6, FLNA, FLT4, FMO3, FMO4, FMR2, FMR1, FN, FN1/m,
FOXC1, FOXE1, FOXL2, FOXOIA, FPDMM, FPF, Fra-1, FRAXF, FRDA, FSHB,
FSHMD1A, FSHR, FTH1, 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, GASTRINI7, GATA3, GATA,
GBA, GBE, GC, GCDH, GCGR, GCH1, GCK, GCP-2, GCS1, G-CSF, GCSH,
GCSL, GCY, GDEP, GDF5, GDI1, 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, GLCIB, GLCIC, GLDC, GL13,
GLP1, GLRA1, GLUD1, GM1 (fuc-GM1), GM2A, GM-CSF, GMPR, GNA12, GNAS,
GNAT1, GNB3, GNE, GNPTA, GNRH, GNRH1, GNRHR, GNS, GnT-V, gp100,
GPIBA, GPIBB, GP9, GPC3, GPD2, GPDS1, GP1, GPIBA, GPN1LW, GPNMB/m,
GPSC, GPX1, GRHPR, GRK1, GRO.alpha., GROP.beta., GRO.gamma., GRPR,
GSE, GSM1, GSN, GSR, GSS, GTD, GTS, GUCAIA, GUCY2D, GULOP, GUSB,
GUSM, GUST, GYPA, GYPC, GYS1, GYS2, HOKPP2, HOMG2, HADHA, HADHB,
HAGE, HAGH, HAL, HAST-2, HB1, HBA2, HBA1, HBB, HBBP1, HBD, HBEl,
HBG2, HBG1, HBHR, HBP1, HBQ1, HBZ, HBZP, HCA, HCC-1, 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-R1701, HLA-A11/m, HLA-A2/m, HLA-DPB1 HLA-DRA,
HLCS, HLXB9, HMBS, HMGA2, HMGCL, HM1, HMN2, HMOX1, HMSI HMW-MAA,
HIND, HNE, HNF4A, HOAC, HOMEOBOX NKX 3.1, HOM-TES-14/SCP-1,
HOM-TES-85, HOXA1 HOXD13, HP, HPC1, HPD, HPE2, HPE1, HPFH, HPFH2,
HPRT1, HPS1, HPT, HPV-E6, HPV-E7, HR, HRAS, HRD, HRG, HRPT2, HRPT1,
HRX, HSDIIB2, HSD17B3, HSD17B4, HSD3B2, HSD3B3, HSN1, HSP70-2M,
HSPG2, HST-2, HTC2, HTC1, hTERT, HTN3, HTR2c, HVBS6, HVBS1, HVEC,
HVIS, HYAL1, HYR, I-309, IAB, IBGC1, IBM2, ICAM1, ICAM3, iCE, ICHQ,
ICR5, ICR1, ICS1, IDDM2, IDDM1, IDS, IDUA, IF, .quadrature.IFNa/b,
.quadrature.IFNGR1, IGAD1, IGER, IGF-1R, IGF2R, IGF1, IGH, IGHC,
IGHG2, IGHG1, IGHM, IGHR, IGKC, 1HG1, IHH, IKBKG, IL1, IL-1 RA,
IL1, IL-11, IL12, IL12RB1, IL13, IL-13R.alpha.2, IL-15, IL-16,
IL-17, IL18, IL-1a, IL-1a, IL-1b, IL-.beta., ILIRAPL1, 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, INFGR1,
INFGR2, INF.alpha., IFN.quadrature., INF.gamma., INS, INSR, INVS,
IP-10, IP2, IPF1, IP1, IRF6, IRS1, ISCW, ITGA2, ITGA2B, ITGA6,
ITGA7, ITGB2, ITGB3, ITGB4, ITIH1, ITM2B, IV, IVD, JAG1, JAK3, JBS,
JBTS1, JMS, JPD, KAL1, KAL2, KAL1, KLK2, KLK4, KCNA1, KCNE2, KCNE1,
KCNH.sub.2, KCNJ1, KCNJ2, KCNJ1, KCNQ2, KCNQ3, KCNQ4, KCNQ1, KCS,
KERA, KFM, KFS, KFSD, KHK, ki-67, KIAA0020, KIAA0205, KIAA0205/m,
KIFIB, KIT, KK-LC-1, KLK3, KLKB1, KM-HN-1, KMS, KNG, KNO, K-RAS/m,
KRAS2, KREV1, KRT1, KRT10, KRT12, KRT13, KRT14, KRT14L1, KRT14L2,
KRT14L3, KRT16, KRT16L1, KRT16L2, KRT17, KRT18, KRT2A, KRT3, KRT4,
KRT5, KRT6A, KRT6B, KRT9, KRTHB1, KRTHB6, KRT1, KSA, KSS, KWE,
KYNU, L0HI9CR1, LICAM, LAGE, LAGE-1, LALL, LAMA2, LAMA3, LAMB3,
LAMB, LAMC2, LAMP2, LAP, LCA5, LCAT, LCCS, LCCS 1, LCFS2, LCS1,
LCT, LDHA, LDHB, LDHC, LDLR, LDLR/FUT, LEP, LEWISY, LGCR, LGGF-PBP,
LGI1, LGMD2H, LGMD1A, LGMDIB, LHB, LHCGR, LHON, LHRH, LHX3, LIF,
LIG1, LIMM, LIMP2, LIPA, LIPA, LIPB, LIPC, LIVIN, LICAM, LMAN1,
LMNA, LMXIB, LOLR, LOR, LOX, LPA, LPL, LPP, LQT4, LRP5, LRS1, LSFC,
LT-.beta., LTBP2, LTC4S, LYL1, XCL1, 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-B17,
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-H1, MAGEL2, MGB1, MGB2, MAN2A1, MAN2B1, MANBA, MANBB, MAOA,
MAOB, MAPK81P1, MAPT, MART-1, MART-2, MART2/m, MATIA, MBL2, MBP,
MBS1, MCIR, MC2R, MC4R, MCC, MCCC2, MCCC1, MCDR1, MCF2, MCKD, MCL1,
MCIR, MCOLN1, MCOP, MCOR, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, MCPH2, MCPH1,
MCS, M-CSF, MDB, MDCR, MDM2, MDRV, MDS1, ME1, ME1/m, ME2, ME20,
ME3, MEAX, MEB, MEC CCL-28, MECP2, MEFV, MELANA, MELAS, MEN1 MSLN,
MET, MF4, MG50, MG50/PXDN, MGAT2, MGAT5, MGCI MGCR, MGCT, MG1, MGP,
MHC2TA, MHS2, MHS4, MIC2, MIC5, MID1, MIF, MIP, MIP-5/HCC-2, MITF,
MJD, MK167, MKKS, MKS1, MLH1, MLL, MLLT2, MLLT3, MLLT7, MLLT1, MLS,
MLYCD, MMAIa, MMP 11, MMVP1, MN/CA IX-Antigen, MNG1, MN1, MOC31,
MOCS2, MOCS1, MOG, MORC, MOS, MOV18, MPD1, MPE, MPFD, MP1, MPIF-1,
MPL, MPO, MPS3C, MPZ, MREIIA, 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, MTT1, MTTK, MTTL2, MTTL1, MTTN, MTTP,
MTTS1, MUC1, MUC2, MUC4, MUC5AC, MUM-1, MUM-1/m, MUM-2, MUM-2/m,
MUM-3, MUM-3/m, MUT, mutant p21 ras, MUTYH, MVK, MX2, MX11, MYO5A,
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, NB1A1, NBS1, NCAM, NCF2, NCF1, NDN, NDP, NDUFS4, NDUFS7,
NDUFS8, NDUFV1, NDUFV2, NEB, NEFH, NEM1, Neo-PAP, neo-PAP/m, NEU1,
NEUROD1, NF2, NF1, NFYC/m, NGEP, NHS, NKS1, NKX2E, NM, NME1, NMP22,
NMTC, NODAL, NOG, NOS3, NOTCH3, NOTCH1, NP, NPC2, NPC1, NPHL2,
NPHP1, NPHS2, NPHS1, NPM/ALK, NPPA, NQO1, 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, OPNILW, OPNIMW, OPN SW, OPPG, OPTB1, TTD, ORM1,
ORP1, OS-9, OS-9/m, OSM LIF, OTC, OTOF, OTSC1, OXCT1, OYTES1, P15,
P190 MINOR BCR-ABL, P2RY12, P3, P16, P40, P4HB, P-501, P53, P53/m,
P97, PABPN1, PAFAHIB1, PAFAHIP1, PAGE-4, PAGE-5, PAH, PAl-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, PCSK1, PDB1, PDCN, PDE6A, PDE6B, PDEF,
PDGFB, PDGFR, PDGFRL, PDHA1, PDR, PDX1, PECAM1, PEEl, PEO1, PEPD,
PEX10, PEX12, PEX13, PEX3, PEX5, PEX6, PEX7, PEX1, PF4, PFB1, PFC,
PFKFB1, PFKM, PGAM2, PGD, PGK1, PGKIP1, PGL2, PGR, PGS, PHA2A, PHB,
PHEX, PHGDH, PHKA2, PHKA1, PHKB, PHKG2, PHP, PHYH, P1, PI3, PIGA,
PIMI-KINASE, PIN1, PIP5KIB, PITX2, PITX3, PKD2, PKD3, PKD1, PKDTS,
PKHD1, PKLR, PKP1, PKU1, PLA2G2A, PLA2G7, PLAT, PLEC1, PLG, PL1,
PLOD, PLP1, PMEL17, PML, PML/RAR.alpha., PMM2, PMP22, PMS2, PMS1,
PNKD, PNLIP, POF1, POLA, POLH, POMC, PON2, PON1, PORC, POTE,
POUIF1, POU3F4, POU4F3, POUIF1, PPAC, PPARG, PPCD, PPGB, PPH1,
PPKB, PPMX, PPOX, PPPIR3A, PPP2R2B, PPT1, PRAME, PRB, PRB3, PRCA1,
PRCC, PRD, PRDX5/m, PRF1, PRG4, PRKARIA, PRKCA, PRKDC, PRKWNK4,
PRNP, PROC, PRODH, PROM1, PROP1, PROS1, PRST, PRP8, PRPF31, PRPF8,
PRPH2, PRPS2, PRPS1, 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
1, PTPRK, PTPRK/m, PTS, PUJO, PVR, PVRL1, PWCR, PXE, PXMP3, PXR1,
PYGL, PYGM, QDPR, RAB27A, RAD54B, RAD54L, RAG2, RAGE, RAGE-1, RAG1,
RAP1, RARA, RASA1, RBAF600/m, RB1, RBP4, RBP4, RBS, RCA1, RCAS1,
RCCP2, RCD1, RCV1, RDH5, RDPA, RDS, RECQL2, RECQL3, RECQL4, REGIA,
REHOBE, REN, RENBP, RENS1, RET, RFX5, RFXANK, RFXAP, RGR, RHAG,
RHAMM/CDI68, RHD, RHO, R1p-1, RLBP1, RLN2, RLN1, RLS, RMD1, RMRP,
ROM1, ROR2, RP, RP1, RPI4, RP17, RP2, RP6, RP9, RPD1, RPE65, RPGR,
RPGRIP1, RP1, RPIO, RPS19, RPS2, RPS4X, RPS4Y, RPS6KA3, RRAS2, RS1,
RSN, RSS, RU1, RU2, RUNX2, RUNX1, RWS, RYR1, S-100, SAA1, SACS,
SAG, SAGE, SALL1, SARDH, SART1, SART2, SART3, SAS, SAX1, SCA2,
SCA4, SCA5, SCA7, SCA8, SCA1, SCC, SCCD, SCF, SCLC1, SCNIA, SCNIB,
SCN4A, SCN5A, SCNNIA, SCNNIB, SCNNIG, SCO2, SCP1, SCZD2, SCZD3,
SCZD4, SCZD6, SCZD1, SDF-1a/P3, SDHA, SDHD, SDYS, SEDL, SERPENA7,
SERPINA3, SERPINA6, SERPINAl, SERPINC1, SERPIND1, SERPINEl,
SERPINF2, SERPING1, SERPINI1, SFTPA1, SFTPB, SFTPC, SFTPD, SGCA,
SGCB, SGCD, SGCE, SGM1, SGSH, SGY-1, SH2D1A, SHBG, SHFM2, SHFM3,
SHFM1, SHH, SHOX, S1, SIAL, SIALYL LEWISX, SIASD, S11, S1M1,
SIRT2/m, SIX3, SJS1, SKP2, SLCIOA2, SLC12A1, SLC12A3, SLC17A5,
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,
SOD1, SOS1, SOST, SOX9, SOXIO, Spl.sup.7, SPANXC, SPG23, SPG3A,
SPG4, SPG5A, SPG5B, SPG6, SPG7, SPINK1, SPINK5, SPPK, SPPM, SPSMA,
SPTA1, SPTB, SPTLC1, SRC, SRD5A2, SRPX, SRS, SRY, .beta.hCG, SSTR2,
SSX1, SSX2 (HOM-MEL-40/SSX2), SSX4, ST8, STAMP-1, 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, TALl, TAM, TAP2, TAP1, TAPVR1, TARC, TARP, TAT, TAZ,
TBP, TBX22, TBX3, TBX5, TBXA2R, TBXAS1, TCAP, TCF.sub.2, TCF1,
TCIRG1, TCL2, TCL4, TCLIA, TCN2, TCOF1, TCR, TCRA, TDD, TDFA,
TDRD1, TECK, TECTA, TEK, TEL/AML1, TELAB1, TEXI5, TF, TFAP2B, TFE3,
TFR2, TG, TGF.alpha., TGF-.beta., TGFB1, TGFB1, TGFBR2, TGFBRE,
TGF.beta.3, TGF R11, TGIF, TGM-4, TGM1, TH, THAS, THBD, THC, THC2,
THM, THPO, THRA, THRB, TIMM8A, TIMP2, TIMP3, TIMP1, TITF1, TKCR,
TKT, TLP, TLR1, TLR10, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7,
TLR8, TLR9, TLX1, TM4SF1, TM4SF2, TMC1, TMD, TMIP, TNDM, TNF,
TNFRSFIIA, TNFRSFIA, TNFRSF6, TNFSF5, TNFSF6, TNF.alpha.,
TNF.beta., TNN13, TNNT2, TOC, TOP2A, TOP1, TP53, TP63, TPA, TPBG,
TP1, TPl/m, TPI1, TPM3, TPM1, TPMT, TPO, TPS, TPTA, TRA, TRAG3,
TRAPPC2, TRC8, TREH, TRG, TRH, TRIM32, TRIM37, TRP1, TRP2,
TRP-2/6b, TRP-2/INT2, Trp-p8, TRPS1, TS, TSC2, TSC3, TSC1, TSG101,
TSHB, TSHR, TSP-180, TST, TTGA2B, TTN, TTPA, TTR, TU M2-PK, TULP1,
TWIST, TYH, TYR, TYROBP, TYROBP, TYRP1, TYS, UBE2A, UBE3A, UBE1,
UCHL1, UFS, UGTIA, ULR, UMPK, UMPS, UOX, UPA, UQCRC1, URO5, UROD,
UPKIB, UROS, USH2A, USH3A, USHIA, USHIC, USP9Y, UV24, VBCH, VCF,
VD1, VDR, VEGF, VEGFR-2, VEGFR-1, VEGFR-2/FLK-1, VHL, VIM, VMD2,
VMD1, VMGLOM, VNEZ, VNF, VP, VRN1, 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,
ZFHXIB, ZFX, ZFY, ZIC2, ZIC3, ZNFI45, ZNF261, ZNF35, ZNF41, ZNF6,
ZNF198, ZWSI.
[0053] Therapeutically active proteins, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may further 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.sub.L, Bcl-x.sub.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-11, ced-3, ced-9, c-Jun, c-Myc, crm A,
cytochrom C, CdR1, DcR1, DD, DED, DISC, DNA-PK.sub.CS, 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-.sub.kappa B, NuMa, p53, PAK-2, PARP, perforin, PITSLRE,
PKCdelta, pRb, presenilin, prICE, RAIDD, Ras, RIP,
sphingomyelinase, thymidinkinase from herpes simplex, TRADD, TRAF2,
TRAIL-R1, TRAIL-R2, TRAIL-R3, transglutaminase, etc.
[0054] A therapeutically active protein, which may be encoded by
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection can also be 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 activation of a pattern
recognition receptor, such as e.g. a receptor selected from the
Toll-like receptor (TLR) family, 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 as defined above. More 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 nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection 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 encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be 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-21CCL21, GM-CSF and TNF-alpha; cytokines which are
released from macrophages, including IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12 and
TNF-alpha; from components of the complement system including Clq,
MBL, C1r, C1s, C2b, Bb, D, MASP-1, MASP-2, C4b, C3b, C5a, C3a, C4a,
C5b, C6, C7, C8, C9, CR1, CR2, CR3, CR4, C1qR, CIINH, C4 bp, 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-1R1, whereas the components are ligands of the pattern
recognition receptors including IL-1alpha, IL-1 beta,
Beta-defensin, heat shock proteins, such as HSPIO, HSP60, HSP65,
HSP70, HSP75 and HSP90, gp96, Fibrinogen, Typill repeat extra
domain A of fibronectin; the receptors, including IL-1R1, TLR1,
TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR11; 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, IRAK1, IRAK2, etc.), components
of the MyD88-independent signalling (TICAMI, TICAM2 etc.);
activated transcription factors including e.g. NF-.kappa.B, c-Fos,
c-Jun, c-Myc; and induced target genes including e.g. IL-1 alpha,
IL-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.
[0055] Pathogenic adjuvant proteins, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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.
[0056] In this context, bacterial (adjuvant) proteins, which may be
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may comprise any
bacterial protein, which is capable of eliciting an innate immune
response (preferably in a mammal) or shows an adjuvant character.
More preferably, such bacterial (adjuvant) proteins are 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, CTE112K
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 pylori; 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.
[0057] Bacterial (adjuvant) proteins, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may also be selected
from bacterial adjuvant proteins, even more preferably 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
bronchiseptica, 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.
[0058] Bacterial flagellins, which may be encoded by the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection even more preferably comprise a
sequence selected from the group comprising any of the following
sequences as referred to their accession numbers:
TABLE-US-00001 organism species gene name accession No GI No
Agrobacterium Agrobacterium FlaD (flaD) U95165 GI: 14278870
tumefaciens FlhB (flhB) FliG (fliG) FliN (fliN) FliM (fliM) MotA
(motA) FlgF (flgF) FliI (fliI) FlgB (flgB) FlgC (flgC) FliE (fliE)
FlgG (flgG) FlgA (flgA) FlgI (flgI) FlgH (flgH) FliL (fliL) FliP
(fliP) FlaA (flaA) FlaB (flaB) FlaC (flaC) Aquifex Aquifex
pyrophilus U17575 GI: 596244 Azospirillum Azospirillum brasilense
Laf1 U26679 GI: 1173509 Bacillus Bacillus subtilis hag AB033501 GI:
14278870 Bacillus Bacillus flab X67138 GI: 46019718 thuringiensis
Bartonella Bartonella L20677 GI: 304184 bacilliformis Bordetella
Bordetella flaA L13034 GI: 289453 bronchiseptica Borrelia Borrelia
X16833 GI: 39356 burgdorferi Burkholderia Burkholderia fliC
AF011370 GI: 2935154 cepacia Campylobacter Campylobacter flaA
J05635 GI: 144197 jejuni flaB Caulobacter Caulobacter J01556 GI:
144239 crescentus Clostridium Clostridium FlaA DQ845000 GI:
114054886 botulinum strain Bennett clone 1 Escherichia Escherichia
coli hag M14358 GI: 146311 AJ884569 (EMBL- SVA) Helicobacter
Helicobacter flaA X60746 GI: 43631 pylori Lachnospiraceae
Lachnospiraceae DQ789131 GI: 113911615 bacterium Legionella
Legionella flaA X83232 GI: 602877 pneumophila Listeria Listeria
flaA X65624 GI: 44097 monocytogenes Proteus Proteus mirabilis FlaD
(flaD) AF221596 GI: 6959881 FlaA (flaA) FlaB (flaB) FliA (fliA)
FliZ (fliZ) Pseudomonas Pseudomonas flaA M57501 GI: 151225
aeroguinosa Pseudomonas Pseudomonas fliC EF544882 GI: 146335619
syringae Rhizobium Rhizobium flaA M24526 GI: 152220 meliloti flaB
Rhodobacter Rhodobacter fliC AF274346 GI: 10716972 sphaeroides
Roseburia Roseburia M20983 GI: 152535 cecicola Roseburia Roseburis
Fla2 DQ789141 GI: 113911632 hominis Salmonella Salmonella D13689
GI: 217062 typhimurium (NCBI ID) Salmonella Salmonella fliC
AY603412 GI: 51342390 bongori Salmonella Salmonella typhi flag
L21912 GI: 397810 Salmonella Salmonella fliC M84980 GI: 154015
enteritidis Serpulina Serpulina flaB2 X63513 GI: 450669
hyodysenteriae Serratia Serratia hag M27219 GI: 152826 marcescens
Shigella Shigella boydii fliC-SB D26165 GI: 442485 Treponema
Treponema flaB2 M94015 GI: 155060 phagedenis Vibrio Vibrio flaA
EF125175 GI: 119434395 alginolyticus Vibrio s Vibrio AF069392 GI:
7327274 parahaemolyticus Wolinella Wolinella flag M82917 GI: 155337
succinogenes Yersinia Yersinia L33467 GI: 496295 enterocolitica
[0059] Protozoan proteins, which may also be encoded by the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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.
[0060] Viral proteins, which may be encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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.
[0061] Fungal proteins, which may be encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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.
[0062] Finally, pathogenic adjuvant proteins, which may be encoded
by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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.
b) Antigens
[0063] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 as part of an adaptive
immune response. In this context, the first step of an adaptive
immune response is the activation of naive antigen-specific T cells
by antigen-presenting cells. This occurs in the lymphoid tissues
and organs through which naive T cells are constantly passing. The
three cell types that can serve as antigen-presenting cells are
dendritic cells, macrophages, and B cells. Each of these cells has
a distinct function in eliciting immune responses. Tissue dendritic
cells take up antigens by phagocytosis and macropinocytosis and are
stimulated by infection to migrate to the local lymphoid tissue,
where they differentiate into mature dendritic cells. Macrophages
ingest particulate antigens such as bacteria and are induced by
infectious agents to express MHC class II molecules. The unique
ability of B cells to bind and internalize soluble protein antigens
via their receptors may be important to induce T cells. By
presenting the antigen on MHC molecules leads to activation of T
cells which induces their proliferation and differentiation into
armed effector T cells. The most important function of effector T
cells is the killing of infected cells by CD8.sup.+ cytotoxic T
cells and the activation of macrophages by TH1 cells which together
make up cell-mediated immunity, and the activation of B cells by
both TH2 and TH1 cells to produce different classes of antibody,
thus driving the humoral immune response. T cells recognize an
antigen by their T cell receptors which does not recognize and bind
antigen directly, but instead recognize short peptide fragments
e.g. of pathogens' protein antigens, which are bound to MHC
molecules on the surfaces of other cells.
[0064] T cells fall into two major classes that have different
effector functions. The two classes are distinguished by the
expression of the cell-surface proteins CD4 and CD8. These two
types of T cells differ in the class of MHC molecule that they
recognize. There are two classes of MHC molecule--MHC class I and
MHC class II--which differ in their structure and expression
pattern on tissues of the body. CD4.sup.+ T cells bind to the MHC
class II molecule and CD8.sup.+ T cells to the MHC class I
molecule. MHC class I and MHC class II have distinct distributions
among cells that reflect the different effector functions of the T
cells that recognize them. MHC class I molecules present peptides
from pathogens, commonly viruses to CD8.sup.+ T cells, which
differentiate into cytotoxic T cells that are specialized to kill
any cell that they specifically recognize. Almost all cells express
MHC class I molecules, although the level of constitutive
expression varies from one cell type to the next. But not only
pathogenic peptides from viruses are presented by MHC class I
molecules, also self-antigens like tumour antigens are presented by
them. MHC class I molecules bind peptides from proteins degraded in
the cytosol and transported in the endoplasmic reticulum. Thereby
MHC class I molecules on the surface of cells infected with viruses
or other cytosolic pathogens display peptides from these pathogen.
The CD8.sup.+ T cells that recognize MHC class I:peptide complexes
are specialized to kill any cells displaying foreign peptides and
so rid the body of cells infected with viruses and other cytosolic
pathogens. The main function of CD4.sup.+ T cells (CD4.sup.+ helper
T cells) that recognize MHC class II molecules is to activate other
effector cells of the immune system. Thus MHC class II molecules
are normally found on B lymphocytes, dendritic cells, and
macrophages, cells that participate in immune responses, but not on
other tissue cells. Macrophages, for example, are activated to kill
the intravesicular pathogens they harbour, and B cells to secrete
immunoglobulins against foreign molecules. MHC class II molecules
are prevented from binding to peptides in the endoplasmic reticulum
and thus MHC class II molecules bind peptides from proteins which
are degraded in endosomes. They can capture peptides from pathogens
that have entered the vesicular system of macrophages, or from
antigens internalized by immature dendritic cells or the
immunoglobulin receptors of B cells. Pathogens that accumulate in
large numbers inside macrophage and dendritic cell vesicles tend to
stimulate the differentiation of TH1 cells, whereas extracellular
antigens tend to stimulate the production of TH2 cells. TH1 cells
activate the microbicidal properties of macrophages and induce B
cells to make IgG antibodies that are very effective of opsonising
extracellular pathogens for ingestion by phagocytic cells, whereas
TH2 cells initiate the humoral response by activating naive B cells
to secrete IgM, and induce the production of weakly opsonising
antibodies such as IgG1 and IgG3 (mouse) and IgG2 and IgG4 (human)
as well as IgA and IgE (mouse and human).
