Lipid nanoparticle-mediated lymph node–targeting delivery of mRNA cancer vaccine elicits robust CD8 ⁺ T cell response

Abstract

The targeted delivery of messenger RNA (mRNA) to desired organs remains a great challenge for in vivo applications of mRNA technology. For mRNA vaccines, the targeted delivery to the lymph node (LN) is predicted to reduce side effects and increase the immune response. In this study, we explored an endogenously LN-targeting lipid nanoparticle (LNP) without the modification of any active targeting ligands for developing an mRNA cancer vaccine. The LNP named 113-O12B showed increased and specific expression in the LN compared with LNP formulated with ALC-0315, a synthetic lipid used in the COVID-19 vaccine Comirnaty. The targeted delivery of mRNA to the LN increased the CD8 + T cell response to the encoded full-length ovalbumin (OVA) model antigen. As a result, the protective and therapeutic effect of the OVA-encoding mRNA vaccine on the OVA-antigen–bearing B16F10 melanoma model was also improved. Moreover, 113-O12B encapsulated with TRP-2 peptide (TRP2 180–188 )–encoding mRNA also exhibited excellent tumor inhibition, with the complete response of 40% in the regular B16F10 tumor model when combined with anti–programmed death-1 (PD-1) therapy, revealing broad application of 113-O12B from protein to peptide antigens. All the treated mice showed long-term immune memory, hindering the occurrence of tumor metastatic nodules in the lung in the rechallenging experiments that followed. The enhanced antitumor efficacy of the LN-targeting LNP system shows great potential as a universal platform for the next generation of mRNA vaccines.

Use of Iontophoresis Technology for Transdermal Delivery of a Minimal mRNA Vaccine as a Potential Melanoma Therapeutic

“…Figures 4a and b show infiltration of both cytotoxic CD8 + and CD4 + T cells (green signals) in both tumor and spleen tissues in the IP-vaccinated group compared with the non-vaccinated group. Infiltration of cytotoxic CD8 + and CD4 + T cells in the tumor microenvironment is critical for tumor regression, as previously noted, [43][44][45][46] and these results demonstrate the ability of our IP-administered minimal mRNA vaccine to elicit cell-mediated adaptive immunity, which is considered a main element required for tumor clearance. Moreover, based on the unique features of the mRNA vaccines in stimulating both the cellular and humoral immunity we are expecting the ability of our minimal mRNA vaccine on stimulating the humoral immunity.…”

mRNA vaccines: The future of prevention of viral infections?

“…The induction of humoral and cellular immunity following mRNA vaccines is well evidenced, with the latter involving both CD4 + and CD8 + responses. [54][55][56][57] Moreover, SARS-CoV-2 variants that emerged after vaccine authorization did not significantly disrupt the reactivity of these cells, while administration of a booster dose may induce their transient enhancement while conserving the memory pool for subsequent reactivation. [58][59][60][61][62] Moreover, mRNA COVID-19 vaccines have been demonstrated to elicit superior adaptive cellular responses compared to other authorized COVID-19 vaccines.…”

mRNA-Based Therapeutics in Cancer Treatment

“…In addition to their successful application in the local delivery of vaccines, LNPs have also enabled targeted delivery to organs via systematic administration [ 138 , 139 ]. This specificity of organ selectivity is mainly based on the global/obvious pK a of the lipid and serum protein interactions of selective organ-targeting (SORT) nanoparticles [ 140 ].…”