Abstract
Researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed an exosome-based approach for treating cancer and viral infections. The exosomes deliver gene-silencing molecules or protein inhibitors such as RNA interference (RNAi) or antibodies, respectively. Because exosomes are endogenous vesicles, this approach may limit immunogenicity and toxicity.
Technical Details
For anti-cancer treatment, the technology targets cancer stem cells which are a specialized subset of tumor cells that are often resistant to cancer therapy. The embryonic stem cell genes NANOG and OCT4 are expressed in cancer stem cells, but not in healthy adult cells. The exosomes deliver modulating agents that downregulate the expression of the embryonic stem cell genes NANOG or OCT4. As an example, targeting these genes by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) increased cell death in cancer stem cells treated with the chemotherapy drug Temozolomide in vitro.
For anti-viral treatment, the exosomes deliver knockdown agents that target the viral genome. As an example, a human lung fibroblast cell line was infected with human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E). The infected cell line was treated with exosomes containing shRNA that targeted HCoV-229E ORF4a which regulates viral production. Viral production was reduced in exosome/shRNA treated cells in vitro.
Benefit
Use of exosomes produced by human cells may minimize immunogenicity Market Application
Anti-cancer therapyAnti-viral therapy
Brochure