[0065] In the context of the present invention, antigens as encoded
by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection typically comprise
any antigen, falling under the above definition, more preferably
protein and peptide antigens, e.g. tumor antigens, allergy
antigens, auto-immune self-antigens, pathogens, etc. In accordance
with the invention, antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be antigens generated outside the
cell, more typically antigens not derived from the host organism
(e.g. a human) itself (i.e. non-self antigens) but rather derived
from host cells outside the host organism, e.g. viral antigens,
bacterial antigens, fungal antigens, protozoological antigens,
animal antigens (preferably selected from animals or organisms as
disclosed herein), allergy antigens, etc. Allergy antigens are
typically antigens, which cause an allergy in a human and may be
derived from either a human or other sources. Antigens as encoded
by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be furthermore
antigens generated inside the cell, the tissue or the body, e.g. by
secretion of proteins, their degradation, metabolism, etc. Such
antigens include antigens derived from the host organism (e.g. a
human) itself, e.g. tumor antigens, self-antigens or auto-antigens,
such as auto-immune self-antigens, etc., but also (non-self)
antigens as defined above, which have been originally been derived
from host cells outside the host organism, but which are fragmented
or degraded inside the body, tissue or cell, e.g. by (protease)
degradation, metabolism, etc.
[0066] One class of antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection comprises tumor antigens. "Tumor
antigens" are preferably located on the surface of the (tumor)
cell. Tumor antigens may also be selected from proteins, which are
overexpressed in tumor cells compared to a normal cell.
Furthermore, tumor antigens also includes antigens expressed in
cells which are (were) not themselves (or originally not
themselves) degenerated 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.
These substances are also referred to as "tumor antigens", however
they are not antigens in the stringent meaning of an immune
response inducing substance. The class of tumor antigens can be
divided further into 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.
[0067] Examples of tumor antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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-US-00002 TABLE 1 Antigens expressed in cancer diseases
Cancers or cancer diseases Tumor antigen Name of tumor antigen
related thereto 5T4 colorectal cancer, gastric cancer, ovarian
cancer 707-AP 707 alanine proline Melanoma 9D7 renal cell carcinoma
AFP alpha-fetoprotein hepatocellular carcinoma, gallbladder cancer,
testicular cancer, ovarian cancer, bladder cancer AlbZIP HPG1
prostate cancer alpha5beta1- Integrin alpha5beta6- colon cancer
Integrin alpha-methylacyl- prostate cancer coenzyme A racemase
ART-4 adenocarcinoma antigen lung cancer, head and neck cancer,
recognized by T cells 4 leukemia, esophageal cancer, gastric
cancer, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer, squamous
cell carcinoma B7H4 ovarian cancer BAGE-1 B antigen bladder cancer,
head and neck cancer, lung cancer, melanoma, squamous cell
carcinoma BCL-2 leukemia BING-4 melanoma CA 15-3/CA 27- breast
cancer, ovary cancer, lung 29 cancer, prostate cancer CA 19-9
gastric cancer, pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer,
gallbladder cancer, colon cancer, ovary cancer, lung cancer CA 72-4
ovarian cancer CA125 ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, gastric
cancer, liver cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterus cancer, cervix
carcinoma, colon cancer, breast cancer, lung cancer calreticulin
bladder cancer CAMEL CTL-recognized antigen on melanoma melanoma
CASP-8 caspase-8 head and neck cancer cathepsin B breast cancer
cathepsin L breast cancer CD19 B-cell malignancies CD20 CD22 CD25
CD30 CD33 CD4 CD52 CD55 CD56 CD80 CEA carcinoembryonic antigen gut
carcinoma, colorectal cancer, colon cancer, hepatocellular cancer,
lung cancer, breast cancer, thyroid cancer, pancreatic cancer,
liver cancer cervix cancer, bladder cancer, melanoma CLCA2
calcium-activated chloride lung cancer channel-2 CML28 leukemia
Coactosin-like pancreatic cancer protein Collagen XXIII prostate
cancer COX-2 ovarian cancer, breast cancer, colorectal cancer
CT-9/BRD6 bromodomain testis-specific protein Cten C-terminal
tensin-like protein prostate cancer cyclin B1 cyclin D1 ovarian
cancer cyp-B cyclophilin B bladder cancer, lung cancer, T-cell
leukemia, squamous cell carcinoma, CYPB1 cytochrom P450 1B1
leukemia DAM-10/MAGE- differentiation antigen melanoma melanoma,
skin tumors, ovarian B1 10 cancer, lung cancer DAM-6/MAGE-
differentiation antigen melanoma 6 melanoma, skin tumors, ovarian
B2 cancer, lung cancer EGFR/Her1 lung cancer, ovarian cancer, head
and neck cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer
EMMPRIN tumor cell-associated lung cancer, breast cancer, bladder
extracellular matrix cancer, ovarian cancer, brain
metalloproteinase inducer/ cancer, lymphoma EpCam epithelial cell
adhesion molecule ovarian cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, lung
cancer EphA2 ephrin type-A receptor 2 glioma EphA3 ephrin type-A
receptor 2 melanoma, sarcoma, lung cancer ErbB3 breast cancer EZH2
(enhancer of Zeste homolog 2) endometrium cancer, melanoma,
prostate cancer, breast cancer FGF-5 fibroblast growth factor-5
renal cell carcinoma, breast cancer, prostate cancer FN fibronectin
melanoma Fra-1 Fos-related antigen-1 breast cancer, esophageal
cancer, renal cell carcinoma, thyroid cancer G250/CAIX glycoprotein
250 leukemia, renal cell carcinoma, head and neck cancer, colon
cancer, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer GAGE-1 G antigen 1 bladder
cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, head and neck cancer GAGE-2
G antigen 2 bladder cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, head
and neck cancer GAGE-3 G antigen 3 bladder cancer, lung cancer,
sarcoma, melanoma, head and neck cancer GAGE-4 G antigen 4 bladder
cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, head and neck cancer GAGE-5
G antigen 5 bladder cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, head
and neck cancer GAGE-6 G antigen 6 bladder cancer, lung cancer,
sarcoma, melanoma, head and neck cancer GAGE-7b G antigen 7b
bladder cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, melanoma, head and neck
cancer GAGE-8 G antigen 8 bladder cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma,
melanoma, head and neck cancer GDEP gene differentially expressed
in prostate cancer prostate GnT-V N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase V
glioma, melanoma gp100 glycoprotein 100 kDa melanoma GPC3 glypican
3 hepatocellular carcinoma, melanoma HAGE helicase antigen bladder
cancer HAST-2 human signet ring tumor-2 hepsin prostate
Her2/neu/ErbB2 human epidermal receptor- breast cancer, bladder
cancer, 2/neurological melanoma, ovarian cancer, pancreas cancer,
gastric cancer HERV-K-MEL melanoma HNE human neutrophil elastase
leukemia homeobox NKX prostate cancer 3.1 HOM-TES- ovarian cancer
14/SCP-1 HOM-TES-85 HPV-E6 cervical cancer HPV-E7 cervical cancer
HST-2 gastric cancer hTERT human telomerase reverse breast cancer,
melanoma, lung transcriptase cancer, ovarian cancer, sarcoma,
Non-Hodgkin-lymphoma, acute leukemia iCE intestinal carboxyl
esterase renal cell carcinoma IGF-1R colorectal cancer IL-13Ra2
interleukin 13 receptor alpha 2 glioblastoma chain IL-2R colorectal
cancer IL-5 immature laminin renal cell carcinoma receptor
kallikrein 2 prostate cancer kallikrein 4 prostate cancer Ki67
prostate cancer, breast cancer, Non- Hodgkin-lymphoma, melanoma
KIAA0205 bladder cancer KK-LC-1 Kita-kyushu lung cancer antigen 1
lung cancer KM-HN-1 tongue cancer, hepatocellular carcinomas,
melanoma, gastric cancer, esophageal, colon cancer, pancreatic
cancer LAGE-1 L antigen bladder cancer, head and neck cancer,
melanoma livin bladder cancer, melanoma MAGE-A1 melanoma antigen-A1
bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung
cancer, sarcoma, leukemia MAGE-A10 melanoma antigen-A10 bladder
cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer,
sarcoma, leukemia MAGE-A12 melanoma antigen-A12 bladder cancer,
head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma,
leukemia, prostate cancer, myeloma, brain tumors MAGE-A2 melanoma
antigen-A2 bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon
cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, leukemia MAGE-A3 melanoma antigen-A3
bladder cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung
cancer, sarcoma, leukemia MAGE-A4 melanoma antigen-A4 bladder
cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer,
sarcoma, leukemia MAGE-A6 melanoma antigen-A6 bladder cancer, head
and neck cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma,
leukemia MAGE-A9 melanoma-antigen-A9 bladder cancer, head and neck
cancer, melanoma, colon cancer, lung cancer, sarcoma, leukemia
MAGE-B1 melanoma-antigen-B1 melanoma MAGE-B10 melanoma-antigen-B10
melanoma MAGE-B16 melanoma-antigen-B16 melanoma MAGE-B17
melanoma-antigen-B17 melanoma MAGE-B2 melanoma-antigen-B2 melanoma
MAGE-B3 melanoma-antigen-B3 melanoma MAGE-B4 melanoma-antigen-B4
melanoma MAGE-B5 melanoma-antigen-B5 melanoma MAGE-B6
melanoma-antigen-B6 melanoma MAGE-C1 melanoma-antigen-C1 bladder
cancer, melanoma MAGE-C2 melanoma-antigen-C2 melanoma MAGE-C3
melanoma-antigen-C3 melanoma MAGE-D1 melanoma-antigen-D1 melanoma
MAGE-D2 melanoma-antigen-D2 melanoma MAGE-D4 melanoma-antigen-D4
melanoma MAGE-E1 melanoma-antigen-E1 bladder cancer, melanoma
MAGE-E2 melanoma-antigen-E2 melanoma MAGE-F1 melanoma-antigen-F1
melanoma MACE-H1 melanoma-antigen-H1 melanoma MAGEL2 MAGE-like 2
melanoma mammaglobin A breast cancer MART-1/Melan-A melanoma
antigen recognized by melanoma T cells-1/melanoma antigen A MART-2
melanoma antigen recognized by melanoma T cells-2 matrix protein 22
bladder cancer MC1R melanocortin 1 receptor melanoma M-CSF
macrophage colony-stimulating ovarian cancer factor gene mesothelin
ovarian cancer MG50/PXDN breast cancer, glioblastoma, melanoma MMP
11 M-phase phosphoprotein 11 leukemia MN/CA IX- renal cell
carcinoma antigen MRP-3 multidrug resistance-associated lung cancer
protein 3 MUC1 mucin 1 breast cancer MUC2 mucin 2 breast cancer,
ovarian cancer,
pancreatic cancer NA88-A NA cDNA clone of patient M88 melanoma
N-acetylglucos- aminyltransferase-V Neo-PAP Neo-poly(A) polymerase
NGEP prostate cancer NMP22 bladder cancer NPM/ALK
nucleophosmin/anaplastic lymphoma kinase fusion protein NSE
neuron-specific enolase small cell cancer of lung, neuroblastoma,
Wilm' tumor, melanoma, thyroid cancer, kidney cancer, testicle
cancer, pancreas cancer NY-ESO-1 New York esophageous 1 bladder
cancer, head and neck cancer, melanoma, sarcoma, B- lymphoma,
hepatoma, pancreatic cancer, ovarian cancer, breast cancer NY-ESO-B
OA1 ocular albinism type 1 protein melanoma OFA-iLRP oncofetal
antigen-immature leukemia laminin receptor OGT O-linked
N-acetylglucosamine transferase gene OS-9 osteocalcin prostate
cancer osteopontin prostate cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer
p15 protein 15 p15 melanoma p190 minor bcr- abl p53 PAGE-4 prostate
GAGE-like protein-4 prostate cancer PAI-1 plasminogen acitvator
inhibitor 1 breast cancer PAI-2 plasminogen acitvator inhibitor 2
breast cancer PAP prostate acic phosphatase prostate cancer PART-1
prostate cancer PATE prostate cancer PDEF prostate cancer
Pim-1-Kinase Pin1 Propyl isomerase prostate cancer POTE prostate
cancer PRAME preferentially expressed antigen melanoma, lung
cancer, leukemia, of melanoma head and neck cancer, renal cell
carcinoma, sarcoma prostein prostate cancer proteinase-3 PSA
prostate-specific antigen prostate cancer PSCA prostate cancer PSGR
prostate cancer PSM PSMA prostate-specific membrane prostate cancer
antigen RAGE-1 renal antigen bladder cancer, renal cancer, sarcoma,
colon cancer RHAMM/CD168 receptor for hyaluronic acid leukemia
mediated motility RU1 renal ubiquitous 1 bladder cancer, melanoma,
renal cancer RU2 renal ubiquitous 1 bladder cancer, melanoma,
sarcoma, brain tumor, esophagel cancer, renal cancer, colon cancer,
breast cancer S-100 melanoma SAGE sarcoma antigen SART-1 squamous
antigen rejecting esophageal cancer, head and neck tumor 1 cancer,
lung cancer, uterine cancer SART-2 squamous antigen rejecting head
and neck cancer, lung cancer, tumor 1 renal cell carcinoma,
melanoma, brain tumor SART-3 squamous antigen rejecting head and
neck cancer, lung cancer, tumor 1 leukemia, melanoma, esophageal
cancer SCC squamous cell carcinoma antigen lung cancer Sp17 sperm
protein 17 multiple myeloma SSX-1 synovial sarcoma X breakpoint 1
hepatocellular cell carcinom, breast cancer SSX-2/HOM- synovial
sarcoma X breakpoint 2 breast cancer MEL-40 SSX-4 synovial sarcoma
X breakpoint 4 bladder cancer, hepatocellular cell carcinoma,
breast cancer STAMP-1 prostate cancer STEAP six transmembrane
epithelial prostate cancer antigen prostate survivin bladder cancer
survivin-2B intron 2-retaining survivin bladder cancer TA-90
melanoma TAG-72 prostate carcinoma TARP prostate cancer TGFb
TGFbeta TGFbRII TGFbeta receptor II TGM-4 prostate-specific
prostate cancer transglutaminase TRAG-3 taxol resistant associated
protein 3 breast cancer, leukemia, and melanoma TRG testin-related
gene TRP-1 tyrosine related protein 1 melanoma TRP-2/6b TRP-2/novel
exon 6b melanoma, glioblastoma TRP-2/INT2 TRP-2/intron 2 melanoma,
glioblastoma Trp-p8 prostate cancer Tyrosinase melanoma UPA
urokinase-type plasminogen breast cancer activator VEGF vascular
endothelial growth factor VEGFR-2/FLK-1 vascular endothelial growth
factor receptor-2 WT1 Wilm' tumor gene gastric cancer, colon
cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, leukemia
TABLE-US-00003 TABLE 2 Mutant antigens expressed in cancer diseases
Mutant antigen Name of mutant antigen Cancers or cancer diseases
related thereto alpha-actinin-4/m lung carcinoma ARTC1/m melanoma
bcr/abl breakpoint cluster region- CML Abelson fusion protein
beta-Catenin/m beta-Catenin melanoma BRCA1/m breast cancer BRCA2/m
breast cancer CASP-5/m colorectal cancer, gastric cancer,
endometrial carcinoma CASP-8/m head and neck cancer, squamous cell
carcinoma CDC27/m cell-division-cycle 27 CDK4/m cyclin-dependent
kinase 4 melanoma CDKN2A/m melanoma CML66 CML COA-1/m colorectal
cancer DEK-CAN fusion protein AML EFTUD2/m melanoma ELF2/m
Elongation factor 2 lung squamous cell carcinoma ETV6-AML1 Ets
variant gene6/acute myeloid ALL leukemia 1 gene fusion protein
FN1/m fibronectin 1 melanoma GPNMB/m melanoma HLA-A*0201- arginine
to isoleucine exchange renal cell carcinoma R1701 at residue 170 of
the alpha-helix of the alpha2-domain in the HLA-A2 gene HLA-A11/m
melanoma HLA-A2/m renal cell carcinoma HSP70-2M heat shock protein
70-2 mutated renal cell carcinoma, melanoma, neuroblastoma
KIAA0205/m bladder tumor K-Ras/m pancreatic carcinoma, colorectal
carcinoma LDLR-FUT LDR-Fucosyltransferase fusion melanoma protein
MART2/m melanoma ME1/m non-small cell lung carcinoma MUM-1/m
melanoma ubiquitous mutated 1 melanoma MUM-2/m melanoma ubiquitous
mutated 2 melanoma MUM-3/m melanoma ubiquitous mutated 3 melanoma
Myosin class I/m melanoma neo-PAP/m melanoma NFYC/m lung squamous
cell carcinoma N-Ras/m melanoma OGT/m colorectal carcinoma OS-9/m
melanoma p53/m Pml/RARa promyelocytic leukemia/retinoic APL, PML
acid receptor alpha PRDX5/m melanoma PTPRK/m receptor-type
protein-tyrosine melanoma phosphatase kappa RBAF600/m melanoma
SIRT2/m melanoma SYT-SSX-1 synaptotagmin I/synovial sarcoma sarcoma
X fusion protein SYT-SSX-2 synaptotagmin I/synovial sarcoma sarcoma
X fusion protein TEL-AML1 translocation Ets-family AML
leukemia/acute myeloid leukemia 1 fusion protein TGFbRII TGFbeta
receptor II colorectal carcinoma TPI/m triosephosphate isomerase
Melanoma
[0068] In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the tumor
antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection are
selected from the group consisting of 5T4, 707-AP, 9D7, AFP, AlbZIP
HPG 1, alpha-5-beta-1-integrin, alpha-5-beta-6-integrin,
alpha-actinin-4/m, alpha-methylacyl-coenzyme A racemase, ART-4,
ARTC1/m, B7H4, BAGE-1, BCL-2, bcr/abl, beta-catenin/m, BING-4,
BRCA1/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, CYPB1, DAM-10, DAM-6, DEK-CAN,
EFTUD2/m, EGFR, ELF2/m, EMMPRIN, EpCam, EphA2, EphA3, ErbB3,
ETV6-AMLI, 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, gp100, GPC3,
GPNMB/m, HAGE, HAST-2, hepsin, Her2/neu, HERV-K-MEL,
HLA-A*0201-R171, HLA-A11/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-1R, IL-13R.alpha.2, IL-2R, IL-5, immature laminin
receptor, kallikrein-2, kallikrein-4, Ki67, KIAA0205, 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-A100, MAGE-A12, MAGE-B1, MAGE-B2,
MAGE-B3, MAGE-B4, MAGE-B5, MAGE-B6, MAGE-B10, MAGE-B16, MAGE-B17,
MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2, MAGE-C3, MAGE-D1, MAGE-D2, MAGE-D4, MAGE-E1,
MAGE-E2, MAGE-F1, MAGE-H1, MAGEL2, mammaglobin A, MART-1/melan-A,
MART-2, MART-2/m, matrix protein 22, MCIR, M-CSF, MEl/m,
mesothelin, MG50/PXDN, MMP11, MN/CA IX-antigen, MRP-3, MUC-1,
MUC-2, MUM-1/m, MUM-2/m, MUM-3/m, myosin class 1/m, NA88-A,
N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase-V, Neo-PAP, Neo-PAP/m, NFYC/m,
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, PAl-1, PAI-2, PART-1, PATE,
PDEF, Pim-1-Kinase, Pin-1, Pml/PARalpha, 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, Spl7, SSX-1, SSX-2/HOM-MEL-40, SSX-4,
STAMP-1, STEAP, survivin, survivin-2B, SYT-SSX-1, SYT-SSX-2, TA-90,
TAG-72, TARP, TEL-AML1, TGFbeta, TGFbetaR11, TGM-4, TP1/m, TRAG-3,
TRG, TRP-1, TRP-2/6b, TRP/INT2, TRP-p8, tyrosinase, UPA, VEGF,
VEGFR-2/FLK-1, and WT1.
[0069] In a particularly preferred aspect, the tumor antigens as
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection are selected from
the group consisting of MAGE-A1 (e.g. MAGE-A1 according to
accession number M77481), MAGE-A2, MAGE-A3, MAGE-A6 (e.g. MAGE-A6
according to accession number NM.sub.--005363), MAGE-C1, MAGE-C2,
melan-A (e.g. melan-A according to accession number
NM.sub.--005511), GP100 (e.g. GP100 according to accession number
M77348), tyrosinase (e.g. tyrosinase according to accession number
NM.sub.--000372), survivin (e.g. survivin according to accession
number AF077350), CEA (e.g. CEA according to accession number
NM.sub.--004363), Her-2/neu (e.g. Her-2/neu according to accession
number M11730), WT1 (e.g. WT1 according to accession number
NM.sub.--000378), PRAME (e.g. PRAME according to accession number
NM.sub.--006115), EGFR1 (epidermal growth factor receptor 1) (e.g.
EGFR1 (epidermal growth factor receptor 1) according to accession
number AF288738), MUC1, mucin-1 (e.g. mucin-1 according to
accession number NM.sub.--002456), SEC61G (e.g. SEC61G according to
accession number NM.sub.--014302), hTERT (e.g. hTERT accession
number NM.sub.--198253), 5T4 (e.g. 5T4 according to accession
number NM.sub.--006670), NY-Eso-1 (e.g. NY-Esol according to
accession number NM.sub.--001327), TRP-2 (e.g. TRP-2 according to
accession number NM.sub.--001922), STEAP, PCA, PSA, PSMA, etc.
[0070] According to a further particularly preferred aspect, the
tumor antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may form a cocktail of antigens, e.g. in an active
(immunostimulatory) composition or a kit of parts (wherein
preferably each antigen is contained in one part of the kit),
preferably for eliciting an (adaptive) immune response for the
treatment of prostate cancer (PCa), preferably of neoadjuvant
and/or hormone-refractory prostate cancers, and diseases or
disorders related thereto. For this purpose, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection is preferably at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least one,
preferably two, three or even four (preferably different) antigens
of the following group of antigens: [0071] PSA (Prostate-Specific
Antigen)=KLK3 (Kallikrein-3), [0072] PSMA (Prostate-Specific
Membrane Antigen), [0073] PSCA (Prostate Stem Cell Antigen), [0074]
STEAP (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate).
[0075] More preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least two, three
or four (preferably different) antigens of the following
combinations of antigens: [0076] PSA and PSMA, or [0077] PSA and
PSCA, or [0078] PSA and STEAP, or [0079] PSMA and PSCA, or [0080]
PSMA and STEAP, or [0081] PSCA and STEAP, [0082] or [0083] PSA,
PSMA and PSCA, or [0084] PSA, PSMA and STEAP, or [0085] PSMA, PSCA
and STEAP, or [0086] PSA, PSCA and STEAP, or [0087] or [0088] PSA,
PSMA, PSCA and STEAP
[0089] Even more preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least two, three
or four (preferably different) antigens:
wherein at least one antigen is selected from:
STEAP (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate);
and
[0090] b) wherein the further antigen(s) is (are) selected from at
least one antigen of any of the following specific antigens or
combinations thereof: [0091] PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen), or
[0092] PSMA (Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen), or [0093] PSCA
(Prostate Stem Cell Antigen); [0094] or [0095] PSA and PSMA, or
[0096] PSA and PSCA, or [0097] PSMA and PSCA; [0098] or [0099] PSA,
PSMA and PSCA.
[0100] Most preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, encoding four (preferably different)
antigens selected from PSA, PSMA, PSCA and STEAP.
[0101] According to another particularly preferred aspect, the
tumor antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may form a cocktail of antigens, e.g. in an active
(immunostimulatory) composition or a kit of parts (wherein
preferably each antigen is contained in one part of the kit),
preferably for eliciting an (adaptive) immune response for the
treatment of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), preferably
selected from the three main sub-types squamous cell lung
carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell lung carcinoma, or of
disorders related thereto. For this purpose, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection is preferably at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least one,
preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
eleven or twelve (preferably different) antigens of the following
group of antigens: [0102] hTERT, [0103] WT1, [0104] MAGE-A2, [0105]
5T4, [0106] MAGE-A3, [0107] MUC1, [0108] Her-2/neu, [0109]
NY-ESO-1, [0110] CEA, [0111] Survivin, [0112] MAGE-C1, and/or
[0113] MAGE-C2, wherein any combination of these antigens is
possible.
[0114] More preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least two, three,
five or six (preferably different) antigens of the following
combinations of antigens: [0115] hTERT, [0116] WT1, [0117] 5T4,
[0118] NY-ESO-1, [0119] Survivin, and/or [0120] MAGE-C2, wherein
any combination of these antigens is possible.
[0121] Even more preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least one,
preferably two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten
eleven or twelve (preferably different) antigens of the following
combinations of antigens: [0122] hTERT and WT1, or [0123] hTERT and
5T4, or [0124] hTERT and NY-ESO-1, or [0125] hTERT and Survivin, or
[0126] hTERT and MAGE-C2, or [0127] WT1 and 5T4, or [0128] WT1 and
NY-ESO-1, or [0129] WT1 and Survivin, or [0130] WT1 and MAGE-C2, or
[0131] 5T4 and NY-ESO-1, or [0132] 5T4 and Survivin, or [0133] 5T4
and MAGE-C2, or [0134] NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0135] NY-ESO-1
and MAGE-C2, or [0136] Survivin and MAGE-C2, [0137] or [0138]
hTERT, WT1 and 5T4, or [0139] hTERT, WT1 and NY-ESO-1, or [0140]
hTERT, WT1 and Survivin, or [0141] hTERT, WT1 and MAGE-C2, or
[0142] hTERT, 5T4, and NY-ESO-1, or [0143] hTERT, 5T4, and
Survivin, or [0144] hTERT, 5T4, and MAGE-C2, or [0145] hTERT,
NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0146] hTERT, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or
[0147] hTERT, Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0148] WT1, 5T4 and
NY-ESO-1, or [0149] WT1, 5T4 and Survivin, or [0150] WT1, 5T4 and
MAGE-C2, or [0151] WT1, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0152] WT1,
NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0153] WT1, Survivin and MAGE-C2, or
[0154] 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0155] 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and
MAGE-C2, or [0156] 5T4, Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0157] NY-ESO-1,
Survivin, and MAGE-C2, [0158] or [0159] hTERT, WT1, 5T4 and
NY-ESO-1, or [0160] hTERT, WT1, 5T4 and Survivin, or [0161] hTERT,
WT1, 5T4 and MAGE-C2, or [0162] hTERT, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin,
or [0163] hTERT, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0164] hTERT,
NY-ESO-1, Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0165] WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1, and
Survivin, or [0166] WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1, and MAGE-C2, or [0167] WT1,
5T4, Survivin, and MAGE-C2, or [0168] 5T4, NY-ESO-1, Survivin, and
MAGE-C2, [0169] or [0170] hTERT, WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin,
or [0171] hTERT, WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0172] WT1,
5T4, NY-ESO-1, Survivin and MAGE-C2, [0173] or [0174] hTERT, WT1,
5T4, NY-ESO-1, Survivin, and MAGE-C2.
