RNA-Containing Microvesicles and Methods Thereof

Abstract

Contemplated compositions and methods are directed to the use of microvesicles from an optionally recombinant donor cell to impart a desirable effect to a recipient cell. In certain preferred aspects, RNA of the microvesicles is employed to achieve the desirable effect. For example, microvesicles are used in vitro to increase the number of passages of a cell growing in a medium, reduce serum and / or growth factor requirements of a cell growing in a medium, and / or delay differentiation of a cell growing in a medium. Further preferred aspects include use of the microvesicles as therapeutic agents in which RNA, a membrane protein, and / or a cytosolic protein encapsulated in or coupled to the microvesicle provide a therapeutic effect. Additionally, diagnostic methods are contemplated in which RNA of a microvesicle isolated from a mammal is associated with a condition of the mammal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCES[0001]The present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11 / 569,757 (filed Nov. 29, 2006) which also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application with the Ser. No. 60 / 576,395 (filed Jun. 2, 2004), which is incorporated by reference herein.FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0002]The field of the invention is biotechnology, and especially as it relates to compositions and methods for microvesicles.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0003]Microvesicles were historically regarded as cellular debris with no apparent function. However, and more recently, a growing body of experimental data suggest that microvesicles is have numerous biological activities. For example, platelet-derived microvesicles were shown to stimulate selected cells via surface proteins on the microvesicles (e.g., CD154, RANTES, and / or PF-4; see Thromb. Haemosi. (1999), 82:794, or J. Biol. Chem. (1999), 274:7545). In other examples, specific effects of bioactive lipids (...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

While such uses provide at least some promising perspectives, several largely unexplained problems remain.

Among other things, biological activity is often difficult to predict.

Thus, while numerous compositions and methods for microvesicles are known in the art, all or almost all of them, suffer from one or more disadvantages.

Most significantly, and among other things, predictability of biological effects in many uses of such microvesicles is problematic.

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