ARMMs as a versatile platform for intracellular delivery of macromolecules

Nat Commun. 2018 Mar 6;9(1):960. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-03390-x.

Abstract

Majority of disease-modifying therapeutic targets are restricted to the intracellular space and are therefore not druggable using existing biologic modalities. The ability to efficiently deliver macromolecules inside target cells or tissues would greatly expand the current landscape of therapeutic targets for future generations of biologic drugs, but remains challenging. Here we report the use of extracellular vesicles, known as arrestin domain containing protein 1 [ARRDC1]-mediated microvesicles (ARMMs), for packaging and intracellular delivery of a myriad of macromolecules, including the tumor suppressor p53 protein, RNAs, and the genome-editing CRISPR-Cas9/guide RNA complex. We demonstrate selective recruitment of these macromolecules into ARMMs. When delivered intracellularly via ARMMs, these macromolecules are biologically active in recipient cells. P53 delivered via ARMMs induces DNA damage-dependent apoptosis in multiple tissues in mice. Together, our results provide proof-of-principle demonstration that ARMMs represent a highly versatile platform for packaging and intracellular delivery of therapeutic macromolecules.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • A549 Cells
  • Animals
  • Arrestins / metabolism*
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9 / administration & dosage
  • Drug Carriers / metabolism*
  • Extracellular Vesicles / metabolism*
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Mice, Knockout
  • RNA / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / administration & dosage
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins / genetics
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / administration & dosage
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 / genetics

Substances

  • ARRDC1 protein, human
  • Arrestins
  • Drug Carriers
  • Recombinant Fusion Proteins
  • Tumor Suppressor Protein p53
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins
  • RNA
  • CRISPR-Associated Protein 9