[0175] Preferably, in the latter aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may also be at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least two
(preferably different) antigens exclusively selected from any of
the antigens of the above mentioned group(s) or subgroup(s)
comprising (at least) any one of the following combinations of
antigens: [0176] hTERT and WT1, or [0177] hTERT and 5T4, or [0178]
hTERT and NY-ESO-1, or [0179] hTERT and Survivin, or [0180] hTERT
and MAGE-C2, or [0181] WT1 and 5T4, or [0182] WT1 and NY-ESO-1, or
[0183] WT1 and Survivin, or [0184] WT1 and MAGE-C2, or [0185] 5T4
and NY-ESO-1, or [0186] 5T4 and Survivin, or [0187] 5T4 and
MAGE-C2, or [0188] NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0189] NY-ESO-1 and
MAGE-C2, or [0190] Survivin and MAGE-C2, [0191] or [0192] hTERT,
WT1 and 5T4, or [0193] hTERT, WT1 and NY-ESO-1, or [0194] hTERT,
WT1 and Survivin, or [0195] hTERT, WT1 and MAGE-C2, or [0196]
hTERT, 5T4, and NY-ESO-1, or [0197] hTERT, 5T4, and Survivin, or
[0198] hTERT, 5T4, and MAGE-C2, or [0199] hTERT, NY-ESO-1 and
Survivin, or [0200] hTERT, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0201] hTERT,
Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0202] WT1, 5T4 and NY-ESO-1, or [0203]
WT1, 5T4 and Survivin, or [0204] WT1, 5T4 and MAGE-C2, or [0205]
WT1, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0206] WT1, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or
[0207] WT1, Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0208] 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and
Survivin, or [0209] 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0210] 5T4,
Survivin and MAGE-C2, or [0211] NY-ESO-1, Survivin, and MAGE-C2,
[0212] or [0213] hTERT, WT1, 5T4 and NY-ESO-1, or [0214] hTERT,
WT1, 5T4 and Survivin, or [0215] hTERT, WT1, 5T4 and MAGE-C2, or
[0216] hTERT, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0217] hTERT, 5T4,
NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0218] hTERT, NY-ESO-1, Survivin and
MAGE-C2, or [0219] WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1, and Survivin, or [0220] WT1,
5T4, NY-ESO-1, and MAGE-C2, or [0221] WT1, 5T4, Survivin, and
MAGE-C2, or [0222] 5T4, NY-ESO-1, Survivin, and MAGE-C2, [0223] or
[0224] hTERT, WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin, or [0225] hTERT,
WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2, or [0226] WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1,
Survivin and MAGE-C2, [0227] or [0228] hTERT, WT1, 5T4, NY-ESO-1,
Survivin, and MAGE-C2.
[0229] According to a further particularly preferred aspect, the
tumor antigens as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may form a cocktail of antigens, e.g. in an active
(immunostimulatory) composition or a kit of parts (wherein
preferably each antigen is contained in one part of the kit),
preferably for eliciting an (adaptive) immune response for the
treatment of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), preferably
selected from the three main sub-types squamous cell lung
carcinoma, adenocarcinoma and large cell lung carcinoma, or of
disorders related thereto. For this purpose, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection is preferably at least one RNA, more
preferably at least one mRNA, which may encode at least two
(preferably different) antigens,
a) wherein at least one, preferably at least two, three, four, five
or even six, of these at least two antigens is (are) selected from:
[0230] 5T4 [0231] NY-ESO-1, [0232] MAGE-A2, [0233] MAGE-A3, [0234]
MAGE-C1, and/or
[0235] MAGE-C2, and
b) wherein the further antigen(s) is (are) selected from at least
one antigen as defined herein, preferably in any of the herein
mentioned combinations, groups or subgroups of antigens, e.g. the
further antigen(s) is (are) selected from, e.g.: [0236] hTERT,
[0237] WT1, [0238] MAGE-A2, [0239] 5T4, [0240] MAGE-A3, [0241]
MUC1, [0242] Her-2/neu, [0243] NY-ESO-1, [0244] CEA, [0245]
Survivin, [0246] MAGE-C1, and/or [0247] MAGE-C2.
[0248] Preferably, in the latter aspect, the at least one
antigen(s) according to a) is (are) selected from: [0249] NY-ESO-1,
[0250] MAGE-C1, and/or [0251] MAGE-C2.
[0252] More preferably, in the latter aspect, the at least one
antigen(s) according to a) is (are) selected from: [0253] MAGE-C1,
and/or [0254] MAGE-C2.
[0255] Preferably, in the latter aspect, the at least one
antigen(s) according to b) is (are) selected from an antigen
(antigens) as defined in one of the following combinations: [0256]
hTERT and WT1; or [0257] hTERT and MAGE-A2; or [0258] hTERT and
5T4; or [0259] hTERT and MAGE-A3; or [0260] hTERT and MUC1; or
[0261] hTERT and Her-2/neu; or [0262] hTERT and NY-ESO-1; or [0263]
hTERT and CEA; or [0264] hTERT and Survivin; or [0265] hTERT and
MAGE-C.sub.1; or [0266] hTERT and MAGE-C2; or [0267] WT1 and
MAGE-A2; or [0268] WT1 and 5T4; or [0269] WT1 and MAGE-A3; or
[0270] WT1 and MUC1; or [0271] WT1 and Her-2/neu; or [0272] WT1 and
NY-ESO-1; or [0273] WT1 and CEA; or [0274] WT1 and Survivin; or
[0275] WT1 and MAGE-C1; or [0276] WT1 and MAGE-C2; or [0277]
MAGE-A2 and 5T4; or [0278] MAGE-A2 and MAGE-A3; or [0279] MAGE-A2
and MUC1; or [0280] MAGE-A2 and Her-2/neu; or [0281] MAGE-A2 and
NY-ESO-1; or [0282] MAGE-A2 and CEA; or [0283] MAGE-A2 and
Survivin; or [0284] MAGE-A2 and MAGE-C1; or [0285] MAGE-A2 and
MAGE-C2; or [0286] 5T4 and MAGE-A3; or [0287] 5T4 and MUC1; or
[0288] 5T4 and Her-2/neu; or [0289] 5T4 and NY-ESO-1; or [0290] 5T4
and CEA; or [0291] 5T4 and Survivin; or [0292] 5T4 and MAGE-C1; or
[0293] 5T4 and MAGE-C2; or [0294] MAGE-A3 and MUC1; or [0295]
MAGE-A3 and Her-2/neu; or [0296] MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1; or [0297]
MAGE-A3 and CEA; or [0298] MAGE-A3 and Survivin; or [0299] MAGE-A3
and MAGE-C1 [0300] MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2 [0301] MUC1 and Her-2/neu;
or [0302] MUC1 and NY-ESO-1; or [0303] MUC1 and CEA; or [0304] MUC1
and Survivin; or [0305] MUC1 and MAGE-C1; or [0306] MUC1 and
MAGE-C2; or [0307] HER-2/NEU and NY-ESO-1; or [0308] HER-2/NEU and
CEA; or [0309] HER-2/NEU and Survivin; or [0310] HER-2/NEU and
MAGE-C1; or [0311] HER-2/NEU and MAGE-C2; or [0312] NY-ESO-1 and
CEA; or [0313] NY-ESO-1 and Survivin; or [0314] NY-ESO-1 and
MAGE-C1; or [0315] NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0316] CEA and
Survivin; or [0317] CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0318] CEA and MAGE-C2; or
[0319] Survivin and MAGE-C1; or [0320] Survivin and MAGE-C2; or
[0321] MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0322] or [0323] hTERT, WT1 and
MAGE-A2; or [0324] hTERT, WT1 and 5T4; or [0325] hTERT, WT1 and
MAGE-A3; or [0326] hTERT, WT1 and MUC1; or [0327] hTERT, WT1 and
Her-2/neu; or [0328] hTERT, WT1 and NY-ESO-1; or [0329] hTERT, WT1
and CEA; or [0330] hTERT, WT1 and Survivin; or [0331] hTERT, WT1
and MAGE-C1; or [0332] hTERT, WT1 and MAGE-C2; or [0333] WT1,
MAGE-A2 and 5T4; or [0334] WT1, MAGE-A2 and MAGE-A3; or [0335] WT1,
MAGE-A2 and MUC1; or [0336] WT1, MAGE-A2 and Her-2/neu; or [0337]
WT1, MAGE-A2 and NY-ESO-1; or [0338] WT1, MAGE-A2 and CEA; or
[0339] WT1, MAGE-A2 and Survivin; or [0340] WT1, MAGE-A2 and
MAGE-C1; or [0341] WT1, MAGE-A2 and MAGE-C2; or [0342] MAGE-A2, 5T4
and MAGE-A3; or [0343] MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MUC1; or [0344] MAGE-A2,
5T4 and Her-2/neu; or [0345] MAGE-A2, 5T4 and NY-ESO-1; or [0346]
MAGE-A2, 5T4 and CEA; or [0347] MAGE-A2, 5T4 and Survivin; or
[0348] MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MAGE-C1; or [0349] MAGE-A2, 5T4 and
MAGE-C2; or [0350] 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MUC1; or [0351] 5T4, MAGE-A3
and Her-2/neu; or [0352] 5T4, MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1; or [0353] 5T4,
MAGE-A3 and CEA; or [0354] 5T4, MAGE-A3 and Survivin; or [0355]
5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C1; or [0356] 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2; or
[0357] MAGE-A3, MUC1 and Her-2/neu; or [0358] MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
NY-ESO-1; or [0359] MAGE-A3, MUC1 and CEA; or [0360] MAGE-A3, MUC1
and Survivin; or [0361] MAGE-A3, MUC1 and MAGE-C1; or [0362]
MAGE-A3, MUC1 and MAGE-C2; or [0363] MUC1, Her-2/neu and NY-ESO-1;
or [0364] MUC1, Her-2/neu and CEA; or [0365] MUC1, Her-2/neu and
Survivin; or [0366] MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C1; or [0367] MUC1,
Her-2/neu and MAGE-C2; or [0368] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1 and CEA; or
[0369] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin; or [0370] HER-2/NEU,
NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1; or [0371] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or
[0372] NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0373] NY-ESO-1, CEA and
MAGE-C1; or [0374] NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2; or [0375] CEA,
Survivin and MAGE-C1; or [0376] CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2; or
[0377] Survivin, MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0378] or [0379] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2 and 5T4; or [0380] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and MAGE-A3; or
[0381] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and MUC1; or [0382] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2
and Her-2/neu; or [0383] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and NY-ESO-1; or
[0384] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and CEA; or [0385] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2
and Survivin; or [0386] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and MAGE-C1; or [0387]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2 and MAGE-C2; or [0388] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and
MAGE-A3; or [0389] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MUC1; or [0390] WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4 and Her-2/neu; or [0391] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and
NY-ESO-1; or [0392] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and CEA; or [0393] WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4 and Survivin; or [0394] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MAGE-C1;
or [0395] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MAGE-C2; or [0396] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3 and MUC1; or [0397] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and Her-2/neu; or
[0398] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1; or [0399] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3 and CEA; or [0400] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and Survivin; or
[0401] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C1; or [0402] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2; or [0403] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, and Her-2/neu;
or [0404] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and NY-ESO-1; or [0405] 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1 and CEA; or [0406] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and Survivin; or [0407]
5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and MAGE-C1; or [0408] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
MAGE-C2; or [0409] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and NY-ESO-1; or [0410]
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and CEA; or [0411] MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu and Survivin; or [0412] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
MAGE-C1; or [0413] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C2; or [0414]
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and CEA; or [0415] MUC1, Her-2/neu,
NY-ESO-1 and Survivin; or [0416] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and
MAGE-C1; or [0417] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0418]
HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0419] HER-2/NEU,
NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0420] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1, CEA and
MAGE-C2; or [0421] NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or [0422]
NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2; or [0423] CEA, Survivin,
MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0424] or [0425] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and
MAGE-A3; or [0426] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MUC1; or [0427]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and Her-2/neu; or [0428] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4 and NY-ESO-1; or [0429] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and
CEA; or [0430] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and Survivin; or [0431]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MAGE-C1; or [0432] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4 and MAGE-C2; or [0433] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and
MUC1; or [0434] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and Her-2/neu; or [0435]
WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1; or [0436] WT1, MAGE-A2,
5T4, MAGE-A3 and CEA; or [0437] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and
Survivin; or [0438] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C1; or
[0439] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2; or [0440] MAGE-A2,
5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and Her-2/neu; or [0441] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1 and NY-ESO-1; or [0442] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and CEA;
or [0443] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC and Survivin; or [0444]
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and MAGE-C11; or [0445] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1 and MAGE-C2; or [0446] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu
and NY-ESO-1; or [0447] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and CEA; or
[0448] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and Survivin; or [0449] 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C1; or [0450] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu and MAGE-C2; or [0451] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1
and CEA; or [0452] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin;
or [0453] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1; or [0454]
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0455] MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0456] MUC1, Her-2/neu,
NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0457] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA
and MAGE-C2; or [0458] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and
MAGE-C1; or [0459] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2;
or [0460] NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin, MAGE-C1and MAGE-C2; [0461] or
[0462] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MUC1; or [0463] hTERT,
WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and Her-2/neu; or [0464] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and NY-ESO-1; or [0465] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2,
5T4, MAGE-A3 and CEA; or [0466] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3
and Survivin; or [0467] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and
MAGE-C1; or [0468] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3 and MAGE-C2;
or [0469] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and Her-2/neu; or [0470]
WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and NY-ESO-1; or [0471] WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and CEA; or [0472] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1 and Survivin; or [0473] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1 and MAGE-C1; or [0474] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
MAGE-C2; or [0475] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
NY-ESO-1; or [0476] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and CEA;
or [0477] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and Survivin; or
[0478] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C1; or
[0479] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C2; or
[0480] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and CEA; or [0481]
5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin; or [0482]
5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1; or [0483] 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0484] MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0485] MAGE-A3,
MUC11, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; [0486] or [0487]
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2; [0488] or
[0489] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or
[0490] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2; or
[0491] HER-2/NEU, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin, MAGE-C1and MAGE-C2;
[0492] or [0493] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
Her-2/neu; or [0494] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
NY-ESO-1; or [0495] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
CEA; or [0496] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
Survivin; or [0497] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
MAGE-C1; or [0498] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1 and
MAGE-C2; or [0499] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
NY-ESO-1; or [0500] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
CEA; or [0501] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
Survivin; or [0502] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
MAGE-C1; or [0503] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
MAGE-C2; or [0504] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1
and CEA; or [0505] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1
and Survivin; [0506] or [0507] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1; or [0508] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0509] 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0510] 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0511] 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2; or [0512]
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1;
[0513] or [0514] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin
and MAGE-C2; [0515] or [0516] MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA,
Survivin, MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0517] or [0518] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and NY-ESO-1; or [0519]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and CEA; [0520]
or [0521] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu and
Survivin; or [0522] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu and MAGE-C; or [0523] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu and MAGE-C2; or [0524] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and CEA; or [0525] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and Survivin; or [0526] WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C.sub.1;
or [0527] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and
MAGE-C2; or [0528] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu,
NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin; or [0529] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0530] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2; or [0531] 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or
[0532] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and
MAGE-C2; or [0533] MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA,
Survivin, MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0534] or [0535] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and CEA; or [0536]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and
Survivin; or [0537] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C1; or [0538] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2,
5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1 and MAGE-C2; or [0539] WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and Survivin;
or [0540] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1,
CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0541] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2; or [0542] MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or
[0543] MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA,
Survivin and MAGE-C2; or [0544] 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu,
NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin, MAGE-C1 and MAGE-C2; [0545] or [0546]
hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA
and Survivin; or [0547] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C1; or [0548] hTERT, WT1,
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA and MAGE-C2;
or [0549] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1,
CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or [0550] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3,
MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2; or [0551]
MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin,
MAGE-C1and MAGE-C2; [0552] or [0553] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C1; or
[0554] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu,
NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin and MAGE-C2; or [0555] WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4,
MAGE-A3, MUC1, Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin, MAGE-C1and
MAGE-C2; [0556] or [0557] hTERT, WT1, MAGE-A2, 5T4, MAGE-A3, MUC1,
Her-2/neu, NY-ESO-1, CEA, Survivin, MAGE-C1and MAGE-C2.
[0558] More preferably, in the latter aspect, the at least one
antigen(s) according to b) is (are) selected from the following
combination: [0559] Survivin and 5T4
[0560] In the above embodiments, each of the at least two
(preferably different) antigens as defined herein may be encoded by
one (monocistronic) RNA, preferably one (monocistronic) mRNA. In
other words, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may comprise at
least two (monocistronic) RNAs, preferably mRNAs, wherein each of
these at least two (monocistronic) RNAs, preferably mRNAs, may
encode just one (preferably different) antigen, preferably selected
from one of the above mentioned combinations.
[0561] According to another particularly preferred aspect, the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may comprise (at
least) one bi- or even multicistronic RNA, preferably mRNA, i.e.
(at least) one RNA which carries two or even more of the coding
sequences of at the least two (preferably different) antigens,
preferably selected from one of the above mentioned combinations.
Such coding sequences of the at least two (preferably different)
antigens of the (at least) one bi- or even multicistronic RNA may
be separated by at least one IRES (internal ribosomal entry site)
sequence, as defined below. Thus, the term "encoding at least two
(preferably different) antigens" may mean, without being limited
thereto, that the (at least) one (bi- or even multicistronic) RNA,
preferably a mRNA, may encode e.g. at least two, three, four, five,
six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven or twelve (preferably
different) antigens of the above mentioned group(s) of antigens or
their fragments or variants. More preferably, without being limited
thereto, the (at least) one (bi- or even multicistronic) RNA,
preferably mRNA, may encode e.g. at least two, three, four, five or
six (preferably different) antigens of the above mentioned
subgroup(s) of antigens or their fragments or variants within the
above definitions. In this context, a so-called IRES (internal
ribosomal entry site) sequence as defined above can function as a
sole ribosome binding site, but it can also serve to provide a bi-
or even multicistronic RNA as defined above which codes for several
proteins, which are to be translated by the ribosomes independently
of one another. 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).
[0562] According to a further particularly preferred aspect, the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may comprise a
mixture of at least one monocistronic RNA, preferably mRNA, as
defined above, and at least one bi- or even multicistronic RNA,
preferably mRNA, as defined above. The at least one monocistronic
RNA and/or the at least one bi- or even multicistronic RNA
preferably encode different antigens or their fragments or
variants, the antigens preferably being selected from one of the
above mentioned groups or subgroups of antigens, more preferably in
one of the above mentioned combinations. However, the at least one
monocistronic RNA and the at least one bi- or even multicistronic
RNA may preferably also encode (in part) identical antigens
selected from one of the above mentioned groups or subgroups of
antigens, preferably in one of the above mentioned combinations,
provided that the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as a whole
provides at least two (preferably different) antigens as defined
above. Such an aspect may be advantageous e.g. for a staggered,
e.g. time dependent, administration of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, e.g. as a
pharmaceutical composition, as a vaccine, a lyophilized nucleic
acid, etc., to a patient in need thereof. The components of a
pharmaceutical composition, as a vaccine, a lyophilized nucleic
acid, etc., particularly the different RNAs encoding the at least
two (preferably different) antigens, may be e.g. contained in
(different parts of) a kit of parts composition or may be e.g.
administered separately as components of different pharmaceutical
compositions, vaccines, lyophilized nucleic acids, etc.
[0563] According to another aspect, one further class of antigens
as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection comprises allergy
antigens. Such allergy antigens may be selected from antigens
derived from different sources, e.g. from animals, plants, fungi,
bacteria, etc. Allergens in this context include e.g. grasses,
pollens, molds, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers, etc.
Allergy antigens typically belong to different classes of
compounds, such as nucleic acids and their fragments, proteins or
peptides and their fragments, carbohydrates, polysaccharides,
sugars, lipids, phospholipids, etc. Of particular interest in the
context of the present invention are antigens, which may be encoded
by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, i.e. protein or
peptide antigens and their fragments or epitopes, or nucleic acids
and their fragments, particularly nucleic acids and their
fragments, encoding such protein or peptide antigens and their
fragments or epitopes.
[0564] Particularly preferred, antigens derived from animals, which
may be encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may
include antigens derived from, without being limited thereto,
insects, such as mite (e.g. house dust mites), mosquito, bee (e.g.
honey bee, bumble bee), cockroach, tick, moth (e.g. silk moth),
midge, bug, flea, wasp, caterpillar, fruit fly, migratory locust,
grasshopper, ant aphide, from crustaceans, such as shrimps, crab,
krill, lobster, prawn, crawfish, scampi, from birds, such as duck,
goose, seagull, turkey, ostrich, chicken, from fishes, such as eel,
herring, carp, seabream, codfish, halibut, catfish, beluga, salmon,
flounder, mackerel, cuttlefish, perch, form molluscs, such as
scallop, octopus, abalone, snail, whelk, squid, clam, mussel, from
spiders, from mammals, such as cow, rabbit, sheep, lion, jaguar,
leopard, rat, pig, buffalo, dog, loris, hamster, guinea pig, fallow
deer, horse, cat, mouse, ocelot, serval, from arthropod, such as
spider, or silverfish, from worms, such as nematodes, from
trichinella species, or roundworm, from amphibians, such as frogs,
or from sea squirt, etc.
[0565] Antigens derived from plants, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may include antigens
derived from, without being limited thereto, fruits, such as kiwi,
pineapple, jackfruit, papaya, lemon, orange, mandarin, melon,
sharon fruit, strawberry, lychee, apple, cherry paradise apple,
mango, passion fruit, plum, apricot, nectarine, pear, passion
fruit, raspberry, grape, from vegetables, such as garlic, onion,
leek, soya bean, celery, cauliflower, turnip, paprika, chickpea,
fennel, zucchini, cucumber, carrot, yam, bean, pea, olive, tomato,
potato, lentil, lettuce, avocado, parsley, horseradish, chirimoya,
beet, pumpkin, spinach, from spices, such as mustard, coriander,
saffron, pepper, aniseed, from crop, such as oat, buckwheat,
barley, rice, wheat, maize, rapeseed, sesame, from nuts, such as
cashew, walnut, butternut, pistachio, almond, hazelnut, peanut,
brazil nut, pecan, chestnut, from trees, such as alder, hornbeam,
cedar, birch, hazel, beech, ash, privet, oak, plane tree, cypress,
palm, from flowers, such as ragweed, carnation, forsythia,
sunflower, lupine, chamomile, lilac, passion flower, from grasses,
such as quack grass, common bent, brome grass, Bermuda grass, sweet
vernal grass, rye grass, or from other plants, such as opium poppy,
pellitory, ribwort, tobacco, asparagus, mugwort, cress, etc.
[0566] Antigens derived from fungi, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may include antigens
derived from, without being limited thereto, e.g. Alternia sp.,
Aspergillus sp., Beauveria sp., Candida sp., Cladosporium sp.,
Endothia sp., Curcularia sp., Embellisia sp., Epicoccum sp.,
Fusarium sp., Malassezia sp., Penicillum sp., Pleospora sp.,
Saccharomyces sp., etc.
[0567] Antigens derived from bacteria, which may be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may include antigens
derived from, without being limited thereto, e.g. Bacillus tetani,
Staphylococcus aureus, Streptomyces griseus, etc.
c) Antibodies
[0568] According to a further alternative, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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, V.sub.L, and a C-terminal constant
domain, C.sub.L. In contrast, the heavy chain of the IgG antibody,
for example, is comprised of an N-terminal variable domain,
V.sub.H, and three constant domains, C.sub.H1, C.sub.H2 and
C.sub.H3. Single chain antibodies may be encoded by the lyophilized
nucleic acid according to the present invention as well.
[0569] According to a first alternative, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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 at least one nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection will be used, each lyophilized nucleic acid encoding a
specific (monoclonal) antibody being directed to specific antigens
or immunogens or epitopes of a protein.
[0570] According to a further alternative, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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 al., 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 into separate wells of
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 the at least one nucleic acid
(sequence) encoding these antibodies can be present as the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection.
[0571] For therapeutical purposes in humans, non-human monoclonal
or polyclonal antibodies, such as murine antibodies may also be
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection. 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 are also envisaged encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection. "Chimeric"
antibodies, which may be encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection 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 nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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, and at
least one nucleic acid (sequence) may be prepared according to
procedures well known in the art. Additionally, human antibodies
can be provided by the use of a phage display.
[0572] In addition, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 by two different
F.sub.ab-domains, 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 by two different F.sub.a/b-domains, 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.
[0573] According to the invention, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may also encode intrabodies, wherein these intrabodies
may be antibodies as defined above. Since these antibodies are
intracellular expressed antibodies, i.e. antibodies which may be
encoded by nucleic acids localized in specific areas of the cell
and also expressed there, such antibodies may be termed
intrabodies.
[0574] Antibodies as encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection 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 also be encoded by the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection.
[0575] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may also encode
antibody fragments selected from Fab, Fab', F(ab').sub.2, Fc, Facb,
pFc', Fd and Fv fragments of the aforementioned (full-length)
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.
[0576] According to a further alternative, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be in the form of dsRNA,
preferably siRNA. A dsRNA, or a siRNA, is of interest particularly
in connection with the phenomenon of RNA interference. 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 al. (1998) Annu. Rev. Biochem. 67: 227-264; He and Katze
(2002) Viral Immunol. 15: 95-119). 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 et al.
(2001) Nature 411: 494-498).
[0577] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may thus be a
double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) having a length of from 17 to 29,
preferably from 19 to 25, and preferably being at least 90%, more
preferably 95% and especially 100% (of the nucleotides of a dsRNA)
complementary to a section of the nucleic acid (sequence) of a
(therapeutically relevant) protein or antigen described (as active
ingredient) hereinbefore, either a coding or a non-coding section,
preferably a coding section. 90% complementary means that with a
length of a dsRNA described herein of, for example, nucleotides,
this contains not more than 2 nucleotides without corresponding
complementarity with the corresponding section of the mRNA. The
sequence of the double-stranded RNA used according to the invention
is, however, preferably wholly complementary in its general
structure with a section of the nucleic acid of a therapeutically
relevant protein or antigen described hereinbefore. In this context
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be a dsRNA having
the general structure 5'-(N.sub.17-29)-3', preferably having the
general structure 5'-(N.sub.19-25)-3', more preferably having the
general structure 5'-(N.sub.19-24)-3', or yet more preferably
having the general structure 5'-(N.sub.21-23)-3', wherein for each
general structure each N is a (preferably different) nucleotide of
a section of the mRNA of a therapeutically relevant protein or
antigen described hereinbefore, preferably being selected from a
continuous number of 17 to 29 nucleotides of the mRNA of a
therapeutically relevant protein or antigen and being present in
the general structure 5'-(N.sub.17-29)-3' in their natural order.
In principle, all the sections having a length of from 17 to 29,
preferably from 19 to 25, base pairs that occur in the mRNA can
serve as target sequence for a dsRNA herein. Equally, dsRNAs used
as nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection can also be directed
against nucleotide sequences of a (therapeutically relevant)
protein or antigen described (as active ingredient) hereinbefore
that do not lie in the coding region, in particular in the 5'
non-coding region of the mRNA, for example, therefore, against
non-coding regions of the mRNA having a regulatory function. The
target sequence of the dsRNA used as nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection can therefore lie in the translated and untranslated
region of the mRNA and/or in the region of the control elements of
a protein or antigen described hereinbefore. The target sequence of
a dsRNA used as the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 mRNA.
[0578] According to another alternative, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be in the form of a CpG nucleic
acid, in particular CpG-RNA or CpG-DNA. A CpG-RNA or CpG-DNA used
according to the invention can be a single-stranded CpG-DNA (ss
CpG-DNA), a double-stranded CpG-DNA (dsDNA), a single-stranded
CpG-RNA (ss CpG-RNA) or a double-stranded CpG-RNA (ds CpG-RNA). The
CpG nucleic acid used according to the invention is preferably in
the form of CpG-RNA, more preferably in the form of single-stranded
CpG-RNA (ss CpG-RNA). Also preferably, such CpG nucleic acids have
a length as described above. Preferably the CpG motifs are
unmethylated.
[0579] Likewise, according to a further alternative, the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be in the form of an
immunostimulatory RNA. Such an immunostimulatory RNA used as the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may be any
(double-stranded or single-stranded) 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 I (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 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, TLR11, 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 al. (2000) Nature
408:740-5; Bauer S et al. (2001) Proc Natl Acad Sci 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-1, MDA-5, etc. E.g.
Lipford et al. 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 al. were believed to
be derivable from RNA sources including ribosomal RNA, transfer
RNA, messenger RNA, and viral RNA.
[0580] 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) may
have immunostimulatory properties, i.e. enhance the immune
response. An RNA as defined above and being the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may thus be used to enhance
(unspecific) immunostimulation, if suitable and desired for a
specific treatment.
[0581] The at least one (immunostimulatory) RNA (molecule) used as
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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-1 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. Mol.
Cell. 22, 561-569), or any other immunostimulatory RNA sequence.
Furthermore, (classes of) immunostimulatory RNA molecules, used as
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may include any other
RNA capable of eliciting an immune response. Without being limited
thereto, such an immunostimulatory RNA may include ribosomal RNA
(rRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA), and viral RNA
(vRNA).
[0582] Such further (classes of) immunostimulatory RNA molecules,
which may be used as the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, without
being limited thereto, may comprise e.g. an RNA molecule of formula
(I):
G.sub.lX.sub.mG.sub.n
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; l is an integer
from 1 to 40,
[0583] wherein when l=1 G is guanosine or an analogue thereof,
[0584] when I>1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are guanosine or
an analogue thereof;
m is an integer and is at least 3;
[0585] wherein when m=3.times. is uracil or an analogue thereof,
[0586] when m>3 at least 3 successive uracils or analogues of
uracil occur; n is an integer from 1 to 40,
[0587] wherein when n=1 G is guanosine or an analogue thereof,
[0588] when n>1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are guanosine or
an analogue thereof.
[0589] In addition, such further (classes of) immunostimulatory RNA
molecules, which may be used as the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may comprise, without being limited thereto, e.g. an RNA
molecule of formula (II):
C.sub.lX.sub.mC.sub.n
[0590] 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; l is an integer from 1 to 40,
[0591] wherein when l=1 C is cytosine or an analogue thereof,
[0592] when I>1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are cytosine or
an analogue thereof; m is an integer and is at least 3;
[0593] wherein when m=3.times. is uracil or an analogue thereof,
[0594] when m>3 at least 3 successive uracils or analogues of
uracil occur; n is an integer from 1 to 40,
[0595] wherein when n=1 C is cytosine or an analogue thereof,
[0596] when n>1 at least 50% of the nucleotides are cytosine or
an analogue thereof.
[0597] Preferably, the immunostimulatory RNA molecules used as the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may comprise a length
as defined above in general for RNA molecules of the 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.
[0598] The immunostimulatory RNA used as the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may be furthermore modified,
preferably "chemically modified" in order to enhance the
immunostimulatory properties of said RNA. The term "chemical
modification" means that the immuostimulatory RNA is modified by
replacement, insertion or removal of individual or several atoms or
atomic groups compared with naturally occurring RNA species.
[0599] Preferably, the chemical modification of the
immunostimulatory 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 and which
may be used herein for modification 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, 2'-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,
5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thio-uracil,
5-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 U.S. Pat. No. 4,373,071, U.S. Pat. No.
4,401,796, U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,732, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,500,707, U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,777, U.S. Pat. No.
4,973,679, U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,524, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,418, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,153,319, U.S. Pat. Nos. 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 used as
the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection and/or do not
interfere with a further modification that has been introduced into
said immunostimulatory RNA.
[0600] In general, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined above may also occur in the form of a modified nucleic
acid, wherein any modification, as defined herein, may be
introduced into the nucleic acid prior to lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection. Modifications as defined herein
preferably lead to a further stabilized nucleic acid as defined
herein.
[0601] According to a first aspect, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may thus be provided as a "stabilized nucleic acid",
preferably as a stabilized RNA, more preferably as an RNA that is
essentially resistant to in vivo degradation (e.g. by an exo- or
endo-nuclease). Such stabilization can be effected, for example, by
a modified phosphate backbone of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection. A backbone modification in connection with the present
invention is a modification in which phosphates of the backbone of
the nucleotides contained in the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection are chemically modified. Nucleotides that may be
preferably used in this connection contain e.g. a
phosphorothioate-modified phosphate backbone, preferably at least
one of the phosphate oxygens contained in the phosphate backbone
being replaced by a sulfur atom. Stabilized at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may further include, for example:
non-ionic phosphate analogues, such as, for example, alkyl and aryl
phosphonates, in which the charged phosphonate oxygen is replaced
by an alkyl or aryl group, or phosphodiesters and
alkylphosphotriesters, in which the charged oxygen residue is
present in alkylated form. 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)).
[0602] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 of the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection 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), 2'-deoxy-2'-deamine
oligoribonucleotide (2'-amino-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate,
2'-amino-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate), 2'-O-alkyl
oligoribonucleotide, 2'-deoxy-2'-C-alkyl oligoribonucleotide
(2'-O-methylcytidine-5'-triphosphate,
2'-methyluridine-5'-triphosphate), 2'-C-alkyl oligoribonucleotide,
and isomers thereof (2'-aracytidine-5'-triphosphate,
2'-arauridine-5'-triphosphate), or azidotriphosphate
(2'-azido-2'-deoxycytidine-5'-triphosphate,
2'-azido-2'-deoxyuridine-5'-triphosphate).
[0603] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection 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 lyophilized nucleic acid as compared with the
unaltered, i.e. natural (=native), nucleic acid (sequence).
Significant in this case means an increase in the expression of the
protein compared with the expression of the native nucleic acid
(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% or more. In
connection with the present invention, a nucleotide having such 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,
N1-methyladenosine-5'-triphosphate,
N1-methylguanosine-5'-triphosphate,
N6-methyladenosine-5'-triphosphate,
O6-methylguanosine-5'-triphosphate, pseudouridine-5'-triphosphate,
or puromycin-5'-triphosphate, xanthosine-5'-triphosphate.
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.
[0604] According to another aspect, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection can likewise be modified (and preferably stabilized) by
introducing further modified nucleotides containing modifications
of their ribose or base moieties. Generally, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may contain any native (=naturally
occurring) nucleotide, e.g. guanosine, uracil, adenosine, and/or
cytosine or an analogue thereof. In this connection, nucleotide
analogues are defined as non-natively occurring variants of
naturally occurring nucleotides. Accordingly, analogues are
chemically derivatized nucleotides with non-natively occurring
functional groups, which are preferably added to or deleted from
the naturally occurring nucleotide or which substitute the
naturally occurring functional groups of a nucleotide. Accordingly,
each component of the naturally occurring nucleotide may be
modified, namely the base component, the sugar (ribose) component
and/or the phosphate component forming the backbone (see above) of
the nucleic acid sequence. Exemplary 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, 2'-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,
5-carboxymethylaminomethyl-2-thio-uracil,
5-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]carbamoyl methyl)-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 U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,373,071, U.S. Pat. No.
4,401,796, U.S. Pat. No. 4,415,732, U.S. Pat. No. 4,458,066, U.S.
Pat. No. 4,500,707, U.S. Pat. No. 4,668,777, U.S. Pat. No.
4,973,679, U.S. Pat. No. 5,047,524, U.S. Pat. No. 5,132,418, U.S.
Pat. No. 5,153,319, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,262,530 and 5,700,642. In the
case of an analogue as described above, particular preference may
be given according to the invention to those analogues that do not
interfere with a further modification of the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection that has been introduced.
[0605] According to a particular aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection can contain a lipid modification.
Such a lipid-modified nucleic acid typically comprises a nucleic
acid as defined herein. Such a lipid-modified nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection typically further comprises at least
one linker covalently linked with that nucleic acid, and at least
one lipid covalently linked with the respective linker.
Alternatively, the lipid-modified nucleic acid comprises an at
least one nucleic acid as defined herein and at least one
(bifunctional) lipid covalently linked (without a linker) with that
nucleic acid. According to a third alternative, the lipid-modified
nucleic acid comprises a nucleic acid RNA as defined herein, at
least one linker covalently linked with that nucleic acid, and at
least one lipid covalently linked with the respective linker, and
also at least one (bifunctional) lipid covalently linked (without a
linker) with that nucleic acid.
[0606] The lipid, which may be contained in the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection (complexed or covalently bound
thereto) is typically a lipid or a lipophilic residue that
preferably is itself biologically active. Such lipids preferably
include natural substances or compounds such as, for example,
vitamins, e.g. alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E), including
RRR-alpha-tocopherol (formerly D-alpha-tocopherol),
L-alpha-tocopherol, the racemate D,L-alpha-tocopherol, vitamin E
succinate (VES), or vitamin A and its derivatives, e.g. retinoic
acid, retinol, vitamin D and its derivatives, e.g. vitamin D and
also the ergosterol precursors thereof, vitamin E and its
derivatives, vitamin K and its derivatives, e.g. vitamin K and
related quinone or phytol compounds, or steroids, such as bile
acids, for example cholic acid, deoxycholic acid, dehydrocholic
acid, cortisone, digoxygenin, testosterone, cholesterol or
thiocholesterol. Further lipids or lipophilic residues within the
scope of the present invention include, without implying any
limitation, polyalkylene glycols (Oberhauser et al., Nucl. Acids
Res., 1992, 20, 533), aliphatic groups such as, for example,
C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkanes, C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkenes or
C.sub.1-C.sub.20-alkanol compounds, etc., such as, for example,
dodecanediol, hexadecanol or undecyl residues (Saison-Behmoaras et
al., EMBO J, 1991, 10, 111; Kabanov et al., FEBS Lett., 1990, 259,
327; Svinarchuk et al., Biochimie, 1993, 75, 49), phospholipids
such as, for example, phosphatidylglycerol,
diacylphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine,
dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine, distearoylphosphatidylcholine,
phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine,
di-hexadecyl-rac-glycerol, sphingolipids, cerebrosides,
gangliosides, or triethylammonium
1,2-di-O-hexadecyl-rac-glycero-3-H-phosphonate (Manoharan et al.,
Tetrahedron Lett., 1995, 36, 3651; Shea et al., Nucl. Acids Res.,
1990, 18, 3777), polyamines or polyalkylene glycols, such as, for
example, polyethylene glycol (PEG) (Manoharan et al., Nucleosides
& Nucleotides, 1995, 14, 969), hexaethylene glycol (HEG),
palmitin or palmityl residues (Mishra et al., Biochim. Biophys.
Acta, 1995, 1264, 229), octadecylamines or
hexylamino-carbonyl-oxycholesterol residues (Crooke et al., J.
Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., 1996, 277, 923), and also waxes, terpenes,
alicyclic hydrocarbons, saturated and mono- or poly-unsaturated
fatty acid residues, etc.
[0607] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection may likewise be
stabilized in order to prevent degradation of the nucleic acid by
various approaches, particularly, when RNA or mRNA is used as a
nucleic acid for the inventive purpose. It is known in the art that
instability and (fast) degradation of mRNA or of RNA in general may
represent a serious problem in the application of RNA based
compositions. This instability of RNA is typically due to
RNA-degrading enzymes, "RNAases" (ribonucleases), wherein
contamination with such ribonucleases may sometimes completely
degrade RNA in solution. Accordingly, the natural degradation of
mRNA in the cytoplasm of cells is very finely regulated and RNase
contaminations may be generally removed by special treatment prior
to use of said compositions, in particular with diethyl
pyrocarbonate (DEPC). A number of mechanisms of natural degradation
are known in this connection in the prior art, which may be
utilized as well. E.g., the terminal structure is typically of
critical importance for an mRNA. As an example, at the 5' end of
naturally occurring mRNAs there is usually a so-called "cap
structure" (a modified guanosine nucleotide), and at the 3' end is
typically a sequence of up to 200 adenosine nucleotides (the
so-called poly-A tail).
[0608] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, particularly if
provided as a mRNA, can therefore be stabilized against degradation
by RNases by the addition of a so-called "5' cap" structure.
Particular preference is given in this connection to an m7G(5')ppp
(5'(A,G(5')ppp(5')A or G(5')ppp(5')G as the 5"cap" structure.
However, such a modification is introduced only if a modification,
for example a lipid modification, has not already been introduced
at the 5' end of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, if
provided as a mRNA or if the modification does not interfere with
the immunogenic properties of the (unmodified or chemically
modified) nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection.
[0609] According to a further preferred aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may contain, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, a poly-A tail on the 3'
terminus of typically about to 200 adenosine nucleotides,
preferably about 10 to 100 adenosine nucleotides, more preferably
about 20 to 100 adenosine nucleotides or even more preferably about
40 to 80 adenosine nucleotides.
[0610] According to a further preferred aspect, the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection may contain, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, a poly-C tail on the 3'
terminus of typically about 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 to 40 cytosine nucleotides.
[0611] According to another aspect, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may be modified, and thus stabilized, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, by modifying the G/C content
of the nucleic acid, particularly an mRNA, preferably of the coding
region thereof.
[0612] In a particularly preferred aspect of the present invention,
the G/C content of the coding region of the nucleic acid (sequence)
of the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA,
is modified, particularly increased, compared to the G/C content of
the coding region of its particular wild type mRNA, i.e. the
unmodified mRNA. The encoded amino acid sequence of the at least
one mRNA is preferably not modified compared to the coded amino
acid sequence of the particular wild type mRNA.
[0613] This modification of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA,
is based on the fact that the sequence of any mRNA region to be
translated is important for efficient translation of that mRNA.
Thus, the composition and the sequence of various nucleotides are
important. 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 mRNA are therefore varied compared
to its wild type mRNA, 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).
[0614] Depending on the amino acid to be encoded by the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, there are various possibilities for
modification of the at least one mRNA 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 Gly (GGC or
GGG) require no modification, since no A or U is present.
[0615] 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 Gly can be modified from GGU or GGA to
GGC or GGG.
[0616] 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 H is
can be modified from CAU to CAC; the codon for Gln can be modified
from CAA to CAG; the codons for Ile 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 Val
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 Glu can be modified
from GAA to GAG; the stop codon UAA can be modified to UAG or
UGA.
[0617] In the case of the codons for Met (AUG) and Trp (UGG), on
the other hand, there is no possibility of sequence
modification.
[0618] The substitutions listed above can be used either
individually or in all possible combinations to increase the G/C
content of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if
the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, compared to its
particular wild type mRNA (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 mRNA) 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 Ile 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 Val in the original sequence
to GUC (or GUG) and substitution of all codons originally coding
for Glu 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 Val in the original sequence to GUC (or GUG) and substitution
of all codons originally coding for Glu to GAG and substitution of
all codons originally coding for Ala to GCC (or GCG) and
substitution of all codons originally coding for Gly to GGC (or
GGG) and substitution of all codons originally coding for Asn to
AAC; substitution of all codons coding for Val 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 Gln to CAG and substitution of all codons
originally coding for Pro to CCC (or CCG); etc.
[0619] Preferably, the G/C content of the coding region of the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, 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 mRNA. According to a specific aspect at least 5%, 10%,
20%, 30%, 40%, 50%, 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 peptide as defined herein or its fragment or variant
thereof or the whole sequence of the wild type mRNA sequence are
substituted, thereby increasing the GC/content of said
sequence.
[0620] In this context, it is particularly preferable to increase
the G/C content of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection,
especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, 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.
[0621] According to the invention, a further preferred modification
of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, 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 the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA,
to an increased extent, the corresponding modified nucleic acid
(sequence) is translated to a significantly poorer degree than in
the case where codons coding for relatively "frequent" tRNAs are
present.
[0622] Especially if the modified nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection is in the form of a mRNA, the coding region of the
modified nucleic acid is preferably modified compared to the
corresponding region of the wild type mRNA 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 sequences of the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection,
especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, is
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.
[0623] 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,
11(6): 660-666. The codons which use for the particular amino acid
the tRNA which occurs the most frequently, e.g. the Gly codon,
which uses the tRNA which occurs the most frequently in the (human)
cell, are particularly preferred.
[0624] According to the invention, it is particularly preferable to
link the sequential G/C content which is increased, in particular
maximized, in the modified nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection,
especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, with the
"frequent" codons without modifying the amino acid sequence of the
protein encoded by the coding region of the nucleic acid. This
preferred aspect allows provision of a particularly efficiently
translated and stabilized (modified) nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a
mRNA.
[0625] The determination of a modified nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as described above (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 nucleic acid or mRNA 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, and the amino acid sequence
coded by the modified nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection
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.
[0626] In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the
A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, is increased compared to the
A/U content in the environment of the ribosome binding site of its
particular wild type mRNA. This modification (an increased A/U
content around the ribosome binding site) increases the efficiency
of ribosome binding to the nucleic acid. An effective binding of
the ribosomes to the ribosome binding site (Kozak sequence:
GCCGCCACCAUGG (SEQ ID NO: 3), the AUG forms the start codon) in
turn has the effect of an efficient translation of the nucleic
acid.
[0627] According to a further aspect the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA,
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 nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection may be modified compared to the particular wild type
nucleic acid such that is contains no destabilizing sequence
elements, the coded amino acid sequence of the modified nucleic
acid of the present invention, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, preferably not being modified compared to its
particular wild type nucleic acid. 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. For further stabilization of the modified
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, optionally in the region
which encodes for a protein or a peptide as defined herein, one or
more such modifications compared to the corresponding region of the
wild type nucleic acid 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 nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, by such modifications.
[0628] Such destabilizing sequences are e.g. AU-rich sequences
(AURES), which occur in 3'-UTR sections of numerous unstable RNAs
(Caput et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 1986, 83: 1670 to 1674).
The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, is therefore preferably
modified compared to the wild type nucleic acid such that the
modified nucleic acid 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 al., EMBO J. 1994, 13: 1969 to
1980). These sequence motifs are also preferably removed in the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA.
[0629] Also preferably, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, has, in a modified form, at least one IRES as
defined above and/or at least one 5' and/or 3' stabilizing
sequence, in a modified form, e.g. to enhance ribosome binding or
to allow expression of different encoded proteins located on an at
least one (bi- or even multicistronic) RNA of the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above.
[0630] According to the invention, the nucleic acid (sequence) of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, furthermore preferably has at least one 5'
and/or 3' stabilizing sequence. These stabilizing sequences in the
5' and/or 3' untranslated regions have the effect of increasing the
half-life of the nucleic acid in the cytosol. These stabilizing
sequences can have 100% sequence identity 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 (alpha-)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 nucleic
acid. Another example of a stabilizing sequence has the general
formula (C/U)CCAN.sub.xCCC(U/A)Py.sub.xUC(C/U)CC (SEQ ID NO: 4),
which is contained in the 3'UTR of the very stable RNA which codes
for (alpha-)globin, type(1)-collagen, 15-lipoxygenase or for
tyrosine hydroxylase (cf. Holcik et al., 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 nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined above, especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a
mRNA, is therefore preferably present as (alpha-)globin UTR
(untranslated regions)-stabilized RNA, in particular as
(alpha-)globin UTR-stabilized RNA.
[0631] Nevertheless, substitutions, additions or eliminations of
bases are preferably carried out with the nucleic acid (sequence)
of the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, especially if the nucleic acid is in
the form of a mRNA, using a DNA matrix for preparation of the
nucleic acid by techniques of the well known site directed
mutagenesis or with an oligonucleotide ligation strategy (see e.g.
Maniatis et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual, Cold
Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, 3rd ed., Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y.,
2001). In such a process, for preparation of the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, a corresponding DNA molecule
may be transcribed in vitro. This DNA matrix preferably comprises a
suitable promoter, e.g. a T7 or SP6 promoter, for in vitro
transcription, which is followed by the desired nucleotide sequence
for the nucleic acid, e.g. mRNA, to be prepared and a termination
signal for in vitro transcription. The DNA molecule, which forms
the matrix of at least one 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 al.,
Development 1995, 121: 2349 to 2360), pGEM.RTM. series, e.g.
pGEM.RTM.-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, Fla.,
2001.
[0632] Nucleic acid molecules used according to the invention as
defined above may be prepared using any method known in the art,
including synthetic methods such as e.g. solid phase synthesis, as
well as in vitro methods, such as in vitro transcription
reactions.
[0633] According to another particularly preferred aspect, the
nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above,
especially if the nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, may
additionally or alternatively encode a secretory signal peptide.
Such signal peptides are sequences, which typically exhibit a
length of about 15 to 30 amino acids and are preferably located at
the N-terminus of the encoded peptide, without being limited
thereto. Signal peptides as defined herein preferably allow the
transport of the protein or peptide as encoded by the nucleic acid
(sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, into a defined cellular
compartment, preferably the cell surface, the endoplasmic reticulum
(ER) or the endosomal-lysosomal compartment. Examples of secretory
signal peptide sequences as defined herein include, without being
limited thereto, signal sequences of classical or non-classical
MHC-molecules (e.g. signal sequences of MHC I and II molecules,
e.g. of the MHC class I molecule HLA-A*0201), signal sequences of
cytokines or immunoglobulines as defined herein, signal sequences
of the invariant chain of immunoglobulines or antibodies as defined
herein, signal sequences of Lampl, Tapasin, Erp57, Calretikulin,
Calnexin, and further membrane associated proteins or of proteins
associated with the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) or the
endosomal-lysosomal compartment. Particularly preferably, signal
sequences of MHC class I molecule HLA-A*0201 may be used according
to the present invention.
[0634] Any of the above modifications may be applied to the nucleic
acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above, especially if the
nucleic acid is in the form of a mRNA, and further to any nucleic
acid as used in the context of the present invention and may be, if
suitable or necessary, be combined with each other in any
combination, provided, these combinations of modifications do not
interfere with each other in the respective nucleic acid. A person
skilled in the art will be able to take his choice accordingly.
[0635] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above as
well as proteins or peptides as encoded by this nucleic acid, may
comprise fragments or variants of those sequences. Such fragments
or variants may typically comprise a sequence having a sequence
identity with one of the above mentioned nucleic acids, or with one
of the proteins or peptides or sequences, if encoded by the at
least one nucleic acid (sequence) of at least 5%, 10%, 20%, 30%,
40%, 50%, 60%, preferably at least 70%, more preferably at least
80%, equally more preferably at least 85%, even more preferably at
least 90% and most preferably at least 95% or even 97%, to the
entire wild type sequence, either on nucleic acid level or on amino
acid level.
[0636] "Fragments" of proteins or peptides in the context of the
present invention (encoded by a nucleic acid as defined herein) may
comprise a sequence of a protein or peptide as defined above, which
is, with regard to its amino acid sequence (or its encoded nucleic
acid (sequence)), N-terminally, C-terminally and/or
intrasequentially truncated compared to the amino acid sequence of
the original (native) protein (or its encoded nucleic acid
(sequence)). Such truncation may thus occur either on the amino
acid level or correspondingly on the nucleic acid level. A sequence
identity with respect to such a fragment as defined above may
therefore preferably refer to the entire protein or peptide as
defined above or to the entire (coding) nucleic acid (sequence) of
such a protein or peptide. Likewise, "fragments" of nucleic acids
in the context of the present invention may comprise a sequence of
a nucleic acid as defined above, which is, with regard to its
nucleic acid (sequence) 5'-, 3'- and/or intrasequentially truncated
compared to the nucleic acid (sequence) of the original (native)
nucleic acid (sequence). A sequence identity with respect to such a
fragment as defined above may therefore preferably refer to the
entire nucleic acid as defined above.
[0637] Fragments of proteins or peptides in the context of the
present invention (encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above) may furthermore comprise a sequence of
a protein or peptide as defined above, which has a length of about
6 to about 20 or even more amino acids, e.g. fragments as processed
and presented by MHC class I molecules, preferably having a length
of about 8 to about 10 amino acids, e.g. 8, 9, or 10, (or even 6,
7, 11, or 12 amino acids), or fragments as processed and presented
by MHC class II molecules, preferably having a length of about 13
or more amino acids, e.g. 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20 or even
more amino acids, wherein these fragments may be selected from any
part of the amino acid sequence. These fragments are typically
recognized by T-cells in form of a complex consisting of the
peptide fragment and an MHC molecule, i.e. the fragments are
typically not recognized in their native form.
[0638] Fragments of proteins or peptides as defined herein (encoded
by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above) may
also comprise epitopes of those proteins or peptides. Epitopes
(also called "antigen determinants") in the context of the present
invention are typically fragments located on the outer surface of
(native) proteins or peptides as defined herein, preferably having
5 to 15 amino acids, more preferably having 5 to 12 amino acids,
even more preferably having 6 to 9 amino acids, which may be
recognized by antibodies or B-cell receptors, i.e. in their native
form. Such epitopes of proteins or peptides may furthermore be
selected from any of the herein mentioned variants of such proteins
or peptides. In this context antigenic determinants can be
conformational or discontinuous epitopes which are composed of
segments of the proteins or peptides as defined herein that are
discontinuous in the amino acid sequence of the proteins or
peptides as defined herein but are brought together in the
three-dimensional structure or continuous or linear epitopes which
are composed of a single polypeptide chain.
[0639] "Variants" of proteins or peptides as defined above may be
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above,
wherein nucleic acids of the nucleic acid, encoding the protein or
peptide as defined above, are exchanged. Thereby, a protein or
peptide may be generated, having an amino acid sequence which
differs from the original sequence in one or more mutation(s), such
as one or more substituted, inserted and/or deleted amino acid(s).
Preferably, these fragments and/or variants have the same
biological function or specific activity compared to the
full-length native protein, e.g. its specific antigenic
property.
[0640] The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
also encode a protein or peptide as defined above, wherein the
encoded amino acid sequence comprises conservative amino acid
substitution(s) compared to its physiological sequence. Those
encoded amino acid sequences as well as their encoding nucleotide
sequences in particular fall under the term variants as defined
above. Substitutions in which amino acids which originate from the
same class are exchanged for one another are called conservative
substitutions. In particular, these are amino acids having
aliphatic side chains, positively or negatively charged side
chains, aromatic groups in the side chains or 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 et al. (ed.), Elsevier,
Amsterdam).
[0641] Furthermore, variants of proteins or peptides as defined
above, which may be encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, may also comprise those sequences,
wherein nucleic acids of the nucleic acid are exchanged according
to the degeneration of the genetic code, without leading to an
alteration of respective amino acid sequence of the protein or
peptide, i.e. the amino acid sequence or at least part thereof may
not differ from the original sequence in one or more mutation(s)
within the above meaning.
[0642] In order to determine the percentage to which two sequences
(nucleic acid (sequence) s, e.g. at least one nucleic acid
(sequence) as defined herein, or amino acid sequences, preferably
their encoded amino acid sequences, e.g. the amino acid sequences
of the proteins or peptides as defined above) 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 al. (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 present invention to a certain extent can be identified by this
program.
[0643] The inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection as defined above, containing at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) as defined above and mannose, may additionally
contain a lactate. Such a lactate provided a surprisingly good
effect on stabilization of the inventive nucleic acid (sequence)
during lyophilization additional to the mannose already contained
in the solution. This is particularly surprising and was not
suggested by any of the prior art available. A skilled person,
bearing in mind that salts typically destabilize a nucleic acid
(sequence) during lyophilization, always would have expected that
lactate, representing a salt, would rather destabilize than
stabilize a nucleic acid (sequence) during lyophilization.
[0644] A lactate as defined herein may be any lactate available in
the art. Preferably, a lactate within the context of the present
invention is defined as a chemical compound, particularly a salt,
derived from free lactic acid (IUPAC systematic name:
2-hydroxypropanoic acid), also known as milk acid, including its
optical isomers L-(+)-lactic acid, (S)-lactic acid, D-(-)-lactic
acid or (R)-lactic acid, more preferably its biologically active
optical isomer L-(+)-lactic acid, wherein the salt or an anion
thereof, preferably may be selected from sodium-lactate,
potassium-lactate, or Al.sub.3.sup.+-lactate,
NH.sub.4.sup.+-lactate, Fe-lactate, Li-lactate, Mg-lactate,
Ca-lactate, Mn-lactate or Ag-lactate, or selected from Ringer's
lactate (RiLa), lactated Ringer's solution (main content sodium
lactate, also termed "Hartmann's Solution" in the UK), acetated
Ringer's solution, or selected from lactate containing water, or
ortho-lactate-containing (isotonic) solutions (e.g. for injection
purposes), etc. The chemical structure of lactic acid is as
follows:
##STR00004##
[0645] Lactic acid is a chemical compound that plays a role in
several biochemical processes. It was first isolated in 1780 by a
Swedish chemist, Carl Wilhelm Scheele, and is a carboxylic acid
with a chemical formula of C.sub.3H.sub.6O.sub.3. It has a hydroxyl
group adjacent to the carboxyl group, making it an alpha hydroxy
acid (AHA). In solution, it can lose a proton from the acidic
group, producing the lactate ion CH.sub.3CH(OH)COO.sup.-. Lactic
acid is chiral and has two optical isomers. One is known as
L-(+)-lactic acid or (S)-lactic acid and the other, its mirror
image, is D-(-)-lactic acid or (R)-lactic acid, wherein
L-(+)-lactic acid is the biologically important isomer. L-lactate
is constantly produced in animals from pyruvate via the enzyme
lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in a process of fermentation during
normal metabolism and exercise. Industrially, lactic acid is
typically produced via fermentation using among others bacteria
such as Lactobacillus bacteria, etc.
[0646] The inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection as defined above may typically comprise a lactate
concentration in the range of about 3 mM to about 300 mM,
preferably in the range of about 5 mM to about 200 mM, more
preferably in the range of about 10 mM to about 150 mM, even more
preferably about 15 mM to about 35 mM, and most preferably 20 mM to
about 31 mM.
[0647] Alternatively, the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may typically
comprise a Ringer's lactate content (or a content of any of the
aforementioned (undiluted) lactate containing solutions) e.g. in
the range of about 10% (w/w) to about 100% (w/w), e.g. in the range
of about 20% (w/w) to about 100% (w/w), in the range of about 30%
(w/w) to about 100% (w/w), in the range of about 40% (w/w) to about
100% (w/w), in the range of about 50% (w/w) to about 90% (w/w),
preferably in the range of about 60% (w/w) to about 90% (w/w), more
preferably in the range of about 70% (w/w) to about 90% (w/w), e.g.
about 80% (w/w), of Ringer's lactate (or the aforementioned
(undiluted) lactate containing solution). In this context, Ringer's
lactate (100% (w/w)) is typically defined as a solution comprising
131 mM Na.sup.+, 5.36 mM K.sup.+, 1.84 mM Ca.sup.2+, and 28.3 mM
Lactate).
[0648] The inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection as defined above, containing at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose, may additionally contain water,
preferably water for injection (WFI). In this context, the term
"water for injection" (WFI) is a term defined by standard USP 23.
USP 23 monograph states that "Water for Injection (WFI) is water
purified by distillation or reverse osmosis." WFI is typically
produced by either distillation or 2-stage reverse osmosis. It is
usually stored and distributed hot (at about 80.degree. C.) in
order to meet microbial quality requirements. WFI typically does
not contain more than 0.25 USP endotoxin units (EU) per ml.
Endotoxins are a class of pyrogens that are components of the cell
wall of Gram-negative bacteria (the most common type of bacteria in
water), preferably in an action limit of 10 cfu/100 ml. The
microbial quality may be tested by membrane filtration of a 100 ml
sample and plate count agar at an incubation temperature of 30 to
35 degrees Celsius for a 48-hour period. The chemical purity
requirements of WFI are typically the same as of PW (purified
water).
[0649] The inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection as defined above, containing at least one nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose, may additionally contain further
optional components or additives, e.g. a cryoprotectant, a
lyoprotectant or any further suitable additive, preferably as
defined in the following.
[0650] Preferably, the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined herein may contain the
herein defined contents, optional components, additives, etc. in
such a concentration so as to lead to an osmolality or osmolarity
comparable to that of blood plasma. In this context, the term
"osmolarity" is typically to be understood as a measure of all
contents, optional components, additives, etc. of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined herein. Osmolarity is typically the measure of solute
concentration, defined as the number of osmoles (Osm) of all
solubilized contents, optional components, additives, etc. per
liter (I) of solution (osmol/l or osm/l). In the present context,
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined herein may comprise an osmolarity preferably
in the range of about 200 mosmol/l to about 400 mosmol/l, more
preferably in the range of about 250 mosmol/l to about 350
mosmol/l, even more preferably in the range of about 270 mosmol/l
to about 330 mosmol/l or in the range of about 280 mosmol/l to
about 320 mosmol/l, or in the range of about e.g. about 290
mosmol/l to about 310 mosmol/l, e.g. about 295 mosmol/l, about
mosmol/l, about 296 mosmol/l, about 297 mosmol/l, about 298
mosmol/l, about 299 mosmol/l, about, 300 mosmol/l, about 301
mosmol/l, about 302 mosmol/l, about 303 mosmol/l, about 304
mosmol/l, about 305 mosmol/l, about 306 mosmol/l, about 307
mosmol/l, about 308 mosmol/l.
[0651] As a particularly preferred optional component or additive,
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above may additionally contain at least one
suspending agent, preferably mannit, preferably in a concentration
of about 1 to 15% (w/w), more preferably in a concentration of
about 3 to 10% (w/w), and even more preferably in a concentration
of about 4 to 6% (w/w).
[0652] As a further component, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
additionally contain at least one optional component or additive
selected, e.g., from mannite, proteins, peptides, amino acids,
alcohols, carbohydrates, metals or metal ions, surfactants,
polymers or complexing agents, buffers, etc., or a combination
thereof.
[0653] In the context of the present invention, another optional
component or additive of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may also be selected
from the group of amino acids. Such group may comprise, without
being limited thereto, any naturally occurring amino acid.
Cryoprotectants and/or lyoprotectants selected from the group of
amino acids may additionally comprise any modification of a
naturally occurring amino acid.
[0654] Furthermore, in the context of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, a
further optional component or additive may be selected from the
group of alcohols. Such group may comprise, without being limited
thereto, any alcohol suitable for the preparation of a
pharmaceutical composition, preferably, without being limited
thereto, mannitol, polyethyleneglycol, polypropyleneglycol,
sorbitol, etc. However, mannitol is preferably excluded from the
scope of the present invention.
[0655] Additionally, in the context of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, a
further optional component or additive may be selected from the
group of carbohydrates. Such group of carbohydrates may comprise,
without being limited thereto, any carbohydrate, suitable for the
preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, preferably, without
being limited thereto, monosaccharides, such as e.g. glucose,
fructose, etc., disaccharides, such as e.g. lactose, maltose,
sucrose, trehalose, etc., and polysaccharides, such as e.g.
dextran, HP-beta CD, etc.
[0656] Also, in the context of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, a
further suitable optional component or additive may be selected
from the group of proteins. Such group may comprise, without being
limited thereto, proteins such as albumin, gelatine,
therapeutically active proteins as defined above, antibodies as
defined above, antigens as defined above, or any further protein
encoded by the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined
above.
[0657] A further optional component or additive, which may be
contained in the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may be selected from
the group of metals or metal ions, typically comprising, without
being limited thereto, metals or metal ions or salts selected
from
[0658] alkali metals, including members of group 1 of the periodic
table: lithium (Li), sodium (Na), potassium (K), rubidium (Rb),
caesium (Cs), and francium (Fr), and their (monovalent) metal
alkali metal ions and salts; preferably lithium (Li), sodium (Na),
potassium (K), and their (monovalent) metal alkali metal ions and
salts;
[0659] alkaline earth metals, including members of group 2 of the
periodic table: beryllium (Be), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca),
strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and radium (Ra), and their (divalent)
alkaline earth metal ions and salts; preferably magnesium (Mg),
calcium (Ca), strontium (Sr), barium (Ba) and their (divalent)
alkaline earth metal ions and salts;
[0660] transition metals, including members of groups 3 to 13 of
the periodic table and their metal ions and salts. The transition
metals typically comprise the 40 chemical elements 21 to 30, 39 to
48, 71 to 80, and 103 to 112. The name transition originates from
their position in the periodic table of elements. In each of the
four periods in which they occur, these elements represent the
successive addition of electrons to the d atomic orbitals of the
atoms. In this way, the transition metals represent the transition
between subgroup 2 elements and subgroup 12 (or 13) elements.
Transition metals in the context of the present invention
particularly comprise members of subgroup 3 of the periodic table:
including Scandium (Sc), Yttrium (Y), and Lutetium (Lu), members of
subgroup 4 of the periodic table: including Titan (Ti), Zirconium
(Zr), and Hafnium (Hf), members of subgroup 5 of the periodic
table: including Vanadium (V), Niobium (Nb), and Tantalum (Ta),
members of subgroup 6 of the periodic table: including Chrome (Cr),
Molybdenum (Mo), and Tungsten (W), members of subgroup 7 of the
periodic table: including Manganese (Mn), Technetium (Tc), and
Rhenium (Re), members of subgroup 8 of the periodic table:
including Iron (Fe), Ruthenium (Ru), and Osmium (Os), members of
subgroup 9 of the periodic table: including Cobalt (Co), Rhodium
(Rh), and Iridium (Ir), members of subgroup 10 of the periodic
table: including Nickel (Ni), Palladium (Pd), and Platin (Pt),
members of subgroup 11 of the periodic table: including Copper
(Cu), Silver (Ag), and Gold (Au), members of subgroup 12 of the
periodic table: including Zinc (Zn), Cadmium (Cd), and Mercury
(Hg); preferably members of period 4 of any of subgroups 1 to 12 of
the periodic table: including Scandium (Sc), Titanium (Ti),
Vanadium (V), Chromium (Cr), Manganese (Mn), Iron (Fe), Cobalt
(Co), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn) and their metal ions
and salts;
[0661] earth metals or members of the boron group, including
members of group 3 of the periodic table: including Boron (B),
Aluminium (Al), Gallium (Ga), Indium (In) and Thallium (Tl) and
their metal ions and salts; preferably Boron (B) and Aluminium (Al)
and their metal ions and salts;
[0662] metalloids or semi metals: including Boron (B), Silicon
(Si), Germanium (Ge), Arsenic (As), Antimony (Sb), Tellurium
(Te).and Polonium (Po), and their semi metal ions and salts;
preferably Boron (B) and Silicon (Si) and their semi metal ions and
salts;
[0663] In the context of the present invention, a further optional
component or additive of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may be selected from
the group of surfactants comprising, without being limited thereto,
any surfactant, suitable for the preparation of a pharmaceutical
composition, preferably, without being limited thereto, Tween, e.g.
Tween 80 (e.g. 0.2%), Pluronics, e.g. Pluronic L121 (e.g. 1.25%),
Triton-X, SDS, PEG, LTAB, Saponin, Cholate, etc.
[0664] Another optional component or additive, which may be
contained in the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may be selected from
the group of polymers or complexing agents, preferably to complex
the nucleic acid, more preferably a RNA or mRNA contained in the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above. Such polymers or complexing agents
typically comprise, without being limited thereto, any polymer
suitable for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, such
as minor/major groove binders, nucleic acid binding proteins,
lipoplexes, nanoplexes, non-cationic or non-polycationic compounds,
such as PLGA, Polyacetate, Polyacrylate, PVA, Dextran,
hydroxymethylcellulose, starch, MMP, PVP, heparin, pectin,
hyaluronic acid, and derivatives thereof, or cationic or
polycationic compounds, particularly cationic or polycationic
polymers or cationic or polycationic lipids, preferably cationic or
polycationic polymers. In the context of the present invention,
such a cationic or polycationic compound is typically selected from
any cationic or polycationic compound, suitable for complexing and
thereby stabilizing a nucleic acid as defined herein, e.g. by
associating the nucleic acid as defined herein with the cationic or
polycationic compound. Particularly preferred, cationic or
polycationic compounds are selected from cationic or polycationic
peptides or proteins, including protamine, nucleoline, spermin or
spermidine, or other cationic peptides or proteins, such as
poly-L-lysine (PLL), poly-arginine, basic polypeptides, cell
penetrating peptides (CPPs), including HIV-binding peptides, Tat,
HIV-1 Tat (HIV), Tat-derived peptides, Penetratin, VP22 derived or
analog peptides, HSV VP22 (Herpes simplex), MAP, KALA or protein
transduction domains (PTDs, PpT620, prolin-rich peptides,
arginine-rich peptides, lysine-rich peptides, MPG-peptide(s),
Pep-1, L-oligomers, Calcitonin peptide(s), Antennapedia-derived
peptides (particularly from Drosophila antennapedia), pAntp, pIs1,
FGF, Lactoferrin, Transportan, Buforin-2, Bac715-24, SynB, SynB(1),
pVEC, hCT-derived peptides, SAP, protamine, spermine, spermidine,
or histones. Additionally, preferred cationic or polycationic
proteins or peptides may be selected from following proteins or
peptides having the following total formula: (Arg).sub.l;
(Lys).sub.m; (His).sub.n; (Orn).sub.o; (Xaa).sub.x, 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, 11, 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
(=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
or 4, provided, that the overall content of Xaa does not exceed 50%
of all amino acids of the oligopeptide. Particularly preferred
oligoarginines in this context are e.g. Arg.sub.7, Arg.sub.8,
Arg.sub.9, Arg.sub.7, H.sub.3R.sub.9, R.sub.9H3,
H.sub.3R.sub.9H.sub.3, YSSR.sub.9SSY, (RKH).sub.4, Y(RKH).sub.2R,
etc. Further preferred cationic or polycationic compounds, which
can be used for complexing the nucleic acid as defined herein may
include cationic polysaccharides, for example chitosan, polybrene,
cationic polymers, e.g. polyethyleneimine (PEI), cationic lipids,
e.g. DOTMA: [1-(2,3-sioleyloxy)propyl)]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium
chloride, DMRIE, di-C14-amidine, DOTIM, SAINT, DC-Chol, BGTC, CTAP,
DOPC, DODAP, DOPE: Dioleyl phosphatidylethanol-amine, DOSPA, DODAB,
DOIC, DMEPC, DOGS: Dioctadecylamidoglicylspermin, DIMRI:
Dimyristo-oxypropyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide, DOTAP:
dioleoyloxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propane, DC-6-14:
O,O-ditetradecanoyl-N-(.alpha.-trimethylammonioacetyl)diethanolamine
chloride, CLIP1:
rac-[(2,3-dioctadecyloxypropyl)(2-hydroxyethyl)]-dimethylammonium
chloride, CLIP6:
rac-[2(2,3-dihexadecyloxypropyl-oxymethyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium,
CLIP9:
rac-[2(2,3-dihexadecyloxypropyl-oxysuccinyloxy)ethyl]-trimethylamm-
onium, oligofectamine, or cationic or polycationic polymers, e.g.
modified polyaminoacids, such as 3-aminoacid-polymers or reversed
polyamides, etc., modified polyethylenes, such as PVP
(poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide)), etc., modified
acrylates, such as pDMAEMA (poly(dimethylaminoethyl
methylacrylate)), etc., modified Amidoamines such as pAMAM
(poly(amidoamine)), etc., modified polybetaminoester (PBAE), such
as diamine end modified 1,4 butanediol
diacrylate-co-5-amino-1-pentanol polymers, etc., dendrimers, such
as polypropylamine dendrimers or pAMAM based dendrimers, etc.,
polyimine(s), such as PEI: poly(ethyleneimine),
poly(propyleneimine), etc., polyallylamine, sugar backbone based
polymers, such as cyclodextrin based polymers, dextran based
polymers, Chitosan, etc., silan backbone based polymers, such as
PMOXA-PDMS copolymers, etc., Blockpolymers consisting of a
combination of one or more cationic blocks (e.g. selected of a
cationic polymer as mentioned above) and of one or more
hydrophilic- or hydrophobic blocks (e.g polyethyleneglycole); etc.
Association or complexing the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above with cationic or polycationic compounds
preferably provides adjuvant properties to the nucleic acid,
preferably if provided as an RNA, and/or confers a stabilizing
effect to the nucleic acid as defined herein by complexation. The
procedure for stabilizing the nucleic acid as defined herein is in
general described in EP-A-1083232, the disclosure of which is
incorporated by reference into the present invention in its
entirety. Particularly preferred as cationic or polycationic
compounds are compounds selected from the group consisting of
protamine, nucleoline, spermin, spermidine, oligoarginines as
defined above, such as Arg.sub.7, Arg.sub.8, Arg.sub.9, Arg.sub.7,
H.sub.3R.sub.9, R.sub.9H3, H.sub.3R.sub.9H.sub.3, YSSR.sub.9SSY,
(RKH).sub.4, Y(RKH).sub.2R, etc. Preferably, the nucleic acid of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, preferably an RNA or mRNA, is complexed
with a cationic or polycationic compound as defined above.
[0665] As a further optional component, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
additionally contain water, water for injection (WFI), or a buffer,
preferably selected from a buffer as defined above, e.g. a buffer
containing 2-hydroxypropanoic acid, preferably including at least
one of its optical isomers L-(+)-lactic acid, (S)-lactic acid,
D-(-)-lactic acid or (R)-lactic acid, more preferably its
biologically active optical isomer L-(+)-lactic acid, or a salt or
an anion thereof, preferably selected from sodium-lactate,
potassium-lactate, or Al.sub.3.sup.+-lactate,
NH.sub.4.sup.+-lactate, Fe-lactate, Li-lactate, Mg-lactate,
Ca-lactate, Mn-lactate or Ag-lactate, or a buffer selected from
Ringer's lactate (RiLa), lactated Ringer's solution (main content
sodium lactate, also termed "Hartmann's Solution" in the UK),
acetated Ringer's solution, or ortho-lactate-containing solutions
(e.g. for injection purposes), or lactate containing water. A
buffer as defined herein may also be an isotonic buffer or
solution, preferably selected from isotonic saline, a lactate or
ortho-lactate-containing isotonic solution, a isotonic buffer or
solution selected from phosphate-buffered saline (PBS),
TRIS-buffered saline (TBS), Hank's balanced salt solution (HBSS),
Earle's balanced salt solution (EBSS), standard saline citrate
(SSC), HEPES-buffered saline (HBS), Grey's balanced salt solution
(GBSS), or normal saline (NaCl), hypotonic (saline) solutions with
addition of glucose or dextrose, or any solution as defined herein,
etc. Isotonic isotonic buffers or solutions are particularly
preferred as buffers in the context of the present invention for
injection and/or transfection purposes. These isotonic buffers or
solutions are preferably prepared by a skilled person preferably as
defined herein or according to definitions preparation protocols
well known in the art for these specific isotonic buffers or
solutions. More preferably, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
contain these isotonic buffers or solutions or (all) its contents
in isotonic concentrations, preferably as defined herein or in the
art for these specific isotonic solutions. In the above context a
buffer may be used, more preferably an aqueous (isotonic solution
or aqueous) buffer, containing a sodium salt, preferably at least
50 mM of a sodium salt, a calcium salt, preferably at least 0.01 mM
of a calcium salt, and optionally a potassium salt, preferably at
least 3 mM of a potassium salt. According to a preferred aspect,
the sodium, calcium and, optionally, potassium salts may occur in
the form of their halogenides, e.g. chlorides, iodides, or
bromides, in the form of their hydroxides, carbonates, hydrogen
carbonates, or sulfates, etc. Without being limited thereto,
examples of sodium salts include e.g. NaCl, NaI, NaBr, Na.sub.2
CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3, Na.sub.2 SO.sub.4, examples of the optional
potassium salts include e.g. KCl, KI, KBr, K.sub.2 CO.sub.3,
KHCO.sub.3, K.sub.2 SO.sub.4, and examples of calcium salts include
e.g. CaCl.sub.2, Cal.sub.2, CaBr.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, CaSO.sub.4,
Ca(OH).sub.2. Typically, the salts are present in such an (isotonic
solution or) buffer in a concentration of at least 50 mM sodium
chloride (NaCl), at least 3 mM potassium chloride (KCl) and at
least 0.01 mM calcium chloride (CaCl.sub.2). Furthermore, organic
anions of the aforementioned cations may be contained in the
buffer. According to a more preferred aspect, the buffer may
contain salts selected from sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium
chloride (CaCl.sub.2) and optionally potassium chloride (KCl),
wherein further anions may be present additional to the chlorides.
CaCl.sub.2 can also be replaced by another salt like KCl. The
buffer may be hypertonic, isotonic or hypotonic with reference to
the specific reference medium, i.e. the buffer may have a higher,
identical or lower salt content with reference to the specific
reference medium, wherein preferably such concentrations of the
aforementioned salts may be used, which do not lead to damage of
cells due to osmosis or other concentration effects. Reference
media are e.g. liquids occurring in "in vivo" methods, such as
blood, lymph, cytosolic liquids, or other body liquids, or e.g.
liquids, which may be used as reference media in "in vitro"
methods, such as common buffers or liquids. Such common buffers or
liquids are known to a skilled person. Furthermore, according to a
particularly preferred aspect, the nucleic acid (sequence) of the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above, if lyophilized, may again be
reconstituted after lyophilization in a buffer as defined herein,
preferably in an isotonic buffer, preferably as defined above, e.g.
as a further step of a method for lyophilization as defined herein.
The nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, if
lyophilized, may alternatively be lyophilized in a buffer as
defined above (containing mannose) and may be reconstituted after
lyophilization in water or a buffer, e.g. as defined herein, to
obtain the desired salt concentration or alternatively the desired
buffer conditions.
[0666] As another optional component, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
additionally contain an adjuvant. Such an adjuvant is preferably an
immunostimulating agent, selected from the group consisting of
cationic peptides, including polypeptides including protamine,
nucleoline, spermine or spermidine, cationic polysaccharides,
including chitosan, TDM, MDP, muramyl dipeptide, pluronics, alum
solution, aluminium hydroxide, ADJUMER.TM. (polyphosphazene);
aluminium phosphate gel; glucans from algae; algammulin; aluminium
hydroxide gel (alum); highly protein-adsorbing aluminium hydroxide
gel; low viscosity aluminium hydroxide gel; AF or SPT (emulsion of
squalane (5%), Tween 80 (0.2%), Pluronic L121 (1.25%),
phosphate-buffered saline, pH 7.4); AVRIDINE.TM. (propanediamine);
BAY R1005.TM.
((N-(2-deoxy-2-L-leucylamino-b-D-glucopyranosyl)-N-octadecyl-dodecanoyl-a-
mide hydroacetate); CALCITRIOL.TM. (1-alpha,25-dihydroxy-vitamin
D3); calcium phosphate gel; CAPTM (calcium phosphate
nanoparticles); cholera holotoxin,
cholera-toxin-A1-protein-A-D-fragment fusion protein, sub-unit B of
the cholera toxin; CRL 1005 (block copolymer P1205);
cytokine-containing liposomes; DDA (dimethyldioctadecylammonium
bromide); DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone); DMPC
(dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine); DMPG
(dimyristoylphosphatidylglycerol); DOC/alum complex (deoxycholic
acid sodium salt); Freund's complete adjuvant; Freund's incomplete
adjuvant; gamma inulin; Gerbu adjuvant (mixture of: i)
N-acetylglucosaminyl-(P1-4)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-glutamine
(GMDP), ii) dimethyldioctadecylammonium chloride (DDA), iii)
zinc-L-proline salt complex (ZnPro-8); GM-CSF); GMDP
(N-acetylglucosaminyl-(b1-4)-N-acetylmuramyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutamine);
imiquimod (1-(2-methypropyl)-H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline-4-amine);
ImmTher.TM.
(N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-Ala-D-isoGlu-L-Ala-glycerol
dipalmitate); DRVs (immunoliposomes prepared from
dehydration-rehydration vesicles); interferon-gamma; interleukin-1
beta; interleukin-2; interleukin-7; interleukin-12; ISCOMS.TM.
("Immunostimulating Complexes"); ISCOPREP 7.0.3..TM.; liposomes;
LOXORIBINE.TM. (7-allyl-8-oxoguanosine (guanine)); LT oral adjuvant
(E. coli labile enterotoxin-protoxin); microspheres and
microparticles of any composition; MF59.TM.; (squalene-water
emulsion); MONTANIDE ISA 51.TM. (purified incomplete Freund's
adjuvant); MONTANIDE ISA 720.TM. (metabolisable oil adjuvant);
MPL.TM. (3-Q-desacyl-4'-monophosphoryl lipid A); MTP-PE and MTP-PE
liposomes
((N-acetyl-L-alanyl-D-isoglutaminyl-L-alanine-2-(1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glyce-
ro-3-(hydroxyphosphoryloxy))ethylamide, monosodium salt);
MURAMETIDE.TM. (Nac-Mur-L-Ala-D-Gln-OCH.sub.3); MURAPALMITINE.TM.
and D-MURAPALMITINE.TM.
(Nac-Mur-L-Thr-D-isoGln-sn-glyceroldipalmitoyl); NAGO
(neuraminidase-galactose oxidase); nanospheres or nanoparticles of
any composition; NISVs (non-ionic surfactant vesicles); PLEURAN.TM.
(beta-glucan); PLGA, PGA and PLA (homo- and co-polymers of lactic
acid and glycolic acid; microspheres/nanospheres); PLURONIC
L121.TM.; PMMA (polymethyl methacrylate); PODDS.TM. (proteinoid
microspheres); polyethylene carbamate derivatives; poly-rA: poly-rU
(polyadenylic acid-polyuridylic acid complex); polysorbate 80
(Tween 80); protein cochleates (Avanti Polar Lipids, Inc.,
Alabaster, Ala.); STIMULON.TM. (QS-21); Quil-A (Quil-A saponin);
S-28463
(4-amino-otec-dimethyl-2-ethoxymethyl-1H-imidazo[4,5-c]quinoline-1-ethano-
l); SAF-1.TM. ("Syntex adjuvant formulation"); Sendai
proteoliposomes and Sendai-containing lipid matrices; Span-85
(sorbitan trioleate); Specol (emulsion of Marcol 52, Span 85 and
Tween 85); squalene or Robane (2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyltetracosan
and 2,6,10,15,19,23-hexamethyl-2,6,10,14,18,22-tetracosahexane);
stearyltyrosine (octadecyltyrosine hydrochloride); Theramid.RTM.
(N-acetylglucosaminyl-N-acetylmuramyl-L-Ala-D-isoGlu-L-Ala-dipalmitoxypro-
pylamide); Theronyl-MDP (Termurtide.TM. or [thr l]-MDP;
N-acetylmuramyl-L-threonyl-D-isoglutamine); Ty particles (Ty-VLPs
or virus-like particles); Walter-Reed liposomes (liposomes
containing lipid A adsorbed on aluminium hydroxide), and
lipopeptides, including Pam3Cys, in particular aluminium salts,
such as Adju-phos, Alhydrogel, Rehydragel, etc.; emulsions, such as
CFA, SAF, IFA, MF59, Provax, TiterMax, Montanide, Vaxfectin, etc.;
copolymers, such as Optivax (CRL1005), L121, Poloaxmer4010), etc.;
liposomes, such as Stealth, etc., cochleates, such as BIORAL, etc.;
plant derived adjuvants, such as QS21, Quil A, Iscomatrix, ISCOM,
etc.; preferred adjuvants suitable for costimulation may include
e.g. Tomatine, biopolymers, such as PLG, PMM, Inulin, etc.; microbe
derived adjuvants, such as Romurtide, DETOX, MPL, CWS, Mannose,
CpG7909, ISS-1018, IC31, Imidazoquinolines, Ampligen, Ribi529,
IMOxine, IRIVs, VLPs, cholera toxin, heat-labile toxin, Pam3Cys,
Flagellin, GPI anchor, LNFPIII/Lewis X, antimicrobial peptides,
UC-IV50, RSV fusion protein, cdiGMP, etc.; preferred adjuvants
suitable as antagonists may e.g. include CGRP neuropeptide;
[0667] or may be selected from cationic or polycationic compounds
which are suitable for depot and delivery, including protamine,
nucleoline, spermin or spermidine, or other cationic peptides or
proteins, including poly-L-lysine (PLL), poly-arginine, basic
polypeptides, cell penetrating peptides (CPPs), including
HIV-binding peptides, Tat, HIV-1 Tat (HIV), Tat-derived peptides,
Penetratin, VP22 derived or analog peptides, HSV VP22 (Herpes
simplex), MAP, KALA or protein transduction domains (PTDs, PpT620,
prolin-rich peptides, arginine-rich peptides, lysine-rich peptides,
MPG-peptide(s), Pep-1, L-oligomers, Calcitonin peptide(s),
Antennapedia-derived peptides (particularly from Drosophila
antennapedia), pAntp, pIs1, FGF, Lactoferrin, Transportan,
Buforin-2, Bac715-24, SynB, SynB(1), pVEC, hCT-derived peptides,
SAP, protamine, spermine, spermidine, or histones. Additionally,
preferred cationic or polycationic proteins or peptides may be
selected from following proteins or peptides having the following
total formula: (Arg).sub.l; (Lys).sub.m; (His).sub.n; (Orn).sub.o;
(Xaa).sub.x, wherein I+m+n+o+x=8-15, and l, 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, 11, 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 (=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 or 4, provided, that the overall content
of Xaa does not exceed 50% of all amino acids of the oligopeptide,
cationic polysaccharides, for example chitosan, polybrene, cationic
polymers, including polyethyleneimine (PEI), cationic lipids,
including DOTMA:
[1-(2,3-sioleyloxy)propyl)]-N,N,N-trimethylammonium chloride,
DMRIE, di-C14-amidine, DOTIM, SAINT, DC-Chol, BGTC, CTAP, DOPC,
DODAP, DOPE: Dioleyl phosphatidylethanol-amine, DOSPA, DODAB, DOIC,
DMEPC, DOGS: Dioctadecylamidoglicylspermin, DIMRI:
Dimyristo-oxypropyl dimethyl hydroxyethyl ammonium bromide, DOTAP:
dioleoyloxy-3-(trimethylammonio)propane, DC-6-14:
O,O-ditetradecanoyl-N-(.alpha.-trimethylammonioacetyl)diethanolamine
chloride, CLIP1:
rac-[(2,3-dioctadecyloxypropyl)(2-hydroxyethyl)]-dimethylammonium
chloride, CLIP6:
rac-[2(2,3-dihexadecyloxypropyl-oxymethyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium,
CLIP9:
rac-[2(2,3-dihexadecyloxypropyl-oxysuccinyloxy)ethyl]-trimethylamm-
onium, oligofectamine, or cationic or polycationic polymers,
including modified polyaminoacids, including f3-aminoacid-polymers
or reversed polyamides, modified polyethylenes, including PVP
(poly(N-ethyl-4-vinylpyridinium bromide)), modified acrylates,
including pDMAEMA (poly(dimethylaminoethyl methylacrylate)),
modified Amidoamines including pAMAM (poly(amidoamine)), modified
polybetaminoester (PBAE), including diamine end modified 1,4
butanediol diacrylate-co-5-amino-1-pentanol polymers, dendrimers,
including polypropylamine dendrimers or pAMAM based dendrimers,
polyimine(s), including PEI: poly(ethyleneimine),
poly(propyleneimine), polyallylamine, sugar backbone based
polymers, including cyclodextrin based polymers, dextran based
polymers, Chitosan, silan backbone based polymers, including
PMOXA-PDMS copolymers, blockpolymers consisting of a combination of
one or more cationic blocks (including selected og a cationic
polymer as mentioned above) and of one or more hydrophilic- or
hydrophobic blocks (e.g polyethyleneglycole);
[0668] or may be selected from nucleic acids of formula (I) above:
G.sub.lX.sub.mG.sub.n;
[0669] or may be selected from nucleic acids of formula (II) above:
C.sub.lX.sub.mC.sub.n.
[0670] As another optional component, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
additionally contain a protein or a peptide, which may be selected,
without being restricted thereto, e.g. from therapeutically active
proteins or peptides, from antigens, e.g. tumor antigens,
pathogenic antigens (e.g. selected from pathogenic proteins as
defined above or from animal antigens, viral antigens, protozoal
antigens, bacterial antigens, allergic antigens), autoimmune
antigens, or further antigens, from allergens, from antibodies,
from immunostimulatory proteins or peptides, from antigen-specific
T-cell receptors, or from any other protein or peptide suitable for
a specific (therapeutic) application.
[0671] As another optional component, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
additionally contain one or more compatible solid or liquid fillers
or diluents or encapsulating compounds, which are suitable for
administration to a patient to be treated. The term "compatible" as
used here means that these constituents are capable of being mixed
with the nucleic acid (sequence) of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above in
such a manner that no interaction occurs which would substantially
reduce the pharmaceutical effectiveness of the nucleic acid under
typical use conditions. Pharmaceutically acceptable carriers,
fillers and diluents must, of course, have sufficiently high purity
and sufficiently low toxicity to make them suitable for
administration to a person to be treated. Some examples of
compounds which can be used as pharmaceutically acceptable
carriers, fillers or constituents thereof are 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; powdered tragacanth; malt;
gelatin; tallow; solid glidants, such as, for example, stearic
acid, magnesium stearate; calcium sulfate; vegetable 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.
[0672] The inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection as defined above may occur as a liquid, a
semi-liquid or even a semi-solid or a solid sample or composition,
preferably as a liquid, a semi-liquid or a semi-solid sample or
composition, more preferably as a liquid or a semi-liquid sample or
composition.
[0673] The pH of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above may be in the range
of about 4 to 8, preferably in the range of about 6 to about 8,
more preferably from about 7 to about 8.
[0674] Particularly preferred, the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above may
be a transfection and/or injection solution. In this context, the
inventive solution can be used for injection and surprisingly
allows to significantly enhance the rate of (transfection and thus)
expression of a protein as defined above, preferably of a protein,
which is encoded by a nucleic acid as defined above and forming
part of the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection
and/or injection. Such an injection solution may contain any
components as defined above for the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection. Alternatively or
additionally, the inventive injection solution may be formed as a
pharmaceutical composition or vaccine as defined in the following
or may contain components thereof. Most preferably, the inventive
injection solution can comprise or even consist of an isotonic
solution as defined above and e.g. can (additionally) contain
different salts (e.g. 0.5 mM to 50 mM potassium, 13 mM to 250 mM
sodium, 0.2 mM to 10 mM calcium, and 0.2 mM to 10 mM magnesium).
Different injection solutions can be utilized, e.g. PBS, HBSS,
Ringer-Lactat. The inventive injection solution may be administered
as described in the following for a pharmaceutical composition or
vaccine.
[0675] According to another particularly preferred aspect, the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above may be a solution for lyophilization of
a nucleic acid as described herein. In this context, the solution
for lyophilization of a nucleic acid as described herein
surprisingly and significantly enhances storage stability of RNA,
particularly in lyophilized form.
[0676] According to a second embodiment, the present invention
provides a lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence), which has been
lyophilized in an inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above. In other words,
lyophilization may be carried out starting from an inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined above, containing at least a nucleic acid (sequence) and
mannose as defined above. Furthermore, the solution may contain any
further optional components as defined above, preferably lactate or
a lactate derived salt as defined above.
[0677] Upon lyophilization starting from an inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, the
(residual) water content of the lyophilized nucleic sequence acid
as defined herein is typically reduced to a content of about 0.5%
(w/w) to about 10% (w/w), more preferably to a content of about 1%
(w/w) to about 5% (w/w), even more preferably to a content of about
2% (w/w) to about 4% (w/w), most preferably to a content of about
3% (w/w), e.g. 3% (w/w).+-.2% (w/w), or 3% (w/w).+-.1% (w/w).
[0678] The lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) as defined herein
typically comprises an excellent enhanced storage-stability, when
compared to a lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) of the art, which
has been lyophilized without the presence of mannose, e.g. in the
presence of water for injection (WFI) as described herein. The
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) as defined and as prepared
herein advantageously can be stored in a temperature range of about
-80.degree. C. to +60.degree. C. significantly longer, when
compared to a lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) of the art.
According to the present invention, the storage-stability of the
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) is calculated on the basis of
the relative integrity of the nucleic acid (sequence). The relative
integrity of the lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) is typically
defined as the relative content of the nucleic acid (sequence)
exhibiting a correct length when compared to the total content of
the at least one nucleic acid (sequence) in the sample. In the
context of an mRNA, the relative integrity of the mRNA in the
lyophilized mRNA is typically defined as the relative content of
the mRNA exhibiting a correct length when compared to the total
content of mRNA in the sample. The storage-stability of a nucleic
acid (sequence) is typically determined on the basis of the
relative integrity (over a defined or not defined period of time),
wherein the nucleic acid (sequence) typically exhibits an unchanged
biological activity. In the context of the present invention the
storage stability is preferably regarded as complied with, if the
relative integrity of the (lyophilized) nucleic acid (sequence) (s)
is at least about 70%. A relative integrity of more than 70% meets
the quality criteria of CureVac GmbH for mRNA, e.g. for mRNA
exhibiting a GC-content of more than 60% and a base length of
<2000 nt in RNA containing formulations. This criterium may be
applied to the above definition.
[0679] The lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) as defined herein,
which may be lyophilized from an inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above, may
be prepared using a method as defined herein in the following.
[0680] Therefore, according to a further aspect, the present
invention also provides a method of lyophilization of a nucleic
acid (sequence), preferably for preparation of a lyophilized
nucleic acid (sequence) as defined herein, particularly for
preparation of a lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) which may be
lyophilized from an inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above.
[0681] In the context of the present invention lyophilization (also
termed cryodesiccation) is typically understood as a freeze-drying
process, which allows removing water from a frozen sample, e.g.
from an inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and
mannose as defined above, via sublimation as described below in
further detail. The inventive method of lyophilization of a nucleic
acid as defined herein from an inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above
preferably leads to an enhanced storage stability of the nucleic
acid. The method typically comprises the following steps: [0682] a)
optionally providing as a nucleic acid containing sample an
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and
mannose as defined above, and optionally supplemented with further
components as defined above; [0683] b) freezing the nucleic acid
containing sample, obtained according to step a); [0684] c) drying
the frozen nucleic acid containing sample, obtained according to
step b), via sublimation; [0685] d) optionally floating the
lyophilized nucleic acid obtained according to step c) with an
inert gas, such as nitrogen, etc., or a noble gas, such as helium,
neon, argon, xenon, krypton; [0686] e) optionally sealing the
lyophilized nucleic acid obtained according to step c) or d).
[0687] The inventive method is directed to a method of
lyophilization of a nucleic acid (sequence) as defined herein,
preferably a nucleic acid (sequence) forming part of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined above. Lyophilization (also termed cryodesiccation) is
typically understood as a process, which allows removing water from
a frozen sample (preferably the above defined inventive solution
containing at least one nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose as
defined above) in one or more steps via sublimation. In the context
of the present invention, lyophilization is typically carried out
by freeze-drying a sample first freezing a nucleic acid containing
sample, which has been supplemented with mannose as defined herein,
and then drying the nucleic acid containing sample via sublimation,
optionally by reducing the surrounding pressure and/or adding
enough heat to allow the frozen water in the sample to sublime
directly from the solid phase to gas.
[0688] According to an optional first step a) of the inventive
method of lyophilization an inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above, containing at least
one nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose as defined above, and
optionally supplemented with further components as defined above,
is provided. The inventive solution, particularly the at least one
nucleic acid (sequence), the mannose and the optional components,
is preferably as defined above. The inventive solution may be
prepared e.g. by adding mannose as defined above, preferably in the
above defined concentrations, to a sample containing a nucleic acid
(sequence) as defined above, or by adding a nucleic acid (sequence)
as defined above to a mannose containing sample, preferably in the
above defined concentrations. Such an inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as defined above has
optionally been supplemented with further components, preferably as
defined above.
[0689] According to the second step b) the nucleic acid containing
sample, particularly the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above containing at least
one nucleic acid and mannose as defined herein, is frozen. The
freezing process may be carried out by any method, which allows to
(entirely) freeze the sample. In a lab, this may be done by placing
the material in a freeze-drying flask and rotating the flask in a
bath, called a shell freezer, which is cooled by mechanical
refrigeration, dry ice and methanol, or liquid nitrogen. On a
larger-scale, freezing is usually carried out using a freeze-drying
machine. In this step, it is important to cool the material below
its triple point, the lowest temperature at which the solid and
liquid phases of the material can coexist. This ensures that
sublimation rather than melting will occur in the following steps.
Larger crystals are easier to freeze-dry. Usually, the freezing
temperatures are in the range between -20.degree. C. and
-80.degree. C., preferably in the between -30.degree. C. and
-60.degree. C., even more preferably in the range between
-40.degree. C. and -50.degree. C., most preferably about
-47.degree. C.
[0690] According to a third step c), the frozen sample is dried,
typically using two drying steps, primary drying step c1) and
secondary drying step c2). During the primary drying step c1),
free, i.e. unbound, water surrounding the nucleic acid (sequence)
and optionally further components, escapes from the solution.
Subsequent thereto water being bound on a molecular basis by the at
least one nucleic acid (sequence) may be removed in a secondary
drying step c2) by adding thermal energy. In both cases the
hydration sphere around the nucleic acid (sequence) is lost.
[0691] The primary drying step c1) may be carried out at normal
pressure, e.g. in the range of about 980 to about 1045 millibar
(mbar), e.g. about 1013 mbar, but also may be carried out by
lowering the pressure, usually to the range of a few millibar, e.g.
in the range of about 0.001 mbar to about 0.2 mbar, preferably in
the range of about 0.01 mbar to about 0.1 mbar, even more
preferably in the range of about 0.025 mbar to about 0.075 mbar,
e.g. about 0.05 mbar. In this primary drying step, pressure is
typically controlled through the application of partial vacuum. The
vacuum allows speeding up sublimation, making it useful as a
deliberate drying process. Furthermore, a cold condenser chamber
and/or condenser plates may be used to provide (a) surface(s) for
the water vapor to re-solidify on. Condenser temperatures are
typically below -50.degree. C. (-60.degree. F.). Alternatively,
instead of lowering the pressure, heat may be supplied to the
sample to allow for the water to sublimate. The amount of heat
necessary can be calculated using the sublimating molecules' latent
heat of sublimation. In this initial drying phase, about 95% (w/w)
of the water in the material is sublimated. This phase may be
carried out slow to avoid applying too much heat and possible
alteration or damage of the structure of the nucleic acid to be
lyophilized. The heat, if applied, may be in the range of about
-40.degree. C. to about +20.degree. C., e.g. in the range of about
-30.degree. C. to about +20.degree. C., in the range of about
-20.degree. C. to about +20.degree. C., in the range of about
-10.degree. C. to about +10.degree. C., in the range of about
-40.degree. C. to about +10.degree. C., in the range of about
-30.degree. C. to about +10.degree. C., in the range of about
-20.degree. C. to about +10.degree. C., in the range of about
-20.degree. C. to about +/-0.degree. C., or in the range of about
-10.degree. C. to about +/-0.degree. C. As a further alternative,
heat and low pressure may be applied, preferably heat in the range
as defined above and a low pressure in the range as defined
above.
[0692] The secondary drying step c2) typically aims to remove
unfrozen water molecules bound in the structure of the nucleic acid
(sequence), since the ice (frozen water molecules) is usually
removed in the primary drying step c1) above. In this secondary
drying step c2), the temperature is typically raised higher than in
the primary drying step, and can even be above 0.degree. C., to
break any physico-chemical interactions that have formed between
the water molecules and the frozen material. Alternatively, the
pressure may be lowered in this stage to encourage desorption.
According to a further alternative, heat can be applied and
pressure can be lowered, preferably in the above ranges. More
preferably, the heat, if applied, may be in the range of about
+10.degree. C. to about +40.degree. C., preferably in the range of
about +25.degree. C. to about +35.degree. C., e.g. about 30.degree.
C. The pressure, if lowered, is usually lowered to the range of a
few millibars, e.g. as defined above, more preferably in the range
of about 0.001 mbar to about 0.05 mbar, preferably in the range of
about 0.001 mbar to about 0.025 mbar, even more preferably in the
range of about 0.005 mbar to about 0.015 mbar, e.g. about 0.01
mbar. As a further alternative, heat and low pressure may be
applied, preferably in the ranges as defined above.
[0693] After the freeze-drying process is complete, i.e. steps b)
and c), particularly
[0694] c1) and c2), are finished, the lyophilized nucleic acid
(sequence) obtained according to steps b) and c), particularly c1)
and c2), is typically floated in an optional step d) with an inert
gas, such as nitrogen, etc., or a noble gas, such as helium, neon,
argon, xenon, krypton, and/or the lyophilized nucleic acid is
typically sealed. For this purpose, the vacuum is usually broken,
e.g. to atmospheric pressure (preferably about 1013 mbar), if low
pressure was applied, and the temperature is typically adjusted to
room temperature, if heat was used.
[0695] Subsequently or alternatively to step d) of the inventive
method of lyophilization, the lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence)
is optionally sealed in step e) of the inventive method of
lyophilization with or without an inert gas. For this purpose, the
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) is advantageously contained in
any of the above mentioned steps a), b), c), and d) (and more
preferably already lyophilized) in a sealable container.
[0696] At the end of the lyophilization method as defined above,
typically comprising optionally step a), step b) step c),
particularly steps c1) and c2), and optionally step d) and/or step
e), a lyophilized nucleic acid is preferably obtained, wherein the
final (residual) water content in the inventive lyophilized nucleic
acid is preferably in the range of about 0.5% (w/w) to about 10%
(w/w), more preferably in the range of about 1% (w/w) to about 5%
(w/w), even more preferably in the range of about 2% (w/w) to about
4% (w/w), most preferably in the range of about 3% (w/w), e.g. 3%
(w/w).+-.2% (w/w), or 3% (w/w).+-.1% (w/w).
[0697] After carrying out any of steps b) and c) a lyophilized
nucleic acid (sequence) may be obtained, which may be used for the
inventive purposes. Additionally, steps d) and/or e) may be carried
out. However, the lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) may
alternatively or additionally to steps d) and/or e) be
reconstituted in a solution to obtain a product which is ready to
be used in any of the herein mentioned applications. Therefore,
according to a particularly preferred aspect, the lyophilized
nucleic acid (sequence) may again be reconstituted in a buffer as
defined above or a solution for reconstitution. Preferably, such a
solution for reconstitution is a solution as defined above for the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, wherein the solution for reconstitution may contain at
least one of the components as defined above for the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection except
of the nucleic acid. Most preferred is an isotonic solution for
reconstitution. The reconstitution may occur, e.g., after
lyophilization, e.g. as a further step f) of the abovementioned
method for lyophilization.
[0698] According to a third embodiment, the present invention
furthermore provides a pharmaceutical composition, comprising the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection as defined above containing at least a nucleic acid
(sequence) and mannose and eventually further components as defined
above, or the lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) or the
lyophilized inventive solution as defined above and optionally a
pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or vehicle. The inventive
pharmaceutical composition may optionally be supplemented with
further components as defined above for the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection.
[0699] As a first ingredient, the inventive pharmaceutical
composition comprises the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above containing a nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose as defined above, or the lyophilized
nucleic acid (sequence) as defined above.
[0700] As a second ingredient the inventive pharmaceutical
composition may comprise another class of compounds, which may be
added to the inventive pharmaceutical composition in this context,
may be selected from at least one pharmaceutically active
component. A pharmaceutically active component in this context is a
compound that has a therapeutic effect against a particular
indication, preferably cancer diseases, autoimmune disease,
allergies, infectious diseases or a further disease as defined
herein. Such compounds include, without implying any limitation,
preferably compounds including, without implying any limitation,
peptides or proteins (e.g. as defined herein), nucleic acids,
(therapeutically active) low molecular weight organic or inorganic
compounds (molecular weight less than 5000, preferably less than
1000), sugars, antigens or antibodies (e.g. as defined herein),
therapeutic agents already known in the prior art, antigenic cells,
antigenic cellular fragments, cellular fractions; modified,
attenuated or de-activated (e.g. chemically or by irridation)
pathogens (virus, bacteria etc.), etc.
[0701] Furthermore, the inventive pharmaceutical composition may
comprise a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and/or vehicle. In
the context of the present invention, a pharmaceutically acceptable
carrier typically includes the liquid or non-liquid basis of the
inventive pharmaceutical composition. If the inventive
pharmaceutical composition is provided in liquid form, the carrier
will typically be pyrogen-free water; isotonic saline or buffered
(aqueous) solutions, e.g phosphate, citrate etc. buffered
solutions. Particularly for injection of the inventive
pharmaceutical composition, water or preferably a buffer, more
preferably an aqueous buffer, may be used, containing a sodium
salt, preferably at least 50 mM of a sodium salt, a calcium salt,
preferably at least 0.01 mM of a calcium salt, and optionally a
potassium salt, preferably at least 3 mM of a potassium salt.
According to a preferred aspect, the sodium, calcium and,
optionally, potassium salts may occur in the form of their
halogenides, e.g. chlorides, iodides, or bromides, in the form of
their hydroxides, carbonates, hydrogen carbonates, or sulfates,
etc. Without being limited thereto, examples of sodium salts
include e.g. NaCl, NaI, NaBr, Na.sub.2 CO.sub.3, NaHCO.sub.3,
Na.sub.2SO.sub.4, examples of the optional potassium salts include
e.g. KCl, KI, KBr, K.sub.2CO.sub.3, KHCO.sub.3, K.sub.2SO.sub.4,
and examples of calcium salts include e.g. CaCl.sub.2, Cal.sub.2,
CaBr.sub.2, CaCO.sub.3, CaSO.sub.4, Ca(OH).sub.2. Furthermore,
organic anions of the aforementioned cations may be contained in
the buffer. According to a more preferred aspect, the buffer
suitable for injection purposes as defined above is an isotonic
injection solution as defined herein and therefore may contain
salts selected from sodium chloride (NaCl), calcium chloride
(CaCl.sub.2) and optionally potassium chloride (KCl), wherein
further anions may be present additional to the chlorides.
CaCl.sub.2 can also be replaced by another salt like KCl.
Typically, the salts in the injection buffer are present in a
concentration of at least 50 mM sodium chloride (NaCl), at least 3
mM potassium chloride (KCl) and at least 0.01 mM calcium chloride
(CaCl.sub.2). The injection buffer may be hypertonic, isotonic or
hypotonic with reference to the specific reference medium, i.e. the
buffer may have a higher, identical or lower salt content with
reference to the specific reference medium, wherein preferably such
concentrations of the afore mentioned salts may be used, which do
not lead to damage of cells due to osmosis or other concentration
effects. Reference media are e.g. liquids occurring in "in vivo"
methods, such as blood, lymph, cytosolic liquids, or other body
liquids, or e.g. liquids, which may be used as reference media in
"in vitro" methods, such as common buffers or liquids. Such common
buffers or liquids are known to a skilled person and may be as
defined above. Most preferred are isotonic solutions as defined
above in general may be present in an osmolality or osmolarity
comparable to that of blood plasma, preferably in the range as
defined above.
[0702] However, one or more compatible solid or liquid fillers or
diluents or encapsulating compounds may be used as well for the
inventive pharmaceutical composition, which are suitable for
administration to a patient to be treated. The term "compatible" as
used here means that these constituents of the inventive
pharmaceutical composition are capable of being mixed with the
nucleic acid (sequence) as defined herein in such a manner that no
interaction occurs which would substantially reduce the
pharmaceutical effectiveness of the inventive pharmaceutical
composition under typical use conditions. Pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers, fillers and diluents must, of course, have
sufficiently high purity and sufficiently low toxicity to make them
suitable for administration to a person to be treated. Some
examples of compounds which can be used as pharmaceutically
acceptable carriers, fillers or constituents thereof are 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; powdered tragacanth; malt;
gelatin; tallow; solid glidants, such as, for example, stearic
acid, magnesium stearate; calcium sulfate; vegetable 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.
[0703] The inventive pharmaceutical composition may be administered
orally, parenterally, by inhalation spray, topically, rectally,
nasally, buccally, vaginally or via an implanted reservoir. The
term parenteral as used herein includes subcutaneous, intravenous,
intramuscular, intra-articular, intra-synovial, intrasternal,
intrathecal, intrahepatic, intralesional, intracranial,
transdermal, intradermal, intrapulmonal, intraperitoneal,
intracardial, intraarterial, and sublingual injection or infusion
techniques. Most preferred is intradermal and transdermal
administration.
[0704] Preferably, the inventive pharmaceutical composition may be
administered by parenteral injection, more preferably by
subcutaneous, intravenous, intramuscular, intra-articular,
intra-synovial, intrasternal, intrathecal, intrahepatic,
intralesional, intracranial, transdermal, intradermal,
intrapulmonal, intraperitoneal, intracardial, intraarterial, and
sublingual injection or via infusion techniques. Sterile injectable
forms of the inventive pharmaceutical compositions may be aqueous
or oleaginous suspension. These suspensions may be formulated
according to techniques known in the art using suitable dispersing
or wetting agents and suspending agents. The sterile injectable
preparation may also be a sterile injectable solution or suspension
in a non-toxic parenterally-acceptable diluent or solvent, for
example as a solution in 1,3-butanediol. Among the acceptable
vehicles and solvents that may be employed are water, Ringer's
solution and isotonic sodium chloride solution. In addition,
sterile, fixed oils are conventionally employed as a solvent or
suspending medium. For this purpose, any bland fixed oil may be
employed including synthetic mono- or di-glycerides. Fatty acids,
such as oleic acid and its glyceride derivatives are useful in the
preparation of injectables, as are natural
pharmaceutically-acceptable oils, such as olive oil or castor oil,
especially in their polyoxyethylated versions. These oil solutions
or suspensions may also contain a long-chain alcohol diluent or
dispersant, such as carboxymethyl cellulose or similar dispersing
agents that are commonly used in the formulation of
pharmaceutically acceptable dosage forms including emulsions and
suspensions. Other commonly used surfactants, such as Tweens, Spans
and other emulsifying agents or bioavailability enhancers which are
commonly used in the manufacture of pharmaceutically acceptable
solid, liquid, or other dosage forms may also be used for the
purposes of formulation of the inventive pharmaceutical
composition.
[0705] The inventive pharmaceutical composition as defined above
may also be administered orally in any orally acceptable dosage
form including, but not limited to, capsules, tablets, aqueous
suspensions or solutions. In the case of tablets for oral use,
carriers commonly used include lactose and corn starch. Lubricating
agents, such as magnesium stearate, are also typically added. For
oral administration in a capsule form, useful diluents include
lactose and dried cornstarch. When aqueous suspensions are required
for oral use, the active ingredient, i.e. the at least one nucleic
acid as defined above of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection as defined above containing a nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose as defined above, or of the lyophilized
nucleic acid (sequence) as defined above, is combined with
emulsifying and suspending agents. If desired, certain sweetening,
flavoring or coloring agents may also be added.
[0706] The inventive pharmaceutical composition may also be
administered topically, especially when the target of treatment
includes areas or organs readily accessible by topical application,
e.g. including diseases of the skin or of any other accessible
epithelial tissue. Suitable topical formulations are readily
prepared for each of these areas or organs. For topical
applications, the inventive pharmaceutical composition may be
formulated in a suitable ointment, containing the components as
defined above suspended or dissolved in one or more carriers.
Carriers for topical administration include, but are not limited
to, mineral oil, liquid petrolatum, white petrolatum, propylene
glycol, polyoxyethylene, polyoxypropylene compound, emulsifying wax
and water. Alternatively, the inventive pharmaceutical composition
can be formulated in a suitable lotion or cream. In the context of
the present invention, suitable carriers include, but are not
limited to, mineral oil, sorbitan monostearate, polysorbate 60,
cetyl esters wax, cetearyl alcohol, 2-octyldodecanol, benzyl
alcohol and water.
[0707] The inventive pharmaceutical composition typically comprises
a "safe and effective amount" of the components of the inventive
pharmaceutical composition as defined above, particularly of the at
least one nucleic acid (sequence). As used herein, a "safe and
effective amount" means an amount of the at least one nucleic acid
(sequence) that is sufficient to significantly induce a positive
modification of a disease or disorder as defined herein. At the
same time, however, a "safe and effective amount" is small enough
to avoid serious side-effects, that is to say to permit a sensible
relationship between advantage and risk. The determination of these
limits typically lies within the scope of sensible medical
judgment. A "safe and effective amount" of the components of the
inventive pharmaceutical composition, particularly of the at least
one nucleic acid (sequence) will furthermore vary in connection
with the particular condition to be treated and also with the age
and physical condition of the patient to be treated, the body
weight, general health, sex, diet, time of administration, rate of
excretion, drug combination, the activity of the specific nucleic
acid (sequence) employed, the severity of the condition, the
duration of the treatment, the nature of the accompanying therapy,
of the particular pharmaceutically acceptable carrier used, and
similar factors, within the knowledge and experience of the
accompanying doctor. The inventive pharmaceutical composition may
be used for human and also for veterinary medical purposes,
preferably for human medical purposes, as a pharmaceutical
composition in general or as a vaccine.
[0708] According to a specific aspect, the inventive pharmaceutical
composition may be provided as a vaccine. Such an inventive vaccine
is typically composed like the inventive pharmaceutical
composition, i.e. it contains at least comprising the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection as
defined above containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose as
defined above, or the lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) as
defined above and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier
and/or vehicle. Further components may be as defined above for the
inventive pharmaceutical composition. The inventive vaccine
preferably supports at least an innate immune response of the
immune system of a patient to be treated. Additionally, the
inventive vaccine furthermore may also elicit an adaptive immune
response, preferably, if the at least one nucleic acid (sequence)
of the inventive vaccine encodes any of the above mentioned
antigens (or antibodies), which elicit an adaptive immune
response.
[0709] The inventive vaccine may also comprise a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier, adjuvant, and/or vehicle as defined above for
the inventive pharmaceutical composition. In the specific context
of the inventive vaccine, the choice of a pharmaceutically
acceptable carrier is determined in principle by the manner in
which the inventive vaccine is administered. The inventive vaccine
can be administered, for example, systemically or locally. Routes
for systemic administration in general include, for example,
transdermal, oral, parenteral routes, including subcutaneous,
intravenous, intramuscular, intraarterial, intradermal and
intraperitoneal injections and/or intranasal administration routes.
Routes for local administration in general include, for example,
topical administration routes but also intradermal, transdermal,
subcutaneous, or intramuscular injections or intralesional,
intracranial, intrapulmonal, intracardial, and sublingual
injections. More preferably, vaccines herein may be administered by
an intradermal, subcutaneous, or intramuscular route. Inventive
vaccines are therefore preferably formulated in liquid (or
sometimes in solid) form. The suitable amount of the inventive
vaccine to be administered can be determined by routine experiments
with animal models. Such models include, without implying any
limitation, rabbit, sheep, mouse, rat, dog and non-human primate
models. Preferred unit dose forms for injection include sterile
solutions of water, physiological saline or mixtures thereof. The
pH of such solutions should be adjusted to about 7.4. Suitable
carriers for injection include hydrogels, devices for controlled or
delayed release, polylactic acid and collagen matrices. Suitable
pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for topical application
include those which are suitable for use in lotions, creams, gels
and the like. If the inventive vaccine is to be administered
orally, tablets, capsules and the like are the preferred unit dose
form. The pharmaceutically acceptable carriers for the preparation
of unit dose forms which can be used for oral administration are
well known in the prior art. The choice thereof will depend on
secondary considerations such as taste, costs and storability,
which are not critical for the purposes of the present invention,
and can be made without difficulty by a person skilled in the
art.
[0710] The inventive vaccine can additionally contain one or more
auxiliary substances in order to further increase its
immunogenicity. A synergistic action of the at least one nucleic
acid sequence of the inventive vaccine and of an auxiliary
substance, which may be optionally contained in the inventive
vaccine as described above, is preferably achieved thereby.
Depending on the various types of auxiliary substances, various
mechanisms can come into consideration in this respect. For
example, compounds that permit the maturation of dendritic cells
(DCs), for example lipopolysaccharides, TNF-alpha or CD40 ligand,
form a first class of suitable auxiliary substances. In general, it
is possible to use as auxiliary substance any agent that influences
the immune system in the manner of a "danger signal" (LPS, GP96,
etc.) or cytokines, such as GM-CFS, which allow an immune response
produced by the immune-stimulating adjuvant according to the
invention to be enhanced and/or influenced in a targeted manner or
adjuvants as defined above. Particularly preferred auxiliary
substances are cytokines, such as monokines, lymphokines,
interleukins or chemokines, that further promote the innate immune
response, such as IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8,
IL-9, IL-10, IL-12, IL-13, IL-14, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17, IL-18,
IL-19, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-24, IL-25, IL-26, IL-27,
IL-28, IL-29, IL-30, IL-31, IL-32, IL-33, INF-alpha, IFN-beta,
INF-gamma, GM-CSF, G-CSF, M-CSF, LT-beta or TNF-alpha, growth
factors, such as hGH.
[0711] Further additives which may be included in the inventive
vaccine are emulsifiers, such as, for example, Tween.RTM., wetting
agents, such as, for example, sodium lauryl sulfate; colouring
agents; taste-imparting agents, pharmaceutical carriers;
tablet-forming agents; stabilizers; antioxidants;
preservatives.
[0712] The inventive vaccine can also additionally contain any
further compound, which is known to be immune-stimulating due to
its binding affinity (as ligands) to human Toll-like receptors
TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, or due
to its binding affinity (as ligands) to murine Toll-like receptors
TLR1, TLR2, TLR3, TLR4, TLR5, TLR6, TLR7, TLR8, TLR9, TLR10, TLR11,
TLR12 or TLR13.
[0713] Another class of compounds, which may be added to an
inventive vaccine in this context, may be CpG nucleic acids, in
particular CpG-RNA or CpG-DNA. A CpG-RNA or CpG-DNA can be a
single-stranded CpG-DNA (ss CpG-DNA), a double-stranded CpG-DNA
(dsDNA), a single-stranded CpG-RNA (ss CpG-RNA) or a
double-stranded CpG-RNA (ds CpG-RNA). The CpG nucleic acid is
preferably in the form of CpG-RNA, more preferably in the form of
single-stranded CpG-RNA (ss CpG-RNA). The CpG nucleic acid
preferably contains at least one or more (mitogenic)
cytosine/guanine dinucleotide sequence(s) (CpG motif(s)). According
to a first preferred alternative, at least one CpG motif contained
in these sequences, that is to say the C (cytosine) and the G
(guanine) of the CpG motif, is unmethylated. All further cytosines
or guanines optionally contained in these sequences can be either
methylated or unmethylated. According to a further preferred
alternative, however, the C (cytosine) and the G (guanine) of the
CpG motif can also be present in methylated form. The CpG nucleic
acids may be provided either in solubilized or in lyophilized form
e.g. lyophilized using a method likewise as described herein for
the inventive nucleic acid (sequence).
[0714] Finally, another class of compounds, which may be added to
an inventive vaccine in this context, may be selected from at least
one pharmaceutically active component as defined above for the
inventive pharmaceutical composition.
[0715] According to a further embodiment, the present invention
provides several applications and uses of the inventive solution
for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection containing a
nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose, or of the inventive
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence), of the inventive
pharmaceutical composition or of the inventive vaccine all
preferably as defined above.
[0716] According to one specific aspect, the present invention is
directed to the use of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection containing a nucleic acid (sequence)
and mannose, or the use of the inventive lyophilized nucleic acid
(sequence) for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection.
[0717] According to one other specific aspect, the present
invention is directed to the use of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection containing a nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose, or the use of the inventive
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) for the preparation of an
injection solution as defined herein. More preferably, such an
injection solution may be used to (significantly) enhance the
transfection efficiency of the nucleic acid and or the expression
of a protein encoded by the nucleic acid sequence, whereby the
encoded protein is preferably a protein as defined herein.
Accordingly, the present invention may also be directed to the use
of the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose, or the
use of the inventive lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence)
[0718] (for the preparation of an injection solution as defined
herein, e.g. as a pharmaceutical composition) to (significantly)
enhance the transfection efficiency of the nucleic acid and or the
expression of a protein encoded by the nucleic acid sequence,
whereby the encoded protein is preferably a protein as defined
above. Such an injection solution may contain any components as
defined above for the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection. Alternatively or additionally, the
inventive injection solution may be formed as a pharmaceutical
composition or vaccine as defined in the following or may contain
components thereof. Preferably, the inventive injection solution
may be formulated and/or administered as described in the following
for a pharmaceutical composition or vaccine.
[0719] According to one other specific aspect, the present
invention is directed to the first medical use of the inventive
solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or injection
containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose, or the first
medical use of the inventive lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence),
i.e. the use of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection containing a nucleic acid (sequence)
and mannose, or the inventive lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence)
as a medicament. The medicament may be in the form of a
pharmaceutical composition or in the form of a vaccine as a
specific form of pharmaceutical compositions, both preferably as
defined herein.
[0720] According to one further aspect, the present invention is
directed to the use of the inventive solution for lyophilization,
transfection and/or injection containing a nucleic acid (sequence)
and mannose, or more preferably the use of the inventive
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence), or the inventive
pharmaceutical composition or the inventive vaccine for the
prophylaxis, treatment and/or amelioration of diseases as defined
herein, preferably selected from cancer or tumor diseases,
infectious diseases, preferably (viral, bacterial or
protozoological) infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases,
allergies or allergic diseases, monogenetic diseases, i.e.
(hereditary) diseases, or genetic diseases in general, diseases
which have a genetic inherited background and which are typically
caused by a single gene defect and are inherited according to
Mendel's laws, cardiovascular diseases, neuronal diseases, or any
further disease mentioned herein.
[0721] According to another aspect, the present invention is
directed to the (second medical) use of the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection containing a nucleic
acid (sequence) and mannose, or more preferably the use of the
inventive lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence), or the inventive
pharmaceutical composition or the inventive vaccine for the
treatment of diseases as defined herein, preferably to the use of
the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection containing a nucleic acid (sequence) and mannose, or more
preferably the use of the inventive lyophilized nucleic acid
(sequence), or the inventive pharmaceutical composition or the
inventive vaccine for the preparation of a medicament for the
prophylaxis, treatment and/or amelioration of various diseases as
defined herein, preferably selected from cancer or tumor diseases,
infectious diseases, preferably (viral, bacterial or
protozoological) infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases,
allergies or allergic diseases, monogenetic diseases, i.e.
(hereditary) diseases, or genetic diseases in general, diseases
which have a genetic inherited background and which are typically
caused by a single gene defect and are inherited according to
Mendel's laws, cardiovascular diseases, neuronal diseases, or any
further disease mentioned herein.
[0722] According to one specific aspect, diseases as defined herein
comprise cancer or tumor diseases, preferably selected from
melanomas, malignant melanomas, colon carcinomas, lymphomas,
sarcomas, blastomas, renal carcinomas, gastrointestinal tumors,
gliomas, prostate tumors, bladder cancer, rectal tumors, 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, various virus-induced tumors such as,
for example, papilloma virus-induced carcinomas (e.g. cervical
carcinoma=cervical cancer), adenocarcinomas, herpes virus-induced
tumors (e.g. Burkitt's lymphoma, EBV-induced B-cell lymphoma),
hepatitis B-induced tumors (hepatocell carcinomas), HTLV-1- and
HTLV-2-induced lymphomas, acoustic neuroma, lung carcinomas (=lung
cancer=bronchial carcinoma), small-cell lung carcinomas, pharyngeal
cancer, anal carcinoma, glioblastoma, rectal carcinoma,
astrocytoma, brain tumors, retinoblastoma, basalioma, brain
metastases, medulloblastomas, vaginal cancer, pancreatic cancer,
testicular cancer, Hodgkin's syndrome, meningiomas, Schneeberger
disease, hypophysis tumor, Mycosis fungoides, carcinoids,
neurinoma, spinalioma, Burkitt's lymphoma, laryngeal cancer, renal
cancer, thymoma, corpus carcinoma, bone cancer, non-Hodgkin's
lymphomas, urethral cancer, CUP syndrome, head/neck tumors,
oligodendroglioma, vulval cancer, intestinal cancer, colon
carcinoma, oesophageal carcinoma (=oesophageal cancer), wart
involvement, tumors of the small intestine, craniopharyngeomas,
ovarian carcinoma, genital tumors, ovarian cancer (=ovarian
carcinoma), pancreatic carcinoma (=pancreatic cancer), endometrial
carcinoma, liver metastases, penile cancer, tongue cancer, gall
bladder cancer, leukaemia, plasmocytoma, lid tumor, prostate cancer
(=prostate tumors), etc.
[0723] According to one further specific aspect, diseases as
defined herein comprise infectious diseases, preferably (viral,
bacterial or protozoological) infectious diseases. Such infectious
diseases, preferably to (viral, bacterial or protozoological)
infectious diseases, are typically selected from influenza,
malaria, SARS, yellow fever, AIDS, Lyme borreliosis, Leishmaniasis,
anthrax, meningitis, viral infectious diseases such as AIDS,
Condyloma acuminata, hollow warts, Dengue fever, three-day fever,
Ebola virus, cold, early summer meningoencephalitis (FSME), flu,
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 (childhood lameness), pseudo-croup, fifth disease,
rabies, warts, West Nile fever, chickenpox, cytomegalic virus
(CMV), bacterial infectious diseases such as miscarriage (prostate
inflammation), anthrax, appendicitis, borreliosis, botulism,
Camphylobacter, Chlamydia trachomatis (inflammation of the urethra,
conjunctivitis), cholera, diphtheria, donavanosis, epiglottitis,
typhus fever, gas gangrene, gonorrhoea, rabbit fever, Heliobacter
pylori, whooping cough, climatic bubo, osteomyelitis, Legionnaire's
disease, leprosy, listeriosis, pneumonia, meningitis, bacterial
meningitis, anthrax, otitis media, Mycoplasma hominis, neonatal
sepsis (Chorioamnionitis), noma, paratyphus, plague, Reiter's
syndrome, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, Salmonella paratyphus,
Salmonella typhus, scarlet fever, syphilis, tetanus, tripper,
tsutsugamushi disease, tuberculosis, typhus, vaginitis (colpitis),
soft chancre, and infectious diseases caused by parasites, protozoa
or fungi, such as amoebiasis, bilharziosis, Chagas disease,
Echinococcus, fish tapeworm, fish poisoning (Ciguatera), fox
tapeworm, athlete's foot, canine tapeworm, candidosis, yeast fungus
spots, scabies, cutaneous Leishmaniosis, lambliasis (giardiasis),
lice, malaria, microscopy, onchocercosis (river blindness), fungal
diseases, bovine tapeworm, schistosomiasis, porcine tapeworm,
toxoplasmosis, trichomoniasis, trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness),
visceral Leishmaniosis, nappy/diaper dermatitis or miniature
tapeworm.
[0724] According to another specific aspect, diseases as defined
herein comprise autoimmune diseases as defined in the following.
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
diseases may be divided into the categories of systemic syndromes,
including systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), Sjogren's syndrome,
Scleroderma, Rheumatoid Arthritis and polymyositis or local
syndromes which may be endocrinologic (type I diabetes (Diabetes
mellitus 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 II 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 Type 1), chronic
polyarthritis, Basedow's disease, autoimmune forms of chronic
hepatitis, colitis ulcerosa, type I allergy diseases, type II
allergy diseases, type III allergy diseases, type IV allergy
diseases, fibromyalgia, hair loss, Bechterew's disease, Crohn's
disease, Myasthenia gravis, neurodermitis, Polymyalgia rheumatica,
progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), Reiter's syndrome, rheumatic
arthritis, psoriasis, vasculitis, etc, or type II diabetes. While
the exact mode as to why the immune system induces an 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-Cell 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 .beta.-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.
[0725] Additionally, according to one further specific aspect,
diseases as defined herein comprise allergies or allergic diseases,
i.e. diseases related to allergies. Allergy is a condition that
typically involves an abnormal, acquired immunological
hypersensitivity to certain foreign antigens or allergens, such as
the allergy antigens as defined above. Such allergy antigens or
allergens may be selected from allergy antigens as defined above
antigens derived from different sources, e.g. from animals, plants,
fungi, bacteria, etc. Allergens in this context include e.g.
grasses, pollens, molds, drugs, or numerous environmental triggers,
etc. Allergies normally result in a local or systemic inflammatory
response to these antigens or allergens and lead to immunity in the
body against these allergens. Without being bound to theory,
several different disease mechanisms are supposed to be involved in
the development of allergies. According to a classification scheme
by P. Gell and R. Coombs the word "allergy" was restricted to type
I hypersensitivities, which are caused by the classical IgE
mechanism. Type I hypersensitivity is characterized 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. Treatment of such allergic disorders or
diseases may occur preferably by desensitizing the immune reaction
which triggers a specific immune response. Such a desensitizing may
be carried out by administering an effective amount of the allergen
or allergic antigen encoded by the lyophilized nucleic acid as
defined herein, preferably, when formulated as a pharmaceutical
composition, to induce a slight immune reaction. The amount of the
allergen or allergic antigen may then be raised step by step in
subsequent administrations until the immune system of the patient
to be treated tolerates a specific amount of allergen or allergic
antigen.
[0726] Additionally, diseases to be treated in the context of the
present invention likewise include (hereditary) diseases, or
genetic diseases in general monogenetic diseases, i.e. (hereditary)
diseases, or genetic diseases in general. Such (mono-)genetic
diseases, (hereditary) diseases, or genetic diseases in general 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. The present invention allows
treating the following (hereditary) diseases or genetic diseases:
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
11-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-1 and apoC-III
deficiency (combined); Apolipoprotein A-II 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 1 deficiency; Atrial septal defect with atrioventricular
conduction defects; Atrichia with papular lesions; Autism
(succinylpurinemic); Autoimmune polyglandular disease, type 1;
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; Biotimidase
deficiency; Bladder cancer; Bleeding disorder due to defective
thromboxane A2 receptor; Bloom syndrome; Brachydactyl)--(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); C1q deficiency
(type A; type B; type C); C1r/CIs deficiency; C1s deficiency,
isolated; C2 deficiency; C3 deficiency; C3b inactivator deficiency;
C4 deficiency; C8 deficiency, type II; C9 deficiency; Campomelic
dysplasia with autosomal sex reversal;
Camptodactyl)-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-acylcarnitine
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 .alpha.-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 II 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 11; type Ill);
Daltonism; Darier disease; D-bifunctional protein deficiency;
Deafness, autosomal dominant 1; Deafness, autosomal dominant 11;
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; Ectrodactyl)-(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 VI; type VII); Elastin Supravalvar aortic stenosis;
Elliptocytosis-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 palmoplantar keratoderma; Epilepsy (generalize;
juvenile; myoclonic; nocturnal frontal lobe; progressive
myoclonic); Epilepsy, benign, neonatal (type1 or type2); Epiphyseal
dysplasia (multiple); Episodic ataxia (type 2); Episodic
ataxia/myokymia syndrome; Erythremias (alpha-; dysplasia);
Erythrocytosis; 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 XI 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 1A; Glaucoma 3A; Glioblastoma multiforme;
Glomerulosclerosis (focal segmental); Glucose transport defect
(blood-brain barrier); Glucose/galactose malabsorption; Glucosidase
I deficiency; Glutaricaciduria (type I; type IIB; type IIC);
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 VI; 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 cephalopolysyndactyl)-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 .alpha.-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/III deficiency);
Hyperornithinemia-hyperammonemiahomocitrullinemia syndrome;
Hyperoxaluria; Hyperparathyroidism; Hyperphenylalaninemia due to
pterin-4-acarbinolamine 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); Ichthyosiform erythroderma;
Ichthyosis; Ichthyosis bullosa of Siemens; IgG2 deficiency;
Immotile cilia syndrome-1; Immunodeficiency (T-cell receptor/CD3
complex); Immunodeficiency (X-linked, with hyper-IgM);
Immunodeficiency due to defect in CD3-gamma;
Immunodeficiency-centromeric instabilityfacial anomalies syndrome;
Incontinentia pigmenti; Insensitivity to pain (congenital, with
anhidrosis); Insomnia (fatal familial); Interleukin-2 receptor
deficiency (alpha chain); Intervertebral disc disease;
Iridogoniodysgenesis; Isolated growth hormone deficiency (Illig
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 (palmoplantar); 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 promyelocytic; 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; L1-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 .alpha.-linked);
Mephenyloin 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 II 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 11
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 I 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 palmoplantar 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; Polydactyl), 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 1;
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; Salla 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-cell/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
prolymphocytic 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 II 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 II 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 1B 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 (type1); 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.
[0727] Diseases to be treated in the context of the present
invention likewise also include diseases 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 hypercholesterolaemia,
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 II
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.
[0728] The present invention also allows treatment of diseases,
which have not been inherited, or which may not be summarized under
the above categories. Such diseases 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.
[0729] Likewise, diseases in the context of the present invention
may include cardiovascular diseases chosen from, without being
limited thereto, coronary heart disease, arteriosclerosis, apoplexy
and hypertension, etc.
[0730] Finally, diseases in the context of the present invention
may be chosen from neuronal diseases including e.g. Alzheimer's
disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dystonia, epilepsy,
multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease etc.
[0731] According to a final embodiment, the present invention also
provides kits, particularly kits of parts. Such kits of parts may
contain e.g. a pharmaceutical composition or a vaccine as defined
above, preferably divided into different parts of the kit. As an
example, the inventive pharmaceutical composition or the inventive
vaccine may be prepared as a kit of parts, e.g. by incorporating
into one or more parts of the kit components of the inventive
pharmaceutical composition or the inventive vaccine as described
herein as a dry formulation, i.e. devoid of any liquid component,
and in at least one further separate part of the kit water, a
liquid and/or a buffer as described herein for the inventive
pharmaceutical composition or the inventive vaccine or a liquid
and/or a buffer as described herein for the inventive solution for
lyophilization, transfection and/or injection, e.g. an isotonic
salt solution. Alternatively, the inventive pharmaceutical
composition or the inventive vaccine may be prepared as a kit of
parts, e.g. by incorporating into one or more parts of the kit the
lyophilized nucleic acid (sequence) as described herein, i.e.
devoid of any liquid component, and in at least one further
separate part of the kit a liquid and/or a buffer as described
herein for the inventive pharmaceutical composition or the
inventive vaccine or a liquid and/or a buffer as described herein
for the inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection, e.g. an isotonic salt solution. Further components may
be incorporated in such kits of parts as described above for the
inventive solution for lyophilization, transfection and/or
injection or as described above for the inventive pharmaceutical
composition or as described above for the inventive vaccine e.g. in
the dry part(s) of the kit, in the liquid part(s) of the kit,
preferably in solubilized form, or in at least one separate part of
the kit as a dry form and/or in a lyophilized (liquid) form. Such
kits, preferably kits of parts, may be applied, e.g., for any of
the above mentioned applications or uses. The kit may optionally
contain technical instructions with information on the
administration and dosage of the lyophilized nucleic acid. Kit of
parts, comprising in one or more parts of the kit at least one
lyophilized nucleic acid as defined herein, and optionally in one
or more parts of the kit further additives as defined herein, and
in one or more parts of the kit water, a liquid and/or a buffer or
solution as defined herein, and optionally technical instructions
with information on the administration and dosage of the
lyophilized nucleic acid.
EXAMPLES
[0732] 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 Plasmids
[0733] For the present examples DNA sequences encoding Photinus
pyralis luciferase as well as DNA sequences encoding Ovalbumin were
prepared and used for subsequent in vitro transcription reactions
and expression studies.
[0734] According to a first preparation, the DNA sequence
corresponding to pCV19-Ppluc(GC)-muag-A70-C30 was prepared, which
encodes the Photinus pyralis luciferase coding sequence. The
constructs were prepared by modifying the wild type Photinus
pyralis luciferase encoding DNA sequence by introducing a
GC-optimized sequence for a better codon usage and stabilization,
stabilizing sequences derived from alpha-globin-3'-UTR (muag
(mutated alpha-globin-3'-UTR)), a stretch of 70.times. adenosine at
the 3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail) and a stretch of 30.times.
cytosine at the 3'-terminal end (poly-C-tail), corresponding to SEQ
ID NO: 1 (see FIG. 5). The sequence of the final DNA construct had
a length of 1857 nucleotides. The corresponding mRNA sequence was
termed "pCV19-Ppluc(GC)-muag-A70-C30" (SEQ ID NO: 1) (see FIG.
5).
[0735] According to a second preparation, the DNA sequence
corresponding to CAP-GgOva(GC)-muag-A70-C30 was prepared, which
encodes to the Ovalbumin coding sequence. Therefore, a basic DNA
construct was prepared corresponding to CAP-GgOva(GC)-muag-A70-C30
by introducing into the underlying wild type sequence construct
stabilizing sequences derived from alpha-globin-3'-UTR (muag
(mutated alpha-globin-3'-UTR)), a stretch of 70.times. adenosine at
the 3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail) and a stretch of 30.times.
cytosine at the 3'-terminal end (poly-C-tail), leading to a
sequence corresponding to SEQ ID NO: 2 (see FIG. 6). The
corresponding mRNA sequence was termed CAP-GgOva(GC)-muag-A70-C30
(SEQ ID NO: 2) (see FIG. 6).
[0736] Both sequences contain following sequence elements: [0737]
the coding sequence encoding Photinus pyralis luciferase (SEQ ID
NO: 1) or Gallus gallus Ovalbumin (SEQ ID NO: 2); [0738]
stabilizing sequences derived from alpha-globin-3'-UTR (muag
(mutated alpha-globin-3'-UTR)); [0739] 70.times. adenosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-A-tail); [0740] 30.times. cytosine at the
3'-terminal end (poly-C-tail).
Example 2
In Vitro Transcription
[0741] The respective DNA plasmids prepared according to Example 1
were transcribed in vitro using T7-Polymerase (T7-Opti mRNA Kit,
CureVac, Tibingen, Germany) following the manufactures
instructions. Subsequently the mRNA was purified using
PureMessenger.RTM. (CureVac, Tubingen, Germany).
Example 3
Lyophylisation
[0742] The PureMessenger.RTM. purified and precipitated mRNA
obtained according to Examples 1 and 2 coding for Photinus pyralis
luciferase (Luc mRNA) (SEQ ID NO: 1) or Ovalbumin (SEQ ID NO: 2)
were prepared for transfection and expression tests.
[0743] The PureMessenger.RTM. purified and precipitated mRNA
obtained according to Examples 1 and 2 coding for Photinus pyralis
luciferase (Luc mRNA) (SEQ ID NO: 1) or Ovalbumin (SEQ ID NO: 2)
was dissolved in water for injection (WFI) to 5 g/l. Subsequently
the mRNA was diluted with WFI (water for injection) or salt
solution (see FIG. 2), with addition of glucose, trehalose, mannite
or mannose. Aliquots of these solutions were lyophilized (Controls
were frozen in liquid nitrogen or kept in solution). The locked
cups were stored for the indicated time at 60.degree. C. The
resuspension was conducted with WFI.
Example 4
In Vivo Expression of the RNA Constructs
[0744] In the present experiment following solutions for
lyophilization were used: [0745] WFI (water for injection):
purified mRNA coding for luciferase with a concentration of 4.9 g/l
in WFI was diluted with WFI to a final mRNA concentration of 0.05
g/l. [0746] Buffer containing mannose: 0.25 g mannose was diluted
with 10 ml WFI and passed through a syringe filter tip 0.22 .mu.m
resulting in a sterile 2.5% (w/w) mannose containing solution.
Purified mRNA coding for luciferase with a concentration of 4.9 g/l
in WFI was diluted with the sterile 2.5% (w/w) mannose solution to
a final mRNA concentration of 0.05 g/l. [0747] Buffer containing
trehalose: 0.5 g trehalose was diluted with 10 ml WFI and passed
through a syringe filter tip 0.22 .mu.m resulting in a sterile 5%
(w/w) trehalose containing solution. Purified mRNA coding for
luciferase with a concentration of 4.9 g/l in WFI was diluted with
the sterile 5% (w/w) trehalose solution to a final mRNA
concentration of 0.05 g/l. [0748] Buffer containing mannite: 0.5 g
mannite was diluted with 10 ml WFI and passed through a syringe
filter tip 0.22 .mu.m resulting in a sterile 5% (w/w) mannite
containing solution. Purified mRNA coding for luciferase with a
concentration of 4.9 g/l in WFI was diluted with the sterile 5%
(w/w) mannite solution to a final mRNA concentration of 0.05 g/l.
The dilution errors for mannose, trehalose, and mannite were
neclectable. [0749] Buffer control Ringer lactate solution 80% in
WFI was used (not lyophilized);
Lyophilization:
[0750] The mRNA containing buffers were frozen by liquid nitrogen
for at least min and lyophilized over night at 0.08 mbar in a
freeze drier Alpha 1-2 (Fa. Martin Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen
GmbH, Osterode, Germany). The lyophilisates were dissolved with a
sterile salt containing solution (5 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl.sub.2, 2 mM
MgCl.sub.2, 130 mM NaCl in WFI).
In Vivo Expression:
[0751] Each group (2 mice per group) of 7 week old female balb/c
mice were treated by intradermal injection with 100 .mu.l of each
sample. After 24 h mice were killed and the injected tissue was
collected and lysed as described ahead. Tissue samples were crushed
by a mill after freezing in liquid nitrogen and lysed afterwards by
adding 800 .mu.l of lysing buffer (25 mM Tris HCL, 2 mM EDTA, 10%
Glycerol, 1% Triton X-100, 2 mM DTT, 1 mM PMSF, pH 7.5-7.8). The
lysates were shaked for 6 min and spinned down for another min at
4.degree. C. and 13500 rpm. The supernatants were measured with a
luminometer LB9507 and analyzed as grouped analysis using 2-way
ANOVA with Bonferroni post test.
[0752] The results are shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 shows the in vivo
luciferase expression in balb/c mice 1) buffer control:
Ringer-lactate 2) mRNA/WFI: mRNA coding for luciferase lyophilized
in WFI (water for injection) and dissolved in salt containing
solution 3) mRNA/trehalose: mRNA coding for luciferase lyophilized
in WFI containing 5% trehalose and dissolved in salt containing
solution 4) mRNA/mannose: mRNA coding for luciferase lyophilized in
WFI containing 2.5% mannose and dissolved in salt containing
solution 5) mRNA/mannite: mRNA coding for luciferase lyophilized in
WFI containing 5% mannite and dissolved in salt containing
solution.
Discussion:
[0753] After an intradermal injection in balb/c mice of mRNA coding
for Photinus pyrialis luciferase (PpLuc RNA) (0.05 g/L) dissolved
in a salt solution (5 mM KCl, 130 mM NaCl, 2 mM Ca, 2 mM Mg) which
was lyophilized in WFI (water of injection) plus 2.5% (w/w)
mannose, the luciferase expression increases by a factor of more
than 20 compared to an injection of mRNA which was lyophilized in
WFI without mannose (see FIG. 1). Other sugars (trehalose and
mannite) which were added to the solution before lyophilization
could not improve the expression of the encoded protein.
Example 5
Determination of the Stability of RNA
[0754] In the following a comparison of the stability of RNA in
solution and lyophilized RNA and a comparison of the stability of
RNA lyophilized from mannose or glucose containing solution was
carried out.
a) Comparison of the Stability of RNA in Solution and Lyophilized
RNA:
[0755] mRNA was complexed with protamine according to the following
protocol. RNA was first mixed at a ratio 4:1 RNA/Protamine (w/w)
with a protamine containing salt solution (5 mM KCl, 2 mM CaCl, 2
mM MgCl, 130 mM NaCl) to a final RNA concentration of 0.4 g/l.
Mannose was added to the solution in a final concentration of 2.5%
(w/w).
[0756] The solution was divided into 65 .mu.l containing aliquots
in 2 ml polypropylene tubes with crewed caps. Half of the samples
were frozen by liquid nitrogen for at least min and lyophilized
over night at 0.08 mbar in a freeze drier Alpha 1-2 (Fa. Martin
Christ Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH, Osterode, Germany). Liquid
and lyophilized samples were stored at 60.degree. C. for 1 to 5
weeks. Every week 2 aliquotes of each lyophilisat were dissolved in
65 .mu.l WFI. 50 .mu.l of each sample were precipitated with
2-propanole. The pellets were diluted in 50 .mu.l WFI again and for
1 g of each sample an agarose gel electrophoresis was conducted.
After separation the relative integrity of RNA was measured as the
relation between full length product and total RNA calculated in %.
70% relative integrity was found to be a typical limit for an
intact product accepted by the authorities.
[0757] The results are described in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 shows the
relative integrity of RNA in mRNA/protamine containing samples
dissolved in salt containing solution (5 mM K, 2 mM Ca, 2 mM Mg,
130 mM Na) and subsequently 1) lyophilized from salt solution
(1=RNA-Lyo-Salt) 2) stored in salt solution (2=RNA-Sol-Salt) 3)
lyophilized from 2.5% mannose containing salt solution
(3=RNA-Lyo_MnSalt) or 4) stored in 2.5% mannose containing salt
solution (4=RNA-Sol_MnSalt).
Discussion:
[0758] It is remarkable that RNA cannot be stored at 60.degree. C.
neither in the salt solution nor in the mannose containing salt
solution. Comparison of the lyophilized samples clearly shows that
storage of RNA at 60.degree. C. is not possible when lyophilized
from a salt containing solution. However, addition of mannose leads
to an absolutely unexpected stabilization of the RNA, although it
is believed in the state of the art that presence of salts is
adverse and therefore should be avoided.
b) Comparison of the Stability of RNA Lyophilized from Mannose or
Glucose Containing Solution
[0759] mRNA was complexed with protamine in the following protocol.
RNA was mixed at a ratio 4:1 RNA/Protamine (w/w) with a diluted
protamine solution containing protamine, WFI and mannose or glucose
to a final RNA concentration of 0.4 g/l and 5% (w/w) mannose or 5%
(w/w) glucose.
[0760] The solution was divided into 65 .mu.l containing aliquots
in 2 ml polypropylene tubes with crewed caps, frozen by liquid
nitrogen for at least 5 min and lyophilized over night at 0.08 mbar
in a freeze drier Alpha 1-2 (Fa. Martin Christ
Gefriertrocknungsanlagen GmbH, Osterode, Germany). The samples were
stored at 60.degree. C. for 0-33 days. At the indicated time points
2 aliquotes of each sample were dissolved in 65 .mu.l WFI. 50 .mu.l
of each sample were precipitated with 2-propanole. The pellets were
diluted in 50 .mu.l WFI again and for 1 .mu.g of each sample an
agarose gel electrophoresis was conducted. After separation the
relative integrity of RNA was measured as the relation between full
length product and total RNA calculated in %. 70% relative
integrity was found to be a typical limit for an intact product
accepted by the authorities.
[0761] The results are shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 3 depicts the relative
integrity of mRNA lyophilized in a glucose or mannose containing
solution stored at 60.degree. C. for 0 to 33 days (d).
Discussion:
[0762] This experiment shows that mannose clearly increases the
stability of lyophilized RNA compared to the addition of glucose.
This is remarkable because mannose is the epimer of glucose and
therefore nobody skilled in the art would have expected that
mannose is more effective in stabilization of RNA than glucose.
Example 6
Tumour Challenge
[0763] The samples used in this experiment were:
[0764] OVA-RNActive in RiLa: mRNA coding for Gallus gallus
ovalbumine complexed with protamine and dissolved in 80% Ringer
lactate
[0765] OVA-RNActive lyophilized in 2.5% (w/w) mannose: mRNA coding
for Gallus gallus ovalbumine complexed with protamine, lyophilized
in WFI containing 2.5% (w/w) mannose and dissolved in 80% Ringer
lactate
[0766] RiLa control: 80% Ringer lactate was used as control mRNA
coding for ovalbumine was complexed with protamine in the following
protocol. RNA was mixed at a ratio 4:1 RNA/Protamine (w/w). Mannose
was added to a final concentration of 2.5% (w/w).
[0767] The mannose containing RNA solution was aliquoted into a
borosilicate glas typ I and frozen by liquid nitrogen for at least
5 min and lyophilized at 0.055 mbar for 22 h. Sample plates were
kept at room temperature for 17 h and were than elevated to
35.degree. C. for another 5 h. The chamber was flooded with dry
argon and the samples were closed under this atmosphere by a
bromobutyl stopper. The lyophilized and non-lyophilized samples
were stored in an exsiccator at 4-8.degree. C. and the lyophilized
sample was dissolved in 80% Ringer lactate prior to use. Prior use
the samples were controlled for relative integrity by agarose gel
chromatography and complex size by dynamic light scattering using a
Zetasizer Nano (Malvern Instruments, Malvern, UK).
[0768] 7 week old C57BL/6 mice were vaccinated intradermally with 2
cycles (Prime day 1/Boost day 9) of 80 .mu.l formulations. As a
negative control 80 .mu.l 80% Ringer lactate without any RNA were
injected. At day 15 1.times.10.sup.6 E.G7-OVA cells (tumour cells
which stably express ovalbumine) per mice were implanted
subcutaneously. Tumour growth was monitored by measuring the tumor
size in 3 dimensions using a calliper.
[0769] The results are shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 depicts the tumour
growth in mice vaccinated with 1) 80% Ringer lactate as control, 2)
mRNA coding for ovalbumine (not lyophilized) in 80% Ringer lactate
and 3) mRNA coding for ovalbumine lyophilized in 2.5% (w/w) mannose
containing WFI and dissolved in 80% Ringer lactate.
Discussion:
[0770] It is remarkable that a mannose-containing solution
extremely enhances the efficacy of the mRNA vaccination compared to
the sample without mannose. Since the samples were controlled for
integrity and complex size it is guaranteed that the RNA was intact
in all samples.
[0771] The optimal concentration of mannose is located between 1%
and 10%. The formulation of the injection solution can contain
different salts (e.g. 0.5 mM to 50 mM potassium, 13 mM to 250 mM
sodium, 0.2 mM to 10 mM calcium, and 0.2 mM to 10 mM magnesium).
Different injection solutions can be utilized, e.g. PBS, HBSS,
Ringer-Lactat.
Sequence CWU 1
1
311857RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of Artificial Sequence mRNA
coding for Photinus pyralis luciferase pCV19-Pp
luc(GC)-muag-A70-c30 1gggagaaagc uugaggaugg aggacgccaa gaacaucaag
aagggcccgg cgcccuucua 60cccgcuggag gacgggaccg ccggcgagca gcuccacaag
gccaugaagc gguacgcccu 120ggugccgggc acgaucgccu ucaccgacgc
ccacaucgag gucgacauca ccuacgcgga 180guacuucgag augagcgugc
gccuggccga ggccaugaag cgguacggcc ugaacaccaa 240ccaccggauc
guggugugcu cggagaacag ccugcaguuc uucaugccgg ugcugggcgc
300ccucuucauc ggcguggccg ucgccccggc gaacgacauc uacaacgagc
gggagcugcu 360gaacagcaug gggaucagcc agccgaccgu gguguucgug
agcaagaagg gccugcagaa 420gauccugaac gugcagaaga agcugcccau
cauccagaag aucaucauca uggacagcaa 480gaccgacuac cagggcuucc
agucgaugua cacguucgug accagccacc ucccgccggg 540cuucaacgag
uacgacuucg ucccggagag cuucgaccgg gacaagacca ucgcccugau
600caugaacagc agcggcagca ccggccugcc gaagggggug gcccugccgc
accggaccgc 660cugcgugcgc uucucgcacg cccgggaccc caucuucggc
aaccagauca ucccggacac 720cgccauccug agcguggugc cguuccacca
cggcuucggc auguucacga cccugggcua 780ccucaucugc ggcuuccggg
ugguccugau guaccgguuc gaggaggagc uguuccugcg 840gagccugcag
gacuacaaga uccagagcgc gcugcucgug ccgacccugu ucagcuucuu
900cgccaagagc acccugaucg acaaguacga ccugucgaac cugcacgaga
ucgccagcgg 960gggcgccccg cugagcaagg aggugggcga ggccguggcc
aagcgguucc accucccggg 1020cauccgccag ggcuacggcc ugaccgagac
cacgagcgcg auccugauca cccccgaggg 1080ggacgacaag ccgggcgccg
ugggcaaggu ggucccguuc uucgaggcca agguggugga 1140ccuggacacc
ggcaagaccc ugggcgugaa ccagcggggc gagcugugcg ugcgggggcc
1200gaugaucaug agcggcuacg ugaacaaccc ggaggccacc aacgcccuca
ucgacaagga 1260cggcuggcug cacagcggcg acaucgccua cugggacgag
gacgagcacu ucuucaucgu 1320cgaccggcug aagucgcuga ucaaguacaa
gggcuaccag guggcgccgg ccgagcugga 1380gagcauccug cuccagcacc
ccaacaucuu cgacgccggc guggccgggc ugccggacga 1440cgacgccggc
gagcugccgg ccgcgguggu ggugcuggag cacggcaaga ccaugacgga
1500gaaggagauc gucgacuacg uggccagcca ggugaccacc gccaagaagc
ugcggggcgg 1560cgugguguuc guggacgagg ucccgaaggg ccugaccggg
aagcucgacg cccggaagau 1620ccgcgagauc cugaucaagg ccaagaaggg
cggcaagauc gccguguaag acuaguuaua 1680agacugacua gcccgauggg
ccucccaacg ggcccuccuc cccuccuugc accgagauua 1740auaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa
1800aaaaaauauu cccccccccc cccccccccc cccccccccc ucuagacaau uggaauu
185721365RNAArtificial SequenceDesription of Artificial Sequence
mRNA coding for Gallus gallus ovalbumin CAP-GgOva(GC)-muag-A70-c30
2gggagaaagc uuaccauggg cagcaucggg gccgcgucga uggaguucug cuucgacgug
60uucaaggagc ugaaggucca ccacgccaac gagaacaucu ucuacugccc gaucgccauc
120augagcgcgc ucgccauggu guaccugggc gccaaggaca gcacccggac
gcagaucaac 180aagguggucc gcuucgacaa gcugcccggc uucggggacu
cgaucgaggc gcagugcggc 240accagcguga acgugcacag cucgcuccgg
gacauccuga accagaucac caagccgaac 300gacgucuaca gcuucagccu
ggccucgcgg cucuacgccg aggagcgcua cccgauccug 360cccgaguacc
ugcagugcgu gaaggagcuc uaccggggcg ggcuggagcc gaucaacuuc
420cagacggcgg ccgaccaggc ccgggagcug aucaacagcu ggguggagag
ccagaccaac 480ggcaucaucc gcaacguccu ccagccgucg agcguggaca
gccagaccgc gauggugcug 540gucaacgcca ucguguucaa gggccugugg
gagaagacgu ucaaggacga ggacacccag 600gccaugcccu uccgggugac
cgagcaggag ucgaagccgg uccagaugau guaccagauc 660gggcucuucc
ggguggcgag cauggccagc gagaagauga agauccugga gcugccguuc
720gccucgggca cgaugagcau gcucgugcug cugcccgacg aggucagcgg
ccucgagcag 780cuggagucga ucaucaacuu cgagaagcug accgagugga
ccagcagcaa cgugauggag 840gagcgcaaga ucaaggugua ccucccgcgg
augaagaugg aggagaagua caaccugacg 900ucgguccuga uggcgauggg
gaucaccgac guguucagca gcucggccaa ccucagcggc 960aucagcucgg
ccgagagccu gaagaucagc caggcggugc acgccgccca cgcggagauc
1020aacgaggccg gccgggaggu cguggggucg gccgaggcgg gcguggacgc
cgccagcguc 1080agcgaggagu uccgcgcgga ccacccguuc cuguucugca
ucaagcacau cgccaccaac 1140gccgugcucu ucuucggccg gugcgugucg
cccugaccac uaguuauaag acugacuagc 1200ccgaugggcc ucccaacggg
cccuccuccc cuccuugcac cgagauuaau aaaaaaaaaa 1260aaaaaaaaaa
aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaaaaaaaa aaaauauucc
1320cccccccccc cccccccccc ccccccccuc uagacaauug gaauu
1365313RNAArtificial SequenceDescription of sequence Kozak sequence
3gccgccacca ugg 13
* * * * *